(Before you read this is a crosspost from AO3. Also, as a side note, I'm new to writing and not all that good since I only write as a fun side hobby, so any criticism is welcomed and helpful. Thank you and please enjoy)
Sun rays beam through the cracks through the curtains onto the face of a black-haired young boy named Vincent, it's the middle of Spring and his best friend Clare invited him to go venture with her through the Blossom Woods. The woods are only open publicly once every year per Spring. He has only been there once with his parents, most of the time they're too busy with work even to spend time with Vincent. Even then there's no point in being sorrowful, he's got a big day ahead of him. Vincent then fully got out of bed lifting his spirits. "I better get going and meet up with Clare." The boy told himself immediately after leaving his bed.
It was a few miles walk from Vincent's home to the woods. Not even a minute after arriving he could already hear Clare's voice screaming towards his way along with the sounds of her running footsteps. Without getting the chance to turn his head Vincent sees a strand of blonde hair jump at his face, Clare tackle hugs him, somehow managing to stay stable, most likely because she doesn't weigh that much.
"Vincent! took you long enough! Does it take you that long to get your lazy head out of bed? hihi~" Vincent could only be embarrassed by her comment, "it's not like it's entirely my fault I can't get outta bed." The boy said mentally.
"Yeah-yeah I know, my parents have been making me study 24/7 for my exams next week." Vincent said, rubbing his arm.
"Hey, at least you came right? I know you wouldn't miss hanging out with this gal, right?" She winked and stuck her tongue out all the while doing a little pose by making a peace sign with her fingers.
"Yeah, sure whatever, I needed a break anyways so can we go already? I wanna see the cool sights here!" He said smiling, looking excited.
"Ok-ok let's go then, I got ourselves a map of the place there's some interesting stuff here, you did say you've been here before, right?" Both of the children made their way through the carved wood arch entrance of the woods Clare opened the map she claimed to have.
"Only once before, my parents took me when I was, I think eight? Maybe nine? Doesn't matter that much but yeah I've been here before, I remember seeing lots of Pokémon here, mostly bird Pokémon and Zigzagoons along with lots and lots of bug Pokémon." Clare was simply nodding as she led them through the cherry blossom-covered paths.
"I'm hoping I can find a Pokémon for myself, something cute hopefully." Clare saying that could only make Vincent recall his parents denying his request for his own Pokémon.
"You got a PokéBall? Didn't know you had enough money for one." Vincent said, looking up to the bright pink blossom trees still walking behind Clare as they got closer to their destination.
"Well... not necessarily, I just plan on befriending one in hopes it'll come home with me. hihi~" Vincent could only look at her dumbfounded. "Is that even possible? Taming a Pokémon without the use of a PokéBall? I mean sure it was probably possible but still I bet the chances of that are pretty slim." Vincent once again talking to his conscience.
"How will you plan on that ever happening, let alone let a wild Pokémon willingly come towards you?" They came close to their destination which was an open field near a cliff with a beautiful view.
"You can only hope, right? Anyways here we are! Just look at that view Vincent! All those trees and rivers... So beautiful." They both stood decently far away from the edge just taking the view all in.
"I gotta agree with you there Clare, I don't think I remember coming here. Thanks for inviting me." Vincent gave her a small smile to show his appreciation.
"Of course! What are friends for? I believe friends are meant to hang out after all." A small chuckle came out of the boy's mouth, he then decided to sit himself down on the colorful green grass covered with a few cherry blossoms.
"Still, thank you for being my friend and all, I know that no one wants to be friends with the 'rich snobby' kid." Vincent said laying fully down on the grass looking up at the blue sky feeling a bit despaired.
"Hey, don't bring yourself down like that. We still got plenty more to do today so I need your mood in top shape! Ok? -" While she was trying to brighten the mood, she oddly interrupted herself. "Hold on a sec... did you hear that?" Vincent looked at her confused. To him, he could only hear the soft breeze of the wind.
"No? What did you hear?" He sat back up still looking at her with a confused look.
"Sounded like a Pokémon crying..." Vincent fully stood up listening closely to his surroundings, then there it was, the distant cries of a Pokémon.
"Yeah, you're right... They sound like they're in pain..." Clare walked towards the sound of the cries of the Pokémon, and Vincent followed right behind her defensively. The two kids walked through some tall dense bushes and found a weak, cut, and bruised Fennekin.
"Vincent, look at the poor thing... What could've done this to such a small creature..." Vincent looked at them with pity in his eyes feeling bad for the small Pokémon.
"I think we should try and take them to a nearby Pokémon center, here I'll carry them, and you'll lead the way, Clare." Vincent said slowly picking up the wincing bright-colored Fennekin.
"Alright Vincent, follow me!" They walked back the way they came and headed straight to a nearby Pokémon center. Vincent could feel the small white and gray Pokémon twitch in pain, the boy gave them small comforting pats to help try to ease the pain and hoped to gain their trust.
"It's alright little one, you'll be good as new in a little while the Pokémon center is not that far now," Vincent said, still patting the Fennekin's head. Upon reaching and entering their town dubbed Longmeadow they went straight for the Pokémon center going through the sliding doors.
"Hey! Nurse! We got a wounded Pokémon!" Clare loudly announced. Vincent moved ahead of Clare, the boy walked to the desk and gently placed the pained Pokémon down on the desk. A Nurse wearing bright pink clothes turned her attention away from what she was previously doing swiftly walking up to the desk.
"Oh! She looks badly injured! We'll patch her up right away!" The nurse gladly took the bright-colored Pokémon from their care telling the small kids everything will be fine, so they took a seat on the nearby chairs.
Moments later after nervously waiting and wondering, the Nurse called Clare up.
"Ms. Clare?" Clare got up from her seat, Vincent following behind to the desk in a matter of seconds, Clare started conversation with the Nurse while Vincent patiently listened.
"Are they alright? Hope they aren't badly hurt..."
"Don't worry she's fine, we're guessing she got into a fight with other wild Pokémon." Changing the subject of the conversation The Nurse looked down at Vincent. "So is the little one your's young man?" The Nurse's voice stole Vincent away from his thoughts.
"H-Huh? O-Oh sorry, no they aren't, we just found them nearby like that." Vincent says only slightly stuttering.
"Well, if you want." The Nurse smiles. "One of you two can take her, she isn't registered with any trainer."
Clare loudly gasped, probably as loud as a snoring Snorlax.
"Vincent Vincent Vincent! We gotta keep them! Please! Please!?" She looked at him with begging eyes.
"Well sure of course but the only problem is that my parents won't allow me to own a Pokémon..." Clare smiled faintly picking up the now smiling quiet Pokémon.
"You sure you can't have her? She is a her right nurse? Clare looks back at the nurse for her to clarify her question with a big grin and excitement in her eyes.
"Indeed, she is. We also realized that she's a special one because of her coat of fur. Usually, Fennekins are coated in orange-colored fur, not white and gray so we believe she's a famous phenomenon called shiny Pokémon." The Nurse put her hands behind her back still smiling as Clare looked at Vincent and the Fennekin who was in the spotlight in the conversation.
"We should name her Vincent! I'm thinking... Aurora! Like those pretty lights in those very cold places. What do you think?" Vincent visually pondered for a bit thinking about the name, he looked at the proposed shiny Fennekin watching her cute tail wag as she smiled at him.
"Sure! Sounds like a fitting name for her!" Vincent prepared himself for Clare's screams of joy, slightly lowering his neck.
"Yay! Vincent, thank you! We're gonna have so much fun together me, you, and Aurora! hihi~" Vicent couldn't help but smile but within all the happiness aura she reminded him about his parents' rule about Pokémon...
"But you can't take care of her..." She frowned along with Aurora the Fennekin in her arms. "But that's ok I think my parents would let me take her in. If that's ok with you of course!" Vincent felt sorrow for a bit but realized he can still see Aurora every weekend if Clare takes her in.
"Of course! Please do! So that way we can still see each other every weekend!" Vincent smiled at the thought of him and Clare hanging out every weekend playing with their new Pokémon friend."
"Fennekin!" Aurora barked, making Vincent's smile grow wider.
"See, even Aurora agrees! Even though I bet she's a bit bummed she can't stay with you… It seems like she really liked you! I'm a little jealous. Hihi~" Vincent lightly blushed from her comment. "Is it even possible for Aurora to already like me just like that? Even trust me?" Vincent returned to his head adding more questions to his questioned-filled head which may or not be answered.
"That's alright." Vincent rubs the back of his neck sheepishly. "Maybe I can take her in once I get my own place when I'm older? That's if I ever move out hehe..." He lowered his head worrying about the future.
"With the money your family has? No way are you becoming homeless." Vincent lightly smacked his forehead realizing how high his family is on the social pyramid, but in the back of his head, he felt like he should manage without any help from his family…
"Oh yeah duh heh-heh…" Vincent started to nervously chuckle. "Anyways it's getting pretty late. I should get home before my mother starts worrying, I'll see you soon alright?" Cutting the conservation with Clare, he made sure he had the spare keys to his house that his parents gave him whenever he would go out just in case none of his parents weren't home yet.
"Awh alright Vincent, I'll see you later then, bye-bye!" She held Aurora in one arm while she waved her hand with her other
"Fen-Fen! Fennekin!" Aurora barked saying goodbye as well, at least he thought so. He waved goodbye back and headed back home. "Man, this weekend is going to be so much fun...!" Vincent silently told himself.
After weeks of playing with Clare and Aurora, one day after returning home Vincent was told by his parents, that they were planning on moving out. They also told their son that he has to pack straight away so the three of them can get going without any delay. Vincent tried the best he could to argue about his parents' decision, but they only told him he was just a kid and that he wouldn't understand. Soon the house was stripped bare of all the family's belongings and thrown into the multiple moving trucks. As the last few boxes were set in the trucks, they took off to unknown grounds where the new home was. Vincent could see Clare holding Aurora and their confused sad looks before he could say or do anything, his mother dragged him into the back of the car telling Vincent there was no time to waste. As his father started the car, he drove off trying to catch up with the moving trucks. Vincent looked through the back window seeing Clare still holding Aurora trying to catch up to the speeding car mouthing words along with Aurora yipping deafened barks. It didn't take long before Clare's legs grew tired. Vincent was still looking at her, he could only feel shameful for not keeping the many promises they made within the weeks of playing. As his father drove a greater distance away, Clare was just a small spec leaving him with just many thoughts of despair believing that it would probably be the last time he would ever see his best friends Clare and Aurora, the sweet special Fennekin they cared for so dearly. Closing his eyes, he felt small streaks of tears fall down his face, He mentally prepared himself to bear the future without them.