The sky is covered in darkness, making the stars and the moon the few natural sources of light for anyone trekking along any route, town or city in the night. Under the moon, the sounds of a chiming bell resonate the air, a worker inside the shop repeating their daily phrase when a customer leaves which is returned with a tip and a wave from the person shopping before they go down the street, holding the bag in their hands. As they tread down the pathway, munching on a sandwich in glee until he looks at the bag with a huge smile on his face until he hears a voice. 'You seem a lot chirpier than usual, Red.'
Still smiling, the teen looks down to his side, seeing Meowth looking at him with a decorative collar around her neck with a bell on the middle that jingles when she plays with it. He then chuckles at the Pokemon, receiving a confused look before saying. "Well, why wouldn't I be? I'm able to buy my mom's present. Also, you can't talk, you seem to be enjoying the little present I give you."
The white cat simply looks away bashfully, having interest in the environment of the city around them while saying. 'I-it's alright.'
"Said the one who not only asked for the collar but was having fun for the past few minutes playing with it." Red said with a knowing smirk, making Meowth feel embarrassed before she hops on his head and laying down there, not allowing him to see her face. He then chuckles, petting her which encourages a purr from the Normal type before he puts her in his jacket while he goes back to the Pokemon Center. Upon entering the red building and going to his room, he puts down his bags on his bed before he sits down and then takes off his jacket until he realizes his cast.
"Oh, man. I hate this thing." He mumbles while he carefully removes some of his clothing before he returns to his sandwich, eating it along with putting another brown bag over on the other nightstand.
He then stretches as his Pokemon release themselves from their capsules, sitting on his bed and napping on the floor, the scene bringing a smile on his face. He then hears the door open, seeing Leaf coming in the room, a smile on her face as she twirls around the room and hums before she realizes that everyone is looking at her in confusion, making her face turn red in embarassment. She then clears her throat before she walks towards Red, handing him a bag which made him look at her in confusion.
"It's your suit for the dance, Red. I tried to get the perfect one for you." She said, trying to hold in the excitement in her voice. Red looks at the bag and then at her before she continues. "Don't worry. It didn't cost much. Plus, it's worth it if I can see how you look in it…and out of it."
He then blushes before he turns around and walks to his bed before he feels arms wrap around him, Leaf hugging him while she puts her head on his shoulders. "Oh c'mon! You are too fun not to tease, sweetie."
She then notices the bag on his bed, gesturing to it. "So that's the present, huh?"
She gets a respond when she sees him nodding, getting a message on her Pokegear before she reads it. "I'm just glad I don't have to spend too much for it."
He then looks at the bag with a melancholic expression, his thoughts of the dance making him a bit skeptic as he has never went to a party before in years, much less a huge party event. He just looks at the bag on his bed, feeling nervousness before he feels rubbing on his feet, seeing his Pokemon.
'Go on, have fun. You deserve a break, man.' Clefairy said with a smile on his face. Red looks to his other Pokemon, seeing them nodding in agreement, bringing a smile on his face before he inhales then exhales. "Alright. I'll go and see how it is."
Time passes by until it was the hour for the event, everyone getting themselves ready for the ball at the SS. Anne. Leaf was standing by the pier, watching the people go inside the ship, admiring the outfits that they put on for the occasion. She then looks at her reflection in the water, fixing her hair and making sure everything is perfect until she feels a tap on her shoulder. Thinking that it's another boy trying to ask for a dance, her mouth instinctively was about to form a rejection until she sees the person, smiling widely. "Kimberley!"
"Hey, girl! How is you doing?" The bluenette said, a smirk on her face before she hugs Leaf, the two of them checking the other's outfit. The duo look at each other with a smirk, their fingers on her chin when they both said at the same time. "Nice. You're going to make all the girls jealous."
They both blink at each other before they start laughing, almost falling to the ground until Kimberley breaks the awkwardness. "Well, looking good, Leaf. Whichever boy taking your hand for a dance is going to be the luckiest guy in the ship."
"Me? Have you looked in the mirror? Whichever dude is your date is going to be hated by every guy at the dance." Leaf stated with a smirk, patting her friend on the shoulder before she hears a couple other voices calling to her and Kimberley, turning to see Emma and Noelle walking up to them in their dresses.
"Leaf, Kim! I see you both also went wild on your looks as well. You look like real life princesses." Noelle said, making a gesture like both Leaf and Kim are almost too bright to look at which encourage a couple of laughs before Emma puts a finger on her chin before she said in a honest tone. "I mean, when you think about it. In Leaf's case, she's kinda one."
"Oh hush! So are we going to go in or stay out here all night?" Leaf said as the group of girls nod before they made their way towards the ship, going into the ship and is greeted with a sight that made their eyes widen. They see the sparkling room, people from every group imaginable chatting with each other, eating or drinking punch. Snapping out of their trance, they start to walk around, the expressions on their face looking like a Deerling in the headlights.
"Wow…This place is beautiful. Never in my life did I ever think I was going to come to one of these events." Noelle said in a mesmerized tone, her friends agreeing as their eyes continue to scan the area.
"Soooo where's the lucky guy, Leaf? Don't tell me you're hiding him from us." Kimberley asked, elbowing Leaf after she looks around. The girl's cheeks turns slightly pink before she clears her throat, trying to speak normally and not show her embarrassment to her friends, the result being her slightly stuttering in her sentence. "H-he's on his way here. He's j-just a bit late."
Leaf could not lie to herself, she is a bit anxious on seeing Red and how he looks, her imagination doing its job when it gives her mental pictures of what he could look like, each image better than the previous, the brunette trying hard not to drool. She was knocked out of stupor when she hears someone calling her, turning to see Zane and Eric with his Lucario out of its Pokeball in a dress before the two of them approached her, the shaggy haired boy saying. "Sup? You were out of the zone. You good?"
"Oh, don't worry. She's just imagining her date." Emma stated, smiling when she sees the blush on the girl in question while she fiddles with her fingers. She tries to think of a way to change the topic before she is interrupted.
"I'm guessing you mean Red, right?" Zane said blankly, his answer coming from the girls nodding which made Leaf's face redden even more. She then realized something, looking at the two boys then exclaiming. "Wait! How did y-"
"I mean…it's kinda obvious. Don't ya think?" Eric interrupted, shrugging with a smile on his face with Zane nodding, folding his arms before he looks around. "So…where is he? I haven't seen him since the ceremony."
"Yeah. Don't tell me he ditched you?" Noelle assumed, receiving a glare from Kimberley. Leaf then shakes her head, looking down to the glistening marble floor before she mumbles. "Red's not that kind of person."
"Y-yeah. Don't worry. He'll be here." Kimberley assured the brunette, putting an arm around her shoulder, getting a nod from her before she continues. "Now let's enjoy the party."
Eric and Zane watches the girls run about the party before Emma grabs the two of them. "Where do you think you're going? You're coming with us."
Time has passed while they were having fun, eating food, watching the scenes of the water and laughing at adults and rich people making a fool of themselves and silently mocking their accents. During this time, Leaf was not having as much fun as she should, her thoughts on Red and why he has not arrived to the party as of yet, her Buneary worried about its trainer's melancholic expression. It then runs off in a random direction which went unnoticed by its trainer who was being dragged to see another quarrel between two snob-nosed rich kids by her friends.
After some time, Leaf goes outside of the ship, walking along the deck while feeling the wind hit her face before she leans on the railing. Looking towards the moon and then the city, her mouth starts to form words on its own, stating what is going on in her thoughts. "Red…where are you…"
She then hears a sound, thinking that her plea has come true and thinking it's the person she's looking for, her smile immediately falls when she sees a dude with a flower in his hand. The disappointment she felt made her nauseous, her expression falling until she walks away, not even bothering to talk to him before he sprints in front of her, making the brunette groan.
"It's a nice night, my fair maiden. It's not good for a girl as good looking as yourself to be alone. Would you care to dance with me?" The teen said in a voice that would make most women melt. Most women except Leaf who looks at him with a bored look before she bluntly says. "I'm sorry but no."
Not taking no for an answer, the man grabs her hand and spins her around before he brings her close, a confident smile on his face which makes the brunette roll her eyes. "Oh c'mon, just one dance would not hurt."
"For the last time, no. Please, I just want to be by myself right now." She said, trying to remove herself to only realize that the man is not releasing her from his grip. 'Why do I feel a sense of déjà vu right now?'
The man then chuckles, making a brow raise on Leaf's face before he says. "I understand…you are shy. All the women in this boat are looking at you and you are embarrassed. Hey, it happens to the best of us."
"Oh boy… You're one of those…" She mumbled before she corrects him, annoyance in her tone. "I'm not embarrassed. I'm just not in the mood right now."
"So will you dance with me later?"
"No. So please let me go."
"But…"
"Please! Just let go…" Leaf pleaded, trying her best not to be impolite and looking at the ground. She receives her answer by the man gripping her wrist and holding her by the waist before he takes her towards a quiet section of the deck, much to her confusion. "What are you doing?"
"I'm bringing you to a place that you won't have to worry about the other girls watching." The man said with a smile on his face which is in contrast to the forceful gesture. "Please let me go, you creep. You're not even listening. I said no. Nada. Literally the opposite of yes."
"Hey. Don't worry. You don't have to be too embarrassed around me." He said, making her groan and feel more uncomfortable when she fought against him, her heels not providing her with the balance needed to do so.
She was about to slap him until something out of nowhere connected to his face, Leaf seeing Buneary kicking the man which made him drop to the floor. He looks at the Pokemon, clutching his cheek while doing so before he gets up, an angry look on his face then takes out a Pokeball from his pocket. "Where did you come from, you little runt?"
He was about to release the capsule but was too slow when the brown rabbit kicks his hand, knocking the device from it which earned a click of his teeth. He was about to retaliate before Leaf kicks him in the crotch, the man making a silent scream before he descends to the ground, holding the damaged area.
"No balls…" She looks at the man on the floor, sticking out her tongue childishly before she wanders away from the deck and went back into the party room, looking around for her friends. Finding them and reuniting with them, Kim realizes the look on her face, looking at her in concern. "Leaf. You alright?"
"Yeah…I'm alright thanks for Buneary here." The brunette said, petting her Pokemon.
"Hmm, what happened?" Eric asked, drinking some punch.
"Oh, the usual. Guys keep fawning over me...and some being creepy and forceful about it."
"Rough…wait wha-" Eric said but was interrupted by Noelle. "Don't worry. She has self-defense classes. One wrong move and you get hit in the place where the sun don't shine."
During their conversation, she then felt a tug on her dress, looking down to see Buneary motioning her to somewhere, her mind coming to a realization. "Buneary! I forgot to ask where you were this entire time."
The Pokemon continue tugging and gesturing to the outside, trying to pull her towards the direction before it starts punching her leg. "Ouch! Ok, I'm going, Buneary. I'm going."
Leaf then walks outside, her Pokemon happily and excitedly hopping in front of her before she sees a Pokemon that she knows very well, watching Poliwag standing by the punch table, looking around until it sees her. She then realizes that the blue tadpole is Red's own, crouching to it and petting it, earning a smile from it. "Hey there, Poli. Where's Red? I haven't seen him since I left the Center."
"Hey, Poli. Don't walk off like that. You made me worried. Oh! Hey, Leaf." Upon hearing the voice, Leaf becomes angry, her eyebrow twitching when she clenches her hands, ready to give the owner of the voice a piece of her mind. "You got some nerve, Red Fires. What makes you think you can keep a young beautiful lady likeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-"
Turning her gaze to him, her eyes widened when she sees him, unable to finish her statement. Before her is Red, in a black tuxedo and a blue corsage, his hair not as much of his face as it usually does.
'How does he manage to look even better than my imagination? HOW?! That's'illegal. I need my money back stat!' Leaf mentally screamed, her face steadily changing to crimson. Her heart is starting to beat a lot faster than usual which is contrast to the moment she laid eyes on him, time feeling like it has stood still for her. Not getting a respond from the brunette, snapping his fingers in front of her.
"Hu-Huh?" Leaf stated, a dazed look on her face before she sees Red again, almost falling into a trance but she was able to stop herself. He then chuckles silently before he holds out his hand to her, his facial expressions causing a cyclone of emotions in her while she is holding his hand. 'Omigosh omigosh omigosh omigosh omigosh! Clear your mind, Leaf. Is it possible to partake of this meal in front of me?'
'Oh my! If this is not what the perfect person looks like. Arceus made the greatest mistake in history by letting him be born.' Leaf mentally said, trying not to drool when she is taken up from the floor by Red who looks at her, blushing before he says. "You look beautiful…in that dress."
The brunette blushes harshly, her face transforming into a different color when she looks at him, her mouth moving on its own. "Thank you. You look absolutely delicious."
"What?" Red asked, confused.
"Handsome. You look extremely handsome." She quickly caught herself, correcting herself when she smiles at him, finding it very hard to tease him. She then pouts, removing her hand from his and turning around with her arms crossed which made him look at her with a brow raised. "Leaf?"
"I'm angry at you, Red. You're late. You kept me waiting." She said, refusing to look at him in fear of her face blushing more than usual. He then scratches his head, feeling sorry for making her wait long before he felt himself getting close to the girl, looking down to see Poliwag pushing him towards her.
"What are you doing, Poli?" Red questioned the blue tadpole, it looking at him with a pleading face.
'Mama told me that when you have done something to a girl, you should always show them that you're sorry. So you have to tell her that you're sorry.' He said, earning a smile from his trainer before Red pets it, the Water type smiling before he hops on his shoulder. He looks towards the girl about to apologize before she spins around him before rubbing her cheeks with his. "Your apology is accepted."
"But I didn't say anything." Red protested before she smiles at him and drags him across the room. "I know but I hear you thinking it."
"Hey, Red! How you doing, man?" Eric said upon seeing the raven haired teen, wrapping his arm around the teen. "Bro, are those contacts or are they real?"
"Red, meet my friends." Leaf said before Kimberley walks up to Red, eyeing him with squinted eyes. She then paces around him, making him feel uncomfortable when he turns to Leaf for an answer when she giggles at him. "Alright. Not bad. You pass."
'What?' Red then raise a brow, wondering what to say before the bluenette resumes. "Name's Kimberley but you can call me Kim."
"My name is Emma. Nice to meet you." Emma said, looking slightly mesmerized by his looks before she steps back, blushing harshly.
"My name is Noelle. Can I ask some questions please?" Noelle asked, Red shrugs which made the girls stiffen at his response. The tanned girl clears her throat before she takes out a notebook before she blurts out her questions. "Are those eyes real or fake? Are you mute? Are you planning to be a Pokemon Champion like Leaf or you're taking another route? How many badges do you have? Where were you born?"
Red was caught back by the girl's questions, Leaf and the others laughing at his expression before the brunette gets in between them, putting a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Save the questions for later, Lady News."
The group then continue having fun at the party with Red included, enjoying their time, joking around and dancing. Seeing everyone enjoying themselves and talking with people as much as he could made Red feel genuinely happy, something he's not used to feeling unless he's around Pokemon. For years, he was alone, mostly by himself or with Pokemon, barely having any form of social communication which is something he didn't have a problem with. Realizing this and seeing how much excitement and the whirl of emotions that he has from hanging out, he smiled as he has one thing on his mind: to enjoy the rest of the party.
As time passes by, Leaf then realize that a slow song is about to play, everything around her zoning out while she puts a hand on her cheek. Her eyes wonders around the room before they land on Red, her cheeks turning pink while she watches his features. She observes his every gesture, finding immense interest in how he moves, how he talks and his facial expressions. Leaf then watches the people in the room dancing Kimberley looks at the brunette before she walks to the raven haired boy, holding him by the arm and pushing him to Leaf, him looking at her with a raised brow.
"Don't mess it up." She said with a smile before walking away. He then looks around, seeing people dancing before he starts to understand what is going on, getting nervous and his cheeks turning pink before he turns to Leaf who is busy twirling her hair with a thoughtful expression on her face until she notices Red at the corner of her eye. "Oh! H-hey. Red, are you ok? D-didn't see you there?"
'Alright, Red. Here goes nothing.' Red thought before he took a deep inhale and then exhaled.
"M-may I-I have this d-dance?" Red said, his nervous voice sounding like music to Leaf's ears when she nodded, her thoughts spiraling out of control. 'How can someone so nervous sound so adorable?'
She then takes his hand and hugs him, not wanting him to see the huge smile on her face. Leaf then drags him to the center of the room, joining the rest of the couples. Not understanding, he looks at the other couples, trying to mimic them and hold her but fails, much to Leaf's amusement.
"Oh. Don't be nervous. Just follow my lead." Leaf said, intertwining her hand with his before she guides his other hand around her waist. She then locked eyes with him before it transforms into a smirk, Red already knowing what is going to happen. 'I know that look.'
"You know you can go lower if you want. I won't mind." She whispered, giving him a seductive look which is returned by a sigh from Red. He was then dragged, her leading him around the room as they dance to the slow song. As they sway to the beat, Leaf notices some of the stares from the girls, feeling happy to see their heartbroken expressions on their face. 'That's what you get for going after my Red.'
She then blushes when she realizes what she was thinking before she looks at the boy in question, seeing him look at her with a smile on his face, his crimson orbs showing her reflection. Her aquamarine orbs showing his. She starts to zone out everything around her, only looking at Red like he is the only that is within her vision, the only thing that mattered. She was thinking about the moments that she and Red had together, it was short but it was fun. She thought about how he was always adorable when he was shy, how his eyes shimmered and shine with the environment that he is in, how handsome he looks when he covers his face with his cap and hair and when it is exposed. Amongst these thoughts, one question came up in her conscience which made her mind froze. 'What if he is the person in that dream? What would you do?'
She tries to shake away those thoughts, stating to herself that the person is in prison and that is impossible when another question arises. 'What if he's your worst enemy?'
'Shut up! I'm enjoying life right now.' She mentally yelled, repelling the negative thoughts before focusing on Red. Meanwhile Red is looking at Leaf, realizing how much of a good friend she is to him throughout his journey, smiling at the memory before a thought came across his mind.
'Are you worthy to be her friend? With all the things that happened to the past, all that blood on your hands, do you think you deserve to have a friend?'
Red looks down, his face having a melancholic look while the memories from the past stab him like endlessly, him wondering if there is a day that he could ever walk away from that past. While he twirls Leaf, he realizes how beautiful she is and how happy she is, making him come to a decision as he hardens his resolve.
'I guess I can tell her…tell her about my past...' He thought, his body brimming with courage as he looks at the girl in her eyes, seeing her brown her shimmering under the disco lights.
"Leaf…I-" Red said, having a little trouble in saying his words. He then took a deep breath, trying to calm himself before he was about to say his words. Leaf looks at him in worry before her eyes wandered south, her attention being on his lips as she watches them move, blushing furiously. "I-"
"HALT!"
A voice tore through the room like a machete, stopping Red's train of thought and attracting everyone's attention to the owner of the voice. At the entrance stood Klaus and Clarence who had a crazed look on their faces before he points at Red.
"It's you! You're that thief! The one who not only stole my Gyarados and Poliwag!"
Behind him was a group of policemen who enters the room, not allowing anyone to leave the ship when Klaus sees Poliwag by Red's feet, pointing at it and explaining to the men in blue. "You see. I'm not wrong, that is my Poliwag that he stole from me, using its Hypnosis to stop me from getting back my precious little Milotic!"
All eyes were on Red, who froze in place, utterly confused by the words that left the fisherman's mouth before his eyes widened, seeing Clarence play the tape, everyone in the room in shock before they glare at the raven haired teen, disappointment in their expressions when he hears a voice beside him and a grip on one of his hands, seeing Leaf. "What are you even talking about? Red caught his Milotic as a Feebas at Cerulean Cape, he told me everything."
"Oh really? Did he tell you that there a fishing tournament happening at the cape? Also, did he tell you that he was disqualified at said tournament for thievery of another person's Pokemon or bait?" Klaus said, Clarence nodding which made Leaf look at Red in disbelief, seeing that he could not say much as he bows his head down, knowing that how much he tries to justify it, there is some truth behind the man's words.
"R-Red? Is that true?" She asks him, he could not look at her when he nods before he says. "But I did not steal anyone's Pokemon. He stole my Gyarados and then pinned the blame on me..."
"What is going on?"
"It looks like that scumbag over there stole Klaus' 'mon."
"You mean Red? Nooo. He was one of my favorite participants."
"It's always the quiet ones."
Red glares at Klaus before he notices the policemen coming towards him, thinking of a way to get out of the situation until he notices something by the corner of his eye, running towards that direction out of panic as Poliwag follows him. 'Red. What are you going to do?'
"They're going to take you back to Klaus." The teen said flatly, the blue tadpole being scared.
'But I don't wanna go back.'
"I know and I'm not gonna be pushed around by anyone again." He said, taking out his Pokeballs while hearing the shouts from his friends and the policemen, zoning them out as he only had one goal in his mind.
"Never again."
Finally finished this chapter. Whew! So who hates Klaus for ruining the moment? I do! What do you guys think Red is going to do? Also, I'm just glad that I'm almost done with the tournament and going back to normal adventuring from here. So let me know your thoughts on the story and hope you all love it so far. I don't have much to say so Enigma out!