Primal Origins - Hardenshipping Fanfiction

Part 1 - Changing Paths

Maxie strolled down the Slateport City shoreline, gazing at the ocean with a smile. He loved the sea. He spent more time at the beach than anywhere else, excluding Mt Chimney, which he called his home.

He closed his eyes and breathed in the scent of the salty sea air, his entire body untensing and relaxing. He was finally alone again, and away from the people who were out to bring him down.

Maxie had never been popular. He'd never once had a friend, because of his weird dress sense and where his home was situated. He always smelled of ash and smoke, and the other trainers at the Mauville Pokémon Training School found it disgusting. But he couldn't help it. That's just where he lived, and he had no other choice. He wasn't rich, and couldn't afford a different, real home by himself, especially not without any family to get him by. He'd been an orphan since he was a child, when his parents died trying to save him from a wild Sharpedo. The beast's jaws were enormous and sharp, and his parents soon fell to them.

Maxie took another deep breath. He couldn't think about his parents, or Sharpedo. He'd vowed never to go near the shark Pokémon ever again.

Just as he was drifting away into different thoughts, he suddenly tasted sand in his mouth as he was shoved to the ground, and felt kicks at his side. Gasping and whimpering, he tried to scramble away, but to no avail. Eventually he just curled up and hoped it would end soon.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?"

The kicks halted. Maxie peeked out between his fingers, seeing a lone teen in shorts and a tank top running over. The thugs who attacked him ran over to the other boy.

"Minding my own business, what about you?" One of the guys growled.

"What did he do to you? Back off!" The saviour spat back. "Who do you think you are, kid?" he walked right up to one of the bullies and socked him in the face, breaking his nose. Four of his followers surrounded the lone teen, throwing punches at him.

Maxie couldn't watch. He couldn't bear the thought of his saviour getting hurt, no matter who he was. When he opened his eyes again, however, he saw all four followers curled up on the floor in pain, and the teen stood above them, his fists still clenched. The leader stalked up behind him, whipping him round and punching him in the gut before gathering his friends and walking off. Maxie gasped and struggled to his feet, limping over as the guy fell to the ground.

"A-are you okay?! Why did you do that?!" Maxie exclaimed, reaching into his bag and pulling out some bandages and wipes. He had to carry them around constantly, since this kind of thing happened often.

The saviour seemed to be in horrible pain, but he just chuckled. "I'm fine, don't worry. I live in a really rough neigbourhood."

"I don't care," Maxie mumbled back. "You don't even know me."

"That doesn't matter. I couldn't just let them hurt you." He shook his head. "Who are you?"

Maxie sighed and began bandaging Archie's small wounds up. "I'm Maxie. And yourself?"

"Archie."

Maxie nodded and put all of his kit away. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine." Archie lied, struggling to stand. Maxie helped him up, and Archie grimaced, looking bashful. "I didn't need your help."

"We all need help sometimes. I did then. But you didn't have to help me."

"As I said, I couldn't just let them hurt you."

"And I couldn't let you injure yourself more trying to be independent." Maxie pointed out. Archie sighed.

"I suppose..." He paused, rubbing his hand along the stubble on his face, which Maxie had just noticed. Archie grinned. "Would you like to come to my place for a little while? That way you're safe from those thugs. I'll take you home afterwards."

"U-um..." Maxie blushed. "Sure, if you don't mind."

"Of course not! Follow me." Archie quickly set off, and Maxie limped after him, a small smile on his face. Had he finally made a friend?