A new story. Enjoy!
Don't own Pokémon, or the picture that inspired this.
The forest was finally starting to thin as two pink boots caked with mud squelched and squished to a halt. She had been travelling for hours on end and wanted nothing more then to sleep against a base of a thick tree. But she needed to take a quick dip first in the closest lake to rid herself of the brown, wet dirt that clung to her clothes and skin. Her creamy coloured legs complained at her with sharp pains as she sat down heavily against the fallen trunk of a tree. She let her white bag slip of her shoulders and fall to the ground with a thud as she closed her tired coal-black eyes.
They slid halfway open and gazed into the dark blue sky which twinkled with the hundreds of stars it held in its endless depths. There were no clouds on this particular night; instead, a full moon shone directly downwards illuminating a beautiful and tranquil lake that seemed to shimmer with the sparkles of the sky.
Dawn sighed happily and stood to remove her thick, warm scarf which clung to her neck and the matching beanie-like hat that kept her head warm. She hung them on a nearby branch before stripping off her caked red overcoat and folding it her bare arms. She was left wearing a black dress with a pink zigzag line on the bottom. She sat back against the log, laying her over coat against the piece of wood, and proceeded to take her boots off.
Sighing happily at her own fortune of the finding of a clear lake, she picked up her folded coat, put her boots on top and carefully walked down the slightly slippery bank of the lake. She spotted a family of Woopers bobbing their blue heads up and down as they swam in the water. She dipped her foot in cautiously and smiled happily; the sun had warmed the lake up considerably, enough to take a relaxing bath in it. She would have jumped in immediately had she not been holding her clothes, so instead she slid her aching legs in first enjoying the cool water that lapped around them. She lowered the rest of her body in, not caring if her dress would get wet; it would dry soon enough.
Dawn relaxed into the lake, enjoying the warm water as it relaxed her stiff muscles from the long walk she just had. Keeping both hands securely around the clothes that needed a wash, she turned her back against the rippling surface of the lake as she put her boots against the bank. Turning around once more to the glittering area of water, she dunked her warm overcoat into the liquid and started to scrub it with her bare hands.
She grunted from the effort it took, but eventually the coat was rid of the smelly substance that had clung to it from a slipup in the forest. Holding the sopping red article of clothing against the moonlight she quickly, but cautiously, exited the lake and walked over to the fallen log. She spread her hat and scarf across the long tree branch and hung her wet but now clean overcoat hopping that it wouldn't rain so she could wear it in the morning. Her sopping white, knee-high socks were sticking to her feet and legs in a similar fashion that her black mini-dress now clung to her slightly cold skin.
She speed walked back towards the lake almost slipping against the mossy surface of the bank intent on finishing her bath. She ignored her boots, which would no doubt be muddied again tomorrow as she walked back home, and this time she did jump in laughing loudly with glee as she did. The water saturated her midnight shoulder-length hair as her body fully entered the crystal clear water.
She spied a school of Remoraid flashing their metallic fins which caught the pale moonlight as they passed out of her vision. She took a deep gulp of the amazingly fresh air when she surfaced, letting her dark hair swing into her back. Her hands went to fix the long, straight tresses as something bubbled within the lake.
Something huge and black rose from the hidden depths of the lake and Dawn cried out in fear and stumbled backwards, hitting a jutting rock against her legs as she did. The creature, whatever it was, opened a pair of ruby red eyes and gazed at her with curiosity. Its forme was remarkably similar to a serpent with six black, wavering streamer-like objects coming from its back each having a single red claw at the end. Those streamers wavered in the air before closing in on her a little at her sides. Swallowing her fear, she stood back up slowly, wary of such a creature.
Perhaps it is a guardian of the lake, and I've disturbed it…she thought to herself as the beast blinked. It contrasted nicely with the strong moonlight that beared down onto the lake. Its head tilted to the side after a few tense moments of silent observing.
It neither moved closer or away from Dawn, however, it didn't look away from her either. The swirling shadows that surrounded the creature dispelled into the night, and Dawn first noticed the golden mask that seemed to cover the being's face leaving its piercing red eyes visible and a small amount of grey skin. Above its eyes was a curious like object; Dawn could only think of a golden crown that perched above its prying eyes.
Dawn looked down its chest noticing that it almost wore the grey colour like a coat, taking in account of the golden bands which surrounded its black-and-red striped chest in a cage-like fashion seemingly being the items that the ghostly streamers were attached to. She finished her observation by staring at the pair of large half grey and half golden spikes that were protruding from its sides. Everything else was hidden from view by the water.
Dawn was startled by the creature she had just examined as it leaned over towards her, mask-like helmet pulling aside to reveal its hidden mouth. There were two black lines running from its eyes, one ended at the centre of the golden crown-like object and the other finished at the dip of its mouth. A soft croon emitted from its parted lips and Dawn spotted two white canines on the top of its mouth before they vanished as the beast closed its jaws once more.
Dawn breathing resumed, if not a little wild, as her fear started to leave her. This…Pokémon, if that was what it was, did not seem intent on driving her away or harming her, on the contrary it seemed to like her. She had never seen such a magnificent or as mighty creature as the one before her now. It seemed satisfied with something about her, and nodded its golden head, retreating a little distance from her. Its eyes had yet to leave her quivering form.
Being the adventurous girl she was, she took a wonky step towards it, ready to dive underneath the water if its calm expression changed into a darker one. It paused for a moment before dunking its head underneath the disturbed lake, creating a mini wave which swept Dawn off her feet and into towards the side as the water splashed up and over onto the muddy side. The small wave of water only just stopped short of her boots before retreating back into the lake. The now glistening body of the platinum coloured serpent-like beast sprayed water all over her as its head shook from side-to-side. Dawn covered her face with her arms as a reflex letting a giggle escape her upward-turned mouth.
Red eyes looked at her curiously, before blinking once, then dilating at the pupils. Dawn, noticing the change of expression, lowered her arms down a little way and looked cautiously back.
That gaze was relentless.
She followed its gleaming eyes onto her own outfit she wore, spying the cause immediately. Her dress had clung so much to her skin from the water, it was giving a clear outline of her chest. Shrieking her distress, she plunged into the water all the way, leaving only her head exposed.
"Pervert…" she muttered into the water as her cheeks blazed crimson from embarrassment. The creature huffed; out of annoyance or agreement she couldn't tell.
Either way…this creature has an interest with bathing girls…
Her black eyes narrowed in suspicion as a slithering black tendril slid into the water and out of sight. She could just imagine the halo which would sit above its head with the innocent-yet-obviously-suspicious expression. She gave a yelp of surprise as an unknown object curled around her waist. She stiffened and squirmed against the gripping hold. She was lifted out of the water, multiple droplets falling back into the large pool of water beneath her. She was soaked through, and the mystery of the disappearing tendril was solved, as it was curled twice around her petite waist, red claw prodding her stomach.
The mask slid apart again and those ever-so-alluring eyes gazed into her.
It's like it's gazing into my soul…
She matched the look it was peering at her with, and stared right back into those oddly calming eyes. She saw her slightly ruffled self being reflected in them. She licked her unexpectedly dry lips and squirmed nervously as it brought her closer still. She felt out of place. What would this magnificent creature want with her?
Something sharp touched her free arm and travelled upwards onto her shoulder; it was another red claw tip. Its touch lingered on her skin, reminding her of adventurous fingers.
It slid underneath her left shoulder strap of her drenched dress caressing the smooth skin underneath.
"No…" she murmured weakly as the sharp claw trailed on the inside of her shoulder up to her collarbone sending shivers down her spine as it did. Her cheeks were flaming red as she opened one dark eye at the not-so-innocent beast before her. It hesitated for a moment; red eyes wavering between decisions. Its eyes blinked slowly, and lowered her fragile and trembling body back into the water after removing the sneaky tendrils that had captured her.
The water was deep here, and there was no surface to stand on, so Dawn had to tread water continuously to keep her head above the lakes surface. She was still shaking from the surprise attack as the creature closed its mask once more over its mouth and glided through the water gently resting a streamer around her waist which guided her over towards the bank side. It lifted her out of the water, placed her on the bank and she turned around.
The ghost-like Pokémon indeed had a long snake-like body, with a total of three pairs of large spikes protruding its side. Its long body ended with a swishing tail that had a total of four golden spikes; two on either side, sticking out of it.
It hovered just above the ground of the muddy bank watching her as she scrambled over towards her slightly damp clothes which hung from the branch. She stumbled over a fallen tree root, stubbing her toe as she hurried back to the lake.
Why am I doing this? It tried to…what did it want anyway…? Her thought whirling around her head where a muddle of confusing ideas and questions, mainly focussing on the regal-looking creature which was hovering by the lake edge. She grabbed her slightly damp overcoat and stumbled back to where she came.
The creature eyed the red coat and snorted. It then looked up swiftly and gazed fondly at the full moon that shone down on them both. Dawn fiddled awkwardly with her overcoat that rested in her arms.
Where am I going to sleep tonight? She paused, thinking of the possible options. One, she could take the long, dark and tiresome trek back through the foul forest, and get exhausted along the way and collapse against a tree, Or she could sleep here against the trees in this peaceful space.
The only problem is this hovering Pokémon in front of me…she mused to herself inside her head before sweeping her midnight hair back over her shoulder.
"What should I do tonight? Walk home or stay here?" She pondered this aloud and the mostly grey creature flicked its golden spiked tail. Its lithe body glided around her in a circle once, emitting a quick screech. Dawn turned her head and followed its movements as it settled against a horizontal tree a couple of metres away from her. It nestled its mostly grey body there against the thick wood with its head lying against the soft, grassy ground. It let out a low rumble as it flicked its head, motioning her to come over.
She clutched her red overcoat in her hands, and moved slowly throughout the rapidly cooling clearing still recovering from the sudden assault. Her mind was numb and unresponsive; the needing of warmth was driving her forward. She reached the rather quiet creature and raised a trembling hand just above its side and lowered it. She recoiled immediately. The faintest brush of her hand against its smooth skin had blazed through her, banishing the cold out of her arm and partly through her shoulder.
Her black eyes wide, she rested her hand against its side for a little longer. The cold had all but vanished from her arm as she moved upwards towards the first large spike. So immersed with the amount of heat coming from it, she was ignorant of the tremors that spread through the creature, seemingly affected by the light touches.
That is, until she heard a whiplash-like sound and something long had slithered around her waist, drawing her away from the platinum-coloured side, but closer towards the golden bands and the matching mask. She was brought to eyelevel and Dawn noticed the somewhat wild and confused gaze it was giving her. If anything, it seemed unsettled and fidgety; as it constantly glanced towards the black forest.
"I'm sorry" she said quickly, "I didn't mean to! It's just," curiosity crept into her voice, "You're so warm…I couldn't help myself…" She rubbed her slowly drying hair with her free hand; the other clinging to the odd substance that made the black streamer. The creature looked a little uncertain, but it lowered her to the ground and let her go all the same. There was another question on her mind, ever sense she'd seen it gazing at her with an unusual fascination. Since she had little to lose, she asked it.
"Are you perhaps…" She paused to breathe, and the creature waited patiently for her to continue, "…a male?" The creature gave her a blank look and tilted its head downwards. Dawn sighed quietly and ruffled her still damp hair.
It's a male…but that's really not an excuse…Her mind was constantly replaying that scene in the lake; more often then not, the feeling of terror as the long red claw slid up her arm, glided over her shoulder on the inside of her dress…she wondered how far it might have gone had it, he, not let her go.
He must be able to control himself; he let me go after I said no…I still don't know...I should be able to trust him…Putting it in context, saying that he's a male, seems a little daunting; a creature this size…It was almost unthinkable.
She shook her head to clear her thoughts and she sat down against the chilly ground and rubbed her arms, taking a quick look about the forest still avoiding him.
I don't know his name yet…the thought hit her suddenly, however there could be nothing done about it, so she let it linger unspoken. She was sure she could find some information in the library at home…
Home…
The one place she should be. Wondering the hallway, chatting with her mother…
Instead she was in a forest clearing, a beautiful and peaceful one, but a clearing all the same. Away from a safe place. She sniffed and rubbed her itchy eyes fighting the incoming sleep but with every passing moment, the urge to fall against the ground seemed like a nice prospect…
Folding her coat absentmindedly into a rough pillow shape, she lay her head down and tucked herself into a ball; knees against her chest, hands underneath the soft fabric as her eyes drooped downwards.
Dimly in her mind, she noticed a soft pink glow radiating from her left…the night seemed to warm up considerably as the pinkish light faded away…her mind shut down for the night; her eyes closed and stayed that way.
She felt a pair of hands lift her off the ground…had someone found her? But she was too sleep deprived to open her eyes…the wind was breezing through her hair…she noticed that on one side their was the cool air and the other side of her was incredibly warm…she turned in their arms, and nestled deeper into the warmth that came from whomever it was…she smiled sleepily as her mind drifted into her dreams…