September 18

Owen

Location: Secret Base, near Route 101 and Littleroot Town

"You ready?" Raina asked me. I nodded. "Yeah." Raina smiled as she closed her eyes A ball of air formed into her hand as her Item of Power, a cherry blossom hair clip, started to glow. She slowly opened her eyes and nodded towards me.

I took a deep breath and flicked my my hand , making a fireball appear in it. After many failed attempts of summoning fire without trying to unintentionally burn myself or Raina, I could confidently summon a fireball into my hands without setting anything — or anyone — on fire. Of course nothing would happen to me or Raina if we catch on fire. It wouldn't hurt or kill me and Raina could literally douse herself in water.

I aimed the fireball at the center of the target in the room and threw it at the dead center. About a second later, Raina sent her ball of air after it as they both hit the target, making a small explosion, leaving only the target destroyed.

I grabbed my father's journal and started to write as I sat down on one of the cushions in the base. "If you attack fire with air, the flames will only get intensified by the air and wind."

"And if you send air after fire, the power of the flames will get amplified with more power," Raina added, walking over. "Also, if you combine fire and water, you'll get steam, which is useful for evasion or distraction."

I closed the journal. "Took the words right out of my mouth. Are we done training for today?" Raina nodded. "Yeah. We've both reached our limit and the sun's about to set soon." She went into her room to finish her journal account for today.

So, about two months have passed since we met Brendan back at Slateport City in late July, and both of us are currently staying at my Secret Base in the forest near Route 101. Yes, I said Secret Base. If there's anything people know about Hoenn, it's that Hoenn is filled with forests and Secret Bases.

Anyway, Raina isn't just completing her journal account. She's also getting ready for our night out. After four years of traveling together with Rain, I finally got the courage to ask her out. Yes I, the Patron of Ho-Oh, has fallen in love with my best friend, the Patron of Lugia.

I know that Patrons aren't supposed to have or develop feelings, but I sorta started to have feelings towards Raina before we became Patrons. Plus, that rule is totally stupid and almost no one from the Patron Order follows that rule anyway. Heck, not even the Legendary Pokemon know why that rule was formed.

Who knows why, I wondered as I walked into my room to get ready for tonight. Since I'm only taking Raina for dinner and stargazing (A meteor shower was going to happen and the best view is from the Secret Base) for our date, I'm wearing a blue short-sleeved dress shirt and brown khaki shorts. I put my Feather Amulet underneath my shirt, the cold metal hitting my chest, as I waited outside the Base for my best friend to come out.

"Owen?" I turned around as I heard Raina's voice. My azure eyes widened as I blushed, looking at my best friend.  Raina was wearing a red and white striped top that was up to her midriff, a bluish-indigo ruffled skirt, black high knee socks, and black ballerina flats. Her ebony hair was in low twintails and a black armband with a design of a pink sakura flower was stitched onto it was on her right wrist. Her Item of Power shone in the moonlight, giving an ethereal silver glow around her, like her aura when she first became a Patron.

Raina walked towards me, each step softer than the first. She looked down, twirling a lock of her hair.  "What do you think, Owen?" I smiled. "You look good in anything. And. . ." I felt myself blush before looking down. "I think you look kinda cute." Raina's cheeks flushed a crimson red. "Thanks," She then smirked. "You don't look so bad yourself, Kai."

I smirked back, bowing. "Why thank you, m'lady!" Raina laughed at what I said as I helped her get on Tropius. "So, where are we going, my knight?" She jokingly asked, playing along. "Petalburg City. I heard they had a good resturant there." I jumped onto Tropius as Raina put her arms around my waist. I patted Tropius. "Petalburg City, buddy." The Fruit Pokemon raised its leafy wings as it flew away from the base.

Ten minutes later. . .

Location: Petalburg City

Tropius landed down as Raina and I got down. I recalled him back into his Ball. "Thanks a lot, buddy," I looked forward. "I guess Petalburg City hasn't changed at all since we left." The city still looked the same with the many buildings, the Petalburg City Gym, and the huge water fountain in the center of the city.

Raina looked up. "Yeah, I guess so." She smiled. "You know, this places brings back memories. . ." I looked at her. "The day we met, right?" My best friend nodded.  "I wonder what would've happened if I never met you. . ." I laughed. "You wouldn't have had me as your best friend." I said snarkily.

Raina laughed. "True, and I don't think I could've lived my life without it." "Without what?" I asked her. She playfully hit me on the shoulder. "Meeting you, dummy!" She looked down. "You've been my best friend for so long. There's no way someone will try and separate us. I'd rather die than lose you, Owen."

I felt my face heat up as my cheeks got tinted with a rosy pink. "Really?" I whispered. She looked at me. "Did you say something?" I shook my head. "Nothing. By the way, we're at the restaurant." We held hands with each other as we went inside and got a table. We talked as we waited for our food to come. Even though I was talking to Raina, my mind dozed back to the journals and unanswered questions. Why did Dad hide a journal in the Bell Tower? Who killed him? And how was he connected to the disappearance of Raina's father and older brother?

"Owen?" I snapped back into reality to see Raina looking at me with a face of concern. I scratched the back of my neck, blushing. "Sorry, Rain. I was thinking about something." My best friend raised an eyebrow. "Were you thinking about the journals again?" I nodded. "I didn't mean to, it's just that. . ." I shrugged. "I have so many questions about them, like why did my father hide his in the Bell Tower? And how was he connected to the disappearance of your dad and brother? Stuff like that."

Raina smiled. "Don't worry about the journals now, Owen. For now, enjoy tonight." I smiled back, nodding. Just then, our food arrived and we started to eat.

-X-

After dinner, I paid the bill (Even though Raina insisted on paying at least some of it) and we walked around Petalburg before sitting down on the edge of the water fountain in the city. I looked up at the sky. The meteor shower was going to start in thirty minutes, which meant that we could stay in Petalburg for a little more time before going back to the Secret Base.

I looked at Raina, who was looking at the stars in the sky. "Did you have a good time?" She smiled at me. "Yeah, I really did," She leaned a little on me. "We got to talk to each other more than ever. Too bad it had passed too quickly." I looked at her, grinning. "This night isn't over yet, you know?"

My best friend raised an eyebrow towards me. "Really?" I nodded. "Yep. There are more surprises back at the Base." Raina grinned. "So what are we waiting for? Let's go!" I got Tropius out as we both got on him and started to fly back to the Secret Base.

Ten minutes later. . .

Location: Secret Base, near Route 101 and Littleroot Town

We made it back to the Secret Base just in time for the meteor shower to start. Slivers of silver light swirled down, painting the inky black night sky with the brightness of the shining stars. We sat on the edge of the Secret Base, watching the falling meteors as they lit up the dark blue sky.

Raina smiled, turning towards me. "Was this your other surprise?" I nodded. "Yeah, and also. . ." I looked down, blushing. "I have something to tell you." Raina looked at me curiously. I took a deep breath. Welp, here we go. I kept my head down. "Raina, ever since I met you, my life started becoming more and more fun everyday. And after that, I started falling for you," I looked at her, smiling. "I'm in love with you. Will you be my girlfriend, Raina Zephyr?"

I saw her face turned crimson as she looked away. I looked away as well. "I can understand if you don't feel the same way and —" Raina put a finger on my lips. I looked at her as she smiled. "Close your eyes." I obeyed, shutting my blue irises. Then, I felt something soft and warm on my lips. I opened my eyes a little to see Raina kissing me. I closed my eyes as she pulled back.

I blushed. She kissed me. . . I shook it off. "So is that a yes, or —" Raina laughed, causing me to stop talking. "Of course, you dummy. I've liked you too, you know." I looked at her. "You did?" She nodded. "Yeah, but unlike you, I was able to keep it a secret." I laughed, kissing my best friend — no, girlfriend — on the lips again.

We walked back into our rooms, holding hands. "I never thought you'd get together with Captain Diver's Patron." Ho-Oh said as I changed. I grinned. "Well, you know what they say, 'Opposites Attract'." I fell asleep, thinking about Raina and I's relationship now, as boyfriend and girlfriend. I hope it'll grow, just like our powers.

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Hey guys, Lantern here!

Sorry for not updating for so long, I was busy with school.

But hey, Owen and Raina are now dating!

Next Chapter: A few months have passed, and Owen gets a weird dream message that leads them to libraries in Unova. It looks like it's time to hit the books. Again.

OrigamiLantern11, lights out!