Disclaimer: Glee is not mine, and the only Pokémon I own are in my video games. Also, I am in no way affiliated with Transformers.
Lucy was nervous.
She spent most of Friday evening at her new friend Rachel Barbra Berry's house after the brunette showed her the pokédex. She even met the girl's fathers; they were nothing like her own daddy.
She instantly liked them.
But when it was time for Lucy to go home, Rachel pulled her into a hug and promised to meet, "same time, same place tomorrow!" Which wasn't a problem… until Rachel told her she had someone Lucy just had to meet, and she would be bringing them along.
She's not too good with meeting new people.
She was fine with Hiram and Leroy because before she even had a chance to stutter out an introduction, they scooped the girl up in a group hug.
Rachel stomped and pouted at that until Hiram picked her up too.
Her own daddy always talked about how the Berrys were different. He was right. They were different, and Lucy loved it.
But this new person she would be meeting today… She didn't know who they were, but she had a funny feeling in her stomach.
Eevee licked her hand in silent encouragement. Lucy gave her a wry smile.
Their attention was turned to the bushes rustling, and out came Rachel, Elphaba, and…
"Hey! It's you!" Noah pointed a finger in her direction. Pikachu sat on the boy's shoulder and quirked his head.
"Noah! Where are your manners? It's not nice to poi—Wait, what do you mean?" Rachel rounded on the scrawny boy. Her eyes flitted between him and Lucy.
"Remember when me and Pikachu totally kicked Azimio and his gang's ass?"
"While I've told you time and time again that I discourage such language, yes, I do recall you telling me you kicked their…butts."
"Remember how I did it to save some girl?" The boy smirked. Lucy lowered her head in embarrassment. This would explain the funny feeling she had earlier. Maybe the sixth sense Rachel told her about yesterday rubbed off on her.
"Yes, but I hardly see how this—" Rachel's eyes widened and she covered her mouth with a loud gasp. She narrowed her eyes at Noah and bopped him in the head. "Noah Puckerman! How dare you not inform me that it was dear sweet Lucy who was endangered by those… those… those barbarians!" She huffed and bopped him on the head again.
Noah rubbed his head. "Hey! How was I s'posed to know it was her?" But Rachel wasn't listening.
Rachel stepped in Lucy's personal space and fretted over her as if The Pikachu Incident happened just yesterday. The bespectacled girl's face turned as red as a Vulpix.
"R-Rachel…" Lucy trailed off with a blush. "I-I'm fine. Really."
"Yeah, Rach! I took care of those bullies!"
"Th—thank you for that, by the way…" Lucy mumbled.
Noah perked up. "No problem, …um…What'd you say your name was again?"
Once Rachel was satisfied Lucy was unharmed, she moved to the side and looped their arms. "This is Lucy Fabray!" She stated with a proud smile.
"Awesome, I'm Noah Puckerman! Anyway, you forgot that book you were reading that day, and I have it at my house if you wanna go get it?"
Lucy snapped her gaze away from her and Rachel's linked arms after she realized the other two were looking at her expectantly.
"Uh, s-sure!" She squeaked out.
"Lovely!" Rachel exclaimed. "Lead the way, Noah!" She tugged on Lucy's arm with a smile. "Come along, Lucy!"
"Mom! I'm home!" Noah called out as he entered the house.
"In the kitchen!"
Rachel led the group to the kitchen. "Hello, Mrs. Puckerman!"
Noah's mother shut the sink off and wiped her hands on a dish rag. "Hello Rachel. Oh, who is th—"
Rachel grabbed the taller girl's arm before Mrs. Puckerman could finish her question. "This is Lucy Fabray, my new best friend!"
"Well, hello Lucy Fabray, Rachel Berry's new best friend!" Mrs. Puckerman chuckled. Rachel beamed.
Noah groaned. His mom could be so embarrassing. "Come on, let's go to my room!" He exclaimed and led the group through the living room.
Rachel's smile faltered. "Noah, how about you go retrieve Lucy's book, and we'll wait for you in here?" She didn't give him much room for argument as she sat gracefully on the couch. The two Eevees sat next to each other by the girl's feet. Lucy shrugged and joined her.
"Um, okay…" Noah trailed off. "We'll be back in a minute! Come on, Pikachu!"
Rachel sighed in relief once he was out of sight. "His room stinks like boy." She crinkled her nose in disgust.
Lucy quirked her lips but otherwise remained silent.
"Hey, are you okay?" Rachel furrowed her brows in concern.
"D-did you really mean that? A-about me being your best friend?" Lucy shyly ducked her head.
"Of course!"
"It's just… I've never had a regular friend before… let alone a best one."
Rachel set her hand on Lucy's shoulder. "Well," she started slowly, "now you have me as your best friend, and Noah as your regular friend! Though, I suspect he'll eventually become another of your best friends all in due time!" Rachel slid her hand to Lucy's and held on tight with a grin.
The taller girl blushed, and Rachel's eyebrows rose on her forehead, having taken it the wrong way. "B-but I was your best friend first! Don't leave me for him!" Her eyes widened before she stumbled over the rest of her words. "I-I mean… both of you!" She quickly fixed her slip-up. "You can't leave me! You have to promise!"
"Hey." Lucy squeezed her hand. "I won't leave you. I promise."
"Okay, good." Rachel sighed in relief.
"Back!" Noah and Pikachu walked back into the room. He held up the book with a proud smile.
Lucy grinned at him, and Rachel tightened her grip on the girl's hand before she noticed the title of the book.
"'Celebi: A Timeless Encounter'? I've read that before! I love Celebi!" Rachel grabbed the book out of Noah's hands and flipped through it.
Lucy smiled wider. "You believe there's a Celebi out there?"
"Of course!" Rachel exclaimed.
"Wait, hold up!" Noah sat on the couch next to the girls. "What's a Celebi?"
"This!" Rachel pointed to the cover of a book which held a small green fairy looking Pokémon. "They call it the Guardian of the Forest!"
Noah squinted his eyes at the book. "What's so great about it? Aside from it being a guardian or whatever."
Rachel gasped. "Noah—"
Lucy patted Rachel's hand and intervened. "There have only been a few sightings of it, but when it is spotted, forests flourish and grow. A-and it means peaceful times are ahead and that the future is bright!" Lucy explained excitedly.
"Wow! That's so cool!"
Rachel beamed. "Yeah! And get this!" She motioned Noah to come closer, and whispered conspiratorially, "…it can travel through time!"
"No way!"
"Yes way!" Lucy and Rachel exclaimed at the same time. Their eyes widened at each other before they burst into giggles.
Mrs. Puckerman interrupted the kids. "Rachel, I assume you're staying for dinner?" At her excited nod, she turned to the other girl. "What about you, Miss Lucy Fabray, Rachel Barbra Berry's New Best Friend?" She asked with a smile.
Lucy ducked her head with a blush on her cheeks. "I-I'll have to ask my parents. May I use your phone?"
"Of course dear, right this way." She led the girl into the kitchen to the wall phone.
"Thank you," she said before dialing her house.
"Hello?"
"Hi Frannie."
"Lucy Q? Where are you?" Frannie asked with a chuckle, though she was partially serious.
"I'm over Noah Puckerman's house."
"Noah Puckerman?" Frannie asked wryly. She was hesitant about her little sister hanging around any boy after what those three punks did.
"Yeah! Rachel's friends with him!"
"Oh, Rachel's with you?" Frannie breathed a sigh of relief.
Lucy hummed an affirmative. "Oh, get this; he's the boy that saved me before!"
"Oh, wow, Lucy. That's great. Did you thank him?"
"Yuh huh. He's my friend now! Oh! Oh! And guess what!"
"What, Lucy Q?" Frannie smiled at her little sister's excitement from her end of the phone.
"Rachel said I was her best friend!" Lucy grinned.
Rachel peeked over the couch when she heard her name. She smiled when she caught Lucy's gaze.
Lucy blushed and tuned back into the phone conversation.
"Awe, Q, I'm so happy for you."
Lucy's cheeks turned a darker pink.
"Is that why you called me?" She asked in a teasing manner.
"Oh, no. Mrs. Puckerman asked if I was staying for dinner. Can you ask daddy if it's okay?"
Frannie paused before replying, "Puckerman, was it?"
"Mhmmm."
"And Rachel's last name is Berry?"
Lucy quirked an eyebrow and hesitantly answered. "Yes. Is—is that bad?" She gasped in realization. "Oh, no. Daddy will never allow this, huh?"
"…Don't worry, little sis. Just…I'll pick you up around 8. Sound good?"
"Okay! Thank you, Fran!" Lucy gave her the Puckerman's address. After a few more words, they exchanged goodbyes and hung up. When she turned around, she came face to face with Rachel and Noah. "I can stay!"
"Awesome! Hey, Mom, Lucy's also staying for dinner!" Noah yelled while Rachel latched onto Lucy with a hug.
"Noah, I'm right here. There's no need to shout."
He sheepishly rubbed his head as Rachel slowly let go of the taller girl, both with heavy blushes donning their cheeks.
"So, you'll be staying, Lucy?" Mrs. Puckerman asked.
"Yes, ma'am!" Lucy stated with a grin. "My sister said she'll pick me up afterwards, around 8."
Everyone turned to Rachel when she let out a scandalized gasp. "Lucy! I didn't know you had a sister!"
"How could you? You've barely known her for two days—hey! Watch it!" Noah rubbed the spot on his head where Rachel bopped him. Again. He hoped this wouldn't become a reoccurring thing.
"Noah has a sister also. And she's still napping, so let's all use our inside voices, okay?" She gave a pointed look to Rachel.
Rachel slapped a hand over her mouth before nodding in affirmative while Lucy chuckled at her frien—her best friend's antics.
"Oh, there you are, Lucy!" Russell exclaimed when his two daughters walked through the door later that night. "Frannie said you stayed over for dinner with a couple of new friends. Did you have fun?" He asked, seeming genuinely interested.
It wasn't often his youngest daughter went over a friend's house.
Or at all.
"Yes, daddy. We had lots of fun!" Lucy beamed. If she noticed the drink in his hand, she didn't say anything.
"I'm glad."
Frannie gave a small smile and walked to the stairs.
Russell took a swig of his drink. "Who are these friends of yours?"
"Rachel Berry and Noah Puckerman!" she proudly stated.
Russell coughed on his drink.
"Shit." muttered Frannie.
"Who?"
Lucy's eyes widened when she realized her slip-up. "Um…"
"You were with the spawn of those… those... fag—"
"Dad!" Frannie stormed into the room.
Lucy looked on helplessly as her sister and father argued.
She heard a noise in the kitchen and turned to see her mother watching the scene with a grimace on her face.
"Absolutely not! Lucy!"
Lucy whipped her head around at her father's voice.
"I forbid you from seeing those brats!"
"Dad!"
"But, but…" Lucy panicked. "We promised to meet every day with our Pokémon, a-and…" She gasped and slapped her hand over her mouth.
"Pokémon?" Russell belted out.
The youngest girl flinched.
Frannie stepped in front of her sister. "I don't see what the big deal is, dad. She's happy with her Pokémon and new friends. Isn't that all that matters?"
"No. I refuse to have my daughter associate with those brats!"
"Why not?" Frannie argued. "Pokémon are part of our world; they're not something that are just going to go away. And friendship is an important and natural part of childhood and you can't just forbid your daughter from having them both!"
Russell's eyes flickered between his two daughters. His scowl slowly turned into a smirk. "You're right."
"W-what?" Lucy asked hesitantly.
"I can't forbid her from having both." He took a drink. "You can keep…whatever Pokémon it is you've been seeing."
Lucy's eyes widened while Frannie narrowed hers in suspicion.
"But you are to never see those kids again."
The girl looked completely lost as to what to do.
Frannie let out a laugh of disbelief. "You can't be serious."
"I…" Lucy trailed off as frustrated tears formed in her eyes.
"Lucy, don't listen to him—"
"It's either one or none, Lucy." The older Fabray quirked an eyebrow.
"Why are you being so mean?" Frannie shook her head.
Lucy broke her father's gaze by shutting her eyes tightly. "O-okay…" She mumbled before running up the stairs to her bedroom.
Russell took a triumphant sip. "I'd rather have my daughter hang around a mangy Pokémon than those brats." He muttered.
"Unbelievable."
"What was that, Francine?"
"Nothing, father."
The next day, Lucy arrived at the secret spot in the park earlier than usual. Eevee was already resting under the tire swing as she waited for the others to show up.
The Pokémon's ears twitched and she opened her eyes when Lucy stepped into the clearing. She trotted up to the young girl and nuzzled her leg.
Lucy fell to her knees and hugged the Pokémon to her. "Eevee... D-daddy said I could be your trainer…" She trailed off.
The Pokémon quirked her head sideways.
"B-but only if you want! I don't want to force you to make a decision because that would be cruel and unfair and, and, and…" Lucy didn't even know she was crying until the Eevee licked her tears away.
The Pokémon jumped out of her arms and sat on her hind legs, waiting.
Lucy took a deep breath before standing up. "O-okay." She reached into the backpack she brought along. After fumbling a bit, she finally retrieved the desired object. "Pokéball, go!"
A bright red light shot out of the pokéball, officially making Lucy Fabray the trainer of Eevee.
She exhaled and gazed at the ball with a fond smile, only to frown when she heard a familiar rustling in the bushes. She quickly hid herself behind a tree just as Rachel came skipping into the clearing with a picnic basket clutched in her arms. The brunette hummed a tune as she unfolded a blanket from the basket. Once she was satisfied with the placement of the blanket, she released her Eevee, Elphaba, and primly sat down with a smile on her face.
"I can't wait for Lucy and Noah to get here!" Lucy held back her tears as she quietly exited the clearing. "See this basket, Elphie? We're going to have a picnic! I hope Lucy likes what I made…"
The following Monday found Lucy walking the halls with her head down.
She was supposed to meet up with Rachel and Noah at the former's locker, but her father's words rang in her mind.
"Lucy!" She glanced up to see Rachel waving energetically at the meeting spot. She picked up her pace when she noticed Rachel walking towards her."Lucy! Hey! Why didn't you show up yesterday? I was worried! Did you forget? I suppose not everyone has my impeccable memory—"
Lucy shrugged Rachel's hand off her shoulder when the brunette reached for her to slow down. "Don't touch me," she mumbled as she stared at the ground.
Rachel frowned. "A-are you okay, Lucy?" She hesitantly reached her hand out again but the taller girl sidestepped.
"But you are to never see those kids again." Russell's harsh voice sounded in her mind. Lucy clenched her eyes shut and repeated louder, "I said don't touch me!"
Rachel's eyes widened. "L-Lucy…"
Said girl opened her eyes and finally looked at Rachel. "Keep your…" Lucy sucked in a breath at Rachel's confused gaze and blurted out, "Keep your manhands off me!"
Rachel flinched and covered her mouth with her hands to muffle a sob.
"Hey! What the hell, Luce?" Noah demanded as he jogged over to the scene.
Lucy shook her head in disbelief at what she just said. "I'm so sor—" She pictured her father's glare and stopped herself from apologizing. "I…I gotta go." She clutched her backpack straps and ran down the hall.
Lucy tried to avoid the two friends throughout the day; however, it seemed every corner she turned, Rachel's big brown eyes were gazing pleadingly at her. Or Noah was glaring at her.
She opened her locker and put away her books for the day. She looked down the hallway to see the coast was clear.
Her locker door slammed shut and she came face to face with Noah. "You wanna tell me why you're being such a bitch today?" So much for the coast being clear.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Lucy picked up her backpack off the ground and walked towards the exit.
Noah grabbed onto her arm. "Don't pull that crap! You know exactly—"
"Don't manhandle her, Noah!"
Lucy sighed as Rachel power walked down the hall towards them and reprimanded the boy. The sigh caught Rachel's attention, and she turned to Lucy with a tentative smile. "H-hello."
Noah growled. "I can't believe you're even talking to her with how she freaking ignored us today!" He turned on his heel and glared at Lucy. "Especially after she called you… what was it? Oh, yeah. Manhands!"
Rachel winced. "While I didn't appreciate the name-calling," she rubbed her hands self-consciously and continued, "Lucy did ask me not to touch her, and I disregarded her wish and grasped her shoulder—"
"Are you serious?" Noah threw his hands in the air.
"W-well she did seem somewhat upset before I approached her. I realize now that even though I have dubbed her as one of my best friends, our friendship is technically still in the early developing stages and I must have crossed some boundary…"
Lucy grimaced as Rachel defended her and took the blame for something that was entirely not her fault. "We don't have a friendship."
"W-what?" Rachel gasped.
"I can't be your friend anymore…" Lucy trailed off when tears started pouring from Rachel's eyes.
"I—I don't… I don't understand!" Rachel stepped towards the other girl but Noah held her in place. Rachel ignored him and continued pleading. "Whatever it was I've done, I'm sorry!"
"Stop apologizing." Lucy muttered.
"I'm sorry—"
"You're so frustrating!" Lucy couldn't take Rachel blaming herself anymore.
Rachel closed her mouth. She stood limp in Noah's grasp. "Why are you being so mean?" she whimpered.
Lucy turned around and wiped at her eyes. She imagined Frannie from that night asking her father the same question. Her eyes widened.
Her father said to stay away from them. He didn't say… he didn't say she had to be so mean. She let out a pained gasp. I'm just like him, she thought.
Rachel's eyes snapped up to her. "Lucy… please…" Her voice cracked.
Lucy fumbled for her backpack and ran to the exit.
Rachel wheezed out a sob and collapsed to the ground. "You promised you'd never leave me!"
Noah knelt down next to her and rubbed soothing circles on her back. He looked up to see Lucy glance back with a distraught expression on her face.
What the hell was going on, he wondered.
Lucy slowed her brisk walk when she noticed multiple cars in the driveway. She walked up the steps to the front door but paused when she heard several voices inside. She wiped away the last of her tears before entering the Fabray manor.
She looked on in confusion. Men in business suits—and strangely enough, a few in tracksuits—were scattered throughout her house.
"Hi!"
She whipped her head to the side and was met with a guy that couldn't have been much older than her sister.
"What's your name?" The young man frowned as she continued to stare and remain silent. He scratched his head. "Ah, I get it!" He snapped his fingers and smiled. "It's a secret, isn't it? It all makes sense now!" He pointed at her. "You don't want the Decepticons to get you!"
Lucy quirked her lips up in an amused smile.
The young man internally sighed in relief that she understood the reference and he didn't end up looking like a fool. He glanced around the room to see his coworkers grimacing at him. Well, at least not a fool to this little girl with the sad eyes. He knelt down beside her and whispered conspiratorially, "My name is Cooper." He subtly nodded to the other men in the room, "Don't worry; It just looks like I'm with Team Sy—I mean, the Decepticons. But I promise I'm not a bad guy. May I know your name?"
Lucy grinned, blissfully unaware of how much truth Cooper's words held. She whispered back to him, "M-my name's Lucy."
"That's a very pretty name for a very pretty girl, Lucy."
"Th-thank you." Lucy blushed; no one other than Frannie had ever called her pretty.
Cooper looked at his watch; the meeting wasn't going to start for another ten minutes. He suddenly jumped up. "Oh, no! Here come the Decepticons!"
The girl's eyes widened. "What? Where?"
Cooper pointed out the window. "Over there!" At the kitchen. "There!" Around the living room. "There!"
Lucy caught onto the game and giggled. "We have to escape!" She grabbed onto the older boy's arm and led him through the home and out the backdoor.
Ken Tanaka sneered as he watched the two go to the backyard. Cooper caught sight of him out of the corner of his eye. "It's Megatron!" He stuck his hand out and pretended to fire at the house while making shooting noises. "Pew! Pew! Pew! Pew!" He grasped his shirt dramatically and fell to the ground. "I've been hit! Lucy, help me!"
Lucy stopped laughing and nodded determinedly. "Pew! Pew!" She gasped and pointed upwards, "oh, no! They're attacking from the sky!"
Cooper looked up at the clear blue sky and grinned. He used to love playing Transformers with his younger brother. He put on a serious expression when he looked back at Lucy. "We're going to have to call in for aerial backup!" He reached for a pokéball hanging from his belt. "Go, Xatu!"
Lucy's eyes widened in wonderment as the mystic Pokémon appeared and settled itself on Cooper's shoulder. "A-and for reinforcement from the ground!" She reached for her own pokéball from the bookbag that was still on her back.
"Vee!" Eevee appeared and looked on in confusion before her eyes landed on the man a few feet away. She gave a happy yip and scuttled towards him.
Cooper's mouth opened in shock as the little dog-like Pokémon with a messed up left ear pawed excitedly at his feet. Lucy ran after Eevee and scooped her up in her arms. He turned to Xatu with a look of wonderment before grinning.
He couldn't think of a better person to have befriended the little Pokémon.
He snapped out of his thoughts when a voice floated throughout the backyard. "What's going on out here?" The two humans turned and saw Frannie making her way towards them.
"We're battling the Decepticons, Fran!" Lucy answered excitedly, and continued to 'shoot' at the enemy with one hand while she held Eevee in the other. Xatu flew off Cooper's shoulder to a branch and kept a watchful eye on the scene.
Frannie raised a skeptical eyebrow.
Cooper lowered his voice, "She walked through the front door and looked ready to burst into tears." Frannie's eyes widened. She whipped her head towards her sister. "I just wanted to cheer her up a little. Kids shouldn't be sad; especially not in their own home." He ran his hand through his hair and shrugged.
The older Fabray turned back to him and smiled gratefully. "I'm Frannie."
He grinned and shook her hand. "I'm—"
"Cooper!" The two jumped. Ken stood in the doorway. "The meeting is about to start."
Cooper sighed. "Duty calls." He brought out his pokéball and walked to Lucy. "Lucy! Great job! While not completely defeated, I believe you've lowered the Decepticons' defenses just enough to ensure victory in the future!" He called back Xatu.
Lucy called back Eevee as well and gave Cooper a mock salute. "I'll do all I can, sir!"
"I know you will!" The young man returned the gesture. "You're destined for great things."
"Come on, you two; let's get back inside," Frannie laughed.
"Ah, about time, Mr. Anderson." Russell called out. His eyes narrowed when he saw his two daughters trailing behind the young man. "Lucy, dear, shouldn't you be at the park with your… Pokémon?"
An idea formed in Frannie's mind. She jumped in before Lucy could answer, "As a matter of fact, daddy, I was just about to drop her off." She looked around the room at the business men and smiled sweetly. "We're going to meet up with her friends, Rachel and Noah, and train together."
Lucy gasped. "But, Frannie—"
Howard Bamboo cut in, oblivious to the tension in the room, "Such good parenting, Russell. I wish my dad had let me train Pokémon with friends at such a young age."
Several other men in the room nodded, while some—mostly Ken Tanaka—shook their heads in disgust.
Frannie grimaced before putting on her fake smile. "Yes, my daddy knows that friendship and Pokémon are an important and natural part of childhood." She turned to the elder Fabray with a glower, "Right, father?"
Russell surveyed the room; his colleagues were watching him expectantly. He tapped his fingers in annoyance against the glass in his hand before responding, "Yes, absolutely, Francine."
Lucy's eyes widened. "Y-you mean I'm allowed to see Rachel and Noah—"
Russell flared his nostrils in distaste. "Yes, yes, now run along." He quickly waved her off.
Frannie smirked and grabbed Lucy's hand. "Have a lovely meeting, father!" She called out and ran out the door.
Lucy giggled excitedly as she and her sister skipped down the sidewalk. She would get to hang out with her friends again! "We don't have a friendship." She stopped abruptly as her words from earlier struck her thoughts.
"What's wrong, Lucy Q?"
"Frannie…" The younger girl trailed off as tears started to form in her eyes. "I did something bad."
"Rach, can't we just go back to my house?"
"No, Noah. Your mother said it was of the utmost importance that we go to the park."
"Yeah, but are you sure you're okay with what happened with Lu—"
"I'm fine, Noah." Rachel quickly cut him off. The two friends sat in silence—with the occasional sniffle from Rachel—before some rustling could be heard from the bushes.
"What are you doing here?" Noah growled when he saw Lucy.
Lucy sputtered for a response before her sister also entered the clearing. "We're here to talk."
"And who are you?" He sneered.
"I'm Lucy's sister." she answered.
Rachel watched the scene with wide eyes. So this was Frannie!
"Come on, Rach, we're going back to my house."
"W-wait!" Lucy shouted.
Frannie put a hand on her shoulder and addressed the two kids. "Noah, was it?" The boy crossed his arms and glared. Frannie tried not to roll her eyes at the boy's antics. "I called your mom earlier and asked her to tell you guys to come here."
"…Why?" Rachel finally spoke. She looked at Lucy.
Lucy met her gaze. "Rachel, I'm so sorry for—"
"No!" Noah intervened. "You don't get to… to… just apologize and think you'll be off the hook!"
"Noah," Rachel tried.
"No, Rach, she made you cry!"
"She's not faring any better!" Rachel argued. She didn't understand what was going on, but her Lucy said she was sorry and tears were streaming down her face and all Rachel wanted to do was hug her and never let go.
"If you'll all just sit down…" Frannie gestured with her arm.
Rachel sat down on a bench. Noah scoffed defiantly. She grabbed his arm sleeve and pulled him down next to her.
Lucy hesitantly sat down on the ground, and Frannie lowered herself onto the tire swing.
"Okay," Frannie started, "my dad's a jackass."
So the two Fabrays explained Russell's bigotry and the ultimatum he had given Lucy days prior. Somewhere throughout the story, Rachel had left her spot by Noah and wrapped her arms around Lucy.
"I'm so sorry you felt so helpless." Rachel wept as she clung to Lucy.
Lucy shook her head. "N-no, Rachel, it's my fault!"
"The only thing that was your fault was calling Rachel that mean name," Noah spoke as he stood up and walked over to the two. Lucy buried her head in Rachel's neck in shame. "But I guess I get it. I know what it's like to try to make your old man happy," Noah scrunched his nose up, "and then for him to be a jackass in return."
"Noah…" Rachel gently chided.
"What? She said it first!" He pointed to Frannie.
The older Fabray watched the three kids rekindle their friendship. Yeah, she knew a thing or two about jackass fathers, but she also knew hers was too proud to make a scene in front of his colleagues. She smirked at the thought. His hubris attitude came in handy for once.
"I truly am sorry about that, Rachel." Lucy said.
Rachel stood up and held her hand out to pull Lucy up from the ground. Lucy hesitantly reached for it. Rachel kept hold of her hand and gave a small smile. "I forgive you."
"But I was so mean—"
"You were feeling pressured by the expectations set by your father, and lashed out accordingly."
"But—"
"Anyone in that situation would have done the same."
"But—"
Rachel put a finger on Lucy's lips. She stared into hazel eyes as she realized the root of the other girl's troubles. "You are nothing like your father." Lucy went to protest again, but Rachel continued, "You are a kind and beautiful individual, Lucy Quinn Fabray—"
"Gag!" Noah rolled his eyes. Girls were too mushy. "So are we all good again?"
Lucy quickly nodded and hugged Rachel. "I promise I'll never leave you again."
Rachel held on tighter and mumbled, "You'd better not."
Frannie nudged Noah. The boy looked at her in confusion before she nodded towards the two girls. He sighed in mock exasperation and trudged up to them. Lucy looked up from Rachel's shoulder at him. "Just fyi, if something like this ever happens again, talk to us instead of acting like a bitch."
"Noah!"
He ignored Rachel's reprimand and wrapped his arms around the two girls.
Frannie watched the scene before making her way out of the park. That was the first test the kids' friendship had to go through and she only hoped it would be the last.
She slowed her pace when the Fabray manor came into sight. She gripped Vulpix's pokéball and opened the door.
"Francine, there's something my associates and I have been discussing…"
Two years later…
Lucy awoke with a smile on her face. Yesterday was amazing for her and her friends! Rachel's Elphaba had evolved into Espeon right before Azimio and his goons could pull a prank on the smaller girl. The normal type Pokémon was now an agile psychic type that chased the bullies away from them during recess. And then later that evening at the park, her own Eevee took one look at Espeon before…
"Bre!"
Umbreon jumped up on the girl's bed. Lucy didn't know if it was a result of seeing Elphaba in the next evolutionary stage, but her own Eevee started to glow and transform in the moonlight last night. Before the humans knew it, a strong dark type Pokémon stood in the tiny brown dog's place.
And not only that, Noah had caught a Geodude!
She scratched Umbreon behind the ears and smiled. Yes, yesterday was a fun day. She couldn't wait to tell Frannie all about it this morning! She hopped off her bed and made her way towards the bathroom. Maybe since today was Saturday, her sister could join her and her friends at the park later!
She did her morning routine before making her way to Frannie's room. Her jaw dropped when she opened the door.
The room was completely empty.
She ran downstairs. "Frannie? Frannie!—oomf!"
"Whoa, slow down there, squirt!"
Lucy looked up at her father. "Daddy, where's Frannie?"
Russell took a sip of his drink. "She's…"
"…notorious league of criminals, Team Sylvester, are—"
Russell shut the television off before turning back to his daughter. "She's gone away for a while, dear."
"What? But why? And where?" Lucy cried out.
"She's decided it would be best to give up the little fantasy of being Pokémon Champion. Instead, she's continuing her studies abroad at Crawford County University." Russell nodded.
"But being Pokémon Champion is all she's ever wanted!"
Russell narrowed his eyes before taking another drink. "Yes, well, it's something she and I have been discussing for the past few years. I've dec—I mean, we have decided it's for the best."
"B-but…" Lucy trailed off with tears in her eyes.
Russell reached out to pat her shoulder, but the young girl shrugged him off and ran out the door. Umbreon noticed a piece of paper hanging out of the older man's back pocket. She growled and lunged for it before chasing after her trainer.
Lucy pulled the cell phone Frannie bought her for her 12th birthday out.
"The number you have dialed is no longer in service."
Lucy's eyes widened in shock. She quickly pressed the second speed dial on the phone. The other person picked up before the first ring could even finish. "Rachel…"
"And her room was empty! Completely wiped out!" Lucy sobbed into Rachel's shoulder.
Noah furrowed his brows in confusion as Rachel softly cooed at Lucy and calmed her down.
"I just don't get it…" Lucy whimpered. "She didn't even say goodbye…"
"Maybe…Maybe she didn't have time? You know how Russell is. I bet Fran totally wanted to say bye to you, but he was rushing her!" Noah tried. He looked at the sight in sympathy, and noticed Lucy's newly evolved Umbreon sitting off to the side. "Hey, what's that?" He walked up to the Pokémon and picked up the crumbled piece of paper lying next to her. "Look at this!"
The two girls looked at the boy. "What is it, Noah?"
"It's addressed to you, Luce! It's… it's from Fran!"
Lucy jumped out of Rachel's arms and ran towards him. "Where'd you get this?" He pointed at Umbreon. "Umbreon?" The dark Pokémon barked. Lucy pried open the note and read it.
"Dear Lucy Q,
I'm sorry you had to find out at the last minute that I'm going away for awhile. Things are complicated at the moment. I don't have time to explain everything, but just know that I love you and we WILL see each other again.
Oh, and don't let anything dad says get to you while I'm away; he's a jackass. As a matter of fact, don't let anyone get you down. I know things are tough right now, but you are so strong and brave. And with the people and Pokémon you love by your side… well, you're unstoppable.
You're destined for great things, Lucy Q.
See you soon.
-Frannie."
"I don't understand what's going on," Lucy started, "but she said we'll see each other again." She nodded determinedly. "Frannie always keeps her promises." She sniffled and folded the note back up and put it in her pocket.
"Oh, Lucy Q…" Rachel trailed off while running her hand through the taller girl's hair.
It was silent for a while until she looked up with a thoughtful gaze. "I want to be called that from now on."
"Lucy Q?" Rachel questioned.
Lucy nodded, but then quickly shook her head. "Wait, no." She sniffled. "I don't want to cry every time someone tries calling my name." She gave a halfhearted laugh that turned into a sob.
"What about Q?" Noah offered as he watched Rachel hold the other girl.
"A one lettered name; very mysterious." Rachel attempted to lighten the mood.
Lucy pulled away from the embrace with a watery laugh. "That could work." She then had a pondering look on her face. "Or… What about… What about Quinn?"
"You mean your middle name?" Noah asked unnecessarily.
The girl nodded self-consciously.
"I think it's a beautiful name," Rachel smiled, "Quinn."
The blonde wiped at her eyes and beamed at her two friends.
"Machoke!"
"Oh, wow! A Machoke!" Noah broke the peaceful atmosphere with his excitement. He took his pokédex out of his back pocket and pointed it at the macho Pokémon.
"Machoke: The Superpower Pokémon. Machoke's thoroughly toned body possesses the hardness of steel. Because its body never gets tired, Machoke will gladly help with tough and physical labor that is too difficult for a human. The belt worn around its waist is used to keep its overwhelming power under control."
"Man, that is one badass Pokémon!" Noah exclaimed. The fighting type Pokémon was released from its ball by a construction worker. It walked up to a pile of cinderblocks and carried them to a construction site nearby.
Rachel glanced at Lucy—no, she's Quinn now, she reminded herself.—and saw she was grateful for the distraction. The brunette knew that even though the other girl was putting on a strong façade, she was still torn up about the whole situation. But Rachel also knew how her friend dealt with things; The Fabray Way was to push it aside. She'll call the blonde later tonight and ask how she's doing, but right now, she'll offer the change of topic she knew Quinn needed to currently get her mind off things.
Rachel squeezed Quinn's hand before she spoke. "I'm surprised our small town is getting a Pokémon lab. Although…" She trailed off with a contemplative look before smirking. "Yes. Of course. I get it now." At the confused looks she gained from her friends, she continued, "This park is a designated rest spot for trainers when they go on their journeys; a pokélab smack dab in the middle is bound to get a plethora of business. This professor must be a genius. Whoever he is, I applaud him. Brava! Brava…" She trailed off at a sight in the distance.
"Mr. Mime! Will you stop using LightScreen and please help me carry this paperwork—" A tall curly haired man cut off his sentence with a yelp as the human-like Pokémon slapped him in the face.
"Mime! Mime!" The Pokémon angrily shouted before lighting its hands back up with a grin and continuing its miming.
"What just happened?" Noah asked. At the blank looks on his friends' faces, he pointed the pokédex that was still in his hand towards the scene.
"Mr. Mime. The Barrier Pokémon. It uses the mysterious power it has in its fingers to solidify air into an invisible wall. If interrupted while it is miming, it will slap around the offender with its broad hands."
Noah belt out a laugh. "Holy crap. That dude just got bitch slapped!"
"I believe the move was DoubleSlap," offered a new voice.
The friends turned and were met with Artie Abrams, a classmate of theirs.
"What are you doing here, Artie?" The blonde asked.
"Well, Lucy—"
"Quinn!" Rachel quickly interrupted.
Artie's eyes widened at the sudden outburst. "What?"
"She goes by Quinn now." Rachel smiled at said girl.
"Quinn?" At the blonde's tentative nod, he continued, "Okay…Quinn…" He trailed off in confusion, but continued, "I heard the professor was in town to finalize some papers for his pokélab. I was hoping to meet him!"
Noah chuckled at his classmate's enthusiasm. "Well, don't let us stop you."
"Thanks. I'll see ya in class." He turned his chair around and wheeled in the direction they were just looking at. "Professor Schuester!"
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me." Quinn deadpanned as she and the others watched the curly haired man stop rubbing at his sore cheek to greet Artie. "He is the professor?"
"I take back what I said about the professor being a genius."
"And I reinforce what I said earlier—"
"You mean 'reiterate.'"
"—Whatever, Rach. I reiterate what I said earlier; the dude got bitch slapped! And by such a puny looking Pokémon, too. I mean, I'd get if it was Machoke."
Quinn turned to the bickering duo. "What is it with you and Machokes?"
"Like I said, Lu—I mean, Quinn." He shrugged apologetically at his slip up before continuing. "They're badass! I'm gonna have one someday!" Noah flexed his muscles and posed. He was 12 now and quite proud of the growth spurt he was going through… even if his voice did occasionally crack. His eyes lit up as a thought occurred to him. "If I'm gonna own a badass Pokémon, I gotta have a badass name! I want to be called Puck from now on!"
"It sounds like you've thought about this before." Quinn teased.
The boy blushed. "Shut it. You go by Quinn now, so I wanna go by Puck."
"Yes! Brilliant!" Rachel shouted. "We can all go by nicknames! This is like a rite of passage into teenhood! Okay, from now on, I shall be known as Rachel Barbra Liza Gold Star LuPone Faberry the Great!"
Quinn and Puck gawked at her.
"Yeah… No, we're not calling you that."
"Why not, Noah?" Rachel stomped her foot.
"It's Puck now! And because that's too long! And… and… just plain stupid. We're not gonna—"
"Stupid?" Rachel crossed her arms and glared at the boy.
Quinn quickly cut into the argument with a question. "Hey, wait. Hold on! What's a Faberry? Is it some type of new pokéberry?"
Rachel's mouth snapped shut as a blush appeared along her cheeks. Realization dawned in Puck's eyes and he smirked.
"What? Am I missing something here?" Quinn huffed.
Rachel sputtered for a response while Puck laughed out, "Apparently it's the oblivious type of berry."
"What?"
Puck chuckled and shook his head. "Nothing, Q. It's nothing. Hey, I don't know about you two, but I haven't had breakfast yet. Let's go back to my house!"
Rachel sighed in relief. Puck had been teasing her more and more lately in regards to their blonde friend, but he always had her back in the end. She smiled at him as he threw his arms over both the girls' shoulders and guided them out the park.
"Hey, wait!" They stopped abruptly at Rachel's outburst. "I still want a nickname!"
A/N: There are currently more than 600 Pokémon, but for the sake of this fic (and everyone's sanity), I'm only going up to the second generation which contains 251. I obviously won't be using all of them; just the ones that I think the characters would own or encounter.
Please review if you liked this chapter, have any suggestions for future Pokémon you may want to see in the story, or have any critiques! All feedback is appreciated!