Chapter Text
Stebbins blinked at the small Pokeball in his cupped hands, tough fingertips grazing the cool metal in the gaze of a burning sun. The red was a new scarlet, the white made of an improved stainless steel. Yet the object barely weighed anything.
“Fennekin? Is that your choice?” Garraty whistled. “I didn’t think you’d want the small fox to be your partner.”
Stebbins looked up, a questioning look on his face.
From where Garraty sat at a cafe table just outside the Pokecenter of Vaniville Town. The golden light of the sun highlighted his strawberry blonde hair, and made all his freckles stand out in contrast to his paler skin. In his right hand, he fidgeted with a Pokeball of his own, rolling it between two fingers.
“Well, you’re like, ‘Ohhhhh I’m a tough guy’, so I’d assume you’d want Froakie or something.” Garraty tried to explain, visible awkwardness displayed.
“Woah, woah, who’s to say Fennekin isn’t tough?” McVries butted in. The handsome trainer stood to Garraty’s left, warm expresso skin nearly untouched by anything except for a pale scar running down his cheek. He tossed a Pokeball in his left hand, letting it fall back into his palm. He let his other hand rest on the cafe table, leaning on the metal (and as Stebbins could see, to get a better look at Garraty).
“I just- I just thought Stebbins would go for a fighting or dark type for a final evolution. Not psychic.” Garraty stammered.
“Delphox can defeat any of those types.” Stebbins defended.
“Huh?”
Being Fire-Psychic, it can take down a Chesnaught with a flick of its wrist. As for Greninja, Delphox is known to learn fairy-type moves and grass-type moves, an easy counter to the water and dark type. Not to mention its high special attack and boosted stats with mega evolution- Stebbins blinked, catching himself before he could say his plan out loud.
But it’s not like Stebbins could reveal his methods now. That would deplete the fun in seeing Garraty’s face fall when they competed in their last battle before the Elite Four. Only one trainer can go in and emerge on top. That would be Stebbins, he was sure of it. His strength would be a pacemaker for Garraty, so he’d always be multiple steps ahead. And it all started here, with his starter Pokemon choice.
“I don’t think the big guy wants to talk anymore.” McVries smiled, sighing as he gently put his Pokeball into his pocket.
“I want to battle.” Stebbins challenged Garraty. It’d be best to see where his opponent laid in terms of combat, that way he’d know how exactly to train Fennekin.
Garraty let out a nervous laugh. “Are you sure about that?”
19-year old Billy Stebbins felt as if he’d never been more surer in his life. With a journey unfolding before him, a future next to his father, the professor of the Kalos region was right in his path. He’d make it to the top, and every little victory would fall beneath his feet to elevate him there.
Stebbins nodded, raising a hand to fix his beige cap, letting it lay flat on his blonde curls. With his left hand, he straightened out his cream-colored shirt, which rested just on top of a white muscle shirt, just for extra protection. And after stretching out his arm in circles, Stebbins tightened his hold over the small Pokeball, the machine growing larger as one finger pressed down on the hold-and-release button.
“Stebbins never chooses a battle he can’t win.” McVries tsked. “Ray, Ray, Ray, you’re just going to be one underneath his belt.”
“Pfft. Stebbins doesn’t even wear a belt.” Garraty rolled his eyes, pretending he didn’t get the figure of speech. He let out a yawn to release the dreariness of the early morning, letting his arms fall back and then rest forwards. And after scooting his chair out with a loud screeeeech against the concrete, Garraty thrust his arm forwards, Pokeball in hand, like one of the epic cartoons on television.
Nothing happened- as the animation was always just an exaggeration of life. Stebbins hoped Garraty knew that.
Stebbins simply threw his Pokeball into the air, and the machine released a blue energy in waves, a simple fox Pokemon landing on its feet. Fennekin’s yellow fur gleamed in the sun, and its fiery red tail tip and ear fur was lit ablaze in hues of scarlet and shades of russet. It turned back to look at Stebbins, and with a smile, replied with a cry of excitement.
“Go, Froakie!” Garraty yelled, instead opting to throw his Pokeball to the ground, and as the Pokeball rolled away, the little blue frog Pokemon hopped forwards, a bubbly white almost mane-like structure around its neck.
“This should be an easy win.” Garraty whispered to McVries- though not too subtly that Stebbins couldn’t see.
“We’ll see about that, compadre.” McVries just let a hand fall to Garraty’s shoulder.
Stebbins would move first. He had to. “Fennekin, use tail whip!” The attack would lower Froakie’s defense, leaving a move like scratch to deal extra damage than previously. Hopefully this Fennekin had a good base attack statistic.
“A non-attacking move?” Garraty muttered. “Froakie, bubble!” Something super effective against fire- special attack, but Fennekin has a natural increase in both special attack and defense, Stebbins smirked. Garraty clearly didn’t have a battle plan, not like Stebbins had prepared the night before.
“Dodge!” Fennekin leaped away from the narrow water attack. “Now, use scratch!” The Pokemon ran forwards, slashing claws across the Froakie’s unprotected face, large red lines forming as soon as it ran back off as Garraty commanded: “Bubble, once more!”
Froakie has bad defense, another two hits and it’ll faint, Stebbins let the Pokemon land a hit on Fennekin. A minor sacrifice would have to be made for the greater win, it was a strategy used by champions of all regions. A strategy his father repeated in the lab. .
“Yes!” Garraty broke Stebbins out of his thoughts and in return, Stebbins just rolled his eyes at Garraty’s remark. Garraty believed he’d won the battle from a simple hit, but he hadn’t thought so far ahead as to count for his opponent’s turn, and that’s where Stebbins would get him.
“Fennekin, scratch, once more!” Fennekin jumped forward once more, landing lightly on its paws after the bubble attack, shaking out its yellow fur. Froakie started to slow, the visible scratches wearing the Pokemon down.
Stebbins gasped internally, recognizing the signs of a critical attack- the boosted confidence of the attacker, and the extreme exhaustion of the opponent. Froakie fell to the concrete, collapsing quickly, and the Pokeball that had been returned to Garraty’s hand opened in reflex, blue light taking Froakie back to keep the Pokemon safe in a fainted state.
Stebbins’ first win. Excitement bubbled in his chest, but he couldn’t let his emotions show- not yet, at least. He had to pretend he was mechanical for now, to discourage Garraty and McVries from seeing him as human. If he stayed a machine, he’d seem unbeatable. He’d become the champion easily in strides, rather than steps like Garraty.
“And Stebbins wins. Y’know, Garraty, you’d think you’d win with the type advantage.” McVries teased, grinning from ear to ear.
“Whatever, Pete.” Garraty rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t stop his own smile from spreading across his face, a light blush touching his cheeks.
With the two traveling together after this, they better just confess already. The longer they put off dating, the more I feel like a third-wheel, Stebbins thought. He didn’t think he’d ever be in a relationship, so there’d be nothing to distract him from training when he was champion- or stopping him from traveling the world to be the first trainer ever to complete the international Pokedex. Maybe then, his father would-
No. Just focus on the gym challenge for now. Family issues could be saved for later. Unpacked under a starry night in the forest, with just his partner Pokemon and a jelly sandwich. Thinking of which, Stebbins lightly touched the belt pack that held his limited homemade jelly sandwiches. He’d have to ration them over the next few days until he made it to Lumiose City and could receive more, or at least buy supplies to make more.
“Well, I guess this is goodbye.” McVries let a hand fall to Stebbins shoulder, and Stebbins nearly jumped out of his skin, not even realizing McVries and Garraty had moved so close to him when he was wrapped in his own thoughts. “Meet you in Santalune City?”
Stebbins nodded, and instead of leaving first, he watched Garraty and McVries turn back from the Santalune Forest and head back to the center of Vaniville Town, likely to go say goodbye to Garraty’s mom, Ginnie, one last time.
“You ready, Fennekin?” Stebbins turned to the fox Pokemon by his feet, its head tilting in affection. Stebbins let out a quiet chuckle, before returning the Pokemon to its ball, taking a deep breath, and letting his feet carry him to the outer edge of Vaniville, waiting for his boots to hit the bridge that would mark the beginning of a new life.
—
Stebbins treated himself to a jelly sandwich shortly after entering Santalune Forest. He knew he needed to save them, but it was a reward for winning his first battle, sue him.
The sun was beginning to set over the treetops, and the dapples reflected upon the forest floor, shades of green painted with golden browns and an overlay of shining golds. From the sides of the forest path, Pokemon chirped here and there. A cry of Fletchling, a quiet squeak from a Pikachu, or water falling from the Pokemon Panpour, they all harmonized in a peaceful ambience, a symphony for Stebbins’ ears.
From what he’d studied the nights prior to his journey, the next gym leader would have a Surskit and his ace would be Butterfree- simple, but these two could be dangerous if not handled correctly.
Stebbins thought of the water moves Surskit could pull out on Fennekin if his Pokemon didn’t move fast enough, or the various powder and status inflicting movies Butterfree could unleash to slowly win- if Butterfree was brought out first. So the best bet would be to capture a backup Pokemon for the time being. . .but what?
An electric type, Stebbins snapped his fingers. Like they do in the cartoons. Stebbins slapped his forehead in annoyance. His internal monologue would be the death of him.
An electric type such as Pikachu could easily defeat Surskit, and have energy to defeat Butterfree, but if not, Fennekin could be sent out for reinforcements. Stebbins grinned to himself, proud he’d come up with a plan.
The real challenge though, was how he’d obtain a Pokeball and how he’d find a Pikachu in the vast forest. It’d been reported there was a less than 10% chance to encounter one at the current climate of Kalos. I told Mom it was a good idea to watch the weather forecasts.
Maybe he’d get some Pokedollars from defeating some nearby trainers, and then he’d stock up on supplies in Santalune City. The plan was flawless.
And there! There would be his first opponent (other than Garraty, of course).
A blonde boy was crouched just off the path ahead of Stebbins, a blue jacket drawn over his smaller frame, and his shoulders raised, reminding Stebbins of a dog Pokemon with its hackles raised. His back was to Stebbins, but the trainer could easily see the boy had a camera in his steady hands, and was looking at- that Pikachu had to be his Pokemon.
It was Santalune Forest- but surely this trainer had heard of the new laws in Kalos and Lumiose City, right? Which meant if Stebbins threw out Fennekin, the boy would know Stebbins wanted a battle. Someone couldn’t be that out of the loop.
“Go, Fennekin!” Stebbins threw out his Pokeball- and. . .
it landed square on the blonde boy’s back.
“What the fuck?!” The blonde boy swirled around, jumping nearly 10 feet into the air. His eyes were wild, blue highlighted against the dark circles that were painted underneath. His hair fell in light strands across his forehead, and his frame had begun to shake in surprise. As soon as he took in Stebbins, he began to shake his head, and immediately turned on his heels and sprinted.
Stebbins, in shock himself, blinked before gathering up Fennekin in its ball once more, and taking off after the boy, at least wanting to apologize. If he didn’t, and Stebbins became champion, the boy could use the experience against him, and his public reputation-
No. Focus on finding the boy first. But, Arceus, the boy could run fast.
And from up ahead, Stebbins could hear him crashing off path, worn boots hitting foliage and fallen twigs with heavy thuds. Did Stebbins really surprise him that much? To be fair, it did look like Stebbins was trying to kill the guy- but that’s off topic.
“Wait!” Stebbins felt out of breath. When had he fallen behind on exercise?! But the boy continued running, now attempting to go faster, as Stebbins steered himself through the winding forest. And now he began to think of losing his path to Santalune City. But it was too late to turn back now. How big could the forest be anyway?
“Stop followin’ me-” The boy called out, but Stebbins could tell he was wearing out, and when he got his last vowel out- the boy let out a shriek of alarm.
Stebbins had almost caught up, and he came to his senses when his feet nearly left the ground, because before him was a steep cliff, dropping down maybe only 20 feet to a steep hollow. Thick vines and ferns covering the floor below.
And right there, hung the boy, face contorted in fear, hanging on with pale hands to a shifting rock from the cliff, panicky, short breaths leaving his mouth with heaves.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck-” The boy really did like cursing. “Can’t you- wait- don’t, please don’t leave me here, man. I- I- I know my way out, I’ll just- I’ll just limp my way outta here and tell on your ass. See how the- how the professor-” The boy had an accent reminiscent of that from the Unova region, specifically the southern area.
It reminded Stebbins of home, because so did he- even if it was faint now that he’d spent so much time in Kalos. Now the trainer was even more inclined to save the boy’s ass.
Not to mention he is sort of pretty, now that I have a better look at him- not that looks are all I care about! Stebbins thought, just in case any mind readers were nearby.
Stebbins lowered himself slowly so as to not shift too much of his weight that he’d fall off the cliff himself, and began to move forward to grasp the boy’s hands.
“This rock- it’s movin’- can’t you move any faster?” The boy cried out. And Stebbins pulled, the boy coming up quickly- which, to be honest, he weighed close to nothing.
It took the two another minute to calm down, and then they turned to each other.
“I’m sorry.” Stebbins muttered. Arceus, those two words were hard to say. He never wanted to use them in a situation like this ever again. It felt humiliating. It felt- too human. Stebbins shook his head to clear the thought.
“It- it’s fine.” The boy practically spat out, brushing off excess dirt from his blue jacket. A green bag hung around his shoulder, and his camera was actually tied around his neck- but it looked- oh. A camera should not look like that.
The boy took a look down, following Stebbins’ gaze, and he was stunned when he noticed his camera. A long string of curses left his mouth, practically shouted to the sun above, and the stars that hung light years away from it.
“I’ll pay you back.” Stebbins said sheepishly, scratching at the back of his neck. The boy scowled, and his hair seemed to spike out. Stebbins could only think of a cat Pokemon like Skitty puffing out its fur to seem intimidating.
“You can come with me to Lumiose and I can buy the fanciest camera for you there.” Stebbins offered.
The boy looked him up and down with a nasty side glare before nodding slowly, huffing as he stood up and fixed his messenger bag.
It would be a long journey to Lumiose City now- that was guaranteed.