Fire and Ice

Push

"So why doesn't Frogadier like any of us?" the recently hatched Noibat asked. 

The other Pokemon frowned at the question, though not out of disapproval. It was more of a thoughtful frown, as they pondered the answers to Noibat's seemingly innocent question. 

"I don't know," Fletchinder said finally. "He's always been a bit...well, cold, to be honest." 

"He was like that at the lab too," Chespin interjected. "If anyone tried to make friends with them, he would tell them to leave him alone so he could train. He's always hated everyone-well, except for Ash, that is." 

"So he doesn't really have any friends, even now," Pancham added, for once agreeing with Chespin. 

"He's not really that bad," Pikachu spoke up quickly. "Just, you know, a little hard to get along with. But he is a nice Pokemon if you can look past all that." 

"Who can, though?" Fletchinder retorted. "He hates all of us. You've seen how he is, haven't you? Name one time he's been friendly or at least somewhat polite to the rest of us." 

Pikachu didn't seem to have a response for that. Then Braixen, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly said, "Well, I think there might be someone who he doesn't actually hate." 

There was a small glimmer in her eye as she spoke, staring off at something only she could see. The other Pokemon looked in the direction she was staring. Frogadier was dodging berries as a laughing Hawlucha dropped them off a tree towards him. His fists were clenched in anger and he was swearing fluently at him. Even from their vantage point, it was easy to make out the smile Frogadier was fighting exceptionally hard to keep off his face. 

"Maybe Hawlucha will be able to give him a push in the right direction," Braixen commented. 

Seeing the laughter in Frogadier's eyes, the laughter he refused to give voice to but was there nonetheless, the others could believe it.