Hey guys! This happens after Paul sends Demi away in tears. I wrote it to get a sense of what was happening on Dawn's side, so why not share it?

Chapter 23B: Guardian Angel

Roric

Luxray stood next to me as I studied the angel statue, rubbing my chin thoughtfully as I studied her wings. They weren't exactly full enough for her to be able to fly, really. But then again, who said angels needed wings that made scientific sense? Knowing God, things weren't supposed to make sense. My little sister could read auras. It was a pretty common occurrence for things in my life not to be realistic.

Luxray nuzzled his head slightly against my thigh. I glanced down to see his tail flick impatiently.

"It's not my fault you're not easily amused."

I heard him huff and didn't need Demi there for help with translation, You are the one who is not easily amused. Not I.

I sighed and walked over to sit on the bench, which Luxray jumped lightly onto, lying down next to me, his head on my lap. It was nice to just relax as the sun set. I'd been busy visiting people the past few days. As nice as that was, as many friendships I'd made, love I'd shared, faith I'd seen grow, I did miss my little sister.

"Luxray." I said suddenly, "Where's Demi?"

He rolled so he was on his side to give me a frown and I felt him try to mimic a human shrug. I nudged him so I could stand up, "I got back an hour ago and she's still not here. How could you let her wander off on her own?"

He let out a very long sigh and looked towards the town at the bottom of the hill.

"I don't care if she wanted to go alone. You should have gone as well."

I checked to make sure I had the rest of my Pokemon before starting my trek down the hill, only stopping when I heard someone yell from behind me, "Hey!"

I turned around, finding a girl with blue eyes and a friendly smile running towards me from the church doors. Within seconds, she was in front of me, panting.

"Hi." I greeted, watching as Luxray craned his head upward to get petted. Her smile widened as she lowered her hand into his fur. So he knew her.

"My name's Dawn. You're Roric, right?"

"Yeah."

I've heard a lot about you." Dawn said quickly, extending her free hand.

I shook it, "Good things or bad things?"

"Good." Dawn blinked in surprise, "Does Demi ever have anything bad to say about you?"

Luxray grinned, knowing she spoke too well of me. I rolled my eyes at him, "Not that I know of."

"Oh, good. Well, she's such a blessing to be around."

"Tell me about it." I smiled. I really did have the best sister. Dawn didn't seem to know what to say next, "Is there something I can help you with, Dawn?"

"Oh, er. Well," Dawn looked down and fidgeted with her hands, "I've heard you're really good at talking with people and was wondering if you'd talk with my boyfriend..."

"Let me guess." I took a deep breath, about to puncture her 'he's good at talking with people' opinion, "You're Christian, but your boyfriend isn't. So lately you've been having a lot of problems because your beliefs are different." I studied her again, "And there's something more than that. There's a lot holding him back from being the person he's supposed to be... and you're not even sure who he is or who he is supposed to be anymore."

I heard her gasp and her eyes shone, "How'd you know that?"

I shrugged, "I'm observant. Plus Holy Spirit."

She mouthed the word 'wow' before saying, "So do you think you can talk to him?"

My eyebrows pulled down, "I'd love to, but the thing is, people can't be forced to talk to someone until they're ready."

"But he really needs it. There's all this stuff bothering him and he won't open up to me..."

"And you think I'm supposed to help?" I didn't even have to ask, though. There was no denying the rush of impulse, like a strong breeze, flowing through me. I felt that I was supposed to. I knew I was supposed to. It was what God wanted.

"Yeah. I just really felt like I was supposed to ask..." Dawn trailed off, her eyes trying to tell me that she meant God wanted her to. As if it was some secret she shouldn't say out loud.

"I'll go talk to him." I said firmly, "I'm just not sure how well this will go the first time."

"Roric!"

I turned around, felt my entire expression change at the sound of my little sister's voice. But then I saw her sluggishly making her way up the last of the hill, her face streaked with tears. And my heart shut down as I wondered who had made my precious little sister cry and how I'd make them pay.

No, you're not going to hurt anyone. I said firmly to myself, Love people. All people, even enemies. No punishment. No revenge.

I took a deep breath and bent down, wrapping my arms around my little sister who buried her head into my chest, shaking it as if trying to rid herself of hurt. I sent her soothing emotions, trying to relax her, but she started crying.

"What happened, Dem?"

"I was trying to help P-Paul-"

"Paul?" Dawn came forward hurriedly, "Is he ok?"

"He won't come out of his room. I was trying to explain I didn't know-" But then she got cut off by her tears.

"Paul is your boyfriend?" I asked curtly, trying not to get upset with someone I'd never even met.

"Yeah..." Dawn trailed off, looking guilty, "I'm so sorry for whatever he did."

"He said he hated me. But he was lying." Demi's voice was muffled and I felt how wet my shirt was getting, not that I cared. I just wanted Demi to feel better.

I felt Demi's thoughts connect with mine as she shared the past events with Paul. How she'd creamed him in battle, how he used to be so distant, how he was warming up to her, how much she loved him. How much she wanted to help and knew God wanted her to.

"You're right, Dem." I said softly, "He wants me to help too."

"Really?" Demi looked up, sniffing.

"Yeah. I'm going to go talk to him tomorrow." I felt the challenge, how difficult this would probably be. Even if Demi had been with him and softening him, even if he was about to hit rock bottom, it still took time to heal. Even after letting things go, getting out of the hole was painful. I knew that from my own experience.

"He's like you, brother." Demi whispered.

"I can tell." I murmured. No wonder I was the one being sent to help.

"So you'll help him?" Dawn asked.

"Tomorrow I'll go talk to him." I scooped Demi up into my arms and let her curl her head against my chest as she sent me small thoughts. I missed you. I love you, "You should stay away from him tonight. If he has my sister in tears, then he needs time to himself."

Demi didn't get hurt easily. If he was lashing out that much, he needed to be by himself until his anger ran its course. I was hoping he'd be ready to surrender soon.

"Alright. I won't talk to him until tomorrow morning." Dawn sighed, then looked back up at me, "Thank you so much, Roric."

"You're my sister." I said, "We have to look out for each other."

I saw her cheeks redden a little, "I guess I wasn't thinking about it like that."

Demi suddenly hit me, though I knew what thought it was for.

"Then how were you thinking about me"??? Demi mentally screamed at me, Brother!

It was a joke I didn't say out loud. I'm not interested in her. I defended myself, still amused.

"Um..." Dawn questioned us with her eyes. I realized it probably looked very weird for Demi to hit me suddenly when she had probably been nothing but sugar and sunshine to them.

I shrugged, "I'll be over at the Pokemon Center at noon."

"Alright. Thank you so much!" Dawn looked like she wanted to hug me, but I was holding Demi. So instead she kneeled down and hugged Luxray, who had been watching the clouds and was very surprised to be hugged suddenly, cringing away until she stopped.

"Oh, I have to go find Piplup." Dawn breathed quickly, "Thanks again!"

She went off yelling for what I assumed was her own Piplup, leaving me and Demi alone.

"'Then how were you thinking about me'?" Demi repeated, rolling her eyes.

"I'm not interested." I said tightly again, "You can never take a joke, can you?"

"Only funny ones." She crossed her arms.

I threatened mentally to put her down and she squirmed in protest until I started tickling her. She started laughing and dropped to the ground, running towards the church. Luxray sprinted after her, trying to gently bat at her feet. I smiled as I watched, glad that even after losing so much, I still had one angel left.

Hope you liked it!

Pokemon Question of the Day: If someone in your life you saw on a daily basis HAD to read your mind and you could pick who it was, who would you pick?

This is the only bonus chapter I have, guys. Thanks so much for reading!

Much love!

-Flips