Transistion from Rivalry to Friendship

[[Super_Fjord]]

In my fanfic (Myth, linked in my signature) I plan at some point to have two rivals to become best friends. While I have the story set up so that the two characters realize that they have a lot in common (mostly pertaining to their pasts and their goals) I want to make it so they become good friends, but not do it in a corny sort of way like saying:

You know, we have a lot in common, we should be friends.

I want to make a slower transition that progresses through the story until near the middle (maybe between the 25th-30th chapters) where it could happen.

I was basically wondering, how would I plan the transistion of the two characters becoming friends?

(Just as a note, the reason that two rivals are together is because in my story, crime has become a serious problem, forcing the PokéMon Association of the region to create Trainer Squads, where newly licensed trainers work together in groups of three or four, and these two have been placed in the same squad. So...yeah...help would be appreciated.)

 

[Tale]

I think a good idea would be to have the main protagonist experience something where he really feels out of place. He could have had his Pokemon taken away somehow (perhaps they're at a Pokemon center) and then he gets into some kind of trouble, and he feels alone and very out of place.

Then his rical could appear, and because they know eachother so well, he beigns to treasure his presence, and it can escalate from there.

Not a very accurate idea - but thats what I'd do, in any case.

 

[Breezy]

You could have them find some common ground somehow. Kind of like what Tale said. Have the protagonist fight something then the rival comes and they kind of fight but they realize they need to work together to overcome it.

Or something.

 

[[Super_Fjord]]

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I have something in mind now that I'll will try, so thanks.