Legendary #2: Love and War

Heather was my girlfriend from Cinnabar. At least, she used to be. She was nineteen now, and more beautiful than I remembered. We were about the same age, but I had to leave a year and half ago to move to Pallet Town. Leaving her was the hardest thing I ever had to do. She knew how I longed to be a Pokemon Master, but we both somewhat dreaded the day I would finally start my journey. I remember how we would lie beneath the starry blanket of the sky and just talk about what I would have to do to conquer my competitors. Heather decided that she didn’t want to be a trainer, but still helped me learn nearly everything about the wonderful creatures known as Pokemon. I loved to stare into her deep green eyes when they were lit with the azure glow of celestial embers, but I always knew that one day soon I would have to leave her.

That day finally came. I remember kissing her that last time, full of both joy and sorrow. We were both so naļve as to think that life wouldn’t much change. We put our relationship on hold, thinking that we could pick it back up again. I came back here to try.

A shrill squeak interrupted my thoughts. I quickly cast a glance downward and saw what had been scratching behind the door. A large, fuzzy rodent about a foot tall was furiously trying to eat the soles of my shoes. It stopped its annoying gnashing and looked up at me. Its large, red cheek pouches sparked angrily over its short yellow fur. After squeaking again, it ran back to Heather.

I began to laugh light-heartedly. “You still have that ol’ Pikachu?!” I exclaimed. “Heheh, hey there Amp. AmPikachu.” I smiled at it as it ran back over to futilely gnash at my shoes again. “Uh, do you mind if I come in?” I asked. Heather seemed deep in thought but quickly snapped back into reality.

“Oh, jeez, I’m sorry! Come in!” she said. I walked through the doorway in high spirits.

I soon found myself sitting in a warm, familiar chair. Heather gracefully sat down next to me. I cast my eyes around the house… it hadn’t changed much. Heather was living by herself now, but everything was just the same. It was a strange feeling, sitting in that chair. It was almost like the past two years had never happened…

A worn, gray couch sat against the wall on the opposite side of the room. What I saw peacefully lying on it was something new to me. I quickly stood and paced over to it. “Well, hello there!” I greeted it. “I haven’t seen you before, little guy!” A lazy Meowth was trying to sleep, nestled in the large, soft cushions. I stroked it behind the ears and felt the smooth, cool metal of the gold charm on its forehead. “What’s its name?” I asked Heather.

“Bandit,” she replied. I chuckled softly.

“Fits you, buddy,” I whispered. Bandit raised its head ever so slightly to quietly purr, then went back to sleep. I sat back down in my chair. I turned to Heather, closer than I had been in two years, and we began to talk. About us, about my situation, about everything.

Page Four

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