Hey guys! So I'm back once again with a new chapter for ya! Hopefully you guys like a little drama, I think it's about time we turn up the heat! I hope you've been liking the updates so far, now let's get back to the story!
Saki looked out at the ocean view as she and Steven stood along the Skyarrow Bridge, they would soon be back in Castelia City, as well as challenging the next gym. Though it wasn't her jealous cousin that she was worried about, for the past few days she had been unable to shake what N had said to he back in Nacrene City.
Her heart felt confused, she loved Steven but he was her first boyfriend. The first man she ever loved. Was she missing out on anything? She didn't know anymore if N was making a good point or if he was just playing mind tricks on her. It was hard to for her to tell at this point.
She had tried not to show it, but Steven could tell that something was off with Saki. She just hadn't been herself lately. "Saki?" he placed his hand on her shoulder as she looked up at him. "Are you alright?"
Nodding her head, "yea...I've just...got a lot of things on my mind." she told him as they both walked along the side walk of the bridge. Numerous cars and some bikes passed by them as there were few honking horns here and there.
The way she answered him, it didn't feel right to him. "You know I worry when you have things on your mind." he told her as he heard her giggle.
"Well I think that's appropriate. You never know what goes on in our minds," she joked as she gave him a jokingly creepy glare.
Steven covered her eyes as they both laughed together, "you know you can always tell me if something is wrong." he tried to reassure her as she looked down at the paved walkway. "You're not very good at hiding things from me, you know that."
"I know," she said as she almost thought she sounded defeated. Saki was debating on telling Steven what N had said to her. She didn't tell him when he returned from his talk with Lenora about the different places he could go to collect some new stones for his collection. She thought it was better that she didn't.
"Saki, if something is bothering you tell me." Steven said as they both made their descent down the stairway. A large gate stood about a mile away as there were yellow and black stripped bars that were lowered to stop cars from going, only to rise to let go at a time. "I'd feel much better if you told me what was wrong then keep me in the dark."
Saki stopped as she looked up at Steven, "you promise you won't be upset?" she asked.
Steven nodded his head. "Of course, now please tell me. I hate seeing you like this."
Taking a deep breath, Steven walked them over to a nearby bench as they both sat down. "This isn't about your cousin, is it?"
Saki shook her head, "no..." her heart was beating so fast that it almost felt like it was going to burst from her chest. "Steven...did you ever feel like something was missing when you were with Cynthia?"
He was taken aback by her question, as he didn't know how to answer her right away. "Well...I guess part of me did when we were still able to see each other. I had always wondered what it would be like if I had stopped things sooner between us, maybe tried to meet someone new." he explained.
Steven couldn't lie. He had thoughts of being with another person before, but if he did then he wouldn't have been able to meet Saki. "If I did, we probably wouldn't be like this. We may have never met." he told her, "where did this come from?"
"Someone...tried getting in my head the other day in Nacrene City..they said that maybe I'm missing out on something with you being my first love." she told him, trying to keep N's out of the conversation. She knew how Cranidos felt about N, which could only mean that Steven might have any good feelings towards him either.
"I can understand what they were trying to get at, but Saki if you're happy then that's all that matters. Doesn't it?" he asked her as she didn't look up at him, "you are happy...aren't you?"
"Of course I am!" she replied as she was surprised that he would even ask her that, even though it sounded like she wasn't. "Just forget it..." she said as she got up, "what they said has just been causing me to lose my mind. I am happy Steven, I love you and that's more important than what anyone could say." she told him with a smile.
Leaning down she grabbed the collar of his blue shirt and pulled him for a kiss, as he held her there. Pulling away they looked each other in the eyes, "I love you too," he told her as he stood up and pulled her into his arms, holding her close.
Even though he was happy with her in his arms, Steven couldn't fight what that person had said to her. Holding Saki's hand within his own they walked towards the gate that lead to Castelia City, "maybe I am preventing her from finding her true love...what if...what if it isn't me?"
Standing in front of the door, Saki hesitated to knock as she feared what happened last time may happen again. Steven gently grabbed her hand, "let me do it." he offered with a smile as she nodded her head.
Knock, knock, knock
"Coming!" Saki heard her Aunt Rosa's voice call out as the door opened wide, "Saki! Steven! Good to see you two again!" she greeted them, "please come in," she motioned as they both entered the home. "I'm so sorry with how Lillian behaved last time you came over." she apologized.
Saki shook her head, "don't worry about it. Actually I was wondering, has she registered for the Castelia City Contest?" she asked.
Rosa had a very excited look on her face, "she has! The contest is actually tomorrow!" she cheered as she could remember how much Lillian had calmed down since she was able to get her name on the list. "She's been practicing her new routine with Glameow, why do you ask?"
"If you can bring her over here, we'd be more than happy to explain." Steven said, as Rosa nodded her head and ran upstairs towards the second story of the home.
"Saki!" looking over she saw Irwin run out from the kitchen with Pichu holding on to his shoulder, "what brings you guys back?" he asked.
"We have a surprise for both you and Lillian," Saki said as Lillian and Rosa walked down the stairs. "Hello Lillian," she said, taking a step towards her cousin.
Lillian didn't look to pleased as her golden curls were held up in a high ponytail, Glameow stood beside her as she crossed her arms. "What do you want?" she asked, as Saki handed her a small red envelope. "What's this?"
"Just open it," Saki said, in a calm voice.
Opening the red flap, Lillian pulled out what appeared to be a small red and pink stripped card. "What is this?"
"That's an verification card for you to go and get a new outfit made just for you at the exclusive Coordinator Seamstress," Saki explained as she watched Lillian's jaw drop. "They're open now, if you want to go before the competition tomorrow." Saki offered.
Rosa was stunned, "you need to be on a certain list in order to get in there." she whispered as both Steven and Saki nodded their heads.
"Luckily with our status as Champions, Saki was able to talk them into letting Lillian have that card since Saki isn't a coordinator." Steven explained.
"Why would you do something like this?" Lillian asked as she looked down at the wooden floor of her home.
"Look I know we've had our differences in the past, but I got you that to hopefully makeup for everything." she took a step towards her cousin, "and to also show you that I believe in you. I'm sorry for what I said last time, but I'm going to be there at your contest tomorrow to cheer for you and Glameow." she explained as she saw Lillian's eyes fill with tears. "I want to be close again to you like we were when we were kids."
Lillian covered her mouth as Saki gestured her for a hug, the arguing cousins hugged each other as they hadn't done that since they were toddlers. "I'm so sorry Saki, I never meant to be mean to you or anything." Lillian cried on her cousin's shoulder, "I was just always so upset that you seemed to be the lucky one, maybe if I focused on myself I would've done better."
"Now stop saying that silly, you can always do better." Saki said as she watched Lillian whip her mascara filled tears from her face, "you just have to put your heart and mind into what you believe and you'll come out on top!" she said cheerfully to her cousin.
"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," Lillian cried.
Irwin walked over to his mother, "does this mean sis is gonna be ok now?"
Rosa smiled as she finally saw her daughter, she almost seemed like herself again. She couldn't remember the last time she saw Lillian like this, it almost seemed like it was an eternity. Rosa kept hope in heart that now her daughter would be able to shine like the wonderful girl she is, "let's just say we can consider this a new start."
"Don't think we forgot about you Irwin," Saki said as Lillian began to stop crying. "We still need to have that Pokemon battle," she said as Irwin's eye lit up. "Let's go outside," she said as everyone walked outside to the front of the house.
"We're gonna have the battle now?!"
Steven nodded his head, "yup and you can pick between Saki and I, you even get to choose your opponent." he explained as both Steven and Saki held out two Pokeballs. Throwing them up in the air, their Pokemon appeared in front of them. "If you choose to go against me, you can pick either Riolu or Cranidos to be your opponent."
"And if you choose me, your opponent can either be Servine or Eevee. Your choice," Saki offered.
Irwin approached the four Pokemon as he looked closely at each of them, until his eyes locked onto one of them. "This one looks really cool!" he shouted as Pichu jumped down from his shoulder.
"Looks like Steven and Riolu will be your opponent then," Saki said as Steven and Riolu distanced themselves a good amount from Irwin. "You both ready?" she asked as all eyes were on the two, they both nodded their heads. "Let the battle begin!"
"Alright, Pichu use thunder wave!" Irwin told his Pokemon as a surge of electricity moved its way towards Riolu.
"Dodge it!" Steven commanded, dashing around Riolu evaded the shocks as it moved steadily towards Pichu. "Alright now use Force Palm!" Riolu's palm tapped Pichu in the stomach as a bright light flashed from the spot, the blast of the attack sent Pichu back as Riolu stood its ground. "Good job," Steven said as he could see a small bolt of electricity run along Riolu's body.
Saki shook her head, "looks like the static around Pichu was able to slightly paralyze Riolu." she said. She knew that it meant that Riolu's speed would go down significantly, and if it got worse Riolu wouldn't be able to move.
"Now's our chance Pichu!" Irwin had watched how his cousin was able to fight and create different strategies from the short clips he had seen. "Use Thunder Shock!"
Riolu saw the bolt heading towards it, as it quickly evaded the move. "Good Riolu, now Quick Attack!"
Despite the paralyze, Riolu dashed back towards Pichu as it slammed into the small electric Pokemon. "Pichu once more, Thunder Shock!" seeing the attack still did a good amount of damage to Pichu he saw that his Pokemon was able to get in one more attack.
Pichu held its paws close to its hunched over body as it sent out a bolt of electricity towards Riolu, "look out!" Steven warned as it was too late. He watched as Riolu was hit by Pichu's attack, most likely causing the paralysis to get worse. "Riolu!"
As the bright yellow light slowly faded away from Riolu, Steven ran over as he saw his Pokemon begin to fall forward. Catching Riolu in his arms, he held his friend. "Ri?"
He shook his head, "don't worry you did fine," he reassured Riolu as everyone rushed over. "I'm afraid we'll have to stop there." he told them.
"Is Riolu going to be ok?" Irwin asked.
Saki knelled down in front of her cousin, "don't worry," she told him, messing with his hair. "Riolu just hatched a few days ago, it's still pretty new to battling but this is a good way to teach Pokemon how to battle." she explained. Walking over Steven she petted Riolu's head, "you still did great out there!"
Riolu smiled as Eevee jumped up onto Saki's shoulder, she could see a slight pink blush across Riolu's face as Eevee rubbed her head against its palm as a way of showing it did a good job. "Come on let's get you to a Pokemon Center," Steven said.
"I'll meet you there, I've gotta take Lillian to the shop so she'll be ready for tomorrow." Saki told him as he nodded his head. They knew tomorrow would be a big day, but at least now things can finally start anew.