Kanto is one of many regions in the world of Pokemon, each containing trainers of many kinds. Among one of those trainers is a kid from Pallet Town named Red, who left on an adventure with his starter pokemon, Nouva, a charmeleon who had evolved not too long ago. Now they stood in Celadon city, having just won the battle against the gym leader, Erika.
"Good job out there, Nouva." Red praised as he wiped the rainbow badge and put it in his case with his other three badges.
Nouva gave a thumbs up, mumbling his thanks as used his free paw to fiddle with the scarf around his neck.
Red and Nouva entered the Pokemon Center, the air conditioning making Red let out a joyful breath. Nouva, personally, wasn't the biggest fan of it. Red took out his pokeballs and Nouva hopped on the desk, watching as Nurse Joy turned around and greeted Red.
"Hello, I assume you want me to heal your Pokemon?"
"Yes, ma'am," he nodded as he handed his pokeballs to the nurse, returning Nouva to his pokeball before handing it to her.
She took the pokeballs and headed to the machine and placed all 3 pokeballs on the bed. Light engulfed them and then she looked at the screen above them. She mumbled to herself and smiled. "Alright, your pokemon are in perfect condition!"
"Thank you!" He waved as he turned and let his pokemon out. Aside from Nouva, there was a Nidoqueen and a Raichu alongside him, both of which yawning.
The Raichu curled up and waved his long tail. "Oh come on, Queenie! 5 more minutes!"
Queenie, the Nidoqueen, sighed. "Voltaro, please can you not be lazy? It's not good for your health."
Voltaro shrugged. "Eh not today, I'm swamped." He said, jumping to a couch.
"Anyway," Queenie rolled her eyes. "How did your battle with the gym leader go, Nouva?"
"It went good I guess. Was expecting more of a challenge. Then again, when I'm fighting nothing but grass types, it's gonna be easy for me."
Queenie frowned at the way Nouva showed no emotion when saying that. "Nouva, you shouldn't be serious all the time. Hell, even Voltaro is clumsy and flamboyant!"
Voltaro's ears perked up at his name. "Oi! Don't you dare speaketh my name!" He stood up and slipped off the couch, falling face first onto the floor. He stumbled and held his nose as it started bleeding. "Owowowow!"
Queenie gasped. "What did I tell you about being clumsy! Now I got to get a napkin or some cloth to put on your nose!"
Nouva just deadpanned at the two. "Well then, that happened." He looked down. "Am I really that serious? What is it that makes me that way?" He growled.
"No no no!" Voltaro ran from the Nidoqueen as she tried to catch him.
"It can't be about... No that's not it," He shook his head, chuckling faintly as he witnessed the sight of Queenie using her foot to pin down Voltaro.
"Let me help you!" She demanded.
Voltario gulped in fear. "Yes ma'am!"
"That's more like it, see this will prevent the bleeding, now just lay on your back."
"I'm getting tired anyway, is our trainer gonna get a room for the night?" He asked, holding the cloth to his nose.
Nouva responded "Most likely, it's getting late anyway. Speak of the devil here he comes."
Red came back and talked to Nurse Joy and she came from behind the counter and pointed Red in the direction of his room. Red waved for his pokemon to follow, to which they all did.
Later that night everyone was asleep, all except Nouva. He looked down at his red scarf and grasped it. He then sat up from his bed and opened the window and hopped out. He decided to take a walk around Celedon. He did so sometimes to help him sleep and get his mind off of things. He began thinking of his past.
"Is that the reason I don't open up to others as Queenie says?"
He doesn't try to be like that. It just felt natural to not be over-excited and over-emotional, or so he thought. Nouva truly did care for Voltaro and Queenie. They were his friends and he would go out of his way to help them. So then why couldn't he openly express himself to them? Was he... unhappy? Of course not, he had a loving caring trainer and good friends. Maybe he wanted something different in life? Not that he hates where he is now- He just wanted something different to happen.
He shook off the thought. He continued walking and turned the corner of the Celadon Mart when something hit him and knocked him over.
"Dammit! Watch where you're going!" He said.
"Oh no! I'm so sorry! I-I was in a hurry b-because-!" She frantically said with tears in her eyes.
Nouva got up and tried to calm her down "Whoa Whoa, calm down and tell me what's happening"
"I-I'm-" She was cut off as she turned to see men in black suits chasing after her. She hid behind Nouva, shivering. Nouva saw the men and sighed. "Of course it's team rocket grunts."
"Yo! Look! A Charmeleon! Betcha that will fetch a pretty penny along with that Dratini!" said the first Grunt.
The second grunt chimed in "Heck yeah! Chasing that Dratini paid off! Let's catch them and sell them off!"
Charmeleon used flamethrower and singed both of them without breaking a sweat.
The second grunt coughed up some smoke. "Hack! That little son of a-. Go Zubat!"
The pokeball opened and a Zubat started flying around.
Nouva smirked. "Fine, you want to fight? Then bring it!"
"Zubat! Use Super Sonic!" Nouva dodged the sound waves and used Iron Tail, slamming the Zubat into the ground. He then followed up with Flamethrower. "As expected, I feel bad for the pokemon being used by these idiots."
Dratini watched on in amazement.
"Gah! Step aside fool and let me show you what my Ratatta can do!" The first grunt laughed.
Nouva facepalmed. "Let's just get this over with."
"Ratatta! Use Quick Attack!"
The small purple Ratatta charged forward and Nouva side stepped out of the way, slashing its back with Dragon Claw and sending the Rattata across the ground.
"How are these pokemon losing to a single Charmeleon!?" Grunt 1 yelled.
Grunt 2 growled "Screw it, both of you tag up on Charmeleon!"
Nouva huffed as the Zubat and Ratatta both charged in. Before they could hit him, he jumped and they both headbutted each other. He then grabbed them and threw them into the grunts, staring them down and giving a cocky smile.
"Man, screw this! Let's get out of here!" Grunt 2 wailed.
Grunt 1 tripped, trying to get up while still spouting. "W-wait for me!"
"Tch, why are Rocket Grunts so incompetent with training their pokemon?" Nouva sighed.
Before he could do anything, he felt the Dratini nuzzle him.
"T-thank you so much! I was so scared when they tried to catch me!"
Nouva just slightly pushed her away. "Sure, just try not to get yourself in trouble again." he said as he began walking away.
"Hey, so what are you doing out here this late?" She asked, slithering alongside him.
He scoffed, crossing his arms. "I could ask the same for you."
"W-well I was just exploring the city. You know, seeing t-the sites and stuff."
Nouva didn't respond.
"S-so what about you?" She asked.
"I was just on a stroll too, to clear my head I guess"
She tilted her head in confusion. "Why? If you don't mind me asking..."
"I don't know, trouble with some personal stuff, I guess." He then caught himself. Why am I telling this random pokemon this stuff? He thought. She doesn't know me and I don't know her!
"Oh I see, well I hope you figure it out."
"Thanks." Nouva simply said.
"Can I know my savior's name?"
He hesitated at the word 'Savior'. Whatever the reason he felt it was appropriate to give a name. "Nouva."
"Cool name, has a shadow dragon kind of feel to it"
He said nothing at the statement. "What's yours?"
She tilted her head down "I-I don't have one..."
Nouva broke his stoic face and felt a bit sorry for her but was shocked when she perked back up. "You can just call me Dratini then!" she added.
"Alright then Dratini, why are you still following me?" He said bluntly.
"Oh, well thought it would be nice to talk a bit before you go wherever you are going."
"Hmm" is all Nouva could say, keeping his stoic face.
"As for me, I have nowhere to go"
Upon hearing this Nouva stopped. "What? You don't have a home? Were you owned by a trainer?"
"N-no, unfortunately not. I was taken away from my home by those guys who were chasing me. I somehow escaped since they barely knew how to lock a cage."
He snorted. "Team rocket are incompetent. So it's no surprise there. Anyway, I need to get back before my trainer knows I'm gone."
"That would explain the scarf you have there." She pointed with her tail.
He held the scarf and smirked slightly. "Yeah, my trainer gave this to me when we first met. Welp, it's getting a little late. I hope you do well not to get into any more trouble." He turned and threw his hand up in the air.
"T-thanks," She said with a hint of sadness in her voice as she slithered the other way.
Nouva soon arrived back at the Pokemon center and slipped back into the room without anyone noticing.
"Ahem"
...Or so he thought. He jolted with his back against the wall. He lowered his guard once he saw it was Queenie.
"Shit," he hissed. "scared the hell out of me."
"Where were you?" She said cutting right to the point giving him a stern look.
He slumped against the wall. "Well, I was just out walking to clear my head. No biggie"
Queenie sighed. "Did you at least avoid trouble?"
"I fought Team Rocket and saved a Dratini."
Queenie facepalmed. "Of course. So, this Dratini you saved, what was with that?"
"She was being chased by team rocket for obvious reasons, I saved her, and we parted ways" He simplified.
"At least you did the right thing. I'm proud of you Nouva."
Nouva yawned. "That's great, but can we go to sleep now?"
"Yeah, I just wanted to stay up till you came back. But now that you're here, imma hit the hay!" She smiled.
Nouva looked down at his scarf again "Doing the right thing huh? Eh, whatever. At least I got to do something different on my stroll."
He yawned one last time before laying down and letting his eyes close.