#I mean it’s a similar problem to the bisharp line I guess

[pokemonfrommemory]

Sawblade dinosaur

[echoeternally]

Budding and Blooming (Fanfic)

And it’s a Pokemon one, at that.

Well, this was on my mind lately, so I just ended up writing it.

Basically, this is a small one-shot to slightly further some development on Greninja, Chesnaught, and their friends, with more focus on the friends.

It’s another quasi-canon story, in that the idea of this is canon, but not necessarily word-for-word, exact events. I guess that makes this the fourth in line for those, huh? Cool.

Anyway, here’s another Pokemon one-shot.

In the small town of Springton, a knight and a ninja hurried through the streets, avoiding the gaze of onlookers. One shouted slurs and swears at them, as they disappeared around a corner, and another tossed a stone, but missed. The hedgehog knight held the door to a public house open as the ninja frog shuffled inside, and he slipped in after him.

 “It’s been at least a week,” grumbled Greninja. “You think they would be over it.”

 “Uh, no, not likely at all.” Chesnaught sighed and rested a hand on the ninja’s shoulder. “This capital town isn’t as…well, they’re not…folks can be intolerant.”

 “Go figure.”

 “Ooh, you two cuties came on back, huh?” The pair turned as a round cow waitress made her way past them. “Words are buzzing around town about you.”

 “We know, Miltank.” Chesnaught’s shoulders dropped. “Not very nice ones, either.”

 “No? That’s not what I heard around here.” She shrugged. “Maybe it’s just the different patrons we get through here. A bit more, hm, diverse.”

 “Bell’s Belles is good for that, I suppose.”

“Well, it’s certainly not for how they treat the servers,” muttered Miltank. “Anyway, are you two looking for your friends? They had a table…” She turned and pointed toward the back. “That them?”

 “Yes, thank you.”

 “You’re welcome! Be by in a minute.” She moved to walk away, but paused. “I wonder how they’d do here if we get the name changed to Blue Belle’s.”

 “Probably poorly, based on the initial feedback,” warned Chesnaught.

 Greninja tugged his boyfriend along, and the two ambled from Miltank, as she returned to work. They walked to the back of the house, and joined a fox mage and an otter at the table.

 “Ah, finally.” Delphox slid back on his seat. “We were wondering about sending a rescue party for you two.”

 “Sorry.” Greninja rubbed his arm. “Chesnaught wanted to avoid certain roads, and I didn’t think that we needed to wear hoods, but then, uh…well, we should have.”

 “No, you shouldn’t have.” Samurott frowned and shook his head. “I’m sorry about how the town is treating you two. It’s not fair.”

 “Ah, that’s our problem.” Chesnaught smiled and patted Samurott’s shoulder, as the otter took a swig from his drink. “The support is appreciated.”

 “Mm.”

 He lowered his drink and gazed at Greninja briefly, but pushed the mug back up. A flowery civilian tugged another mage over to the table, both ladies giggling.

 “This is such a cute place, Lilligant!” Gardevoir grinned and clapped her hands together. “However did you find such a nice little hideaway?”

 “Ha, yeah, hideaway.” Lilligant brushed behind her head, and stared at Miltank in the distance. “Uh, just, um, stumbled upon it one day. It’s cute. The house, that is.”

 “It sure is! The servers are very good to the ladies here,” complimented Gardevoir.

 “Yeah, they sure can be.”

 “That Miltank server can really push the limit on service though,” noted Delphox. “It’s like she expects the male patrons to, I don’t know, want her attention to go all out like that.” He scratched his head. “Not that I’m complaining, it’s just…it seems exhausting.”

 “She actually hates it,” Chesnaught and Lilligant answered together, and smirked over it.

 “Then why—?”

 “You’re a guy, Delphox,” sarcastically noted Greninja. “So is Samurott. And neither of you, surprisingly, told her to stop.”

 “She is kind of cute.” Everyone turned and lowered their eyes on Samurott. “…What? That’s a compliment!”

 “You’re the kind of customer she puts it on for,” accused Lilligant.

 “Oh, that’s not what I…bah, fine.” Samurott took another chug from his beverage.

 “Hey Chesnaught, where’s Bisharp?” Gardevoir tilted her head. “I haven’t seen you guys talk for days.”

 “He, uh…” Chesnaught scratched his arm. “He was busy.”

 “Oh, that’s a shame.”

 While Gardevoir shrugged and sat down, Lilligant hesitated and locked eyes with Chesnaught. He shook his head very lightly at her inquisitive eyes, and she tightened her leafy fists.

 “Ah well, we’re here now!” Gardevoir clasped her hands. “So, how is it being a new couple now, boys?”

 “Um. We like each other, but not the attention,” admitted Greninja.

 “Were you expecting people to not becoming overbearingly aware of your existence together after a public confession like that?” Delphox scoffed and took a sip from his mug, while Chesnaught blushed brightly. “Honestly, you may as well have flat out announced your relationship to the entire town, if not the kingdom itself.”

 “Word doesn’t travel that fast,” murmured Greninja. He blinked as everyone stared at him. “…Does it?”

 “Concerning the town and castle, typically yes.”

 “Oh…”

 “Honestly, you two are probably just beneath King Nidoking and General Rhydon as the town’s most talked about couples these days,” revealed Lilligant. “Considering that they’re royalty, it’s impressive that you’re second to them.”

 “Um…I didn’t…realize it was, uh, that fast…”

 “It’s fine anyway,” forced out Chesnaught. “Greninja and I shouldn’t need to hide with this. There’s nothing wrong with it. Just because we’re both male doesn’t mean that we need to hide it.”

 “Others have before,” muttered Samurott, keeping his mug in front of his face.

 “W-well yeah, and I didn’t really make it obvious for myself,” confessed Chesnaught. “B-but I’m sick of it, and Greninja wouldn’t want to either, so, that’s enough for the deciding factor!”

 “Aha, you did do it for him.” Delphox smirked as Chesnaught and Greninja’s blushes deepened. “That’s cute and touching, really. I’d love for someone to go such great lengths for me.”

 “Go get a boyfriend then,” teased Gardevoir.

 “Piss off!” Delphox’s face brightened as he sank to the table. “That’s exactly what I need to do: make myself even worse of a stereotype.”

 “Here we go—”

 “As it is, I look feminine enough, and it’s absolutely not intentional.” Delphox banged his mug down. “The last thing I need to do is saddle myself with a boyfriend, especially one that’s more masculine, and then have everyone think that it’s exactly what I wanted to be, this…this…ugh!”

 “So…you’re basically letting others’ perception of you dictate your actions and interests?” Greninja traced a circle along the table, smirking but avoiding eye contact with a steaming Delphox. “Sounds similar to what we’re dealing with, and why we wanted to just go forward as we have.”

 “Don’t lecture me,” grumbled Delphox. “That’s what I do to others.”

 “Nah, you need them more often,” decided Gardevoir. “I should start delivering them regularly to you!”

 “As if!”

 “Speaking of boyfriends,” realized Gardevoir, “I was actually wondering something regarding the subject personally.”

 “Ooh, the Earl proposed then, has he?”

 “Please, Delphox, he’s not some common suitor clamoring about making me his,” insisted Gardevoir. Her smile faded a bit, and she leaned her head against her arm and the table. “However…he did…want to get started before the Ball—”

 “I knew it.”

 “Hush!” Gardevoir blushed, sat up, and folded her arms. “He’s…he’s just asking me to begin dating him, since he’s courting me proper now, I suppose.”

 “He’s been trying to court you the entire time,” teased Delphox. “He’s been smitten with you for the longest time, you know.”

 “Yes, and I do like him, but I…oh, I don’t know.” She sighed and turned to Greninja and Chesnaught. “Is it…well, you two are dating, so is it really that different from before?”

 “They barely knew each other!”

 “They were friends first!”

 “Barely!”

 “So now you’re judging them?”

 “What?! No, of course not!”

 “Certainly sounds that way.”

 “You’re delusional!” Delphox smacked his hands on the table, but quickly pulled them away and rubbed them together below it. “Greninja, Chesnaught, I’m absolutely not judging either of you, and find you both to be fittingly deserving of one another. A fairly cute couple all around, I’d wager.”

 “Um…thanks?” Greninja glanced at Chesnaught, who shrugged.

 “Goodness Delphox, you’re so defensive.” Gardevoir giggled as Delphox threw his arms into the air. “Anyway, what do you two think, about dating?”

 “Oh, um. Well, Delphox does have a point,” assessed Greninja. “We’re…just getting started, so…it’s hard to really determine.”

 “If I’m not mistaken, she’s trying to politely ask you two if it’s worth it,” determined Samurott, setting his mug down.

 “Huh? W-what?! That’s…that’s not it at all!”

 “That’s exactly what it is, whether you even realize it or not,” pointed out Samurott. “They’ve been scorned by town folk, and you’re looking to see if they’re still happy together in spite of it.”

 “Absolutely not! Totally wrong!” Gardevoir wildly shook her head. “I’m upset that they’re being scorned, and I’m not asking them if they think their relationship is worth the kind of negativity that they have to deal with!”

 “Then what?”

 “Oh. I…ok, it’s asking if they are happy—”

 “There it is.”

 “Shut it, Samurott!” Gardevoir telekinetically lifted his mug and shoved it tightly around the otter’s snout. “Look, you guys, I just…it’s been a little while since I’ve dated last. Seriously dated, that is. And…I guess I’m just wondering if I should actually invest myself in someone like that.” She sank back down in her seat. “You two seem so happy, when you’re together, and it does happen to be in spite of the terrible things you deal with around town.”

 “Then I was right,” came Samurott’s muffled voice.

 “No! …Fine, but I didn’t mean it.” Gardevoir dragged her hands down her face. “This is coming out awkwardly, I’m sorry. It’s not usually like this for me.” She looked back at Greninja and Chesnaught. “I just…I don’t want to just ask if you’re happy, because you two are so far, but I…I don’t know…”

 “You…don’t know if you want it?”

 “Yes!” Gardevoir picked up Greninja’s hands. “See, yes, you understand me! Greninja has it right, Samurott, not you.”

 “Whatever.”

 “Well, if you’re looking for it based on us, then we’ll obviously agree to it,” explained Chesnaught. “…Um. Right, Greninja?”

 “Oh, yes, definitely.” He smiled. “Being with Chesnaught makes me feel more comfortable around here than I was before, and even in a short amount of time, I can tell he’s the most caring boyfriend I’ve ever had.” Chesnaught blushed as Greninja took his hands from Gardevoir and rested them on the knight’s. “He’s very giving, and I really appreciate everything he does. It just…makes me feel so fulfilled, so happy.”

 “H-hey, you can’t just dump all that out in front of everyone.”

 “Sorry, but I just did.”

 “Then I get to do it too!” Chesnaught scooped Greninja’s hands into his own. “Being with Greninja makes me feel more honest than I have in a while, because I’m not pretending or hiding myself. I wanted both of us to be more comfortable with each other than I’ve been with others before, and even with the citizens that dislike us, it doesn’t compare as well as being with Greninja. He gives me something to feel secure with in a way that I’ve been missing for a long time.”

 Everyone grinned as the couple blushed deeply and narrowed their eyes at one another. Gardevoir clapped lightly and softly squealed.

 “You two are so cute, it’s unbelievable!”

 “Hmph.” Samurott tugged his mug from his face. “At least they’re very…comfortable together, that’s good.”

 “Perhaps we’re not so eloquent,” caved Greninja. “Neither of us are particularly used to speaking as if on ceremony constantly.”

 “Bah, come off it, that’s not what I meant.” Samurott lowered his eyes as Greninja giggled. “You two are really great together. It’s just…I get nervous for you two.” He sighed and stared back down to the table. “Chesnaught might understand it, Greninja is learning it, but people can be…very intolerant.” He shook his head. “Sometimes, it…it can be better to not be so, uh, public? Or, rather, being discreet is better.”

 “You speak like you know their struggle.”

 “In a way or two, I do.” Samurott turned his attention to Delphox. “Perhaps even like you. After all, foreigners are also treated…less ideally. Or, do you turn a blind eye to that too?”

 “No, that’s something I’ve noticed, and it disgusts me.” Delphox winced. “It’s been a while since people have made fun of your background, and you fit in well enough in my eyes, so I just…well, I forgot that as much as you forgot my gender.”

 “Fair enough.”

 “Anyway, my point stands,” affirmed Chesnaught. “Furthermore, Gardevoir, Earl Gallade has expressed his interests in getting to know you even better. He’s told me such as far back as two weeks ago.”

 “Wait, what? When?”

 “The forest, remember? He ventured out with us.”

 “Eventide? Oh, goodness, he did!” Gardevoir shook her head. “He was asking you about me? We’ve only started talking more now.”

 “And it’s mostly Greninja that brought us all together,” added Delphox.

 “Me? No, we all came together.”

 “Yes, but you’re the significant commonality for all of us.” Delphox smiled to Greninja as he cleared his throat. “Gardevoir and I wanted to be your friends early on because you had a kinder personality than the knights, and then again later when you were with us in town. Samurott happened to be out with you, and you two became friends while talking with each other.”

 “And I gave him a sword!” Samurott grinned.

 “…Charming,” deadpanned Delphox. “At any rate, Greninja, the three of us ended up becoming better friends because we all liked you.” The fox mage pointed at Chesnaught. “He’s been smitten with you since your arrival, and now you two are dating. Prior to that, even Samurott didn’t associate with him outside of sparring.”

 “That’s kind of weird, now that I’m thinking about it,” realized Chesnaught. “We get along fine, don’t we? Why didn’t we spend more time together before?”

 “You fit in with the other knights, and I did not,” divulged Samurott. “Even if I’m among your ranks, I’m not exactly…I don’t connect well with the knights, overall.”

 “Neither does Typhlosion,” mocked Delphox. “Now he’s a terrible knight. Nothing but rude to Gardevoir and I.”

 “He’s…just lacking in discipline, maybe,” noted Samurott. “And yes, he could use manners. But, on some instances, even Typhlosion gets along better with the other knights than I do.”

 “Not much,” countered Chesnaught. “Scizor and Bisharp have both expressed annoyance over him. Escavalier hates his attitude a lot of times too. I don’t think he’s that awful, but…well, he could use improvement.”

 “Sounds like he’s just as much of an outcast as you are, Samurott,” joked Delphox.

 “Perhaps,” relented Samurott. “Just as much as you and I, then.”

 “Hm. Clever.” Delphox shook his head. “But I digress. Point is, Chesnaught dating Greninja brought him closer to you, and to us. And with him came the lovely Lady Lilligant.”

 “Oh, please don’t call me like that,” piped up Lilligant. “It makes me seem more important than I am. I’m…I’m not like any of you.”

 “Of course you are, Lilligant,” intervened Gardevoir. “You’re sweet and friendly, and you’ve been fitting in well with our group so far.” She grinned. “You fit in perfectly, and you’re important to each of us, so that settles it!”

 “Gosh…thank you, Gardevoir,” mumbled Lilligant, as she blushed brightly.

 “See, this makes my point,” returned Delphox. “Greninja essentially became the focal point for all of us to come together. He’s, hm, to put it in a poetic sense, he’s the beacon to our friendship.”

 “B-beacon? Now y-you’re laying it on thick,” complained Greninja.

 “He does have a valid point,” admitted Chesnaught. “We’ve all been around one another for years, but haven’t become friends until you came into the picture.”

 “I…I was just a gentle push on what was already there.”

 “Gentle? Definitely not, considering our distances with one another.” Delphox nodded. “You very much brought us together.”

 “Ah…w-well…m-maybe…” Greninja tugged up his tongue scarf over his face. “It’s hard to, um, when you put it like that—”

 “Truthfully?”

 “…Y-yes…”

 “Ha, you’re welcome.” Delphox smirked. “Apparently, I can make you blush as hard as your boyfriend can.”

 “Now you’re encroaching on what I do best!”

 “Chesnaught…”

 “Sorry, I couldn’t resist!”

 “Wasn’t this about Gardevoir’s boyfriend drama?” Samurott smirked as Gardevoir flushed once more. “She’s clearly still wondering about it.”

 “I appreciated derailing from that!”

 “So, you don’t like Earl Gallade?” Samurott shook his head. “He happens to be a friendly sort, and I personally have taken a liking to him. Perhaps even friends. So, are you telling me that you don’t—?”

 “No, no, don’t put words in my mouth!” Gardevoir groaned and sank in her seat. “Ugh, I came out to have fun, not be insulted like this.”

 “If your friends can’t insult you, then it’s no fun,” teased Delphox.

 “Friends are better than that!” Gardevoir blinked and sat up. “Wait, Delphox, what do you think?”

 “Huh?”

 “You, what do you think of it?”

 “Of what?”

 “Gallade! What do you think of me dating him?”

 “…Oh. Um…” Delphox scratched his head, poorly avoiding eye contact with Gardevoir. “Well…I’m…not sure.”

 “Don’t lie to me like that! You have an opinion on everything!”

 “I do not!”

 “Yes, you do!” Gardevoir folded her arms and sighed. “And…you’ve known me longer than anyone else. So, really, I…I guess I should’ve asked you from the beginning.” She looked at Delphox, who still tried to pay her no mind. “My delicate Delphox, please…I’d like your opinion on him. Do you think…do you think I should date Earl Gallade, and really try with him? Or…do you think he’s not right for me, that I should let it fade after the Parting Summer’s Ball?”

 For a moment, Delphox sat quietly, still not wanting to face Gardevoir. He sighed and turned to her, staring into her eyes as she gazed back. He shook his head as she leaned back.

 “You should know I hate you putting me on the spot like this…” Delphox tapped at the table, but nodded. “He…he really likes you, from what I can tell.”

 “…So…?”

 “Well, I…I suppose…you should, uh, date him.”

 “…Are you sure?”

 “Y-yes, I’m sure!” Delphox folded his arms together. “What, you’d ask for my input, and then question it once I give it?”

 “That’s not how I meant it.” She smiled and patted Delphox’s hands. “Thank you so much. And thank you all too!” Gardevoir stood from the table. “I think…I think I’m going to see if I’m to meet him later today. I’ll tell him that we can get started soon.”

 “Congratulations!” Greninja lightly clapped.

 “Yeah, good luck!” Chesnaught winked to her.

 “Cheers!” Samurott raised his mug to Gardevoir.

 “Thank you all again! I’m off, take care!”

 With that, Gardevoir hugged each of them and hurried from the house. Delphox exhaled heavily and shook his head. Lilligant softly drummed the table, while Samurott finished the last of his drink.

 “Um…are you ok, Delphox?” Greninja tilted his head.

 “Me? Fine. I’m fine.”

 “Jealous, huh?” Samurott grinned as Delphox scoffed and shifted uncomfortably. “Yep, thought so. She’s beating you to dating.”

 “Hmph. That’s not it.”

 “Sure it is.” Samurott winked to Delphox. “You know, if you really want, I’d date you.”

 “What?! No, you’d have dated me if I were a lady!” Delphox smacked the table again. “And don’t pretend you don’t confuse me like anyone and everyone else does!”

 “Well—”

 “Don’t!” Delphox fumed. “Honestly, just once, can someone not play with my emotions? It’s so revolting…”

 “Sorry.” Samurott glanced down at the table. “I wasn’t…I didn’t mean to offend you. Again. I thought I apologized about doing that before, mistaking you, I didn’t mean to—”

 “Yes, you, and so many other folks.” Delphox sighed. “It’s fine. You’re not the first, you won’t be the last.” Delphox rolled his eyes. “And we are, I believe, friends.”

 “When you put it like that—”

 “Fine, I’m sorry too.” Delphox picked at the table. “I’m too grouchy myself, go figure, and I shouldn’t be so snippy with you.”

 “Apology accepted, and we’re friends again.” Samurott smiled. “You know, you are cute in your own way. Are you sure you’re not looking for a boyfriend?”

 “Why is that what everyone thinks that I want?”

 “It just seems that way.”

 “W-well, it’s not. A-and maybe I want a girlfriend, for all you care!”

 “Do you?”

 “I…I don’t know.” Delphox shook his head. “I don’t think I know what I want.”

 “For someone very opinionated, that’s very jarring to hear.”

 “Hmph.” Delphox folded his arms and turned away. “Contrary to what you’re assuming, just because I have many ideas doesn’t mean that I have them all completely sorted.”

 “Clearly.”

 “At any rate, is this going to devolve into a topic of us just chattering about love lives, or are we going to talk about something…I don’t know, different?”

 “Oh, I have an idea,” chimed Lilligant. “How about Greninja here tells me about how he thought I was Chesnaught’s girlfriend?”

 “That’s, uh, that’s not different,” argued Greninja.

 “No, but I am curious,” teased Lilligant.

 “He’s right, that’s not different,” murmured Delphox. He straightened up. “However, if we’re so adamant about these topics, I would like you two to regale us with details on how it all happened.”

 “What, us dating?”

 “Yes, Chesnaught. You told us that you two have been doing so since before the ceremony. Now, explain it.”

 “Uh…w-well…” Chesnaught glanced at Greninja, who nodded. “Ok. Well, it started after I woke up from the poisoning from those bandits, and General Rhydon explained that Greninja saved me…”

 The other three listened quietly, amused by Chesnaught’s retelling of the story as Greninja joined in with him, and recalled the events leading to their confession. After, the five chattered until the day grew too late, and after parting from the public house, they soon returned home.

And there we go, my character development exercise is complete.

Honestly, I’m not sure why this came into my head. It was about Gardevoir’s relationship starting after Sneakpast’s, and then it just snowballed from there into this. Hilariously, Gardevoir’s relationship with Gallade is downplayed comparatively, so there’s that.

Because I jumped with the time in the stories of BAF and MGR, this wasn’t focused on in my fanfics. But, it seemed like a cute idea, a quiet scenario between the six friends as they build their relationships.

Anyway, if you read this far, thank you very much for doing so! And I hope you enjoyed it too! Yes, I’m working on updating MGR and ENY. No, they’re not done yet.