Vedanturf Town, Hoenn Region.
Wally, Aspiring Trainer.
"Okay. So say you're in a double battle," Wally murmured, squatting on the sunny slope outside the Pokémon Center. "If you can teleport just behind the opponent's support Pokémon, even for a split second, that might throw off their timing."
Ralts sat before him, legs tucked neatly beneath her, eyes half-closed in the warm light, always alert.
Wally traced invisible arcs on the ground with his finger. "Or maybe use it like a feint. Pretend to fall back, teleport, then strike from the side before they can move. It's not just for escaping anymore. It can be… pressure."
Ralts dipped her head just a little, a silent nod Wally had come to understand.
"We'll need a cue," he said. "Something subtle. Like if I tug my glove, or clear my throat twice."
Wally adjusted his sleeves, thoughts still turning. "And if you can teleport with enough precision, "
"AHH! ARCEUS!"
A flash of light burst between them. Ralts' eyes narrowed, a soft blue aura glowing as an egg wobbled in midair. It hovered briefly before settling gently into Wally's arms, who remained frozen in place.
The girl who'd bumped into him gasped, skidding to a stop. Her ponytail had come loose in her sprint, frizzing like it had a life of its own.
Still holding her hands out where she'd fumbled the egg, she gave a sheepish smile. "That was way too close. Thanks, Ralts."
Ralts didn't respond, as usual.
Wally finally looked up at the girl. She was catching her breath, her sneakers mismatched, one yellow, one green, and scuffed like they'd been through a dozen adventures in a week. Her denim shorts were patched with hand-stitched hearts, and her oversized tank top slipped off one shoulder.
She clutched her knees, panting. "Sorry! I tripped on a stupid twig and almost scrambled the egg."
Wally blinked. "It's... okay." He glanced down at the egg, now safely cradled. "You alright?"
"Oh, yeah," she said with a grin. "Nothing like a little shock to wake you up in the morning."
A yellow blur zipped up behind her, a Pikachu, cheeks sparking, eyes narrowed as it glared at her.
"I KNOW, buddy! I was supposed to walk, but I got excited!"
The Pikachu crossed its arms, looking unimpressed.
"Anyway," she said, brushing grass off her shirt, "Sparky's the name. Like lightning, with way more personality."
Wally raised an eyebrow but managed. "Wally. Like a wall, but easier to talk to."
There was a pause. Then Sparky's eyes lit up.
"Wait, did you just hit me with a pun?"
Wally smirked. "Guess you could say... it was a shocking comeback."
She gasped. "Oh no. He did."
Clapping her hands, she said, "Oh, this is the start of something great. You into puns? Strategy? Electric-types? Non-lethal chaos?"
He chuckled,"Two out of four."
"That's fair," she shrugged. "I used to collect rubber bands shaped like Unown. Standards are flexible."
Pikachu tugged at her leg, pointing to the egg in Wally's arms.
"Right!" she said. "Thanks again. That save deserves a badge. Is that your Ralts?"
"She caught the egg before I could even blink," Wally said, handing it over gently. "Her reflexes are improving."
"I can tell," Sparky said softly, eyes bright. "Good psychic bond, that takes trust."
Wally shrugged modestly, "We've been working on it."
Pikachu hopped onto his knee, sniffing curiously.
Wally smiled and reached out slowly. "Hey there."
He stroked the soft fur on Pikachu's head, careful to avoid the ears. "You're adorable. Like, dangerously cute."
Behind him, Ralts edged closer, expression unreadable but eyes tracking his hand carefully.
He gave Pikachu another gentle stroke. "I've always wanted to see a real Pikachu. It's even cuter than I imagined."
Pikachu puffed out its chest proudly.
Wally chuckled. "And so modest, too."
Ralts shifted closer, blank-faced but tilting her head slightly.
Wally glanced down. "Don't worry, you're adorable too."
Ralts didn't smile, but her eyes sparkled briefly, so much so that Wally wondered if he imagined it.
"Jealous," Sparky whispered, fascinated.
"She's not jealous," Wally said quickly.
Ralts poked his arm.
"Okay, maybe a little territorial," he admitted.
He bent to adjust his bag strap, and Ralts seized the moment to climb into his lap, arms crossed like she'd just claimed her favorite spot.
"Looks like she's making herself at home," Sparky said with a grin.
Wally smiled softly, running his fingers over her head-crest, earning a subtle lean into his palm.
Sparky tucked the egg securely under her arm. "I'm heading to the Day Care. Got this from a blonde lady in black overalls. Thought they'd know best how to incubate it. Want to come? You already saved its shell."
Wally looked at Ralts, then Pikachu, then Sparky, and smiled.
"Sure. I'm already tangled up in this now."
Sparky blinked, then snorted. "Did you just make an egg pun?"
Wally shrugged. "I crack under pressure sometimes."
She laughed, clutching the egg tighter. "Okay, you're officially dangerous."
...
The Day Care was on the road just outside Vedanturf. It was a place that smelled like warm straw and apricorn oil, the kind of place where time slowed down and Pokémon naps were sacred.
The woman who ran it was old. She was known around the block to be the type to greet strangers with a plate of bean buns and unsolicited stories about Torchic hatchlings. A granny type for sure.
But when Sparky and Wally pushed through the creaky wooden doors, they heard a voice laced with panic.
"Thieves!" she cried, waving a ladle with surprising aggression. "Thieves in broad daylight!"
Wally blinked. "Uh, ma'am, ?"
"THEY'RE TRYING TO STEAL A MAGNEMITE!"
Sure enough, two figures in dark-blue uniforms were cornering a panicked Magnemite near a wall lined with incubators. The male grunt was holding a net that sparked uselessly whenever the floating Pokémon jolted away.
"Quit moving, ya tin can!" he snarled, flailing the net.
The female grunt rolled her eyes, arms crossed. "Ugh, you had one job. How hard is it to catch a floating magnet?"
Sparky stepped forward, eyes flashing. "Okay, this is definitely not part of the Day Care tour."
The male grunt turned, squinting. "Huh? Who're you supposed to be?"
"Electric enthusiast. Defender of eggs. All-around good Samaritan," Sparky quipped, placing her hands on her hips. "You two seriously trying to steal a Magnemite? Isn't that like robbing a power socket?"
"Quiet!" the female grunt barked. "We're with Team Aqua, and this Magnemite belongs to Gym Leader Wattson. Once we take it back, we'll drain its energy and use it to power our underwater base!"
Wally frowned. "That doesn't even make scientific sense."
"And soon," the male added, dramatically pointing to the ceiling, "we'll submerge the whole world in water!"
There was a pause.
Wally tilted his head. "Okay, but then where are you going to live?"
"…What?"
"I mean, you're not a Tentacool. You breathe air, right? You'd just end up soggy and sad."
The grunt blinked. For a moment, it looked like he might actually be considering that.
"He's got a point," the grunt muttered.
"Don't listen to him!" the female snapped, and kicked him in the shin.
"Ack, what was that for?!"
"Focus! We've got a job to do!"
Wally and Sparky exchanged glances.
"Ralts," Wally said quietly.
"Pikachu," Sparky added.
The Pokémon stepped forward together, eyes narrowing. Ralts's little feet barely made a sound on the wooden floor. Pikachu's cheeks sparked in anticipation.
"Go! Zubat, Poochyena!" the grunts shouted.
The battle was short but flashy.
Zubat swooped down, shrieking, only to be yanked midair by a precise Psychic pulse.
Poochyena lunged, only to be met with a jolt of electricity so bright it momentarily stunned even Sparky.
The grunts gawked as their Pokémon collapsed in a heap.
"This… this ain't over!" the female grunt growled, recalling Zubat.
"We'll report this to Archie himself!" the male added, limping.
Wally adjusted his scarf. "Tell him he'll need a better plan. Maybe one that doesn't end with him drowning."
With a final glare, the grunts dashed out the back, slipping on a stray puddle as they went.
Sparky exhaled, wiping her forehead. "Well, that escalated fast."
The old woman peeked from behind the counter, her apron slightly askew and a Magnemite cradled gently in her arms. The little Pokémon hummed softly, its magnets flickering with faint electric pulses.
"Oh, you brave little darlings!" she gasped, her voice trembling with relief. "You saved him, this Magnemite's one of Wattson's! We were just minding him for the weekend!"
Wally offered a modest smile, brushing a leaf off his sleeve. "All in a day's work."
Ralts stood at his side, solemn and silent, as if brushing off invisible danger. Pikachu struck a tiny victory pose beside them, cheeks crackling with pride.
"We actually came for this," Sparky said, gently shifting the egg tucked under her arm. She passed it to the caretaker with a grin. "Picked it up from a very... eccentric blonde. Figured you'd know how to give it the best start."
The old woman took the egg with practiced care, eyes already softening. "Ohh, what a healthy weight, bless her heart, whoever she was."
Sparky reached into her pocket. "How much for the usual incubation service, ?"
The woman waved her off with a flurry of hand motions. "After what you two did today? Not a single Pokédollar. I should be paying you. You're heroes!"
Sparky blinked. "Wait, really?"
"You saved Wattson's Magnemite!" the woman beamed. "That's the least we could do."
Just then, a rolling chuckle echoed from the gate.
"Well now, I knew something zappy must've happened," said a booming voice.
Wally turned, and Sparky actually gasped.
Watson, Gym Leader of Mauville, marched up in his yellow-striped coat.
"Watson!" Sparky breathed. "Like, Watson Watson?!"
The gym leader grinned. "In the slightly-wrinkled flesh."
"Heard a bit of a commotion!" he boomed. "Did my Magnemite throw a tantrum again?"
"Team Aqua tried to nab him," Sparky said, thumb over her shoulder. "But we handled it."
Watson's eyebrows lifted like overcharged Voltorb. "Well I'll be! That calls for a jolt of gratitude!" He pulled something from his coat with a dramatic flourish, two magnets.
"A Magnet," he said. "Boosts Electric-type moves. A little shock and awe for your teams."
Sparky's eyes sparkled as she turned it over in her hand. "This is, wow. I mean, Pikachu's gonna fry berries with this."
Watson chuckled. "Speaking of battles... are you two planning on entering the Verdanturf Tournament next week?"
Wally looked up. "I am," he said.
Sparky's head snapped toward him. "Wait. You're entering?"
He nodded. "I've been training for it."
There was a beat. Then Sparky's lips curled into a grin that was half-thunder, half-delight.
"Well," she said, stepping closer with a spark in her eye. "Guess that makes us rivals now, huh?"
Wally blinked, caught somewhere between confusion and amusement. "…Rivals?"
"Yep!" she chirped, clapping him on the shoulder. "You saved a Magnemite, gave a speech that stunned a sea fanatic, and you've got a Ralts who looks like it wants to evolve just to one-up Pikachu. You're officially on my radar."
Wally glanced down. Ralts had inched closer, staring very pointedly at Pikachu with a blank expression.
"…Great," he said, exhaling. "My first rival, and she's… sparky."
Sparky lit up like a Light Ball. "Was that a pun? Did you really just hit me back with a pun?"
Wally smiled. "Maybe. Consider it a shock to your system."
Sparky wheezed. Pikachu facepawed. Ralts blinked. Watson sneezed.
...
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