Binary Stars(A Nate x Yancy Fanfiction)

Chapter 1: Introspective Champion

It was a quiet morning in Aspertia City. Nobody had set foot outside their homes, apart from the wild Pidove, who inhabited the trees around the mountain city. Snow from the previous night had fallen on the roads, covering them in a thick yet bearable white blanket. The city, like its citizens, appeared to be in deep rest.

A young man, who had once called the city home, looked at the snowy spectacle from atop the city's main attraction: The Lookout Tower. He let out a quiet sigh, which turned his warm breath into a cold white mist. Gripping the metal railing, he set his eyes beyond Aspertia and onto the entire Unova region. From here, he saw almost everything: the towering buildings of Castelia City, Nimbasa City, and his favorite city, Opelucid City. He felt like the king of Unova. And in a sense, he was, because he wasn't just any ordinary boy. He was Nate, Champion of the entire region.

He'd been to most of Unova's cities, defeated every gym, put the final nail in the coffin of Team Plasma, and, of course, defeated Iris in a legendary battle. To call him accomplished would be an understatement.

From his vantage point on the tower, Nate drifted back to those moments: He remembered when a Magnemite trapped his own with Magnet Pull. It was his first time winning a battle with his Magnemite, albeit he had no choice. Then there were his battles side by side with his friend and rival, Hugh, against the evil Team Plasma. The memory of battling their leader, Ghetsis, sent a chill down his spine. It was something straight out of a video game. As thrilling as those battles were, he couldn't forget Opelucid City, where he raised the Pokémon egg that would become his Hydreigon. Of course, he had many more encounters, but those were the only ones that came to mind.

As Nate continued to gaze over snow-covered Unova, his soft smile gave way to a frown. He could see the grand nature of Unova, yet from his position so high above, he couldn't make out the small details that made the region special to his heart. Sure, he could see Castelia City's buildings, but what about the bustling crowd that called the city home? Where was the smell of steam from the Virbank Complex? Or the loud cheers from the Nimbasa Stadium? Nate found the view pleasant, but the lack of those intimate details made him feel hollow.

It almost mirrored a certain part of his life.

ring ring ring ring

A chill ran through his body. Who could be calling him so early in the morning?

He pulled out his Xtransceiver and looked at the screen. It was Caitlin, one of the members of the Elite 4. Nate, for the third time that morning, sighed. This could only mean one thing, and he dreaded it.

He picked up the call.

"Hey Caitlin, what's up?" Despite his mood, Nate managed to greet her with that signature grin of his. Of course, it wasn't all fake. Had it not been for what he knew she was going to tell him, he'd be happy to speak to her.

On the other side of the Xtransceiver, Caitlin elegantly flipped her golden blonde hair. Then, she yawned. "Good day, Nate. Oh, you're not at the Pokémon League today?" She appeared surprised by the change in scenery. Whenever she spoke to Nate, he was almost always doing something at the league.

Nate let out a small chuckle at Caitlin's surprise, "I wanted to visit my hometown for a while. Like you said, I practically live in the Pokémon League." The last part wasn't an exaggeration. He couldn't recall the last time he went to a different city simply to lay back and relax. It always had something to do with work.

Caitlin replied with her signature sleepy smile. "I'm overjoyed that you're taking time for yourself, Nate." He found her words to be soft and elegant, with a hint of sisterly warmth mixed in. It didn't surprise him. On days when he was too engrossed in training, leaving no strategy untested, or Pokémon overlooked, it would be Caitlin who would check on him. She offered him words of encouragement, trained alongside him, or convinced him to take a break if she felt he was pushing himself too hard. Sometimes he'd find himself asleep and wake up to his Pokémon huddled around him, with a snug blanket draped over them. He wondered if Caitlin was behind it, too. He felt his smile grow wider at the thought of having such a supportive friend.