fic: pokemon: Trails in the Valley of Youth, Epilogue
Title: Trails in the Valley of Youth, Epilogue
Word Count: 432 words
Verse: Gameverse, Gen 5
Characters/Pairings: Alder/Cheren, appearances from Black and N
Rating: PG
Warnings: None for this chapter.
Summary: Cheren has spent five years under Alder's teachings, becoming a full time apprentice in learning what it means to be the strongest trainer in Unova. Now he's 23, and while he has learned so much, he is becoming increasingly frustrated with where he stands, both with his mentor and his place in the Champion's pinnacle.
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One Month Ago
Alder heard his footsteps before he saw him. Opening one eye, he turned his head and was startled to see Cheren standing not a few feet away, looking very much like some sort of tall, skinny mountain man - fairly dirty, facial hair. Liepard was by his side, and his pack was slung over his shoulder.
“You’re back!” Alder exclaimed, getting up from his sitting position, where he had been deep in meditation. He threw his arms wide, taking Cheren in, studying him. He realized he was looking in the face of a man now - Cheren was 25 now. He was no longer a boy.
His heart swelled with pride.
He thought about taking a few steps forward and giving him a welcoming embrace - but, remembering incidents in the past, refrained. Instead, he smiled and patted his shoulder.
“I’m sure you have a lot to tell me.”
Cheren only nodded, and smiled.
“That I do, Alder.”
-------
Present Day
Cheren was stirred out of a sound sleep by noise. He made a groggy noise as he propped himself up on his elbows, and blearily looked around the room.
He made out Alder’s tall form near the corner. He rubbed at his eyes and finally deducted that Alder was packing a bag. After all, it was a sight he was very familiar with, since Alder had many nomadic tendancies.
He waited for the familiar pang of anger, disappointment. But it never came.
Because though Alder was leaving, Cheren knew he was coming back. Alder always came back. And that was enough for Cheren.
Alder finally noticed that he was awake, and smiled at him through the early morning sun. He went to him, and leaning over, gave him a kiss. Cheren’s eyes close and he reciprocated, reaching up and setting a hand on his shoulder.
He was smiling when they pulled away. “When will you be back?”
“In a few days,” Was the response as Alder slung the pack over his shoulder. He turned and grinned at Cheren. “I checked the cameras, your first opponent as Champion is only a few days away in Victory Road. Will you be okay without me?”
Cheren leaned back against his pillows and flicked his hand non-chalantly. “Of course,” He said, stretching. “I’m the champion, after all.”
He let out a small sigh as he looked up at Alder, all ready to journey off somewhere. And Cheren would let him, eagerly waiting for his return.
“And, I had a good teacher.” He murmured to himself, after Alder had left.
-------
end
<< Chapter Five |
Word Count: 432 words
Verse: Gameverse, Gen 5
Characters/Pairings: Alder/Cheren, appearances from Black and N
Rating: PG
Warnings: None for this chapter.
Summary: Cheren has spent five years under Alder's teachings, becoming a full time apprentice in learning what it means to be the strongest trainer in Unova. Now he's 23, and while he has learned so much, he is becoming increasingly frustrated with where he stands, both with his mentor and his place in the Champion's pinnacle.
----------------------------------------
One Month Ago
Alder heard his footsteps before he saw him. Opening one eye, he turned his head and was startled to see Cheren standing not a few feet away, looking very much like some sort of tall, skinny mountain man - fairly dirty, facial hair. Liepard was by his side, and his pack was slung over his shoulder.
“You’re back!” Alder exclaimed, getting up from his sitting position, where he had been deep in meditation. He threw his arms wide, taking Cheren in, studying him. He realized he was looking in the face of a man now - Cheren was 25 now. He was no longer a boy.
His heart swelled with pride.
He thought about taking a few steps forward and giving him a welcoming embrace - but, remembering incidents in the past, refrained. Instead, he smiled and patted his shoulder.
“I’m sure you have a lot to tell me.”
Cheren only nodded, and smiled.
“That I do, Alder.”
-------
Present Day
Cheren was stirred out of a sound sleep by noise. He made a groggy noise as he propped himself up on his elbows, and blearily looked around the room.
He made out Alder’s tall form near the corner. He rubbed at his eyes and finally deducted that Alder was packing a bag. After all, it was a sight he was very familiar with, since Alder had many nomadic tendancies.
He waited for the familiar pang of anger, disappointment. But it never came.
Because though Alder was leaving, Cheren knew he was coming back. Alder always came back. And that was enough for Cheren.
Alder finally noticed that he was awake, and smiled at him through the early morning sun. He went to him, and leaning over, gave him a kiss. Cheren’s eyes close and he reciprocated, reaching up and setting a hand on his shoulder.
He was smiling when they pulled away. “When will you be back?”
“In a few days,” Was the response as Alder slung the pack over his shoulder. He turned and grinned at Cheren. “I checked the cameras, your first opponent as Champion is only a few days away in Victory Road. Will you be okay without me?”
Cheren leaned back against his pillows and flicked his hand non-chalantly. “Of course,” He said, stretching. “I’m the champion, after all.”
He let out a small sigh as he looked up at Alder, all ready to journey off somewhere. And Cheren would let him, eagerly waiting for his return.
“And, I had a good teacher.” He murmured to himself, after Alder had left.
-------
end
<< Chapter Five |