EDIT: This is an updated version and in my opinion, slightly better. The changers are subtle, but it felt off when I first uploaded it.
EDIT No. 2: I changed their ages. The ages they had before seemed too old to be new trainers.
This is my first fanfiction I have ever written. I really enjoy these two characters, and I think they look so adorable together! (That's an example of the feminine me.) I don't care if it isn't canon or you think that this pairing isn't cool to you, that's what a fanfiction is all about, right? Come at me, Gracefulshippers! I ain't scared of yall!
I don't know what part of the media this shipping takes place in. Maybe the anime/games, cause of the references.
Anyways, I hope you enjoy.
I don't own anything! Everything belongs to Nintendo and Game Freak. I can't believe I forgot to do this or the fact that this story is still up!
Love is in the Sky
Deep within the northern region of Hoenn, a city in the trees, known as Fortree, is said to have been a haven for bird Pokemon. It's no doubt that this place is inhabited by bird trainers and bird lovers from all over. Also many adventurous people looking for a great place to live.
An eleven-year-old boy by the name of Falkner lives in the city of Violet in the Johto Region. Falkner had long, navy hair, part of which covered his right eye. His eyes matched his hair. He wore a blue T-shirt with a white stripe in the middle with blue shorts and plain black sneakers. Violet City is known for the Sprout Tower, and its nostalgic-smelling flowers. His father, Wayne is the Gym Leader. He requested a battle with the Fortree Gym Leader in the neighboring region of Hoenn. Wayne brings Falkner along, who brought his two Pokemon with him, a Pidgey and a Hoothoot.
"Well, son, this is Fortree City of the Hoenn Region."
"Wow! There are so many treehouses here!" Falkner said, excited as he looked all around the small, calm city.
"That's one of the special things about the place. The whole city is in the trees. It's said to be the most beautiful city in Hoenn," Wayne explains.
Falkner and his father search around in the trees, looking for the gym when they encounter a building with statues of legendary Pokemon in the front.
"Son, this must be it."
Falkner gazed upward and looked at how tall the peculiar building was.
"Falkner," Wayne whispered, but loud enough for his son to hear. "Do you want to watch?"
"Dad, I would like to see a good battle as always," Falkner looked up at his father. "But I want to try and catch some more Pokemon for my team."
"Hm, if that's your decision, then I won't stop you."
Falkner ran off to Route 120.
"I wish you luck, my son!" Wayne yelled out as Falkner left his side.
Falkner had a hard time catching a Pokemon. He couldn't even find one! Despite the fact he has two Pokemon, he's never actually caught one before. His father walked him through with Pidgey, and he befriended Hoothoot after it helped him with his nightmares. Falkner was about to give up when he saw a Taillow perched in a high, nearby tree.
"Hey, it's a Pokemon."
Falkner climbed the tree that the Taillow was in, going for a sneak attack. He was about to call out Hoothoot, but the Taillow saw him and flew away.
"Oh, darn, my sneak attack didn't work," Falkner sighed.
He started to climb down high tree when his foot landed on a weak branch that made him lose his balance and fall.
"Oh, no!" Falkner cried.
As he crashed, some tall grass nearby cut his arm.
"Ohhhhh, my arm, is it bleeding?" Falkner said faintly before drifting off into unconsciousness.
A young girl about the same age, saw Falkner fall and rushed over to his side. The girl had long, lavender hair that went down to her waist. At the top of her head were a pair of wings that looked like Mercury's wings. Covering her head was a sky blue aviator cap with goggles. She wore a white shirt with blue stripes on her sleeves, and a pair of white jeans and shoes that matched the color of her cap.
"Oh, no, this boy is bleeding! I have to help him!" She said to herself. "I think there's a pond over there where I can clean up his arm."
She tried to carry Falkner over to the pond, once she got there, she lowered Falkner's arm into the water. She removed the gloves she was wearing on her hands and began to clean up the wound. Afterwards, she took out some bandages, she patched up Falkner's arm. This weird feeling made Falkner wake up. He opened his eyes, looked, then gazed into her eyes. They sparkled a lavender color with a determined look to get something done. It was only then when he realized what she was doing. Also, when she saw Falkner awaken.
"Oh, you're awake! I was so worried that I needed to take you to the hospital."
Falkner completely ignored her words and just continued to stare into her dreamy eyes.
"Huh, is there something wrong?" She asked him.
"Uh, what? Oh, no! Not at all!" Falkner responded rather quickly. "Listen, thanks for helping me, but I should probably head back to Fortree."
"Fortree City? That's where I live! Come on! We can talk on our way there."
As they were walking back, Falkner asked a few questions. She described the scene of her, patching up Falkner's arm.
"I never caught your name. What is it?" She asked.
"Uh, I'm Falkner," he said nervously. "Um, what's yours?"
"Me? My name is Winona," She said, but she continued on not knowing it. "I'm twelve-years-old, and my preferred Pokemon type is Flying."
Falkner was amazed with this new girl he had just met. "You're only one year older than me! I use Flying types too!"
"Is that so? What Pokemon do you use?" Winona asked.
"I have a Pidgey and a Hoothoot," Falkner explained. "What Pokemon do you use?"
"Just a Swablu right now, but I've been trying to catch another Pokemon, but it keeps getting away.
"What Pokemon is it?" He asked.
"It's a Taillow, you know, the bird Pokemon with red and blue feathers," Winona answered.
Falkner noticed it was the Pokemon he tried to catch earlier. "Do you want to try and catch one right now before we get back? I saw one right before you found me."
"Oh, well . . . Falkner, it's kind of different from other Taillow," Winona explained.
Falkner gave a puzzled look.
"Falkner, have you heard of a shiny Pokemon?"
"Um, isn't it a Pokemon that has a different color than usual?" Falkner guessed.
"Correct, if you haven't guessed yet, this Taillow is shiny, and I want to catch it."
Falkner thought for a moment, but then he realized that they just stepped in Fortree City.
"Oh, Falkner, I have to get home," Winona told him. "Bye, Falkner! It was nice meeting you!" And she ran off.
Falkner kept thinking about the shiny Taillow Winona told him about, but his thinking was cut short when he heard a familiar voice.
"Falkner, are you alright?" His father rushed over to him.
"Oh, yeah, I'm fine, dad. I didn't manage to find another Pokemon though."
"Oh, that's too bad, son. Maybe tomorrow you can catch some more," Wayne suggested.
"You mean, we're staying another day?" Falkner asked, with a slight hint of hope.
"Why not? It's beautiful here, we can stay longer, unless you don't want to."
"Oh, no. I kind of like it here."
"Great. Also, the gym leader asked for another battle, so I'll be attending that."
Falkner smiled as he and his father walked to the hotel.
Later that night, Falkner was lying in his bed, thinking about what Winona told him.
The next day, he got up early and dashed to Route 120.
"Now, let's go find that shiny Taillow!" He said to himself, but out loud.
Falkner looked around in the grassier areas, in high trees, and near the shore of a nearby pond. He heard a huge whirlwind behind him. It was indeed the shiny Taillow, who had just got done defeating a Mightyena.
"Ah, ha! You're the Pokemon Winona told me about!" Falkner pointed at the bird.
The green and orange colored bird pointed its right wing at Falkner, accepting his challenge.
"Go! Hoothoot!" He threw out the owl Pokemon that gave its battle cry upon release.
The Taillow dove at Hoothoot with great speed. Falkner and Hoothoot narrowly dodged the attack.
"Whoa, you're fast! Now I know why Winona couldn't catch you. You kept evading every attack that was sent your way," Falkner dodged again. "But, I've got a way for speedy Pokemon to slow down. Hoothoot, use Hypnosis!" Falkner ordered.
Taillow could dodge Hoothoot's attacks, but it couldn't escape fast enough to not hear a dreamy sound that lulled it asleep. The bird Pokemon fell to the ground and was fast asleep.
"Yes! Hoothoot, use Tackle! Then follow up with a Peck attack!"
The owl Pokemon followed orders by tackling the Taillow and pecking it multiple times. The Taillow lost about two-thirds of its health, but it was still in a deep sleep.
"Okay, now it's time for a Poke Ball!" Falkner threw the red and white sphere, and it directly hit the sleeping bird Pokemon. Even though he's never officially caught a Pokemon before, Falkner knows how it works; it shakes multiple times before it's his. He's seen his father do it many times.
After several shakes, the ball stops. Falkner's caught his first Pokemon.
"Yes! I did it!" Falkner celebrated, but he quickly stopped when he heard someone coming his way. He swiftly hid.
"Oh, no, oh, no, oh, no!"
Falkner recognized the voice right away.
It was Winona. "I overslept, and now I'm going to miss the carnival!" Winona wasn't the type to panic in such dire situations, but it seemed that she couldn't hide the look of worry on her face.
A Swablu flew down and rested on Winona's aviator cap that she wore everywhere.
"Did you manage to find the Taillow, Swablu?"
The blue cotton bird responded with a disappointed cry.
"Oh, that's . . ." Winona's speech dropped off. She fell to her knees and began to sob. It was unusual for Winona to cry. She hadn't cried since she was ten; when her mother died. Her Swablu tried to cheer up her trainer. It didn't like it whenever she was sad.
"It's okay, Swablu, we'll find another Taillow," Winona said, trying to be optimistic, but Swablu knew that she would only become more sad.
Falkner was disappointed to see Winona cry, but it was time to tell her the good news.
"Hey, Winona," Falkner yelled over to her.
Winona was surprised to see Falkner so near her. She quickly wiped away her tears. She thought she would be happier to Falkner, after all she did have a huge crush on him.
"Winona, look at this!" Falkner called out the Pokemon he had just caught.
Winona gasped in horror and felt betrayed. The boy she was crushing on had caught the Taillow she wanted. She felt angry, but instead of being mad, more tears rolled down her face, and she couldn't even muster the strength to look at him.
"Winona, I know you wanted to catch this Taillow, which is why I didn't catch this Pokemon for myself.
Winona looked up, surprised.
Falkner finished, "I caught this Pokemon for you."
Winona was touched by what Falkner had just said, but all that came out of her mouth was, "Really?"
Falkner nodded slowly with a calming smile.
Winona got up, and hugged Falkner, and buried her face into Falkner's shoulder, soaking it with her tears. Falkner embraced her while calling Taillow back into its Poke Ball.
After a few seconds, Winona finally let go, wiping her tears on her sleeves. Her face quickly changed into an excited one.
"I accept your Taillow!"
Falkner handed over the Poke Ball, and Winona put it away, along with calling back her Swablu.
"Uh, Falkner?" Winona asked.
He looked up in reply.
"Why did you do this for me?"
"Well, I thought it would repay you for fixing up my arm yesterday," is what Falkner responded with, but it wasn't the real reason.
"Oh, that? It was nothing; I was only helping out," Winona replied, going slightly red in the face.
The two began to head back to Fortree.
"Oh, Falkner! There's a yearly event that takes place in Fortree called the Feather Carnival," Winona explained. "I'd like to invite you to come with."
"Sure, I bet it will be fun!"
"It certainly is. My parents used to take me there every year."
"Used to?" Falkner thought. He wanted to ask Winona what she meant, but he thought it would be best not to.
When they arrived, the citizens were just finishing up set up. The two went directly to the carnival.
They walked around for a while, admiring the things on display. Flying-type Pokemon everywhere, and the games for children.
Falkner and Winona went to this one game where you throw a boomerang at a large target, and the rings on the target decided whether or not you got a prize. Winona went first; she was close but didn't get anything. Falkner was next. He thought about his father. He remembered the techniques his father did when he created those boomerangs made from Skarmory wings. He threw just like his father did and got a prize. His prize were an assortment of Pokemon plush dolls. He got to choose from a Kecleon, a Gulpin, a Spinda, or a Swablu. He thought Kecleon was pretty cool, but he chose Swablu.
"Winona, I want you to have it."
"What? Falkner, I can't. You earned it," Winona insisted that he should keep it, but Falkner pressed on.
"Nope, Winona, I'm serious."
"Well . . . okay," Winona somewhat reluctantly accepted it.
Afterward, the two went on a few rides and slowly were developing a close friendship. Maybe even more than that. Later, Falkner and Winona sat down at a bench at the edge of Fortree City.
Falkner enjoyed his time with Winona. He wanted to tell her something, but he didn't have the courage to do so. Winona also wanted to tell Falkner something, but she just continued to stare at her Swablu plush doll that was in her hand.
After a long silence, Winona finally spoke.
"The sunset's beautiful."
"Yeah, it is," Falkner added, thinking about something else that's beautiful.
Winona was getting impatient. She decided to tell Falkner how she really felt about him.
"Uh, Falkner? I need to tell you something."
Falkner snapped out of his daze and began to listen to what Winona needed to say.
"Well, uh, it's been fun to hang out with you these past few days, I mean, you gave me my second Pokemon and a cute Swablu doll. Those things are the nicest things anyone has ever done for me. (Falkner blushed upon hearing these words.) Um, what I need to say is . . . uh . . ." Winona began to stagger in her speech.
Falkner wondered why Winona was tripping over her words like that.
"Actually, I have a question to ask," Winona changed her mind.
"Falkner? Do you like me?" Winona asked awkwardly.
Falkner went very red and covered his face. He thought, "How did she know?"
"Uh, I . . . um . . ." Falkner wasn't sure what to say.
"Well, if you did, I . . ." Winona began to say. "I like you too."
Falkner was even more shocked than before and replied with a silent, "Yes, I do."
Winona swiftly scooted over to Falkner and hugged him. A hug that was full of her love. Falkner took it willingly and closed his eyes, stroking her soft hair. Winona broke the hug by pulling back. She moved the hair covering Falkner's right eye and stared into each other's eyes.
"You have beautiful eyes," Falkner said as he fixed his hair.
Winona giggled and blushed. "I wish you can stay longer."
"I could convince my dad to stay for few more days," Falkner suggested.
"That sounds great! Maybe tomorrow we can battle. I still don't know what your battle style is like." Winona grabbed her plush doll and got up from the bench. "Falkner, I'm honored to have you as my boyfriend. I've to get home now, it's getting late. Bye, Falkner!"
"Wow, someone who's pretty and strong like Winona is my girlfriend," Falkner went to go find his dad to tell him the good news, but before that he was curious about something that he wanted to know earlier. "Hey, Winona! Wait!" Falkner ran and eventually caught up to her. Winona wondered what Falkner wanted.
"Yes, Falkner? Did you forget something?" Winona asked.
"Um, yeah," Falkner caught his breathe. "Can I ask you something?"
"Anything you want, Falkner."
"Uh, did something happen to your parents?" Falkner asked.
Winona's smile faded fast and turned into a depressed frown.
"Come to my house, Falkner. I'll tell you the story," Winona said with a very vague attitude.
"The story?" Falkner thought, and by Winona's reaction, he knew he made a mistake, but he still followed her to her treehouse. When they got there, Winona let him in.
"Take a seat please," She told him.
He did, and he saw Winona look to her side as she took off her aviator cap. Falkner never noticed how long her hair was. She looked very beautiful, but now wasn't the time to say that. Winona handed her cap to Falkner and started to explain.
"That cap was given to me by my father right before he went on a special trip. He also gave me Swablu. I loved him so much. I respected him like any child would with their father."
Falkner was reminded of his relationship with his own father. He felt Winona sit next him as tears rolled down her face. "My mother got a call from the company that sent him on that trip telling us that he died on a plane crash," Winona managed to say before bursting into tears.
Falkner was so heartbroken. He regretted asking her the question in the first place. He really wanted to tell Winona to stop, but she went on before he could speak.
"Then, my mother got so depressed that she stopped paying attention to her health and was overcome with a disease. She died two years later, trying to fight it," She couldn't hold it in anymore; she openly cried in front of Falkner.
"Winona! Stop! You're making me just as sad as you are! I'm sorry I asked! I didn't know!" Falkner was yelling with such sadness in his voice.
Winona stopped crying and clung onto him. "Stay with me, Falkner," She demanded.
Falkner thought about what his father would do if he heard about this, but this was way too important. This was worth getting yelled at by his father, to stay with Winona.
"I will, Winona."
Winona kissed Falkner on his cheek showing her affection.
"And I'll never let go."
Well, what do you guys think? Remember it's my first fanfiction. Please review!
I'm thinking about making another story that connects with this story; sort of like an epilogue that includes more battling and a bit of Falkner's past. I know I haven't uploaded another story in a while, but I'll try to get to work right away. For those who are wondering, I thinking of uploading three or four more stories in the next week, so please be patient. Thanks for all the support!