Sage's Pokemon: Sapphire-Rockruff, Excalibur-Rookidee, Unnamed Starly
Andy's Pokemon: Flareon

AN: I can't believe how dark this one turned, but it does get better, people! I promise! Last Chapter before Sage gets his Hogwarts letter.

DIFFERENCES:

-Sage will no longer be paired with Steven.
-Ash and Sage are the same age.
-Sage will be older when he goes to Hogwarts.
-All Pokemon up to Alola (galar) will be in this story.
-That does not mean that Unova, Kalos, and Alola Pokemon are common in Kanto, they are actually rare.
-Kanto will have Contests before they were originally brought in. For all we know, in the Pokemon Universe, maybe Contests existed there, but because Ash wasn't traveling with people who cared about Contests to begin with, he never noticed them. Many argue that Contests started in Hoenn (Anime Verse not Game Verse) when it is a known fact that Dawn(Hikari)'s mother was a Contestant in Sinnoh during her travels. I think they started in Sinnoh, moved to Hoenn, then slowly took over the rest of them. At least, that's my theory.
-Sterling will not make an appearance. I am still upset about Rollie, and cannot use Sterling any more. Sage will not have an Eevee in the new version. Sapphire will be my newest Muse, based my darling American Pitbull, Lil Mamas.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, that belongs to the lovely J.K Rowling. I don't own Pokemon, for it is own by Game Freak, and created by Mr. Satoshi Tajiri. Any spelling or grammar errors are my own.

Please Enjoy Shiny Sage, and all that I have to offer in my writing. If you notice something wrong, please let me know.


Chapter Seven
Sage's Dreams

Sage was dreaming. He had to be dreaming.

Why else would a strange animal be sitting in front of him, holding out a letter?

"I think it wants you to take it, Sage." Andy prompted his best friend. The Top Coordinator glared at him.

"Got that, thanks." Sage grumbled. He took the letter as the owl stole a drink of his water. "This is hilarious! Listen to this, Andy!

'Dear Mister Sage Ketchum,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress," Sage giggled.

"This is a laugh." Andy snickered. "I wonder what fan or rival sent it?"

"I don't know, but it's time to get going now. My next Contest is in Jubilife City." Sage stood, patting the creature. "I wonder what type of Pokemon this is." Sage pulled out his Pokedex, frowning when it informed him that no information was recorded. "Huh."

"Weird, but Sage, we've got to go, and it already has a trainer."

"Right. Bye little guy!" Sage patted the creature one last time before following Andy to where they were catching the train to Jubilife.


"Andy, the Pokemon is back." Sage told the other a few weeks later as they rested on a trail. Said creature was making a straight line for Sage. It bowled into him with an irritated hoot. "Sorry, little guy, but you need to go home." The creature screeched, holding out his claw. "I'm sorry, but I'm not interested. Now shoo." The creature squawked as Sage moved him off his lap and stood.

The teens frowned as a few steps later, the animal was upon them again. Andy pulled out a Pokeball.

"Abra, come out and help us!" The Pokemon appeared. "Use Teleport!" With a cry of its name, Abra teleported them away from the Pokemon and to the last town they had been in. "Man, three days of travel wasted." Andy grumbled.

"Sorry Andy."

"Its okay, Sage. Lets get going. The Lily of the Valley Conference doesn't start for another month. I just wanted to get to the area to be prepared." Andy assured with a smile.


The two shot up out of bed two weeks later to a loud thud on their window of their hotel room. The creature was back and was glaring. Sage opened the window, as it was a bad thunderstorm. He shivered as he crawled back into bed with Andy, who pulled him close.

Ten years later, and Sage was still terrified of thunderstorms. It amazed both boys that in all their traveling, this was the first they had been caught in. The whole day had been spent wrapped up in a blanket in their room. With Sage too afraid to go out, but terrified of being left alone, they had just ordered in. It would have been relaxing if Sage didn't jump at every flash and boom.

"The poor thing just won't give up." Sage grumbled tiredly. Andy pulled him closer, and Sage yawned. "I'm going to try and sleep now."

"Okay. I'll be here."


Sage stared at the creature, having finally figured out what it was.

"Professor Oak said you're a type of owl." The owl hooted in reply as it bobbed its head. "Look, it is my name on the letter, I'll admit to that. But they have the wrong person. I've never used magic before. So what will it take for you to leave me alone?" The owl flew over to retrieve a pen. "A reply? Okay." Sage quickly wrote down that he wouldn't apply and handed the owl the parchment back. The owl hooted sadly, then took off. Sage sighed in relief before leaving himself.

He had a friend to support.


Sage leaned forward as Andy called out to his last Pokemon, Flareon, against Cynthia's Garchomp. The battle was intense, as the two were both Trainer's last Pokemon. It felt like ages since it began. Sage bit his lip as Cynthia smiled.

"Draco Meteor!" The attack landed against Flareon, knocking the poor Fire-Type out. Sage sagged down as Cynthia approached his friend. "Thank you for a wonderful battle, Andy. I hope one day, we can battle again." The two shook hands.

Using his backstage pass, Sage met up with his friend.

Who looked close to crying.

"Andy-"

"It isn't fair! Why do you keep hanging out with a loser like me? I keep losing. I'm nothing, Sage, and you're amazing!" Sage hugged his friend. "I'm just going to drag you down!"

"Hey, don't say that!" Sage pulled back with a frown. "You are my best friend, Andy-"

"I think we should stop traveling together for a bit." Andy pulled away to turn around.

The words felt like a physical blow to Sage's stomach. He watched as his friend walked away. He felt an uncomfortable feeling settle deep in his very soul. He began to tear up. Mentally begging his friend to stay.

"Andy!" Sage cried out sadly. His friend paused, but then continued. "Andy, please."

"I'm sorry, Sage. Good-bye!" And then Andy was running away. Sapphire howled sadly as Sage sank to his knees. His eyes blown wide as tears fell. He didn't know how long he sat there, sobbing, but eventually as soft hand had him looking up.

Cynthia stood before him, a confused look on her face.

"You're Andy's friend, correct? What happened?" Sage shook his head, standing.

"It's nothing." He mutter, making his way away from the stadium. Determined to make it to his Grand Festival at Lake Valor.


"Wow, I don't know what happened, but Shiny Sage, our Shinning Prince, has been brutal this whole time!" Marian called out in excitement. "Yet, even with every powerful blow, he is still making it beautiful!"

"Star, Excalibur! Use Bravebird!" The Staraptor and Corviknight did as ordered, slamming into their Opponents, A Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan. The two Fighting-Types were out cold after the one attack from each Flying-Type.

"And with one move, Sage has won the Grand Festival!" Marian exclaimed in shock. Sage glanced at her before looking towards the stunned crowd. He could see his parents watching him with worry, as were a few friends he had made in the last few years. Yet he didn't see the one face he wanted to.

It hurt.


"Sage, are you going to travel any time soon?" His mother asked as he sat curled up with Sapphire. The boy shrugged. "Sage, sweetie, what happened? Talk to us!" His father stood beside her, worry clear in his eyes. "Did something happen with Andy?" Sage couldn't stop his lip from trembling.

"He left me after he lost against Cynthia. He doesn't think he's worthy of being my friend. That isn't true! When I tried to tell him that, he wouldn't listen. Said that he needed to stop traveling with me. I don't want to travel with out him, mommy."

"Oh Sage." The woman sighed, pulling him into a hug.

"Why does it hurt so much, mommy?"

"First loves tend to. I'm so sorry, sweetie. Maybe you should take a gap year? Help Professor Oak with lab work?"

"Ye-yeah, I think I will. Thanks."


Sage laughed as his Pokemon tackled him upon entering the lab. All of them were happy to see him every day now. Sunny, Stormy, and Sophi especially. It had been two weeks since he began working at the lab along side a boy named Tracey. A friend of Ash's apparently. Sage had missed much during his Sinnoh adventure, it appeared.

"Hey Sage?" Tracey asked after the Pokemon were fed.

"What's up?" Sage looked up from where he was grooming Stormy.

"Can I draw you?" Sage blinked in surprise.

"Me? Why would you want to draw me?"

"Because I want to draw you with all your Pokemon. You have a great smile, Sage. Something you haven't been showing off except with your Pokemon. With your mother's birthday coming up..." Sage held up his hand.

"Yeah, okay. Sounds fair."


Sage stared at the familiar owl who blinked back. A black eyebrow twitched as a letter was held out.

"It's been a year. Are you telling me that these things are sent out yearly?" The owl cooed and Sage groaned. Grabbing a pen, he quickly wrote his refusal on the back of the letter. The owl gave him a disgruntled look as he handed it over. "You don't have to leave right away. Have some berries and a drink." Sage motioned to where Star and Excalibur was resting. With a hoot, the owl quickly went to eat.

"What is that about?" Red asked his son from where he sat with his coffee. The two were having a picnic lunch with the lab and family.

"Just a persistent school that wants me to attend for magic, apparently. Andy...Andy and I figured that it was just a joke or something of a rival."

"Awfully insistent." Red mused, but brushed it off. The owl and letter were forgotten as the day wore on.


Sage sat forward as his eyes landed on the boy up next at the Silver Conference. Andy was doing great, apparently. If it weren't for the dark circles under his eyes. Sage held his breath the entire battle. Which Andy seemed to have no trouble winning.

The rest followed suit all the way up to the Champion, Lance. Sage's eyes widened as Andy called out a Frosmoth. A Pokemon Sage had only read about in Professor Oak's books on Galar.

The Champion lost.

Sage was up and running for the door with Sapphire hot on his heels. He called out that he was borrowing his father's Alakazam to teleport over to the conference, before he was gone.

The pre-teen stumbled as he landed, barely acknowledging that Alakazam was keeping pace with him as he ran through the crowd. People glared at him, but he didn't care about that. He just wanted to reach Andy. Who was shaking hands with Lance.

"Andy!" Sage threw himself at the surprised teen. Tears fell as he clung to the other. "You did it."

"Sage? What are you...why are you here? Where have you been?" Andy demanded, pulling Sage back by his shoulders. "Drew said that you disappeared from Contests. What happened?"

"Idiot!" All the previous anger and sadness consumed Sage as he began punching his friend. Who waved off security. Sage couldn't hit anything to truly harm. "blockhead!"

"You're right." Andy didn't even try to defend himself as Sage continued.

"Bonehead! Cretin! Dimwit!"

"I won't deny it."

"Dork! Dumbbell! Dunce!"

"Hey now! I think he gets the idea." Lance tried to interrupt. Sage ignored him.

"Ignoramus imbecile! Kook! Muttonhead! Nincompoop ninny!"

"I suppose so. A sorry won't help will it?" Sage shook his head, tears falling.

"Pinheaded simpleton! Tomfool!" Sage took a deep breath to continue.

Soft lips stopped him still.

"I'm sorry. I regret leaving you, okay?" Sage blinked up at Andy as a hand lifted to finger his lips. "It was a mistake. I was miserable, and if you stopped Coordinating because of me-"

Sage surge forward to interrupt this time. The kiss was just a simple peck, but it got the message across.

"I needed a break, Andy. The whole way home, I was cornered by reporters and fans alike. I had interview after interview. Some of it, not much, was because you felt that you had to leave me because you felt weak or something, but Andy, I'm just glad now." Andy smiled softly, hugging his friend close.

"Hey! Delete that!" Lance's voice had them pulling apart to see him berating a cameraman and reporter. "They may be Trainers, but those two are still underage! You're not allowed to interview them, or take pictures, without their consent and their parents' consent!" Cowed, the two went to delete the picture.

"Wait!" Sage ran up, eyes pleading. "Please, what picture did you take?"

"The first kiss." The cameraman admitted. "Don't worry, I'll delete it. It's the only picture on my SID card, so it won't-"

"Can I buy the SID card?" Sage asked, already pulling out the amount for the largest SID card on the market. The man hesitated, looking at Lance, who nodded. "Thank you!"

"Why would you want that picture?" Lance asked, looking amused.

"Because how many people can claim their first kiss was caught on camera?" Sage grinned happily as he skipped over to Andy. "Alakazam, can you take us to my house now?" The Pokemon nodded, Teleporting the group to Pallet Town. "Come on! We have to start planning and to catch up! I've learned so much in the last year!"

Andy allowed Sage to pull him forward to the Ketchum house. They could see the Delia and Red watching from the porch. It was heartwarming for the adults to see Sage grinning happily. They shared a knowing look.

Both boys smiled as they refused to let go of the other's hand.