Okay, this is my second fan fiction that I'll actually try to continue writing so please read and comment. I'm looking forward to all your feedback. <3 My last story: New Story~ (Soul Eater) *Note: Leave comments and feedback in my feedback thread Disclaimer (because they are common): I do not own nor am I affiliated with Pokémon, or any government agencies. Chapter One: Pokémon Encounter Raiden Sato had just gotten out of his last college class of the quarter at Cal Poly and was walking around downtown San Luis Obispo, California. He rarely did this due to lack of interest and time, but he had nothing planned at home today and, as he had just completed his last final, his free time had increased substantially. He looked at all the small stores that lined the street, entering the few that peeked his interest to browse about. He didn’t buy anything, just looked. Upon reaching the end of one of the many streets, he decided to start back to his car. After a couple blocks, he noticed a bookstore he had missed before and started for it. Entering, he greeted the person behind the counter and proceeded into the Sci-Fi and Fantasy section, his favorite genre of books. It had a surprising selection for it's small size, he thought as he browsed about; all his favorite authors and dozens more he had yet to try. But one misplaced book in particular caught his eye. Laid on top of the other books on the top shelf was a Pokémon Diamond and Pearl encyclopedia, listing the newest Pokémon with statistics and brief descriptions. He picked it up and flipped through it for a moment. Raiden was a huge Pokémon fan; he had watched all the series, had all the movies, and played the card and video games. He suddenly stopped on the page describing Palkia. He read the description a few times, and then let himself drift into a daydream, his head rolling back as he stared into space. He wondered what the games would be like if they more closely resembled the cartoons. He lamented the fact that walking from one end of a Pokémon region like Kanto to another took roughly 30 minutes in the video games, while such a trek would require weeks, maybe months, in the cartoon. He tried envisioning what the games would be like if it took such a long time to travel from city to city and how that might be accomplished. A couple moments later he breathed deeply and came out of his daydream. Time to be going, he decided. He took the book back to the Video Game Guides section, found it’s spot, and slipped it between two books. He then headed out of the store, continuing back to his car. Not five steps outside he stopped mid-stride. He felt he was being watched. Following the feeling, he looked up and could barely see something high in the sky. He squinted, trying to see it better. “Hurt your eyes staring into the sun like that, young man,” an elderly man walking close commented. The suddenness of the comment startled Raiden. The old man chuckled apologetically for startling him. After thanking the old man for his concern and nodding in agreement to the elder’s statement, Raiden looked around quickly to see if anyone else was watching him. Confident he had no audience, Raiden glimpsed back up into the blue sky. Whatever it was, it was gone, so he continued to his car. When he reached the small parking lot, he unlocked the car and opened the doors to let the car interior cool. He thought about what else he could do before returning home. Finally, he decided to visit Cuesta County Park. The drive was short, not ten minutes, he estimated. The parking lot was empty except for one other car. In the park, there was a trio of children running around on the castle-shaped playhouse. Their parents played a one on one game of volleyball, turning to check on their children before each serve. Seeing Raiden, the mother waved courteously, and he waved back. The father threw his hand in the air with a big smile. Raiden returned the motion and the two parents looked again at their children before resuming their game. Continuing on his way, Raiden made his way over to the trail, taking a moment to peer into the water beside the small, white concrete bridge and observe the little fish in the water. After a time, he continued on his way down the now dirt path. Ahead, there was a fork in the path; one branch lead down towards the stream and the other continued higher up on the slope. He could see a culvert or tunnel of some sort cut out of white concrete into which the stream flowed. Exploring that would be interesting and take up some time, he thought, though he didn’t have the right kind of shoes on and he would hate driving home in wet socks. The trail higher on the slope seemed to end not far from the fork, so Raiden headed down to the stream. Wet shoes or not, this option would likely consume the most time. He started down the short path; the slope at one point was so steep that his foot slid forward on the loose dirt and he almost lost his balance. He went to the end of the trail and looked for some good, steady stones on which to begin his little adventure. Before he took his first step, the feeling that he was being watched returned. He looked around, but nobody was there. Reluctantly, he followed the feeling up into the sky. Through the thin canopy, the strange thing was visible. At first, he had to squint to see it, but it gradually became clearer. Whatever it was, it was either getting larger or closer. The thing finally broke through the leaves and continued down towards the park’s stream. Raiden immediately identified it… as the Pokémon Palkia! “Holy crap,” he whispered to himself, gawking in amazement. “It’s Palkia.” Seconds later, car horns blared from the highway above. Someone had taken notice. Then the excited cries of children rose from above, and the voices of their parents. The large Pokémon finally landed, one foot on either side of the stream, and it looked deep into Raiden’s eyes. He stared back, unsure whether to run or not. After a few seconds, the large Pokémon shifted. It was at that moment Raiden realized that Palkia’s arms were folded, like it was holding something. It slowly unfolded its arms to reveal a baby Eevee resting peacefully in its grasp. The little Eevee was sleeping outstretched at first, but stirred and curled when the light of the sun broke through the trees and hit it. Waking up, it stretched, took one look at Raiden and softly called, “Eeev.” Maybe four inches tall and eight inches from nose to tail, it stood in Palkia’s arms and stared at Raiden for a moment. Then its ears perked up and it looked toward the park. Suddenly, the little Eevee started speaking to Palkia in Pokémon language, the larger Pokémon nodding occasionally to what the little Eevee was saying. Finally, the legendary Pokémon knelt down and the baby Eevee hopped out of its arms and ran behind Raiden. The young man jumped in surprise and spun to face the little Pokémon. “Wha-What are you doing? Little Eevee…” He cut himself off at the growing sound of running and laughter. The family was coming! He turned around quickly looking for Palkia, but it had vanished. The Eevee, however, was standing between his feet and looking out towards the sound of approaching people. Not a moment later, the small family burst into view. The little boy led with his two sisters trailing him and the parents taking up the rear, more concerned about falling. “Did you see that thing in the sky? It came down right around here,” the boy asked Raiden excitedly. “Uh, what thing in the sky?” Raiden asked in reply. “You didn’t see it? How could you not see it? It was huge!” The youngest of the little girls threw her arms in the air excitedly. “It was this big!” The boy continued excitedly, “It looked like a big, white T-Rex! And it dived out of the sky right into this park!” He then proceeded to balance himself on the balls of his feet, hunched over and began to roar loudly. His mother called from the fork, reprimanding him. The father also called to his son and younger daughter from the fork, and offered Raiden an apology. The older daughter had stayed up on the higher path and was looking for animals. She called out to her mother that she didn’t see any squirrels. The boy then turned and ran up the path, roaring that the monster had eaten all the squirrels. The Eevee chased the boy halfway towards the fork where the parents stood before returning to Raiden. The father grabbed his son and hoisted him onto his shoulder. Their mother rounded up the two girls, gave an apologetic wave, and started them back up the trail towards the park. The father also apologized for his children, commented on Raiden’s cute puppy, and tossed his hand in the air as he turned and went towards the park. Raiden again returned the motions, but waited at the end of the path. After about three minutes, Raiden heard a car start and drive away. Then he started back up the path, going carefully up the steep slope. As he crossed the small concrete bridge, the sound of a splash gave him a start. The little Pokémon had jumped into the water and for a moment chased the minnows. Raiden watched for a few seconds before continuing out of the park. His feet thudded against the short wooden bridge as he crossed it. Almost out, he told himself. About midway across, the sound of small stones being pushed around rose from below. The Eevee was running across the trickling stream under the bridge. Finally, he saw the ramp and stairs that led into the parking lot. Behind him, leaves rustled. He turned wryly to see the Eevee lying on the embankment leading up to the parking lot, wet, covered in leaves and smiling at him. Feeling a bit unnerved, Raiden proceeded up the ramp, hearing the Eevee rustling in the leaves behind him. Almost gone, he cheered in his mind. But when he was five feet from the car, the baby Eevee darted in front of him and sat down inches in front of the driver side door. For a moment, Raiden simply stared at it. The tiny Pokémon reached up and pawed at the car. Raiden shook his head quickly. “No, no way are you coming home with me.” “Vee?” the little Pokémon replied curiously. “No. I mean, how will I explain this to my family, huh?” “Eev.” The baby Pokemon hopped forward and began to rub its head on Raiden’s shoe, chanting its name rhythmically. “No, little Eevee, I can’t,” he said calmly as he stepped backwards. “You’re a Pokémon. You’re just a fictitious… thing, Ok? You can’t exist.” Now the little Pokémon seemed angry. “Veeee…” Suddenly it rushed forward and began darting about Raiden’s feet, snipping at his jeans’ legs and untying his shoe laces, all the while barking “veee!” in short, loud bursts. Although startled at first, Raiden bent down to retie his shoe laces, saying exhaustedly, “Little Eevee…” But the second he touched his shoe laces, the little Pokémon raced up from behind and tackled him in the mouth. Raiden cried out in surprise and pain as he jerked upright. The little Pokémon quickly circled around and tackled his upper calf which, combined with the fact that Raiden was off balance from the blow to the mouth, sent him to the ground and knocked the air out of him. The next thing he knew, the Pokemon was standing on his chest, the pitch black eyes glaring into his. Raiden gasped in spite of himself as the Eevee growled, poised to attack again. “Ok, ok! Don’t tackle me again!” Raiden cried out, holding both arms like a shield in front of his face. “I’ll take you home with me, just calm down, please!?” “Eev,” the little Pokémon replied and hopped off his chest. He climbed to his feet, brushed himself off and opened the driver side door to his car. The little critter hopped into the car and then into the driver’s seat and sat down. Nervously, Raiden pointed to the passenger seat, and the Eevee jumped over into it. The young man climbed into his seat and closed the door. He looked askance at the Eevee, watching him before putting on his seatbelt. The baby Pokémon then repositioned itself, sitting up straight with its tail shooting out from between its legs. Then it whined sadly, pointing its muzzle towards the passenger seatbelt. Reaching over and buckling the little Pokémon in, he took a moment to determine the sex of his new “friend.” “So, you’re a girl, Eevee.” “Eev.” “Ok then.” With that, he started the car and made his home without saying another word. Comments and feedback~