Thanks to Dagzar (PokeCommunity) and Copper Hikari (FanFiction.net) for reviewing!
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“None of us knows what the next change is going to be, what unexpected opportunity is just around the corner, waiting a few months or a few years to change all the tenor of our lives.” –Kathleen Norris
“Not a very original name,” Luke said.
We were sitting at an outdoor restaurant, and my new Riolu was talking to me. Yeah, I said talking. Apparently, only I can understand him. But that isn’t all. Remember when I said the town sounded too loud compared to the number of people I saw on the streets? That was all of the Pokémon talking. I had NO idea HOW I was hearing them talking, but I didn’t really question it – nothing made sense anymore.
“Hey, you listening?” the impatient Riolu asked.
“Yeah, I’m just…thinking,” I mumbled.
“Hey, I’m surprised, too. I thought you humans couldn’t talk to us.”
“We can’t, as far as I know.” I started scratching him behind the ears. “But I’m not worrying about it. I’ve got other matters on my plate.”
Luke sighed and lay down on his back as I scratched him. I know “Luke” isn’t a very original name for a Riolu, considering that it evolves into a Lucario. Luke, Lucario. Get it? Ha ha. Rowan pressed me for a name, and I just stuttered out Luke, so now that’s his name. I yawned and noticed our food coming – some chicken for me and a formula bottle for Luke, since he was only a baby. Luke protested the bottle.
“I don’t need some damned bottle. Give me some of your food, Ichi.”
I laughed and just handed him the bottle. He sighed and started sucking the formula out. “Say,” I asked, “How can you talk so well and understand me? I thought you were a newborn.”
“We develop some vocal and motor skills in the egg. My parents taught me new words every night while I was in the egg, so I learned. I don’t know how the humans got a hold of my egg, but they did, so here I am.”
“Right…” I muttered. I started to scarf down the chicken when I noticed Kenny holding a Chimchar in his hands. I called out to him, and he noticed me and Luke.
“Hey, Ichi! What did you get for your starter?” He ran over and saw Luke sucking on his bottle. “A Riolu!? Awesome! What did you name him?”
“Luke,” I said, somewhat embarrassed.
Kenny laughed at this. “Nice name for a Riolu. This is my partner, Blaze.” The Chimchar looked at Luke and said, “Hey there, Luke. I’d stop and chat, but he’s really hurting me the way he’s squeezing on my sides...”
I giggled at this. “Hey Kenny, I think Blaze is a little bit uncomfortable.” Kenny looked down and adjusted his grip. Blaze looked up at me, astonished. “Wait, you can understand me?” it squeaked. I gave it a brisk nod, not wanting to appear to be talking to a Chimchar. At least, not in public.
“So, when are you heading out for Jubilife City?” Kenny inquired.
“Tomorrow morning. Luke here needs to get a little more time learning how to battle before I actually use him. I wonder what he can use…” I pulled out my Pokedex, courtesy of Rowan, and scanned Luke.
“
Known moves: Quick Attack, Foresight, Endure, and Aura Sphere,” the device chirped.
“Aura Sphere…I thought only Lucario learned that…” I muttered. “Luke, mind trying out Aura Sphere?”
“You got it!” Luke’s face scrunched up as he concentrated aura energy into his right hand…err, paw. Whatever. A small sphere formed, and he tossed it at a nearby boulder. The sphere drilled into the rock and exploded, leaving a sizable hole. Luke plopped back onto the table, breathing heavily. “That…takes…a lot…of energy…” he panted.
Kenny laughed. “Impressive! A Riolu who knows Aura Sphere! You hit the jackpot, didn’t you?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I suppose…wait, look over there.”
We both looked towards the road, where none other than Butch came bumbling towards us. He had a Pokeball in his hand, and I thought,
They actually gave this idiot a Pokémon?
Butch arrived at our table and stared at Luke, who had gotten back up and continued to suck on his bottle. “You got a ****ing Riolu? What a load! I should have won that lottery. How about I take that little devil off your hands for you?” With that, he lunged towards Luke.
Now, when I said I wanted Luke to stay and train for one more night, I didn’t mention that Luke and I had been training since I got him. I managed to get him up to level six before we quit, making him one level higher than your normal starter Pokémon, and more than enough to take care of this bumbling idiot.
“Luke, use Quick Attack.” The little Riolu smirked at the lumbering moron who was trying to grab him. Right before Butch’s hands closed around Luke, he vanished in a flash and reappeared over Butch’s head. He landed nimbly in Butch’s short, army-style hair. The idiot looked around frantically, shouting out, “Where is he!?” I laughed as he continued to look around until Luke tapped him on the head. Butch screamed in anger and tried to punch him. Before he could hit, Luke jumped off and Butch ended up hitting himself. He howled out in pain and swung blindly at wherever he saw Luke, but he ended up missing. Finally, he threw a desperation punch at me, trying to retain some modicum of dignity. I swiftly slid out of the way and grabbed Butch’s arm as his punch sailed by me. I used his momentum and launched him into our table, which toppled over as he smacked against the cool metal headfirst.
Luke jumped over to my shoulder and started to giggle. “What an idiot! He couldn’t hit me, so he tried to hit you?” I shrugged, not wanting to speak to Luke in public, considering I would look insane. Kenny stood staring in awe. “Dude…how did you learn to fight like that?” he exclaimed. I merely shrugged and said “I used to go to a gym. Taking care of morons like him is easy. There’s no way that h-“
Before I could finish, I felt a sharp blow to the back of my head. Butch had roused himself and tossed his new Pokeball at me. As it tumbled to the ground, it burst open and a Turtwig popped out in a flash of light. “I will end you!” the turtle thing shouted. I looked up at Butch, who had a sneer on his face. “How about I kick your little Riolu’s ass in a Pokémon battle? Right here, right now!” A small crowd started to form around us. I glanced at Luke, who nodded at me. I tossed my bag to Kenny, who caught it and beamed.
“Alright. Let’s do this.”
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My first ever Pokémon battle coming up in the next chapter! Remember to PLEASE, for the love of God, PLEASE rate, review, and comment!!!