Chapter 1: Turbulence

"I can't believe how slow walking is compared to this." Dawn commented.

We were thousands of feet in the sky on the back of Salamence, flying nimbly. We didn't have a real destination in mind, or at least a time frame to get anywhere in particular. Really, the main objection was training for Salamence to carry extra weight while flying so his wings would get stronger. In the next few days, we'd be flying to Mossdeep City. We didn't have a real agenda there besides sightseeing and training. Dawn was spending a lot of time preparing for her next Contest, though seeing so many new sights seemed to inspire her to create new Contest moves and train harder to battle with sparkles.

Either way, we were flying and in no real hurry to get anywhere, though we didn't plan to stop anytime soon. Salamence needed the training.

"Stop lashing your tail so much. The air currents aren't strong enough to throw you off balance for your interference to be necessary." I said shortly. Salamence gave a grumbled growl in response.

"You know, it does seem to be getting windier." Dawn hugged her body against mine, though I mentally shook my head as I felt blubbery Piplup squirm in between us, blocking Dawn's body from mine.

He just always had to be out of his Poke Ball.

I glanced around. There weren't any clouds in sight, which meant that the wind wouldn't be helpful to Salamence, but also that it wouldn't hinder him as much as it seemed to be. A forceful gust buffeted into us, making me grip his scaly neck to prevent myself from losing my balance. Piplup squealed in fear, but I ignored him.

"This isn't normal." I said, staring at the sky, feeling my hair blow around roughly "It's impossible for the wind to pick up like this in these conditions."

Salamence roared in anger as an even larger force of wind buffeted against him. His wings flailed at his sides, trying to find a current to help keep him balanced. He didn't find one. His body began tossing from side to side.

Dawn hugged her body tighter to me and I knew she adjusted her grip on Piplup in the process, "It's too strong!"

"Salamence, land quickly." I ordered, trying not to feel any fear as he caught himself from flipping over again as the wind pushed him.

He tucked his wings in and dove downward, forcing us to grip tighter. Dawn wasn't used to a steep dive and screamed, the sound getting lost in the wind. When he was a few hundred feet off the ground, he flared his wings and levelled his body, testing the wind. Before he could keep altitude, another gust rammed into Salamence, causing him to roar and let out a Flamethrower in protest as he rolled upside down, belly facing upward towards the sky momentarily before he righted himself.

Dawn screamed again, Piplup's high pitched terrified squeal mixing in. We hugged our bodies against Salamence's and didn't get thrown off despite the flip. His body rocketed to the side and began falling.

I kept my head, trying to think of what to do. I didn't have a Psychic type with me to levitate us from harm's way. Even if I did, my Poke Balls were stowed securely so they wouldn't fall during the flight. There weren't any options. By this point, Salamence would be badly injured and Dawn and I would probably fall to our deaths.

We were fifty feet from the ground. Dawn was almost choking me she was squeezing me so hard and I was surprised Piplup's head hadn't been squished to death against my back. My mind was trying to run last second calculations to change our fate. Salamence was flailing like a Magikarp dangling on a hook, helpless as gravity did its work.

The wind picked up, this time blowing upwards, filling Salamence's wings like sails. He flapped quickly and powerfully, though that didn't stop him from crashing into the ground below. A softer crash, but a crash all the same. The ground thudded, our bones jarred together painfully. Dirt erupted into the air as Salamence let out an earsplitting agonizing cry that clawed at my heart.

There was silence, stillness, for five seconds that felt like a dream as I realized the fall was over.

"Dawn, are you ok?" I grabbed her hand, which had been death gripping my stomach. I knew it was bruised.

"Y-yeah. I think so." She sounded shaken, "Piplup, how are you?"

"'Lup." He said weakly, but I knew he was fine. My back probably had a beak print that would stay there for the next few hours, but his body was too cushiony for him to actually get hurt.

"Let's get off."

I quickly helped her down. Salamence didn't move. He had landed on his side, his right forearm stuck underneath his body, his long regal neck resting on the ground, eyes tight shut, mouth set in a grimace.

I quickly inspected his wings. They seemed to be fine, as did his tail and hind quarters, "Salamence, what hurts?"

He stirred, a growling moan rumbling in his chest. He looked weakly at his right forearm. I walked over to it, unsure how to touch a giant Dragon Pokemon's forearm without causing him to snap at me. Dragon types were known to become violent to anyone if they were seriously hurt, even people or Pokemon they loved.

"I'm going to try and see what I can do. Don't attack, I'm here to help." I reminded him.

The aching rumbling in his chest continued. I hesitantly laid a hand on his hurt forearm. Salamence's eyes snapped open, fully alert, and turned to glare at me. His fangs were bared and I saw a Flamethrower begin charging in his mouth.

"Paul!" Dawn gasped.

I took my hand away and stared up at him, refusing to be afraid. The ferocity in Salamence's eyes faded and he shifted his weight so he was on his good side, taking the weight off his hurt forearm. I saw a few tears in his eyes as he sank back onto the ground.

My hands formed fists. I had no way to give him the type of medical support he needed right here in the middle of nowhere.

"We need help." I said out loud, not enjoying the admittance. I looked at Dawn, who had her eyes closed and her head somewhat bowed as she hugged Piplup to herself. I opened my mouth, about to ask why she was spacing out at a time like this when I heard running footsteps.

A man appeared from the sparse brush in this area, his eyes wildly taking in the scene. He seemed to be as old as my parents, though his eyes seemed friendly. At least that's what I would call them. At the moment, they were wide with concern and worry.

"Are you ok?" He asked as soon as he reached us.

"We are. My Salamence probably has a broken leg." I said, hating the words. I hadn't even wanted to say that in my thoughts.

I heard Dawn react behind me, trying to keep her surprise quiet. The man stopped walking towards us, glancing at Salamence whose eyes were closed as he breathed quickly.

"We'll need to get him to the Pokemon Center." The man took out a Poke Ball and threw it into the air. An Espeon appeared, "Effie, use Psychic. Be careful. Nice and steady."

The Espeon's eyes glowed. A blue aura enveloped Salamence, who grimaced as he was lifted gently off the ground.

"The Pokemon Center is close by. A five minute walk." The man said to me as he began walking south.

I looked at Dawn, who still seemed in shock from the whole ordeal. So much had happened that I hadn't even had time to think about how impossible it all was. Dawn had the same expression I felt I had, though she nodded to me. We would go with this stranger, whoever he was, and trust that he'd get us where we needed to go.

We began walking together, not speaking a word as I wondered if Salamence would be ok. I wasn't even in the right state of mind to be glad that the man didn't bother me with irritating talk. Each foot step passed in a blur that I couldn't remember as I stupidly hoped that my brain's lack of function would cause a lack of pain signals in Salamence's body.

Hey Trainers!

First chapter. First. Chapter. And it just gets better from here if you ask me. I felt like evil laughing. I'm just super excited, alright?

Let me know what you think! Comment, PM, whatever you want. And for once I have nothing else to say. Wow. Crazy. So I'll leave it at that.

Pokemon Question of the Day: What's your favorite Psychic type Pokemon? I'm sure I've asked this already... pretend I haven't. 

God bless!

-Flips

PS- This chapter is dedicated to one of my best friends, RukiaKuchiki18, for being an amazing daughter of God who's super encouraging and who reads through my stories and helps with editing. If you're not following her, you should. She's super sweet, never judgmental, and always loving. I'm so glad God put her in my life.