Fire and Ice

No, I Don't

Greninja was walking back to camp with Pikachu and Braixen after a short training session. He kept silent the whole way, allowing his friends to chat amongst themselves. There was a sinking feeling in his stomach that Greninja recognized as guilt. He bit his lip. Why was he feeling so guilty about pranking Hawlucha the other day? It wasn't like he'd done any real harm, and besides, it had been April Fool's Day. Pranks were to be expected; it was as simple as that. Yet he still couldn't seem to forget the hurt look in his ex-friend's eyes as he stood in front of him, covered in paint and berry juice. 

When they got back to camp, Greninja's eyes immediately scanned the clearing for any sign of Hawlucha. It was a reflex of his by now, something he was internally obliged to do even if he didn't want to. After a second, he spotted the Aztec bird sitting in a circle with Talonflame, Noivern, and Luxray. He tried to sneak past, wanting to avoid a confrontation, until he picked up a bit of their conversation. 

"I told you guys. There will be no more plans. I've had enough now," Hawlucha said to his friends. 

"You're just going to give up?" Talonflame asked incredulously. "You of all Pokemon want to just give up?" 

Give up on what? Greninja wondered. 

"Well, what else can I do, Talonflame? He's made it clear that he doesn't want to be my friend anymore." Hawlucha let out a sigh. "I thought we could work things out eventually, but...the prank yesterday proved that it's not going to happen." 

Greninja's insides plunged. He knew what this was about now. Him. He had broken Hawlucha. A part of him had hoped that his teammate had simply been overreacting and that he'd get over it soon-but no. Hawlucha's next words tore at his heart even more. 

"Greninja..." Hawlucha's voice cracked. "I think he hates me." 

I think he hates me. 

"I don't hate you," Greninja whispered. 

At that moment, Hawlucha turned around and met Greninja's eyes. The fighting-type recoiled in surprise, his face going slightly red. 

"Oh, uh, hey," he stuttered. 

"Hey..." Greninja replied, trying to look as though he hadn't been eavesdropping. 

"How long have you-I mean, did you hear-?" Hawlucha stammered. 

"I, uh, I have to go," Greninja muttered, his face heating up. Without another word, he turned around and ran out of camp. 

"Greninja, wait!" Hawlucha called out as he ran after the frog-ninja Pokemon. 

Greninja kept on running, almost too fast for Hawlucha to keep up with. 

"For Arceus' sake, stop!" he shouted. 

Greninja finally stopped, although he still wouldn't look his way. Hawlucha flew around and landed in front of the water-type, trying to meet his eyes, but Greninja just averted his gaze. 

"Greninja..." the fighting-type said softly. "Look at me, please." 

For a moment, he thought Greninja was going to ignore him. Then, slowly, he turned his head until their eyes locked. His expression was apprehensive and slightly irritated, but it was also weary, and Hawlucha wanted nothing more than to reach out to him. But he knew that Greninja didn't want him to, and that hurt more than anything. 

"Greninja, will you please say something?" he pleaded. Greninja didn't respond. "I'm not leaving you alone until you at least say one thing to me." 

Hawlucha swallowed the lump in his throat. He hadn't realized how much he'd missed hearing Greninja's voice, arguing with him or not, until that very moment. While it was true that he still had his popularity, a great trainer in Ash, and many battles to look forward to, none of it mattered if the quarrelsome water-type wasn't going to be part of it. 

"Please," he repeated. 

"What do you want me to say, then?" Greninja asked, so quietly Hawlucha had to strain to hear what he was saying. "Yes, I heard what you and the others were talking about. All of it-well, maybe not all of it, but I heard enough." 

"Oh," was all Hawlucha could say to that. "And...?" 

"And...I-well..." Greninja stammered. "I just-" 

Very eloquent, Greninja, Hawlucha thought to himself. Out loud, he asked, "So, are you going to tell me that I was right? Tell me that you hate me and want nothing more to do with me?" 

Greninja bit his lip and looked away again. "I don't hate you," he said quietly. "I-I never meant anything mean by that prank. I didn't expect you to take it so hard, honest. It was only meant as a joke for April Fool's Day." 

"I know," Hawlucha admitted. "But it wasn't just that. We-we never do anything but argue anymore, not since...well, whatever. Anyway, I always wanted us to be friends again, but part of me always thought it would never happen, and I guess yesterday was just..." 

"It wasn't," Greninja replied, his face going red. "And, uh...well, for what it's worth, I-I'd like us to be friends again too." 

Hawlucha's head snapped up. "You do?" he repeated hopefully. 

"Well, yes," Greninja mumbled, turning around to flee again. Before he could even move, however, Hawlucha grabbed his arm. "Hawlucha, what-" 

"Wait," Hawlucha pleaded. "You can't leave." 

"And what's stopping me?" Greninja retorted. 

"It's just-you want to be my friend. Do you know how long I've been waiting to hear you say that?" Hawlucha asked. 

"I'm guessing somewhere along the lines of six months," Greninja muttered. 

"Six months, two weeks, and four days," Hawlucha responded. "That's how long. And now that you've finally come round, there's nothing that will ever convince me to let you go again." 

Greninja smiled a little at that. Not one of his usual smirks, but a genuine smile that radiated true happiness, the one that Hawlucha had thought he would never see again. The effect it had was astounding. For a moment, just a brief moment, he was recognizable as the softhearted little Froakie he had befriended all those months ago.