RD 'A New Age' Pt 20

-5 Years ago-

After the Yanma incident was over, Ina's attention shifted back to the still huge pile of unnamed Pokemon. Axel's reactions towards Pokemon were less startling now; maybe it was the fact that he was beginning to understand, or maybe just because the ones coming out weren't huge titans anymore...

"*Sigh* Still so much to do and I'm already exhausted..." Ina bellowed as her head sunk "I need a break, and maybe a bit of fresh air"

"Just relax and take your time Ina... You could really use some fresh air too Axel, just how long had you been in there?" Jenna pointed at her non-generic video games station which brand and model we all know this far *Wink*.

"Not that much... Well maybe... Just all morning ... But at least I've already unlocked all songs in all difficulties!" Axel added as a copy of a Japanese rhythm game was on-screen.

"(Mental note: Keep rhythm games AWAY from this guy)" Jenna almost facepalmed and hoped those games weren't in her possession.

She slowly walked towards her TV, then reached for her video game console.

"Wait! What are you doing?!" Axel exclaimed in a mixture of puzzlement and nervousness.

She calmly slid her hand across the front panel, and reached for the "Power" button.

"Wait! No! At least let me save first!"

However, despite Axel's begs of mercy, Jenna's fingers were way to swiftly. Axel's in hand controller fell on the carpet almost instantly.

"Come on, lets go outside" She said as both of the girls started dragging him out.

"My scores, my achievements (T_T)"

[N/A: Any similarities between my OC and his actual counterparts are... Well, actually real -.-]

A few steps and they were out of the house. Just as they felt the wind on their faces, Axel regained his feet and mood, and even Ina started feeling even more relaxed.

It was then when Axel finally took a glimpse at his surroundings: Not only the landscapes were breathtaking, but even the creatures living on the ranch were astounding.

He saw a giant, black crow next to a huge bee-like creature; both of them looked almost majestic. He also saw a giant, winged orange lizard right next to what seemed like a huge living flower, both of them leaning their heads against the other.

He saw the Yanma of before, now followed by a small white squirrel and similar-sized a blue, note-shaped bird. Even since their shapes and sizes varied amongst them, they seemed to live in peace, and, unlike his previous beliefs, capable of showing emotions similar to humans.

Then something caught his attention: A rather small orange mouse was carrying what seemed like different kinds of small fruits on his front paws. He stopped in front of a light brownish and green she-cat, as if offering them to her; and a small trace of red seemed to appear on both of their faces. Then the cat wrapped her paws around the mouse, making his face change from orange to deep red. The mouse suddenly broke free and dashed away, leaving a grimace on the she-cat.

-

Ross came to a stop panting heavily against a tree and slowly his regaining his usual color.

"*Sigh* You're pathetic Ross, she was just being nice to you!" The Raichu spoke to himself.

"If you say so, I guess I agree with that" Came to him an unfamiliar voice.

Ross turned around just to see an Umbreon right behind him. He back-stepped nervously and tripped over the tree root.

"Oh, sorry bout that, my name is Shadow" The Umbreon spoke with a calm voice.

"Shadow?" Asked Ross as he slowly regained his ground.

"I know, a bit overused, but the girl was running out of names, what was her name again? Edna, Irma..."

Ross got a small hint "Jenna? Ina?"

"Yup, that one"

"Cool, when did she got you?"

"I dunno, a trade or something. I just woke up and here I am" Shadow said as he looked around "You've got a nice place here, I guess I got lucky for once"

"You sure did, shes such a great trainer"

They engaged in small talk for a while, a few minutes later, Saria arrived shortly followed by a Growlithe.

"Hi Ross! I want you to meet someone!" The Leafeon started introducing as the Growlithe took a few steps forward "This is Janice, shes new around here"

"Pleased to meet you... err... What was it again?" Janice held a paw forward, speaking with a slightly tomboyish yet feminine voice. Ross noticed something peculiar about her: unlike most Growlithe's, she didn't seemed that puppy-like, meaning she was already full grown, yet she hadn't evolved due the lack of a fire stone.

"Oh, almost forgot about it, Janice, this is Ross, hes my best friend" Saria added cheerfully; this comment made Ross turn a bit red.

"Really? I always believed it was Cotton" The Raichu chuckled a bit nervous while scratching the back of his head.

"Well... thats when it comes to girls, but overall I consider it is you" The Leafeon beamed as she said so, making the Raichu feel a bit awkward.

"Now that you mention it, I also want to introduce you someone..." Ross started as he turned back to his Umbreon friend "Girls, this is-"

"Oh hell no!" Janice interrupted the moment she saw him.

"Hey! Its you again!" The dark type added.

"Do you guys know each other?" Asked Saria starting to feel a bit confused.

"I cant stand this guy! I met him once back when he wasn't evolved yet... and its still the same" Janice commented with a dry, cold tone.

"Oh come on! I wasn't that bad, was I? I only said you looked kinda cute" The Umbreon started.

"Yeah, just to then turn towards the rest of the girls and start shouting "OMG! Now thats hot!"" The Growlithe added.

"Oh come on! You cant avoid a guy like me from stating at the facts"

A brief, uncomfortable silence stood between them for a while.

"The name's Shadow by the way" The Umbreon finally broke the silence.

"Janice" She snapped a bit coldly.

"Oh, nice name, glad to know at least some of us did got a decent name"

"Got anything else to praise?" She asked somehow sarcastically.

"(Ross, We've gotta do something before this turns up for worst)" Saria whispered at the Raichu's long ear.

"(I think I know what to do)" He whispered back, then went to Janice and Shadow "Say... Want us to give you a small tour around here? You might want to know this place better" The Raichu suggested.

Both of them hesitated for a moment "Well, I guess I really could use one" Janice responded regaining a small grin.

"Count me in too" Added Shadow, making Janice's smile fade out slightly.

"Alright then! Lets go!" Cheered Saria as she started leading the way.

-Meanwhile-

"...And then he just dashed away, leaving the other looking a bit down" Axel finished telling Jenna when she asked about her Raichu.

She let out a small sigh "It happens more often than you would believe, Ross is really shy, but he likes her; Saria, that Leafeon, happens like him too, but that somehow leads to making him shy away in these situations" Jenna finished telling him.

Axel seemed confused "Then, it also happens to Pokemon too? I though they were more on the animal side"

"Some of them are, but still, their minds are usually larger than animal's used to be, and so, they tend to develop human-like emotions"

Axel was still in disbelief, all of his life he had believed them beasts, yet it had just been proved they weren't.

"Now, would you mind giving me a hand here? Since Ina is busy I need you to help me getting lunch ready"

However, Axel's mind was somewhere else: He had recognized a familiar, light purple jackal-like Pokemon, now sitting right beside a similar, blue colored one. Both of them looked so peacefully that he didn't feel frightened about them anymore...

"...Axel, Axel!" Jenna almost yelled at him snapping him out of it.

"Oh! Sorry! I was just looking at..." He turned his gaze towards the jackal duo.

A small grin appeared on Jenna's face as she saw the two Lucarios "I see, so there is Vincent, I'm glad to know he's better than yesterday, he seemed so sad, also Lily is getting along with him"

"Those two... are they the same breed?"

"Yeah, they are both Lucarios, only that she is different colored" Jenna spoke almost loosing focus on her cooking, knowing that he and Veruka hadn't been acting "normally".

They both snapped back to reality when one of the pots started whistling, and both of them resuming to the cooking tasks.

-Later-

Janice and Shadow had been starting to get along, or at least they weren't trying to kill each other. After having lunch they eventually met Ross' hyperactive "little brother".

The Growlithe giggled slightly "You know, its kinda adorable that you have a little brother"

"Well, his parents weren't around, and someone had to watch over him. At least Saria has always helped me whenever she has the chance" He replied a bit shy.

"Aww, now thats cute, ever considered on having children of your own?" Janice asked.

Both Leafeon and Raichu tilted their heads in confusion "Huh?"

"I mean... You two..."

Almost instantly, their faces turned bright red "What!? Oh no, we're not..."  Ross stuttered.

"We're not exactly..." Saria started, however, she quickly changed her words "Hes just a friend, I mean..."

Yet her heavy blushing made both Janice and Shadow look at each other and nod in confirmation to what both were thinking.

"Well, you should really hook up" Shadow spoke, making their faces so obvious that they had to turn away in order to not to face each other.

"I... Don't really think so..." Ross' words betrayed his thoughts.

"But why not? Ever heard that best friends end up as best of lovers?" The Growlithe insisted.

"I-I need to... Excuse me!" A startled Saria just ran away in order to stop them from noticing her face flushing pink.

"I'll be right back" Janice added before following her, leaving just Shadow and Ross alone.

After a few minutes of awkward silence, Shadow finally spoke "Say... Don't you wanna go with her?"

"Knock it off Shadow" Ross said as his face slowly recovered his color.

"Oh come on! I saw how you were looking at her"

"Who? Janice?" The Raichu asked feigning innocence, yet he forgot he was a terrible liar.

"Don't mess up with me, you know I meant Saria, and as far as I can say, the main idea didn't sound that bad to you"

"OK! OK! Fine! I do like her" He confessed as his gaze went down "I do like her, but... I..."

"You're shy, aren't you?"

The Raichu nodded shamefully.

"Well, there is an easy way out of it"

"DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!!!" Ross cried desperately.

"OK, OK, calm down" The Umbreon said a bit alarmed by his reaction "There is another way, you do believe she's nice don't you?"

"Nice? Nice gets a bit short for her" Ross spoke a bit dazzled.

"Alright then, just let her know that"

"What?!"

"You don't have to tell her everything directly at once, let her know a bit at a time"

"Huh?"

"Need it clearer?"

"If possible"

"Alright then, just one word..."

-

Janice had followed Saria into the woods, and was having some hard time finding her, since she mistook her several times with other bushes.

It was then when she heard a low sob, she turned towards it to find the crying Leafeon "Saria! Are you OK?"

The Leafeon sniffled before speaking "I think so"

"Whats wrong?" The Growlithe asked her.

"Nothing" She lied as she turned her face away and letting out another low sob.

"Was it something that I said?"

"No... It wasn't your fault... I mean... You didn't mean to..." Saria spoke between sobs.

It was then when it struck Janice.

"Saria... Then it is true? Do you really like him?" She asked as she put a paw on her mouth.

The Leafeon nodded.

"Oh dear, I'm sorry for making you go through that" The Growlithe apologized.

"It wasn't your fault" Saria repeated finally regaining herself "He said it himself *Sigh* I just don't have a chance"

"Saria..." Janice soothingly put a paw on her back "Don't say that, I'm pretty sure he would really like someone like you"

"You really think so?" The Leafeon questioned as small tear remain poured down her face.

"I'm positive, he just needs to know what you feel about him"

"But I can't tell him straight"

"Love shy?"

"Sort of"

"Oh, I see, there are other ways though" Janice pondered for a moment as she realized what could be a good idea for someone like her "Ever considered a love letter?"

Saria shook her head "I don't think I would have the courage to deliver it, or even ask someone to deliver it"

"Well... If you can't tell him all at once..." A small smirk appeared on Janice's face "What about slowly letting him know"

"But I do try... Still it doesn't seem to work for me"

"I saw that earlier, but I don't mean actions but words"

"What do you mean?"

"One word..."

-

Exactly in this moment, it would seem like Janice's and Shadow's mind were connected, for at the same time, the same word came out of their lips, one that made both Ross and Saria open their eyes wide open in disbelief...

"Flirt"



To Be Continued...