Everlasting Memories (Pokémon Hugh X Rosa)

Memories of Purrloin

"That's adorable!" says Nate. Hugh squints at him. He thinks if he searches hard enough, maybe he'll be able to spot the teenage girl controlling Nate. Their current Multi Battle streak, by the way, is 4. Nate is doing much better than Hugh thought he would.

"You two sound pretty tight," remarks Nate. They enter the next car to face their next opponents, a lady and a school kid. "What changed?"

Hugh grimaces. "What happened next changed me forever." He releases his Bouffalant. "In fact, that event practically created me."

"Oh?" says Nate, his eyebrows raised.

Five years ago

"...and we caught it!" exclaimed the old man.

Hugh jumped up and hugged him. "Thank you so much, Gramps!" He buried his face into his grandfather's apron. "Hana's going to love it!"

"That's alright, boy," His grandfather patted his head. "But maybe we should keep this a secret until your sister's birthday tomorrow, okay?"

"You bet!" replied the boy, pumping his fist in the air. "Alright! We caught a Purrloin! I can't wait to tell Rosa!"

"Now, now," his grandfather wagged a finger at him. "I know you and Rosa are best friends, but you can't ruin the surprise!"

"Okay, Gramps," Hugh gave his grandfather another hug and ran off.

He ran and ran until he reached the pond. Rosa and her mother lived in a small red house right next to it. He pounded on the door hard, panting.

"Rosa!" he exclaimed, as his best friend opened the door. Rosa had grown over the years, and had traded her pigtails for buns on the side of her head. "You won't believe it!"

Rosa giggled. She had grown used to Hugh's antics by now and didn't mind them at all. She dragged him inside the house and shut the door.

"So, what's got you so excited?" she asked, watching Hugh flop onto the couch. She took a seat next to him.

"Grandpa c-"Hugh began, but stopped when he remembered his grandfather's words. "I mean, Grandpa said you have to come for Hana's birthday tomorrow!"

"I'll be there, Hugh," said Rosa. "You already invited me last week, remember?"

"Yeah, but," Hugh scratched his head, thinking of a response. "Um, Grandpa said he has a big surprise for her! You have to see it!"

"Of course I will!" Rosa smiled at him. "I'm not about to miss my best friend's sister's birthday now, am I?"

The Purrloin was kept with Hugh's grandfather at night, and the next morning it was handed over to him. Hugh had insisted that he be the one to give Hana her birthday present. While he himself had got his first Pokémon when he was ten, Hana would be receiving hers at the tender age of six. Hugh hoped she would love it as much as he loved his Pokémon.

Rosa had called him up to say that she would be arriving late, as she and her mother were at Flocessy Town, visiting someone. Hugh was annoyed, but not annoyed enough that it ruined his mood. He knew Rosa would be there to see the new Pokémon soon.

As soon as the cake was cut, Hugh shoved the box under his sister's nose. "Open mine first!"

Hana shook the box, trying to get what was inside. "Is it a Pokétoy?"

"Even better!" Hugh replied, smiling at his sister. "Happy birthday, Hana!"

She ripped open the cardboard box to find a Poké Ball inside. "It's a...Poké Ball?" She said, confused. "I-uh, love it!"

"No, silly," laughed Hugh. "Open the Poké Ball!"

Hana obeyed him, and with a flash of light the small Pokémon leapt out, right into her arms. "It's a Pokémon!" she squealed. "A Purrloin! Oh, Hugh, you're the best!"

Hugh hugged his sister, pleased with himself. His grandfather winked at him from the corner of the room and Hugh winked back.

"Now, why don't you open this one, dear?" said his mother, holding up a box. "It's from-"

"No!" yelled Hugh. "Hana and I are going to go out and have a Pokémon battle. Now!"

"Absolutely not!" said his father. "That Pokémon has had no training yet, and-"

"Come on, Hana," Hugh grabbed his little sister's hand and ran out of the house. "We'll be back soon!"

The two children ran towards the outlook, Hana still clutching the Pokémon. She struggled to keep up with her brother. "Hugh, are you sure it's okay to battle so soon?"

"Definitely," he turned back and smiled at her. Suddenly he ran into something and stopped.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?"Two men were standing before him, dressed in medieval clothing. "Is that a Pokémon? Is it yours, little girl?"

"Yup!" declared Hugh. "I gave it to her."

"How precious," sneered the second man. "Well, if you ask me, little children like you shouldn't be allowed to have Pokémon. You're just making them suffer!"

"What?" raged Hugh. "We're not making them suffer! Purrloin loves Hana! Just see for yourself!"

"I'm going to take this Pokémon away, before you two make it suffer more," said the first man, as he swooped in and grabbed the Purrloin. "And not just children like you, no one should be allowed to have Pokémon and cause them pain."

"Hey!" roared Hugh. "Come back here!" He proceeded to chase after them, but his path was blocked by two Patrat, glaring at him with their red eyes.

The second man shook his head. "It's Team Plasma's duty to liberate Pokémon from their trainers. Soon, no one in Unova will have any Pokémon!" They recalled their Pokémon and walked away.

Hugh stood there in shock. He couldn't believe what just happened. Hana began to cry, and his insides boiled with rage, a rage unlike anything he had ever known.

That day marked a change in Hugh. Gone was the happy, excitable boy, and in his place was a young man filled with pure hatred for Team Plasma. When Rosa showed up later, she barely recognized him. He refused to talk to her and tell her what happened, and she chalked it up to another of his tantrums. What she didn't know was that her best friend had made a promise to himself: a promise to get Purrloin back. He would get stronger and destroy Team Plasma, once and for all.