Hey folks, I know I haven't posted in a while, and I'm sorry for that. I could have had this chapter done a lot sooner, but it just kept on getting longer, so I'd take a break, write some more, take a break, and so on. I decided that this point was a good place to end the chapter now, because I realized that if I wrote everything I'd planned for this chapter, it would take several more weeks of work. The continuation of these events will carry on into the next chapter. So that's basically where I'm at.
Another reason this took so long is because it's all about the characters themselves, not about the events of the playthrough. I'm sure some of you already know this, but creating characters, personalities and interactions between them is very difficult and time-consuming. However, with this and the next chapter, I feel as though I'm going to have a solid character foundation for many of the Pokemon that I'll be writing in future chapters, so this is a necessary point in the story. Please enjoy!
Chapter 7: Stories from Goldenrod City
Early in the morning, Shad and the others were discussing where they wanted to first in Goldenrod City. Because of its massive size, there were a number of activities that everyone wanted to do. Patrick, Egbert, and Saibaman all wanted to go to the game corner, Daisy and Navi wanted to go to the department store, Nick wanted to check out the gym, and Shad wanted to visit the Radio Tower. Rather than decide an order, Shad thought it would be easiest for people to split up and do what they wanted to. They all agreed to meet back in the Pokémon Center in two hours, and then went their separate ways.
These are their stories.
. . .
Nick couldn't have been more excited to challenge the gym. Ever since he'd evolved, he felt invincible. Nick was the first one to dash out the door of the Pokémon center once the group split up. He ran out into the street, and then realized he had no idea where the gym was. He looked all around, but couldn't see any indication of where it might be. He tried to stop somebody to ask for directions, but everyone seemed like they were in a hurry. Besides, he thought, who would care about some random Pokémon?
Having no luck asking for help, Nick decided to take matters into his own hands. He planned to climb up a tall building to look for the gym. Across the street from the Pokémon center was the department store. "No," he said to himself. "That's too tall. I can't get up there."
He began wandering aimlessly, passing through dark alleys and crowds of people. He came upon what looked like an apartment building, noticing a fire escape that led up several floors to the roof. "Bingo!" he said, leaping up and catching the ladder hanging down. It unhooked under his weight, falling to the ground with great speed. It caught itself before hitting the pavement, but it made a loud noise, and the rapid stop threw Nick off the bars and onto his back. "Oof!" he yelled. A few people glanced over at the commotion. Nick shook his head clear and began climbing up the fire escape. He quickly reached the roof, scanning the surrounding buildings. Part of his view was cut off by the building next to him, which was a bit taller. He saw a water pipe leading off the roof of the adjacent building and down to the ground. He took a running start, leapt to the pipe and grabbed hold. Nick started slipping down the pipe, so he kicked and clawed until he got a firm grip. The pipe segments below him were jarred loose in the struggle, and they fell to the ground in a noisy barrage.
Just then, Nick heard a voice from down below. "Hey! What do you think you're doing?" Nick glanced down to see a policeman standing below him, arms on his hips. "You get down here right now, you hooligan!" he shouted.
"Sorry dude," said Nick, "but I can't come back down. That drop is too far for me. Besides, I have to get up to the top of the roof to find my way."
"If you're not coming down," said the officer, "than I'm coming up to get you!" The man began climbing up the fire escape Nick had used before.
Nick struggled to pull himself up the slippery pipe. In the time he reached the top of the roof, the policeman was already on the roof from before. Nick kicked off the pipe he'd use to climb up so the man couldn't follow the same way. "Catch me if you can, loser!" called Nick as he dashed off.
The police man shook his fist in the air. "You're going to be in a lot of trouble when I do!"
From his higher perch, Nick could see for much further than before. But he still couldn't find the gym! He continued to look around, paying no attention to the sirens below him. He was surprised when two police officers burst through the roof access door. "Yikes, time to go!" he said.
Nick led the officers on a chase over the tops of buildings, jumping and climbing their way around the city. All the while, he kept a close eye out for the gym, but he still couldn't find it. Luckily for him, the officers weren't fast enough to keep up with him, giving him time to look around. As a few got close, one of them shouted, "When we catch you, we're going to send you off to prison for a long time! You're only making it worse!"
This concerned Nick quite a bit. He couldn't be kept in prison! He had to stay with Shad and his friends! But at last, he'd spotted what could be the gym. As the police closed in, Nick slid down the fire escape ladder and into the alleys. He maneuvered through the back streets, avoiding the observance of the cops. He found the gym, the same design and shape as the others he'd been to, and ran towards the door. Just then, a police car pulled up down the street. He needed to disappear, fast! "No problem," he said. "I'll just slip inside the gym and-" The door wouldn't budge. "Of course it's locked." He glanced over and saw the cops get out of the car. He was out of time! He quickly dashed into the building next door.
Nick was surrounded by flowers and pots. He ducked away from the door and peered out the window. The police were patrolling around outside. He was trapped until they went away. He heard a noise of somebody behind him, and he quickly whipped around. As he did so, he bumped into the shelf behind him, knocking its contents onto the floor. Ceramic pots and watering cans shattered all around him, covering him in dirt and debris.
"My pots!" screamed the woman at the back of the shop. "Ooooo, you're in such big trouble, mister!"
"Please, I'm sorry, it was an accident," Nick said nervously.
The woman scoffed and put her hands on her hips. "Accident or not, you'll be paying for what you broke."
Nick's stomach sank. "But… I don't have any money."
"Then it seems I'll have to turn you in to the police for vandalism. Oh look," she said, pointing out the window. "There seems to be an officer right outside."
Nick felt the blood drain out of his face. "No, please, anything but that!" He fell onto his knees and begged her. "Please, don't go to the police! I'll do anything!"
The woman folded her arms and glared at him. "Anything, huh?" she said, menacingly.
Nick was suddenly very afraid of what might come next.
. . .
Daisy happily floated along the sidewalk, Navi following closely behind. The two of them were on their way to the department store in hopes of finding a few accessories and trinkets. Daisy sang to herself softly, brushing into passing people and Pokémon carelessly. "Watch out, Daisy, there's a cart!" shouted Navi.
Daisy flew straight into a man pushing a cart stacked with boxes, sending the man into a lamp post. The boxes fell all over the sidewalk. Daisy quickly apologized, helping to pick up the man's delivery. The man was nice, reassuring that it was no trouble. In no time at all, Daisy was perked up and continuing to ignore her surroundings on the way to the store.
The department building was quite tall, visible from a long distance. Because of its close proximity to the Pokémon center, Navi had insisted that they walk around a little bit before checking it out. They'd stopped at food vendors, newsstands, street performers, and all sorts of interesting spectacles. Shad hadn't given them much money to spend, so they decided to be frugal and wait until they got to the mall. They shortly found themselves under the shadow of their destination.
Navi and Daisy stared in wonder at the department store, looming overhead. Their eyes followed the windows as they stretched higher, floor after floor.
Daisy gulped. "I never thought it would be so..."
"Big," Navi finished her sentence.
"Let's go!" shouted Daisy as she rushed forward.
"Wait for me!" cried Navi.
Daisy stopped at the entrance, amazed by the rotating doors circling around as people filed in and out in massive quantities. "It never stops," she said in wonder. "It's like a forever-door."
"Alright, it looks like we just have to go in the right side," explained Navi, "and then we keep on going until we reach the other- hey!"
Daisy had already flown inside the door and was spinning around in circles. "Weeeee!" she cried as the door rotated faster and faster.
Navi figuratively rolled her eyes. "C'mon, Daisy, we're supposed to go shopping. How are we going to do that if we can't even get through the front door?"
Daisy shot out of the door like a rocket. She whipped around Navi and wobbly stopped in front of her. "Navi, you have to try this!"
"Really, Daisy, I think we should just- whoa!" Daisy had snagged Navi and gleefully dragged her into the door. They flew around in circles, spinning the doors so fast they created a breeze. "Daisy, I'm going to be sick!" cried Navi.
"What's that?" shouted Daisy. "I can't hear you!"
"STOP!" Navi screamed.
"Ok!" Daisy halted abruptly, stopping the doors and sending Navi barreling into the store. She flew into a display stand, sending merchandise crashing to the floor. Daisy gasped and rushed over. "Oh no, Navi, are you ok?" Navi was shaking all over, with her wings over her face. "Navi, please tell me you're ok!"
Navi's shaking intensified. She looked like she was ready to jump right out of her skin. Suddenly, she burst out laughing. Her joyous roars filled the room, turning the heads of everyone who wasn't already watching the commotion that had unfolded a moment before.
Daisy, relieved that her friend was alright, began to laugh too.
"That was the most fun I've ever had," exclaimed Navi as they began to settle down.
"Really, Navi," said Daisy, "you've got to learn to loosen up a little bit. Have fun along the way!" They picked themselves up and walked towards the nearby escalator, giggling and snickering all the way.
They were stopped by a woman in uniform with a sour look on her face and her hands on her hips. "While I'm glad the neither one of you was hurt, I must warn you that we do not allow roughhousing in our store," she barked.
"Yes, ma'am," said Daisy.
"Sorry, ma'am," said Navi.
"Good, then I'll let you off with a warning this time, but I don't want to find you causing any more trouble. Now then, please enjoy your shopping experience." She plastered on a fake smile and swiftly marched away.
Once the woman was out of earshot, Daisy remarked, "She looks like she could have some fun, too."
Navi nodded. "I think you're right. Let's just get going.
Some time later, Daisy and Navi roamed the aisles, trying on random accessories and looking over expensive merchandise. Navi decided on purchasing a blue ribbon, while Daisy still wanted more time to look around. They eventually left the clothing department, with Daisy left unsatisfied at their selection. Still, she wanted to purchase something before they left, so they began to peruse the trainer department.
"Daisy, c'mon, we're not going to find anything in here," complained Navi. They'd been looking through aisles of potions and medicines for around 20 minutes, and Navi was becoming impatient.
"Does it have to always be about completing the goal with you?" asked Daisy.
Navi was taken aback by the unusually negative question. "What do you mean?"
Daisy sighed. Navi rarely ever saw Daisy sigh. "Look," began Daisy. "You're a serious Pokémon. You like to get the job done as quickly and efficiently as possible. Most of the time, I admire that about you. But for goodness's sake, we're here to have fun!"
"I still don't understand what you're getting at."
"Navi, you act like coming here to shop is an item to check off a to-do list! It doesn't matter that we first came here to buy clothes, or to look for accessories, or to spend money. What matters is that no matter where we end up, no matter what we do, that we're having fun!" Daisy's exasperation seemed to die down by the end. "Together," she added. "We're having fun together."
Navi landed and sat on a nearby bench. "I think I understand what you're saying," she said, "but I still don't know what you want me to do differently."
Daisy hovered beside her. "You just have to do what's fun for you. Forget about your obligations and responsibilities and just relax!" Daisy's eyes lit up with a sudden revelation. "I know! You could try to be a bit more like Sai!"
"Saibaman?" Navi scoffed. "That immature, pea-brained prankster doesn't have a responsible bone in his body. I want nothing to do with him."
Daisy chuckled. "I just don't know what you have against him, or why you can't get along."
Navi crossed her arms. "Just because we're the same species doesn't mean I have to like him."
"I know he can be a handful sometimes, but he's a good guy! You just have to give him a chance."
Navi took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. "I guess. I'll give it a try."
"See?" Daisy smiled. "I knew you like him."
"I know. He's a good friend, and he cares about his teammates."
"No, no I mean you... liiiike him." Daisy grinned mischievously, her pointed teeth extruding from her dark lips.
Navi's face instantly became flushed. "What?" she cried. "No! No I do not!"
"Denial only confirms it!" cackled Daisy as she flew upwards off the bench. "Sai and Navi, sittin' in a tree!"
Navi burst upwards, yelling, "Oh, no you don't!" She flew towards Daisy at top speed, who was unaware as she continued her chant.
"K-I-S-S-I-N-Ghah!" The two Pokémon tumbled through the air, crashing into light fixtures and sending potions flying off the shelves.
"Take it back!" demanded Navi.
"Never!" said Daisy. She spun around, flinging Navi away.
The Zubat flew across the room, right into the back of a Machop. The Machop quickly rebounded back onto her feet, but Navi wasn't as quick on the recovery. The Machop picked up Navi by one of her tiny legs and held her close to her face, upside-down. "Hey," she yelled, "what's the big idea?"
"Let me go, meat-brain!" Navi squirmed to free herself.
"Not until I'm through with you," said the Machop.
Suddenly, Daisy came barreling into the Machop, once again from behind, and knocked them both her and Navi to the ground. "Leave my friend alone!" she cried.
Navi was smushed under the much larger Pokémon. "Daisy, while I appreciate the gesture," she mumbled from underneath, "that didn't really help the situation."
"Oh, so you want to go too, huh?" The fighting Pokémon took a swing a Daisy, but it passed right through her. "What the-?" Another punch, a jab, kicks and tackles. None of the blows found their target.
"Ha ha, I'm a ghost type!" taunted Daisy, sticking out her oversized tongue.
"Yeah, well eat this!" The Machop started flinging bottles and cans at Daisy, which didn't pass through her like the punches.
"Ow ow ow!" Daisy cried.
Navi flew in for the rescue. "You're in trouble now!"
"No, you're all in trouble!" screamed a fourth voice. All three Pokémon stopped fighting and turned their heads. The security guard from before was standing before them, fuming. A huge Arcanine stood proudly beside her, emitting a low growl. "Well?" the guard asked. "What do you have to say for yourselves?"
Navi stared, petrified. The Machop angrily stared at the ground, clenching her fist. Daisy looked off to the side in deep thought. "Ummm…" Daisy hummed. "Oops?"
. . .
Right outside of the Pokémon Center was a building called the "Game Corner". Saibaman had noticed this on their way into the city, and suggested that he, Patrick, and Egbert all check it out together. They expected something like an arcade, but all they found inside was a couple old guys playing a game of chance with cards. They left as quickly as they'd arrived.
"Well, that was a let-down," said Patrick.
Egbert tugged at Patrick's wing. "Patrick, what are we going to do for fun now?" he asked.
Patrick pondered for a moment and shook his head. "I'm not sure. Saibaman, do you have any ideas?"
Saibaman shrugged. "I've got nothin'."
Just then, a couple young boys came walking by. "Hey, did you hear? The underground is open again!" one of them said.
"It is?" asked the other. "I thought they'd never be done with the remodeling. It was always the coolest place to hang out."
"I heard they have a bunch of new snack machines down there. We should check it out!" The two of them ran off, past the Pokémon Center.
Egbert, Patrick, and Saibaman all glanced at each other.
"Should we…" began Patrick.
"Follow them?" finished Saibaman.
"Oh, yeah!" answered Egbert.
They chased after the boys, following them down side roads and alleys until they came to a stairway leading down below the streets. Some orange construction cones and blockades lay off to the side, as if it had just opened up. They descended the stairs and found themselves in a long, brightly lit hallway. There were many stalls and stands lining the walls, but most of them seemed unoccupied for the moment. Another path branched off, but it was still being built, leaving only one direction to go. As they followed the long tunnel under Goldenrod City, they came upon a costume shop. The man behind the stall waved them over.
"Greetings, my friends!" said the man. He had a bushy mustache and huge glasses that covered most of his face. "Would you care to try on some fabulous outfits? The first visit is free, and if you want, you can take a picture to take home with you!"
Patrick nodded. "How 'bout it, guys?"
Saibaman and Egbert were already digging through the bins and boxes. Patrick joined them. Random and unwanted items were tossed aside in their quest for the coolest accessories. After they'd each chosen their items, they posed in front of the camera.
Saibaman had chosen a pair of aviator sunglasses that were almost as big as him. He struggled to stay airborne while wearing them. Egbert wore a top hat, but it was so large that it slid down over his face and rested on his shoulders. Patrick held him up for the picture, while he himself wore a red velvet cape. Dressed in their ridiculous attire, they found it hard not to laugh as the man snapped the photo. They cleaned up the mess they made before thanking the man and bidding him goodbye. Patrick held onto the photo for safe keeping.
Afterwards, they decided to take a break and get some ice cream from one of the nearby stands. They found a nice spot in the corner with a couple benches to sit down at while they ate. Egbert was preoccupied with his treat, being careful not to spill, giving Patrick and Saibaman a chance to chat.
"What do you think of our journey so far, Sai?" asked Patrick.
"For the most part, it's been pretty great!" Saibaman smiled as he responded. "There have been a few intense moments, mostly during battles, but I suppose that's what we're really meant to do."
"Even so, it's nice to take a break from everything." Patrick leaned back against the bench and sighed deeply.
"Is something the matter?" asked Saibaman.
"No, just lost in thought. I was just remembering Zachary," admitted Patrick.
"Who's Zachary?" asked Egbert, apparently finished with his ice cream.
"Zach was a friend of ours," said Saibaman. "He was a Pokémon, like us, that Shad had caught. But he…" He trailed off.
"He died," Patrick stated bluntly. "He was killed in battle by a wild Pokémon. It was my fault, really."
Saibaman lightly hit Patrick with his wing. "Come on, dude. You gotta stop beating yourself up about that. It wasn't your fault, it was that stupid Rattata."
Patrick stammered as he spoke. "But I was the one who-"
"No buts!" shouted Saibaman. "We're in this as a team, and nobody benefits from sulking about past mistakes. Bad stuff is going to happen. We know that now. But we can't shift the blame onto ourselves when we all try our hardest. We stick together, and that's what matters most."
Patrick sighed. "Yeah, you're right."
Saibaman smiled. "Of course I am."
"You know, Sai," said Patrick. "You're a pretty cool guy when you finally get serious."
"Thanks. Too bad that doesn't happen too often!" Saibaman and Patrick chuckled. They sat in silence for a while.
A couple minutes passed. A group of trainers came strutting down the stairs from the other entrance to the underground tunnels. They were dressed in either dress pants and button-downed shirts or Pokémon costumes. One of them approached Shad's Pokémon and pointed a finger at them, saying, "Hey, twerps! You'd better get out of here! This is our turf!"
"Fat chance, dork!" retorted Saibaman, taking flight. "I didn't see your name on this bench!"
Egbert stood up as tall he could. "Yeah, you leave!"
One of the Poké-Maniacs in costume stood beside his companion. "I don't think you know who we are, punks," he said. "Allow me to introduce you to the Goldenrod Goonies, the toughest gang under the streets."
"You don't look that tough." Patrick smirked. "Did your mommy iron that shirt for you, nerd?"
"I think they want to fight!" said the first kid. "Let's show them who's boss."
One by one, they all released their Pokémon from their balls. Shad's Pokémon were suddenly surrounded and trapped in the corner by a half a dozen foes.
"Oh, that could be an issue," said Patrick.
. . .
Shad was the last one to leave the Pokémon Center. Everyone else had dashed outside in a mad rush while he decided to take his time. He casually strolled down the street on his way to the radio tower on the north side of town. He'd heard there were a lot fun activities to do there, including talking to the radio hosts! Maybe if he made friends with a few of them, he could get his own radio show! No, he dismissed the idea quickly after he thought of it. If he worked in radio, how would he complete his Pokémon League challenge?
As he approached the entrance to the radio tower, he saw a suspicious-looking man in a black flat-cap. The man wore a large black coat over his clothes and stuck out like a sore thumb among the crowd, despite what seemed to be his best efforts to seem inconspicuous. He was staring up at the tower and seemed to be writing something on a little note pad tucked away in his coat. He glanced over at Shad and they made eye contact, so he quickly ducked his gaze to the side. Shad raised an eyebrow as he walked by, but didn't feel like harassing him anymore. Shad entered the radio tower and decided to forget about it, but he just couldn't shake the feeling that he'd seen the man before.
A woman at the front desk welcomed him to the store and gave him a map of the facility. Apparently this was enough of a popular tourist attraction to warrant such a thing. Because it was so close by already, Shad decided that he'd check out the lottery corner. Naturally, he didn't win anything. Just as he was turning to leave, he was startled by a girl behind him.
"Aw shoot, that's too bad," said the girl. She had bright pink hair, a white coat and blue shorts. Shad actually thought she was kind of cute. "I didn't win anything either. At least the ticket's free, right?"
"Yeah, I suppose," replied Shad, unsure as to why this little girl was speaking to him.
The girl squinted her eyes and sized him up, then smiled. "You're a trainer, aren't you?" she asked, finally.
Now Shad was even more confused. How did she know? He didn't have any Pokémon with him at the moment, nor did he have any Poké Balls showing around his belt. Nevertheless, he answered, "Yes, I am a trainer."
"I knew it!" she said with a snap of her fingers. "Here, you should try this quiz thing they have here." She took him by the hand and led him over to another counter. "If you win, you can get a radio attachment for your Poké Gear. You do have a Poké Gear, don't you?"
"Um, yes?" Shad was thrust in front of the lady on the other side of the counter, who was trying to contain a giggle. "Hi," Shad said to her.
"Hi," she replied. "I hear you want to take the radio card quiz."
Shad shrugged. "I guess I do."
"Great." The woman pulled out a piece of paper and slid it into a clipboard. She gave him a pen and the paper to fill out. There were five "True or False" questions that were easily completed. Shad handed the paper back to her upon completing it. "Congratulations, you pass! If I may see your Poké Gear for a moment…" Shad handed it over. She it into a cord connected to her computer and attached a small device onto the side. After a few minutes, she handed it back to him. "Thank you for waiting! You can now listen to the radio wherever you go!"
"Thanks a lot!" said Shad. He turned back to the girl behind him. "I should thank you as well. I didn't catch your name."
"It's Whitney!" she said, holding out her hand.
Shad shook it and said, "I'm Shad."
"Pleased to meet you, Shad! Unfortunately, I have to get back to work. You should stop by sometime!" She turned to leave.
"Wait, where do you work?" Shad called after her.
"The Pokémon Gym!" With that, she dashed out the door.
"What a strange girl," remarked Shad, shaking his head. He decided to leave the radio tower and look around the city some more.
After a little more exploration, Shad stumbled upon a bike shop. He entered inside, greeted by the sound of a ringing bell on top of the door. Taking a look around, he saw a lot of boxes: some closed, some open. The few bikes that were on display still had packaging on them. The walls were bare, the shelves were empty, and the shop was spotless.
A curious-looking man poked his head up from behind one of the shelves. A bit surprised, but cheerful, he waved and said, "Hello and welcome! I'm afraid I must apologize for the state of the store. I wasn't expecting any customers yet."
Shad nodded and began to stroll around the store, despite the lack of items for him to take interest in. He casually asked, "Are you just opening?"
"Why, yes!" exclaimed the man. "Branching out, new store, growing the business!" He'd set down his things and approached Shad to converse. "You see, I have a very successful store back in Kanto, so I wanted to make a new store in Johto as well! Today is supposed to be the grand opening, but I'm afraid I've gotten rather behind in my work. I've had no time to advertise for my new store and, well, I'm not sure how I'm going to get the word out."
"That is a bit of a problem," said Shad. "What's a store without customers?"
The store owner clasped his hands together. "Precisely! And that's why I'd like to enlist your help."
"Beg your pardon?" Shad asked, befuddled.
"I'd like you to borrow one of my bikes and ride it around Johto. You seem to be the adventurous type. When people ask where you got such a cool bike, you'll send them here! You get a free bike, and I get free advertising! It's a win-win!" He pumped his fist into the air. "Brilliant, isn't it?"
"It's hard to argue against a free bike. I'll take it!" Shad shook his hand, and the man led him over to where the bikes were being displayed.
"This bike here is incredible," boasted the owner. "It can be folded up to such a small size that it will easily fit inside your bag there. It's very light, and will let you travel much faster than on foot."
Shad scratched his head in bewilderment. "That is incredible. How does it fold up like that?"
"Listen, kid. We live in a world where you can put a Pokémon bigger than a house into a pod the size of a tennis ball and send it to the other side of the world instantly. I think science has a way to fit a bike inside a backpack."
"Let's not get too existential now," replied Shad. "We don't want to lose our readers."
"Anyway," said the man, "you can give me your phone number, and I'll call you with any updates on the situation."
"Sounds good. Thanks for the bike!" Shad left the store, feeling accomplished, not to mention lucky. "I wonder how the others are doing?" he asked aloud. He checked his watch, and it seemed that two hours had nearly passed. "I suppose I should get back to the Pokémon Center. The others might be waiting for me. At least now I can get back quickly with my bike!" Shad raced back to the PC. Astounded that he could actually fold the bike into his bag, he entered the building and looked around for his friends.
They were nowhere to be found. At this point, it had been exactly two hours since they first left. "Oh well," shrugged Shad. "I suppose they would all be late if they were having fun. I'll just wait for them to get here." Shad took a seat on one of the couches in the lobby and propped his feet up on the table. "Nothing to worry about."
Thanks for reading! Like I said before, the conclusion of all these shenanigans will be resolved in the next chapter, so I guess this is sort of a cliff hanger.
If you have questions, comments, criticisms, or just anything else you'd like to say, please leave a review! Feedback definitely helps me out a lot! If you liked it and want to read more, please follow or favorite the story, and feel free to check out some of my other stories!
As always, thanks for reading!
~musicfrommykeyboard
