Named such because it’s their names put together: The “Hand” from Handy and the “efty” from Hefty.
PencilHeart = Hefty x Handy
Named such because Handy often puts a pencil around his ears, which he used to sketch his inventions; and Hefty's tattoo is a heart.
BrainsAndBrawn = Hefty x Handy
Named such because Handy is a genius at making and fixing things and Hefty is a strong smurf. They're best friends and the two share a "Brains and Brawn" friendship.
Brainsandbrawnshipping and Pencilheartshipping were suggested by @hortensia-et-glace
Oh neat, another thing to complement my Pokemon fanfics! How swell.
Unlike others, this will be the first part of a three-shot mini-series type. It’s basically me building up the background for Machamp and Alakazam, which I’ve talked about with some people before, but I wanted to try writing up.
This first part is when they meet for the first time in their early stages. Because their friendship has to start up somewhere, so this will be where!
I’ll try to update the other two parts with coming chapters of my current Pokemon fanfic, Melting Gelid Roses. This first part was supposed to come out with the previous chapter, but life and computer issues delayed me.
So, here it is now, below the cut! Enjoy reading!
[Caulfield Outskirts, Years Ago…]
A group of youngsters carried baskets of berries as the sun shined, the remaining hours of the day fading. They marched on their way back to their village, through the chilly but grass kissed roads, as they chattered and laughed the way back. Trees swayed under the breezes that flowed through the area, some strong enough to make them shudder.
“I think mama’s gonna be proud of getting such a big haul,” cheered a pink puffball, her red eyes sparkling.
“That’s ‘going to be,’ Igglybuff,” corrected her star-shaped counterpart.
“Ah, sorry, Cleffa.”
“Well, I hope my mama’s not going to be cross with me,” mumbled a gray bunny, peeking at the berries under his basket. “She didn’t want me going out too far for these.”
“It is pretty late,” agreed the chinchilla that walked beside him. “Our parents won’t be happy, especially with that incident that happened some weeks ago.”
“But we got so many berries for the festival!” A spiked ball, egg-like fairy jumped around. “Bunches and bunches of them!”
“Oh, Togepi! Please, settle down!” A bigger egg-shaped creature tried to stop the youngest from bouncing. “You’ll spill all of the berries we’ve collected.”
“Aw, ok…”
To reach their village, the children passed through a valley. A sharp wind gusted against the stones that rested on the cliffs above, and the children shivered.
“Gosh, it’s really cold today,” murmured Cleffa. “Maybe we should have worn heavier cloaks today.”
“Right? Isn’t it so chilly?” The bunny shuddered and shook his head from his crawling chills. “Minccino and I have fur, and we’re still freezing!”
“It’s ok, Bunnelby, we’ll be home soon enough,” reassured the larger egg-shaped creature. “Then we can sit by the fire and warm up.”
“That’s if we don’t get scolded forever, Happiny.”
“Oh, hush. That won’t happen.”
“How much further…?” Togepi picked a berry from his basket. “I’m hungry now.”
“Togepi, you’ll spoil your supper,” chastised Minccino. “Come now, it’s just beyond this valley, and we’ll be home.”
“Ok…”
Some pebbles cracked and cascaded down from the mountains above the children. They gazed up, staring at the stones that shook from the heavy gusts above.
“If it gets any windier, I’ll get blown away!” Igglybuff giggled.
“You laugh, but you’re probably right,” murmured Bunnelby. He patted Igglybuff’s head. “Stick low to the ground and don’t float off.”
“Ha, yeah!”
“Let’s be careful from the stones too,” cautioned Happiny. “Even if they’re small, it’s better safe than sorry.”
“Don’t you like finding stones?” Togepi poked at Happiny and pointed at the scattered brown and gray pebbles nearby. “Shouldn’t you get those?”
“Not those, I want different ones.” She patted at the white, round stone in her pouch. “Like this one.”
“Hm. Some stones can evolve us, right?” Cleffa picked up a gray rock. “I wonder if any of them are here?”
“Probably not,” debunked Minccino, “those are harder to find.”
A sharper gust howled around them, as dandelion balls scattered through the air. Boulders crackled and quaked above the children, and they gasped as one hefty stone dropped from a cliff above, crashing down to the plateau below it and tumbling over.
“R-run!”
Bunnelby and Minccino scooped up Cleffa and Igglybuff, as Happy grabbed Togepi, and the sextuple scurried from the crashing rock that slammed down behind them. They shouted and screamed, spotting another three boulders rolling down from the cliffs above and down to the valley below.
“Help!!”
“Someone help us!!”
As a giant stone came rolling from the hill above, a gray creature leapt out and slammed its fist into the rock. It shattered into many smaller pieces, raining down around some of the children.
The gray, muscular critter landed, and spiraled around. He grinned at the children and waved, then jumped up and smashed another boulder to smithereens.
“…Wow!” Igglybuff bounced in Minccino’s hands. “That was great!”
“Ha, thanks.” Their hero grinned. “Just wanted to make sure no one got hurt.”
“You’re a hero, mister!” Cleffa clapped. “Good job!”
“Mister? Ha-ha! I’m not that old.”
“Still, thank you for the help.” Bunnelby nodded. “We could have been crushed for sure.”
“What’s your name?”
“Me? I’m Machop!” His beam softened. “You kids should head home now, the winds are picking up a lot at this time.”
“Thanks again.” Minccino smiled. “You were really brave.”
“Aw, I don’t know—”
“Happiny! Look out!”
Machop jolted up and whirled around, watching as another boulder tumbled from above. He stumbled as he dashed forward, and Happiny tripped as she held Togepi out from her.
“Save him!”
“No, Happiny!”
“Wah!”
Everyone panicked as the boulder rolled down for a crash landing. Before it hit, however, a quick yellow and brown blur flickered in, as a critter grasped Happiny and Togepi before they disappeared with it.
With a shout, Machop punched at the stone, breaking it to bits and wildly searched for the egg-like creatures. A flash beamed beside him, and he whirled around as the brown and yellow creature placed the children down.
“Oh, wow! You saved us!” Togepi clapped his hands together. “That was so cool!”
“Gosh, thank you so much.” Happiny bowed to their savior. “We could have been squished. Thank you, thank you!”
“Uh, um…”
They tilted their heads at the figure, some kind of mix between a goat and a fox, though not quite either. Machop and the other children closed in, as the other critter shivered.
“That was awesome!” Igglybuff bounced from Minccino’s arms. “Are you Machop’s partner?”
“You guys are like heroes,” chirped Cleffa.
Before anyone else could chime in, a flash blinded them a bit as their rescuer disappeared. Machop rubbed his eyes and quickly looked up, spotting nothing. He twisted around and scanned again, spotting the brown and yellow fellow this time.
“There!” The critter gasped and disappeared once more. “Hey, wait!” Machop dashed forward, but skidded to a quick halt. “Uh, you kids get home and stay there! It’s only getting windier out. Um…bye!”
“Bye-bye!”
All of the children waved as Machop vaulted up the valley’s hills, climbing after his helper that appeared and vanished from view time and again. Chasing after him, Machop jumped from cliff to plateau, dodging or punching stones that fell in his way.
He slipped at one point and yelped out, but with a bright flash, he arrived gently on a landing. He turned and smiled to the yellow creature, who gasped and disappeared in another flash.
Determined, Machop surveyed around and continued to pursue the fellow, making his way further up the mountainside. He eventually climbed up a cliff and came to a small cave. He rubbed behind his head and wandered in, with the cavern lit by the sunset’s glow. His helper panted, with his back turned from the cave’s opening.
“Hey!”
“Ah!”
“No, wait, please don’t go!” Machop reached out with his hand as the other vanished. “I wanted to thank you!”
For a moment, Machop stood in silence, and deflated as he waited. A flash lit up the cave briefly, and the critter appeared as the light faded. He slumped down, and Machop gazed upon him, studying his thin eyes and long tail. Huddling himself together, the creature shuddered as Machop inched a little closer.
“Um…y-you’re welcome.” He trembled and scooted back. “Y-y-you can g-go now.”
“But I don’t want to leave you all alone,” protested Machop. “If you need help getting home, I’ll take you! You helped me, so—”
“This is my home,” interrupted the other one.
Machop blinked and turned back, spotting a ripped, faded blue cloth that rested against the rocks. He frowned and pivoted back to the fellow, who still held himself and pressed back against the wall.
“It’s…really this?” Machop brushed his own stubby tail, and rolled his shoulders a bit. “Here?”
“Yeah.”
“But…are you alone?”
“Y…yeah.”
“What about your parents?”
He waited as his counterpart sat quietly, picking at pebbles on the ground. He sighed heavily, and Machop backed up slightly.
“They…they’re gone,” managed Machop’s helper, his voice breaking.
“Gone from here, or gone…” Machop quieted as the other boy sniffled. “Oh. …I’m sorry.” They fell silent for a moment, and Machop’s shoulders sank. “…Mine are gone too.”
“Sorry,” echoed his host.
Again, the two hushed and waited, as Machop sat down. He brushed over the plates on his head, and blinked at his helper’s ears.
“Um…what’s your name?”
“…Abra.”
“That’s nice.” Machop hugged his legs close to him. “So, you live out here alone, Abra?”
“…Yeah.”
“Isn’t that…well, lonely?”
Abra let out a giggled, but clamped his hands over his snout and mouth. He sank down and sniffled again.
“Yes.”
“How…how long has it been?”
“Uh…weeks.”
“That long?” Machop shook his head. “Have you been eating?”
“N-not a lot.” Abra clutched his stomach. “I wanted to get food, but I heard those younger kids, and then…I had to help once I saw them.”
“…Did…weeks out here,” reiterated Machop. “Did you…were you from Caulfield’s outer square?”
“Yeah, I…” Abra shook his head. “How did you know?”
“That’s where I was from.” Machop flicked a pebble away. “Before the accident with the wind and the fire.”
“So…you were one of the lost kids,” realized Abra, “…like me.”
“Yep.”
“That makes sense.” Another pause rose between them, as Abra hung his head. “I’m sorry.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” soothed Machop. “It was just…um…they called it—”
“A freak accident.”
“Yeah, that.”
“…Yeah…”
A low growl echoed around the cave, and Abra grasped his stomach. Machop slid his legs out and sat back.
“We should go get you food.”
“Um, you, uh, you don’t have to.”
“But I want to.” Machop pushed himself forward. “You shouldn’t be here all alone. We’re not alone, and the village is helping us…us, um—”
“Orphans.”
“That’s it, that.”
“They’re nice, but I’m scared to be there,” admitted Abra. “I…I miss my parents, and I don’t like being alone, but…but I don’t like being in the village without anyone that I know.”
“…Hey, you know me now.” Machop smiled. “What if we stay together?”
“Huh?”
“Yeah, how about that?” Machop bounced up. “I like to wander around and help other folks out, but it’s a lot by myself. If you could help me sometimes, that would be great! And we could stick together and never be alone!”
“Don’t…don’t you have other friends?”
“Nope.” Machop shrugged. “Most of the time, after I help someone, they thank me and sometimes offer me stuff, but that’s it really. But, I still like helping out!”
“That’s nice of you.”
“And you do that too!” Machop grinned. “You came out once you heard those little kids and helped out! With you, we were able to save all of them!”
“Well…yeah, but…I guess.”
“Come on, then!” Machop reached down and held out his hand. “We can be partners and help out all kinds of folks! Who knows how many? It would be great! And we can stay together forever!”
“Together forever?”
“Yeah! We can be best friends, and besides helping people, we can do other stuff!” Machop held up another hand and counted off with his fingers. “We can play games, train with each other, sleep and eat together, and we’ll always be around each other so that neither of us has to be alone again! Wouldn’t that be great?”
“Um…well, I sleep a lot,” brought up Abra. “It’s because I can’t channel my powers yet. And…I can’t really fight that well.” He deflated and sulked against the rocks along the wall. “I…I don’t want to bother you like that.”
“That wouldn’t bother me,” persisted Machop. “I’ll just train while you sleep too. And we’re not old, so we have time to get better at battling.” He smiled again. “Besides, you don’t need to be good at everything to be friends with someone.” Machop reached out toward Abra with his hand again. “I don’t want to leave you here alone. And…I don’t want to be alone either.”
They sat quietly again, first remaining still in the cave, as the sunlight faded. Abra slowly reached up with his hand, which twitched as it bumped against Machop’s fingers. But he brought it forward again, and their hands wrapped together.
“…You really mean you want to be with me?” Abra slowly pushed himself out and up.
“Yeah, I do!” Machop helped his new friend up from the ground, and gazed up, as Abra stood up. “I really want you to come with me.”
“Go with you. Together forever,” repeated Abra.
“Yep! Forever together, together forever!” Machop laughed.
“…I’d like that.”
“Me too!”
“Ok.” Abra hesitated and held Machop’s hand tightly. “Ok, yeah, I’ll go with you.”
“Great!” Machop tugged Abra closer to him. “Let’s get going then!”
He turned to leave the cave, but stopped as Abra threw his arms around Machop. Turning back, Machop tightly hugged Abra, and the two held the embrace for a bit. They pulled apart and laughed as they smiled to each other. Taking Abra’s hand into his again, Machop led him to grab the blanket, and the two walked from the cave.
Together, the pair gazed up at the darkened sky, spotting the stars that came out. Machop led Abra forward, but he tugged back and pointed below. Machop glanced out and the two disappeared in a bright light. Down by the rubble and the valley’s end, the pair reappeared, and Machop grinned to Abra. Holding hands, they walked back to their hometown.
Yay, they met and became fast friends! Loneliness makes a good motivator.
I mentioned before to some friends that Abra and Machop were orphaned after an accident in their village that claimed the lives of their parents, as well as other children’s. It helped establish their codependency toward one another, because other adults can help, but they can’t quite relate to what the pair is going through like they can.
Machop was always the little heroic type, since he aspires to become a knight some day. He ropes his timid but clever Abra pal right in after they mix their talents together for the first time. They’re not too old themselves, but they managed to help other and younger kids out, so they’re doing something right together, which Machop wants to keep going, and Abra likes the idea.
Speaking of, yeah, it’s another write-up that I’m not sure if it’s canon exactly as it’s written, but the general idea is. And, obviously, it’s before Melting Gelid Roses and Inferiority Complex, both which also feature this pair, but when they’re older and in their final stages.
Like above, I’ll add the next part in with another chapter of my main fanfic, hopefully a little closer in time, but as long as it’s the same month or within weeks of it, that’ll be good enough. I think the middle part will be longer, but the last will probably be shorter. It’s fun to write them, I can’t help it.
Anyway, thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it! More to come.
