Art Trade for HopelessRomantic

Many years ago...

Danya sat on a park bench, closing his eyes and smiling as the cool breeze passed around him. The smile soon left his face as his mind came back to thoughts of what tomorrow would bring. Sipping his tea, he opened his eyes again and looked out across the park. It was a Sunday afternoon, so the park was filled trainers and their Pokemon, playing games, fishing or swimming in the pond, just having a good time. He looked down to the bench and noticed two vacant spots next to him. He rolled his eyes slightly.

"Not again," he sighed, "I swear, every time I take my eyes off them." He stood up and scanned the area. A boy playing fetch with a Growlithe, another fishing with a Goldeen, a girl riding on a Pidgeot, a Ralts wrestling with a dark-colored Charmander. Bingo. It never took much for Blitz and Hisoka to start fighting.

<Take it back, take it back!> Blitz yelled.

<You're only mad 'cuz you know it's true!> Hisoka yelled back. Suddenly, both of them were hoisted into the air by their legs as Danya held them both upside-down sternly.

"What started it this time?" Danya asked.

<Hisoka said when I evolve, I'm going to turn into a girl!> Blitz said telepathically as he flailed angrily. Danya sighed again.

"Blitz, we've been over this. Every Ralts becomes a Kirlia, and they all look the same, male or female. You're not going to turn into a girl.

<That's not what Hisoka says.>

"Since when is a Charmander an expert on a Ralts' evolution? You're fine, trust me. And you," he said, holding Hisoka up to his face, "I've had it up to here with you. Ever since I caught you, you've always been fighting with Blitz. Stop antagonizing him. He has enough insecurities as it is. Comprende?"

"Char char."

"Good. Now, let's--" Danya was cut off by a small tug on his pant leg. Looking down, he saw a little girl looking up at him. She seemed on the verge of crying. Danya set Blitz and Hisoka down and knelt next to her.

"Well, hi there," he said as he patted her head. Her green eyes sparkled with tears waiting to be shed and she bit her lip nervously.

"M-M-Mister?" She sobbed, "I l-l-lo--I l-l-lost my-my mo--" and with that she plopped to the grass and started crying.

"Oh dear, lost your mommy, huh? Well, let's see if we can find her, okay?" Danya patted her head again as he stood up and looked around at the crowds spread across the park.

"Hm, this could be tricky. What does your mommy look like?" The girl kept crying. Blitz put his hands to his ears and winced.

<Man, this kid has some lungs on her!>

<Look, kid, I'm sorry yer lost and everythin', but yer givin' me a headache!> Hisoka growled. Of course, all the girl heard was "Char char, mander charmander-char!" The girl stopped sobbing and looked at Hisoka, who looked back with an <Oh thank God she shut up!> "Char Charman-Char!" The girl started to giggle and hugged Hisoka.

"You're funny, Mr. Charmander." she laughed. The Pokemon squirmed and wriggled but couldn't break the girl's grip, leaving him trapped in a perma-hug. Blitz understandably chuckled.

"So you like Hisoka, huh?" Danya said.

"Hi-so-ka?" Betty replied, slowly enunciating his name.

"That's right. It means 'Secret'. So what's your name, little lady?"

"I'm Betty!" The girl said with a beaming smile.

"Nice to meet you, Betty. My name is Danya." He scooped her up, while she still held Hisoka, and began to walk down the path across the park.

"Now let's get you some ice cream and we'll go look for your mommy. How does that sound?"

"Yay!" Betty cheered, hugging Hisoka even tighter, "Ice cweam!"

****

Betty had finally let Hisoka go so she could hold her ice cream cone, which she licked happily.

"My mommy's real pwetty," she said between licks, "She has wed hair and--There she is!" She pointed to the left and up the hill towards a red-haired woman looking around frantically.

"Mommy, mommy!" Betty called. Danya smiled and the group made their way up the hill. The young woman heard her daughter call and saw them coming to her. She smiled and ran to meet them.

"Betty! Oh, thank God! I've been looking all..." Her words and her smile fell dead as her eyes met Danya's. Instantly, her expression changed from joy to annoyance.

"I don't believe it." she said.

"Evonne?" Danya said in disbelief.

"Mommy!" Betty cheered happily, "This is Mr. Danya! He gave me ice cweam and he helped me find you and--"

"I know who he is. Now come here, Betty. We're going home."

Danya placed Betty on the ground and she scampered to her mother's side.

"But Mommy, I don't wanna go home yet. I wanna pway with Hi-so-ka!"

"Evonne...I had no idea that you--"

"Save it. I don't want to see you right now. I thought you had left already, anyway."

"It's not that simple. I spent the last four years just looking for them. My initiation doesn't begin until tomorrow. I..." Danya stopped and looked down at Betty, "Four years..."

"She's not yours," Evonne reacted sharply, "I-I'm with someone now. He's the father."

"What's his name?"

"None of your business. Now go away, I'm leaving."

Betty, understanding none of the conversation, was simply content to hug Hisoka some more. When her mother had finished, she perked up and said "Can I pwease say goodbye to Mr. Danya, Mommy?"

"I...I...ugh. Fine." Evonne sighed as she slumped to the grass. Danya sat down next to her, causing her to turn away from him.

"Evonne, I--"

"I told you I don't want to hear anything you have to say."

Danya turned away with slight sadness, which instantly changed to surprise as Betty unabashedly sat on his lap. She giggled as he stroked her head gently. He felt a sudden unfamiliar feeling. It felt like a longing, but for something he didn't know how to describe. He felt in the back of his mind that maybe he should just stay here, not leave tomorrow. He had the greatest, yet faintest idea that if he followed his current path, it would destroy any chance of the happiness he felt at this moment. But it was to preserve happiness like this that he chose this path in the first place. He chose not to dwell on the matter for now, to simply enjoy this moment, whatever it truly meant. He looked into Betty's eyes, eyes green as his own, and smiled warmly.

It was the last time he would ever smile thus.


My part of an art trade with

It's become our duty to cause confusion over the whole Betty/Danya issue. XD

Betty, Evonne, and Hisoka are (c)
Danya and Blitz are (c) me