Chapter 8

I glanced between the fire monkey before me and the girl standing at its shoulder.

"My mother managed to save him while he was still just a Chimchar," explained Joleen. "She gave him to me to train when I was a young girl. We had discreet lessons so I could learn everything I could about him. He's my most trusted friend. Does he look unhappy to you?"

I'm pretty sure my eyebrows were glued to my hairline. I shook my head slowly as she met the fire Pokémon's eyes and smiled at it. Its yellow and blue eyes glimmered with gentle fondness as it returned her gaze.

"Rair."

The Raikou had left my side briefly and was sniffing at the monkey's paw.

"Ferrrrrn."

The large Pokémon crouched so it was almost eye-level with the small electric tiger.

"Rair!"

Raikou bumped its nose with the Infernape's in affection and a small blue lightning bolt sprang between them. The fire Pokémon was jolted and collapsed to the ground. It bound angrily to its feet in the next moment and the flames on its head flared. Its fists were lit on fire as well.

"Nape!"

"Whoa there!" exclaimed Joleen as she put herself between her Infernape and the Raikou. "Calm down."

The Raikou had slunk back to my side and was crouched beside me defensively.

"Nape! Fernape! Nape nape nape!"

She placed a slim hand on its brow and the building flames immediately died down to the size they had been before the Raikou had shocked it. The anger in its eyes cooled as they fixated on her.

"That Raikou is extremely young," said the girl in a soothing tone. "I know we've never really been able to work with an Electric-type before, but you remember my mother telling us about how they use small shocks as a form of affection. Please don't get mad at it. I know it hurt you, but it didn't mean to."

"Fern … ape …" muttered the Pokémon as it studied its feet in an expression that almost looked ashamed.

"Rair?" Raikou appeared hesitant as it continued to crouch in front of me.

"Come on you two," said Joleen in a soothing tone. "It was an accident so you can make up already and put it behind you."

"Raaaii …" muttered the tiger as it relaxed its stance and looked down with its shoulders hunched.

"Hey," said the young girl as she put a hand under the electric cat's chin and raised it so the Pokémon was looking her in the eye. "You do need to realize that Pokémon who aren't fellow Electric-types don't like being greeted with a shock. It hurts to them; even if you don't mean it to."

The Raikou looked away from her. It turned towards me and our eyes connected. I grinned slightly at the Pokémon and its demeanour brightened.

"Alright," said Joleen abruptly. "Now that that's settled, I think we'll stay here for the rest of the night and then get you to Accumula Town. I believe you mentioned that you were going to meet your grandpa there? Get some more rest and think about the Poké Balls. They don't hurt Pokémon. I could give you a list or two of reasons why they are good, but I think it's something you are going to need to figure out on your own."

A/N: I just want to say thanks to you guys for taking the time to read my story. I'm pretty sure everyone who's ever written a story knows that getting feedback really helps fight against Writer's Block. I'm just glad someone likes what happens when my mind is given free reign to create away :D

I definitely have plans for several of the BW/BW2 characters to show up as their 20 years later counterparts. It'll be interesting to discover where some of them ended up once Team Plasma won.