Checkmate by me (recommended reading .TXT) 📕

I sat on the bench scuffing the toes of my trainers on the gravel beneath me. My eyes were fixed on the red-and-white Pokéball that I was gently throwing from hand to hand. I chewed my bottom lip while I thought. I began to rock back and forth unintentionally. Suddenly I had a brainwave and I leapt to my feet in excitement. My mareep, Mio awoke quickly and leapt up next to me. I gently rubbed his head. “Eep” he said happily. I grinned at him before running off, my feet pounding heavily on the rough floor. Mio leapt off the bench and quickly followed.

I squealed in alarm as a green haired figure stepped out in front of me. I tried to stop but I had been going at my full speed and simply couldn’t. I thudded into the green-haired figure. “Hehehe. Hey Touko.” said a familiar voice. I laughed and hugged him.
“Good to see you N.” I said. N smirked.
“Good to see me, yet I am your worst enemy?”
“Yeah. I don’t care if you’re my ‘enemy’” I said with a touch of relish on the word enemy.
“Oh, Touko...” laughed N easily. He shut up quickly as I put both my hands on his shoulders and pulled myself up so I could hug his neck. Yeah, I know what this sounds like. But N is not my boyfriend.

I returned to the sanctuary of the Pokémon center and settled onto one of the chairs. Mio leapt up next to me and I whispered “sorry bud, you need to go to nurse joy” he nodded and scampered over to the desk. I saw nurse joy laugh and gently pick him up, taking him into the back room so as to heal him. I sighed in relief and leaned back. I finally closed my eyes for a few minutes...
A few hours later I awoke, a blanket fell off my shoulders as I sat forward. I looked around, confused but I couldn’t see for a few seconds because of the light. As my vision cleared I saw a brown haired boy sitting with his knees drew up to his neck, his arms folded on top of his knees and his chin resting on his arms. The boy looked over to me and grinned when he saw I was awake. “Hi, welcome back to the world.” He said with a laugh. I grinned back, his smile was infectious. I shook my head in an attempt to clear the Munna that still seemed to have a grip on my mind. “Hi, not to be rude but... who are you?” I said, confusion clouding my normally bright visage. Panic and confusion flitted across the boy’s face. A second later it was replaced by sadness. “You-you don’t remember me...” he said.
His voice was familiar, I told him that. The boy grinned then looked around. “Where’s Mio?” he asked me. I was taken aback. He knew who Mio was! “Mio is with nurse joy.” I answered, still confused over his identity. He grinned at me. “Once you see this little one, you’ll know who I am.” He said, pulling a pokeball from his black and blue bag. He pressed the button, returning the ball to its full size. He pressed the button again and a light shot out. It crashed against the floor and lasted about a second before diminishing, revealing a Electrike with blue stripes down the back of his ears. I gasped, immediately recognising it. I looked up into the boy’s eyes. They were sparkling. I got down on my knees. “Elite?” I whispered to the Electrike. The Electrike ran up to me and licked the end of my nose “Elec!” it confirmed. I gently lifted Elite onto my shoulder and stood up. I looked the boy in the eyes again. “T-Touya?” I whispered huskily. The boy grinned and nodded.
“It’s me alright!” he said, winking cheekily. I hugged him as tightly as I could. My childhood friend. Touya. “I didn’t think I’d see you again!” I exclaimed. He returned my hug with enthusiasm.
“Me neither.” He admitted. Elite clambered onto my head and barked. I turned to the direction he was looking and saw Cheren walking in to the center. “CHEREN!” I squealed. Cheren jumped then turned to me. “Touko!” he laughed, a bit of his carefree nature showing. “And... Who are you?” he said, his question directed at Touya. Touya smiled at him as elite leapt off my head and trotted over to Cheren. Cheren looked at Elite then back at Touya “Touya?” he asked, surprisingly cool. Touya chuckled. “You haven’t changed a bit Cher!”He replied in confirmation. Suddenly Touya grabbed the front of Cheren’s shirt and pulled him toward him. Touya collapsed into the chair and Cheren stumbled, nearly falling on top of him. I swiftly stepped in and caught Cheren. A moment later I realised why Touya had yanked Cheren away. A dark-skinned girl had dashed in the door and was springing about like a pansage. Bianca followed her up, looking dizzy, as per usual. I laughed happily “the entire team is back together!” I yelled. Bianca rushed over and Touya put his hand on her shoulder. I was taken aback when Bianca simply said “hello Touya.” I grinned and took Cheren’s hand. Ignoring the pale blush creeping up his cheeks I pulled him over and put a arm round his and Touya’s shoulders. I grinned at Bianca as she linked hands with me. The boys did the same and we all laughed. Bianca’s smile faded as she turned to the young dark-skinned girl. I recognised her somewhat. I gasped. “Bianca! Is that... Iris?” I stuttered. Bianca nodded.
“She’s helping me find Munna, team galactic stole it.” She whimpered in dismay. My own lip began trembling. One of the things I both treasured and hated was my ability to feel other people’s emotions, if they were strong enough. I bit gently down on my lip and hugged Bianca. I felt a sob tear through her body and a tear rolled down my own cheek. I motioned to Touya and cheren to help me out but the boys just stood looking behind me. Another girl had entered. I growled playfully.
“Kotone, Good to see you!” said Touya and I. Bianca turned and gave a weak smile before burying her head in her hands. I put an arm round her and Iris bounded up. “C’mon miss! We have to find your Munna!” she chirped. I gritted my teeth. Her voice was annoying but I suppose she was sort of loveable, when she stopped bouncing about. I pulled Bianca over to the cushioned chair and sat her down. Kotone sat next to her on her left, Iris sat on her right. Cheren sat next to Kotone, I sat next to Cheren and Touya sat next to me. I sighed and proposed we split up to look around Castelia city. Iris liked the idea, Bianca was scared and the others were neutral. “Ok. Those who don’t have a Xtransceiver pair up with someone who does. Iris, you stay with Bianca. Kotone, do you have one?” I asked. Kotone waved a little pink device. “Yeah!” She replied. I grinned.
“Ok, if you see team plasma, give me a buzz!” I finished. I pulled Kotone to the side and programmed her little pink Xtransceiver so it would connect to my aqua one. I gave her a nod and we walked out into a dazzling sunset. I ordered Iris and Bianca to go to game freak, it was a tall building and they would be able to see Castelia city from the top. Touya took the shore front, cheren took Gym Street and Castelia Street, Kotone took Mode Street and the central plaza and I took Narrow Street. I made my way to the entrance of the putrid alley and gulped. Suddenly a large shape came barrelling down the alleyway. I swiftly dodged out of its path. It was a biker, but why was he running, he looked so scared. Bikers were never scared. I started up the alley but he called after me “Don’t go up there lass!” he shouted, anxiety in his voice. “I had to leave my bike up there...” he said sadly. I looked at him, he looked so distraught. I sighed “I’m not as weak as I look. I’ll get your bike back!” I said determinedly. He looked after me. “Be careful...” I heard him say.

I dodged yet another bin and saw a gleam of metal. It was the guy’s bike. I was about to pick it up when I heard a shout further down the alley. I ran towards the sound and found Touya battling furiously with a plasma grunt. Touya gritted his teeth and ran forwards, Elite at his heels. “Elite, use Thunder!” he roared, jumping up so Elite could run under him. A powerful thunder struck the grunt’s Woobat full on. The grunt noticed me standing there like an idiot and in a flash had me pinned against the wall by my throat. I choked out a few, pitiful words. “T-Touya...Help...Me.” Touya looked at me in shock then at the grunt. He growled and ran forwards, punching the grunt in the side of the head. I slumped against the wall as Touya released a servine. “Blade, Use vine whip. Tie him up.” He ordered. He walked up to me. He was so close now, our chests were almost touching. He was taller than me by about two inches. “Touko...” he breathed. I looked into his soft brown eyes. He drifted towards me, his lips growing close to mine. Suddenly, Cheren fell down the alley, blood discolouring his shirt. “Cheren!” I squealed, running to his side. Gently I lifted his shirt, a huge gash ran from his ribs to the band of his black trousers, it was about three to five millimeters deep. He was laying back in my arms as I looked into his dark blue eyes. He looked at me and smiled. Then he said in little more than a whisper “Checkmate.”

Publication Date: 05-08-2011

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