Psychic? I Barely Know Her!

Gasp, am I actually starting a daily upload schedule? Breaking out of my procrastination chains and commitment issues? The apocalypse is near!

Anyways, I'll try to deliver daily chapter for 6 days a week, I hold the right to take a break on the weekend, and hopefully if I need a hiatus I'll have at least 20 chapters saved up ready to be sent out.

Enjoy!

| Rio POV |

I stare quietly at my new peeping tom, my eyes darting between her own and my status screen. Now, I'm not complaining about meeting her, but there's only enough space for one shiny in this town—

Giggle.

My ears twitch.

Wait… did she just laugh?

I blink. She's still there, hands tucked shyly behind her back, tilting her head with this quiet, almost sympathetic smile. And then—then—I hear her.

Not with my ears.

"Sorry, I wasn't planning on stealing your spotlight."

I freeze. My brain blue-screens.

You ever been stuck with nothing but internal monologue for weeks? Talking to walls? Torchics that don't talk back? The system being cryptic and rude?

And now?

Someone heard me.

My mouth opens, then closes again. My eyes sting. Oh, great. Now I'm leaking. I rub at my face furiously.

"N-no, it's just, uh… damn you, emotion.exe! Stop running in the background!"

She giggles again, softer this time, her voice brushing against my mind like a breeze. It feels like vibrations carried by my aura? How does that even work... Actually I'll figure it out later. 

"You're loud, you know. Not in a bad way. Just… really loud."

"I am the main character," I mutter, still sniffling. "Kinda comes with the job."

She steps forward, a little shy, but not afraid. Her aura hums in tune with mine, like a radio finally tuned to the right frequency.

"You've been lonely."

...Yeah.

Wait no! I am supposed to be the Madara of the Pokémon world! None of this sentimental crap! I don't need some random Pokémon's pity!

"I was lonely too."

Oh, well now I feel like crap…

I glance at her, trying to keep my expression neutral. Or at least smug. But she isn't looking for sympathy—she's just… stating it. Like it's a weather report. Her voice is soft in my head, like ripples on a pond.

"Its fine… Where is your family?" she asks gently.

"May? I left her and Torchic at the Center to come out and train," I say, waving a paw dismissively. "Wanted to blow up a tree, maybe punch the moon. Y'know. Normal Riolu things."

Her smile twitches. But it doesn't quite reach her eyes.

"I meant… before her."

Oh.

Yeah, let's not open that folder.

I shrug. "Long story. Involves death, rebirth, gods, I think what was supposed to be a door to door Isekai salesman? And a guy with an axe for a hand as his assistant. Don't ask."

"I won't," she says simply. "If you don't want to."

Silence.

Not the awkward kind. The… gentle kind. The kind that feels like breathing space.

"I was kicked out," she finally says. "From the nest. The others said my color was wrong. That I brought bad luck."

I look at her again. The silvery-blue glow, the soft orange horns, the shy little posture like she's ready to bolt if I laugh. But I don't.

Because I get it.

The classical ostracized heroine trope.

"They're idiots," I mutter.

"You think so?"

"Yeah. You look like a shiny platinum trophy. You're peak aesthetic."Pause."…also you can apparently read my thoughts and haven't exploded yet from whatever shenanigans that are happening inside me, so you've got nerves of steel."

She giggles. I swear it's the softest sound I've ever heard—like someone whispering with a harp.

"Ral..." she whispers. Not mind-voice. Actual voice. Quiet. A little raspy. Like she hasn't used it in a while.

"Yeah I still don't understand Pokemonese..."

She giggles as if whatever she said didn't even matter and looked up at me with a smile.

Something in me breaks a little.

"Okay, no fair, you're weaponizing cuteness," I mutter. "That's cheating."

She smiles, a little brighter this time. Steps closer. Hesitates. Then gently—very gently—reaches out and takes my paw.

Static.

Not the electric kind. The emotional kind. Like something finally slotted into place after clattering around for weeks.

I panic. Internally.

OH GOD TOUCHEMOTIONAL CONTACTWHAT IS THISABORT—ABORT—

But I don't pull away.

Instead, I tighten my grip, just a little.

"…Guess we're both bugged builds, huh?" I say.

She nods.

"Guess so."

I clear my throat, feeling her gaze drilled into me like a spotlight. Seriously, does she even blink?

"Anyway, what exactly are you doing here?"

"I felt a pulse—an energy that felt mean. Thought it might be a ghost Pokémon causing trouble."

She probably sensed my new cursed energy.

I smirk, folding my arms.

"UmU! That was me! I kinda broke reality a bit and got some cool spirit powers!"

Ralts beams at me, her eyes literally shimmering.

"So, you're a psychic too?"

"Erm, not exactly. Here, I'll show you."

I ruffle her hair and step back toward a tree, expanding my aura to check if I'm disturbing anything nearby. Finding nothing, I grin and take a stance in front of the sturdy bark.

"Watch closely!"

I reel my fist back and strike the tree hard, then turn to her, watching as her expectant expression shifts to confusion.

"Nothing? Wait—something's on the tr—"

BANG!

"A second strike that hits right after the first. Cool, huh?"

I tilt my snout upward, proud of the slight mastery I already have—delaying the second hit enough to catch anyone off guard. Now if I can just nail Black Flash, I'll hit with the force of a small island!

"You must be really strong. Can you do anything else with this energy?"

"Uh... not really. Just got it, you know."

"Mhm," she hums, clearly unimpressed. "So basically... you punched a tree really hard and called it magic."

I whip around. "It's cursed energy! Totally different field!"

She giggles behind her hand. "Right, right. Super serious, definitely-not-just-angry-aura punching."

"I'll have you know, it's advanced technique! Very elite!" I puff out my chest. "Only the chosen few can wield it!"

"Oh, so you're chosen now?" she tilts her head, eyes sparkling. "Big Brother Destiny?"

"That's not what I—!" I choke. "Don't just assign me nicknames!"

"I think it fits," she says innocently. "You've got that whole 'grumpy but cool older sibling who acts tough but secretly cries when alone' energy."

"Excuse me???"

"I mean, you did leak earlier," she adds, deadpan.

"I was emotionally ambushed! That was a special case!"

More giggling.

And despite the mockery, there's a warmth behind it. Not mean. Just… gentle teasing. Like she's proud I can punch trees and get emotional at the same time.

"Sheesh," I mutter. "You're going to be a menace, aren't you?"

One hour later.

Dragging a shy Ralts through the dark streets of Petalburg isn't the hardest thing I've ever done—but it's close. Every sound makes her flinch, every passing Wingull sends her ducking behind me like I'm some sort of bodyguard.

Which I guess I am now? When did that happen?

Eventually, we reach the Pokémon Center. I push open the door with one paw and tiptoe inside, Ralts glued to my back like static cling. The place is quiet, the only sounds being the soft hum of machinery and the occasional snore from the sleeping trainers in the corner bunks.

And then—our bunk. Third from the left, blanket cocoon, wild brown hair sticking out the top like a grass-type nest. May.

I hop up onto the edge and nudge her.

No response.

I nudge her again, more insistently.

Still nothing.

"Oi. Sleepy trainer. I brought home a guest."

She groans. "Hmph?"

I gesture behind me. "Shiny. Psychic. Sister material. Possibly invasive species. Dunno yet."

May sits up, squinting at us with one eye barely open.

"Cool, cool… now come back here Alcremie… just a lick…" she mumbles, then faceplants back into the pillow. "Zzzzz…"

I stare at her. Then at Ralts.

"She's usually more coherent. I think."

Ralts blinks. "…That was your trainer?"

"Don't let the first impression fool you. She's high-functioning when upright."

She giggles softly, still half-hiding behind me, but her grip on my paw loosens. She's not shaking anymore.

Progress.

Word count: 1330

I rewrote this like 5 times, I still don't feel satisfied. :(