Chapter 49: Falling 

Our Pokemon seemed very content to be back outside when we released them from their Poke Balls. Mine enjoyed the solitude of the forest and were used to concentrating on training and training alone with no distractions. 

Of course, now there were distractions. Dawn and her Pokemon did things differently. They communicated verbally while my Pokemon and I usually studied our posture and facial expressions to know what we needed and wanted. Dawn and her Pokemon played and practiced together as a team while I normally preferred one on one training with my Pokemon and conditioning altogether.  

The difference of the atmosphere opposed to when my own Pokemon and I were alone was apparent. The camp was loud tonight as Dawn's Pokemon began chattering, seeming ready to start a game. Piplup, somehow miraculously, could walk again with the gusto of a Pokemon who knew the move Swagger. 

I shook my head at the tiny penguin. He was so dramatic. 

"So what are you doing tomorrow, Paul?" Dawn asked. 

"Training, of course," I said. "It'll be nice to get back to normal." 

I looked at her and didn't feel like any sense of normal existed anymore. Not with her around. For some reason I really didn't mind. 

Stupid, really. How all logic ceases to exist because a girl starts stalking you. 

"Yeah, normal," Dawn agreed a bit solemnly despite the casual subject. "I'm going to spend tomorrow training too." 

I frowned, thinking. We'd probably be separated for most of the day. Ever since the Contest, I really hadn't gone more than a few minutes without seeing Dawn. A sense of unease rose in me and I tried to brush it aside. So what, we'd be apart for a couple hours? Big deal. I'd gone my whole life being alone. There was no reason to feel anxious about getting back on a schedule of intense training where my every waking moment wouldn't revolve around a certain bothersome Coordinator.  

Not that she was very bothersome anymore. 

I held back a sigh and distracted myself. "And what type of training are you doing tomorrow, Dawn?" 

"Counter shields"

I raised an eyebrow. "I wasn't expecting you to have a training plan." 

"Well," Dawn began, looking flustered, "I had a lot of time to think while we walked today." 

She began busying herself with her bag while I continued studying her. "Yes, I did too." 

"Yeah, you were quiet." I saw her frown before she added quickly, "I mean, quieter than normal. You usually talk more now."  

That was very true, though I'd been very distracted with thinking about which badge to present her. I still was unsure when to give it to her, though now didn't seem like an appropriate time with all the noise that our Pokemon were making. 

Dawn's rifling noises stopped suddenly and I looked up. "You ok?" 

She blinked a few times and looked away. "Yeah." 

She was such a liar. 

Without really thinking, I asked, "Dawn, do you mind singing?" 

"What?" 

I forced myself not to shift my weight. "Would you sing right now?" 

Her blue eyes stared at me with a mix of fear and wonder. "Why?" 

"You seem anxious and truthfully I'm feeling the same way," I admitted, disliking the feeling that accompanied the words. "And our Pokemon also seem a bit too energetic for my taste. I feel like it would calm us all down if you sang."  

Her blue eyes searched mine and I forced myself to stare back, keeping my face a mask. It was a logical option right now. Everything I said was true. Why I was anxious was another subject entirely, one I didn't want her to question at the moment. 

Dawn nodded. "What should I sing?" 

I paused, taken aback she'd ask me. "Whatever feels right." 

She nodded again and turned away from me a little, her hair concealing her face. Piplup noticed Dawn clear her throat and began chirping shrilly at the other Pokemon who quieted down immediately and settled closer to their Trainer, patiently waiting for her to begin. 

Dawn took a deep breath. "You can go a lifetime without finding anyone, so sometimes it hits me just how luckier I am than some. 'Cause we've been friends forever through it all, but still all for one. My friends will band it too strong to let come undone. 

"Together we stand, together we fall. Through valleys and lows, to mountains so tall. No matter the world is changing outside, forever you'll be there by my side." 

I listened intently, feeling my body become less tense at the words. It was a song about friendship and it looked like her Pokemon enjoyed the affection Dawn added to the lyrics as she sang.  

After she finished, her eyes fell solemnly on me. "How was that?" 

"Wonderful," I stated, giving her a small smile as her Pokemon agreed with my opinion with gleeful shouts. 

"It sounds like you guys want me to sing some more." 

The cheers got louder and she grinned at me with her normal child-like enthusiasm, my eyes growing a bit less cold as I studied her. 

"Alright, alright. Let me think of some more songs." 

Piplup started chirping madly. 

Dawn gave him a puzzled look before giggling. "Ok, I think you want me to sing that song where Piplup are mentioned, don't you?" 

He put a flipper to his chest proudly. 

"Alright, alright. You ok with that, Paul?" 

"I have no idea what song you're talking about, but if you want to sing it I'll listen," I replied with a hint of fake irritation.  

"Ok, Piplup. Here's your pick. 

"Beautifly, you have the most divine wings 

Jigglypuff, your soothing song you sing 

Deerling coats change every spring 

These are all the memories that Pokemon bring

Pokemon live in harmony 

They make us stronger, love, and see 

Who we are and can really be 

Don't you think you can agree?

Eevee, you can choose who you are 

Ninjask, you're the fastest by far 

Clefairy, you've come from the stars 

Pokemon can be so bizarre

Pokemon live in harmony 

They make us stronger, love, and see 

Who we are and can really be 

Don't you think you can agree?

Charmander, Squirtle, Bulbasaur 

Kanto's starters, but there are more 

Cyndaquil, Chikorita, Totodile, 

The Johto love grows every mile 

Treeko, Torhcic, and Mudkip 

The region of Hoenn you just can't skip 

Chimchar, Turtwig, and Piplup 

In Sinnoh we know what's up 

Snivy, Tepig, Oshawott 

Unova's great, like it or not 

Chespin, Froakie, Fennekin  

Kalos Pokemon for the win!

Entei, we all fear your roar 

Rayquaza with great speed you soar 

Heatran live near Earth's core 

Pokemon, we always want more

Pokemon live in harmony 

They make us stronger, love, and see 

Who we are and can really be 

Don't you think you can agree?" 

Dawn finished the song while her Pokemon erupted in applause and gleeful cries. She started laughing and they all crowded around her, attempting to hug their beloved Trainer all at the same time. This included Mamoswine who was large enough to topple even the mighty Bruno of the Elite Four over with an accidental flick of his tusks.  

Instantly, I stood up, trying to see her among her six Pokemon who seemed keen on squishing her. Perhaps out of love, but squishing was never generally a good thing. My fear of the situation getting out of hand increased as I remembered the person who could become a human Stunfisk already had her wrist in a splint.  

I studied the huddle yet again, her Togekiss taking up most of the room in the front, her wings spread as wide as they could go, blocking my easiest way towards Dawn. I craned my head over Togekiss who had Buneary balancing precariously on top of its head. "Dawn?" 

All I heard was laughter from her and Piplup singing badly, followed by her Pachirisu cackling. Her little electric squirrel had always made me a bit uneasy with its high energy level. It was also a known fact that Electric types, when feeling threatened, unleashed their Electric attacks, including on their Trainers.  

So, as Mamoswine inched closer and closer behind Dawn and Buneary looked close to toppling onto Dawn's lap, which would possibly flatten both Piplup and Pachirisu, I grimaced. This was not going to be fun. 

"Stay still," I ordered her Mamoswine, deciding the best way to get to Dawn would be to climb over Mamoswine's tusk than to risk knocking Buneary off of Togekiss's head, thus possibly making Dawn's Pachirisu use Discharge on all of us.  

Unfortunately, I startled Mamoswine as I put all my weight on his tusk and he ended up swinging his head to the right just enough to make me lose my balance. I bent my knees to try to keep from falling, but by then Mamoswine saw what I was trying to do and attempted to help me by moving back to the position he'd started in, making me lose my balance again. Despite all my attempts to regain balance, I began falling towards Dawn. She looked up a second before I came barreling unintentionally into her, possibly noting the scowl on my face. 

I had enough time to make sure my arms would land in appropriate, safe places that wouldn't harm us or her Pokemon as I made impact, thanking Arceus that our heads didn't bump together and that Piplup and Pachirisu were fast and apparently smart enough to jump out of the way. One stroke of luck so far.  

All of this ran through my head as my body was forced to follow gravity's will. I ended up toppling into Dawn, knocking her over while she yelled until her back hit the ground. My hands were jarred sharply by the impact of the fall. Just what we needed- more wrist injuries.  

I heard her breathe fast and I let out an unsure breath myself, knowing I was sore from the fall but not really caring. What I'd done was stupid and reckless.  

Yet here I was, on top of Dawn. 

If my head had been a bit clearer, I'd feel like the universe was trying to amuse itself right now. I'd never really been a fan of jokes, though I wasn't sure how this one would end yet. 

"Are you ok?" I asked quietly, not sure if I should move or not until I knew the answer. Yes, we were in an awkward position, but I didn't want to make it worse and screw up more than I already had by moving. Or at least I told myself that. My thoughts were exceptionally jumbled compared to normal. 

"Yeah, I think so." She exhaled loudly again. 

"Your wrist?" 

"It's fine." 

Silence. 

"Um, Paul?" 

"Yes?" 

"You're still on top of me." 

Some sense of rationality sparked in me and I attempted to get off her as quickly as possible with as much dignity as I could muster. As soon as I stood up, I looked away from her. "I'm sorry." 

"No worries," Dawn said, her voice a bit high. 

I stared at her red cheeks and noticed she was still on the ground. Grumbling inwardly about how much of an idiot I was being, I bent down and helped her up, absolutely repulsed at my mind for being so weak and dysfunctional.  

A few more apologies ran through my head, but I slammed them all down. I hardly ever apologized. Once was bad enough. "Are you sure you're alright?" 

She started straightening her dress, not looking at me. "Yeah, just a bit startled I guess." 

"I was afraid your Pokemon would accidentally hug you a bit too tightly and decided to try and navigate my way towards you." I looked away from her still. "Pachirisu always seems close to electrocuting everything it touches." 

"Oh." 

Silence.  

I've never hated silence before in my life and now I want to shoot it, I swore angrily in my head, loathing every second where nothing passed between us. 

Dawn's Pokemon began crowding around, nudging Dawn in worry. Startled, as if she was surprised the two of us weren't absolutely alone, she exclaimed, "Oh, hi. Yeah, I'm fine, guys. Don't worry. I'm not hurt. You can all go play a little before bed time if you want. Just make sure you're back here in less than half an hour, ok?" 

They hesitantly left (excluding Pachirisu who ran off energetically the second Dawn dismissed them), fading into the forest as they went to explore. Mamoswine gave us both looks of apologies, which I nodded at and gave him a smile, something I'd never done for him before. He looked a bit relieved as he stomped past the trees to join his friends. Piplup was the last to leave, throwing me a threatening (or what he had meant to be threatening) glare. I even saw his flipper move to point to his eyes before pointing back at me. 

A tiny blubbery penguin wanted to kill me. I think I'd hit a new low. 

The silence grew again and I felt it eating away at me like Toxic. "Dawn, that really was an accident and in no way did I mean to fall on you." 

Or fall for you, but yet again, that was another subject entirely.  

"What happened anyway? I didn't see," she asked. 

I quickly explained how Mamoswine had moved right when I was climbing onto his tusk and she put a hand over her mouth as if trying to hide her expression. Her eyebrows had scrunched down in concentration for a minute before I saw them relax. Her eyes glowed. 

"What?" I asked after a few seconds, frowning at her. 

"That's just really funny." She stifled a giggle. 

"What is?" 

"You falling over." 

"Oh." I blinked in surprise.  

She started laughing and I looked around as if expecting to jump out and tell me I'd been pranked. Or was having a dream. Surely her reaction wasn't laughing at me falling over. 

"I wish I could have seen your face." Dawn grinned at me. 

"Well, it wasn't as impassive as normal." I frowned and she laughed harder. 

Before I could say anything else, she walked over and gave me a hug. Startled, I wrapped my arms around her back, my eyes wide and she still giggled. "I can't believe I missed it." As she buried her head into my chest.  

I felt her pat my back as she giggled. "I'm sorry Mamoswine made you fall over. He's a bit clumsy sometimes. You didn't hurt yourself, did you?" 

"No," I answered, sounding a bit stunned. 

"Good." She released her grip and walked cheerfully over to get her sleeping bag. "That's something I'll remember the rest of my life. The great Paul falling over." 

"Technically I didn't fall over-" My correction was cut off by her laughing. "Ok, fine. I fell over. Happy?" 

"Very."

I wasn't exactly sure how I felt and I was glad she didn't ask. "Are you sure I didn't make you hit your head hard?" 

She rolled out her sleeping bag. "I've been told I have a skull as thick as a Marowak's. Don't worry, I'm perfectly fine." 

Yes, I did vaguely remember telling her that about her skull. It seems like her memory had not been affected by the fall. Relieved, though still wary, I began unrolling my own sleeping bag. "I'm still keeping an eye on you." 

"I'll be keeping an eye on you too." 

I raised an eyebrow at her. "Why?" 

"I don't want to miss you falling over."

This was going to get old really fast. "Alright, Troublesome." 

She frowned. "I thought you stopped calling me that." 

"Old habits die hard," I said, noting her frown had deepened. Shaking my head at myself, I leaned closer to her and added, "Like falling over." 

Her grin returned. Right then, her Pokemon all came back to our camping space for bedtime.  

"Ok, guys. Let's all get to bed. We start training again tomorrow," Dawn announced to cheers from her Pokemon. She beamed at them as they all said good night before crawling into her sleeping bag. 

I climbed into my own and let out a sigh, trying to figure out how my request for soothing music would turn into a chaotic mess, complete with her teasing me the rest of her life about falling over. 

Still, I thought, wondering where my optimism was coming from, it's better than her teasing me about falling on top of her.  

And then I noticed my newest dilemma. Piplup gave me one last murderous leer before scrambling over to the other side of Dawn to cuddle with her.  

Frowning and turning over to face away from Dawn, I feverishly hoped tomorrow would be a better day and that tonight hadn't been an omen for training. Or my possible future relationship with Dawn. 

I sighed, my mind racing. Tonight I wasn't going to get much sleep.

Heeeeeey guys! 

Ok, I'm guessing a few of you wanted to hit something (possibly me) for nothing all lovey dovey happening yet. At least I posted. Just remember, you need me alive to finish the story :P

And yet again, I apologize to you guys for taking so long for posting chapters. School has been brutal. Like this past week I had two essays, a movie outline (because I'm writing my own movie which is really cool, but hard work), and four poems to write, all major assignments.  So try to be lenient on me if I don't post too often. I write as often as I can because I don't like leaving my awesome readers waiting, but life gets in the way. 

As usual, if you liked the chapter, make sure you vote, comment, and/or follow. It really means a lot to me when you do and I always reply to your comments and love to hear what you guys have to say. :) 

Pokemon Question of the Day:  What's your favorite Flying type Pokemon and why? Let's also do favorite Fighting and Bug just since there are so many types. (They can be two type Pokemon)

Thanks for reading! Have a spectacular day.

-Flips 

PS: The first song I had Dawn sing is called "There By My Side" by Oliver Boyd and the Remembralls. It's a Wrock (wizard rock) band inspired by Harry Potter. If you love HP, you should totally check them out.

PSS: The second song was made up by moi. It's pretty cheesy but I think Piplup would love it since he's pretty narcissistic lol.