Chapter 9: Falling

(Ivan's P.O.V.)

Everything around me was falling. My family, with which I rarely speak to. My communication with my family is falling. My realization that no matter how hard I want him to stay, Wesley is leaving in a month. My relationship is falling. Everyone around me tries to help, but I reject them. No one knows how it feels to have everything they know to suddenly fade away, until it's nothing. In fact the last thing I remember is the cliff overlooking the sea. My favorite place to be whenever I thought deeply, or let off some steam. My favorite place to calm myself. From there, I was falling...

(A few hours earlier...)(Ivan's P.O.V.)

With the second round of the tournament behind us, Wesley and I decided to relax a bit more. We haven't had any homework, and the final round of the tournament would be held over summer vacation. Sort of like a last minute "Enjoy your summer" kind of thing. Anyway, me and Wesley were sitting outside the school walls, enjoying the coolness of the shade on this hot day.

"So what are you gonna do after I leave?"

I shrugged my shoulders.

"I honestly don't know. I mean, of course I'm going get on with my life, but I don't know what else I'm going to do."

"Don't you have any plans for your future?"

I looked up.

"No...all my life I've been taking the opportunities given to me, and using them. I'm hoping something will happen in the near future to give me a hint of what to do."

Wesley looked at me, most likely worried.

"You know, let's forget the for future now, wanna go out later?"

My ears perked up.

"Like on a date?"

He ruffled my fur.

"Yes. I just realized we never actually went out. Our relationship started when you kissed me on my porch."

"Yeah, that is true. We never did actually go out on a date."

He poked at my head leaf.

"So what do ya say?"

I pushed his hand away.

"Like I could say no."

I grabbed his cheeks.

"I could never say no to you, you're just too adorable!"

He pushed my hands away, blushing.

"I told you not to do that anymore..."

I giggled, and poked his nose.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself!"

(Unknown P.O.V.)

(Look at him, being happy. What nerve! How dare they act liked they never did anyone wrong...Today's the day...They will pay. HE will pay.)

(Later that night, 3rd Person)

Ivan was waiting in front of his house for Wesley. He had assumed they would meet the place the date would be, but Wesley insisted that they meet at his house, since apparently the place they were going was really close to where they lived. Soon, a black car pulled up in front of his house. Ivan walked up to it and the driver rolled down the window.

"Huh? Who're you?"

A Mightyena pulled down his shades and looked him up and down.

"You're cute. Now I see what Wesley sees in you."

Ivan's face turned beet red. The Mightyena licked his lips, and pushed a button on the door. A flustered Absol rolled out of the back of the car, and quickly got up.

"Jeremy! I told you not to flirt! What's the first thing you say? You're cute! No hi, no I'm Wesley's older brother, a simple I'm Jeremy would've been nice!"

The Mightyena waved him away.

"Oh calm down Wes, I was just kidding..."

He looked Ivan up and down again.

"But I wasn't lying..."

Ivan looked away, and Wesley, noticing his flushed face, grabbed Ivan's shoulders.

"Thanks for dropping me off, but we'll walk from here."

They started to walk away, and heard Jeremy rev up his car. He blew a kiss at Ivan, and winked at Wesley.

"Have fun! Stay cute Ivan! And don't be afraid to go all the way after a first date Wesley!"

Wesley's face turned the same color as his eyes. Ivan looked at him, confused.

"What was that about?"

Wesley let go of Ivan and exhaled heavily.

"That was my older brother Jeremy. He said that because I kinda...told him about when we had sex, and that it was before we ever went on a date. Ever since then he's been making jokes about how I could go all the way before the first date."

Wesley closed his eyes expecting recoil. He was only met with his cheeks being cupped.

"Aw, you're so adorable when you're blushing! I couldn't possibly be mad since he's teasing you!"

Wesley sighed.

"I'm just glad he doesn't know that he said my boyfriend was on the receiving end of pre-date sex."

Suddenly Ivan's grip grew tighter. He had a very visible vein popping out on his head. Wesley covered his mouth, realizing he had just spoken his thoughts aloud.

"It's fine, let's just keep going..."

They walked in silence for a while before stopping in front of the park. Wesley went in. Ivan looked around, wondering why they were there. Wesley smiled and turned around.

"We're almost there."

They walked up to an arch that stood in front of a glass building. A giant sign glowed on its roof read: "Ivy Arch"

Ivan looked around.

"Where are we?"

Wesley started to walk under it.

"It's the Ivy Arch. A new restaurant they've been building since last month. It's in the park, it's a spring night, and it's super romantic. I knew it would be perfect for our first date."

He kissed Ivan on the cheek. Ivan blushed and looked up at the sky.

"Thanks Wesley."

They went and sat at a table, and got comfortable.

"This isn't a normal restaurant. All you have to do is type what you want for dinner, and the order will be cooked in a chamber directly underground. The chefs are a bunch of Ground-types who built the place. This is a public place so you don't even need a reservation to be served. All you have to is come and sit."

Ivan squinted his eyes as he finished typing what he wanted.

"How do you know so much about this place?"

Wesley didn't look up and spoke.

"Um, I just know that's all."

Ivan looked up from the screen.

"Does this have anything to do with your phone search engine reading, "Perfect places to take a grass type on a first date?"

Wesley froze, and Ivan scooted his chair next to him.

"Well I think it was really thoughtful of you, and I appreciate it."

He wrapped his arms around his furry white lover, who was currently feeling too flattered to look up. Meanwhile, a Diggersby was carrying their meal plates to their table.

"Hi, I have flame broiled Razz berries with a side salad, and oven roasted Feebas with rice and Lum sauce for table 7. Is that you guys?"

They shook their heads yes, and the Diggersby put their plates down. Ivan looked over at Wesley's plate, not at all surprised. Wesley looked over at Ivan's plate, a question popping into mind.

"Ivan, why do you eat so much meat?"

Ivan looked up, chewing.

"I know this may sound weird but..."

He swallowed.

"I can't stand vegetables. They just taste odd, and I don't like them. Don't get me wrong, I'll eat them, but I won't enjoy them. Why?"

Wesley gulped down some of his food.

"No reason...It's just, do you think it has anything to do with you being a grass-type?"

Ivan cut some more meat.

"Uh...I don't think so...why do you eat so many Razz berries?"

Wesley waved his fur to the side, revealing both his eyes, also making Ivan blush.

"Because they make me cooler. Isn't it obvious?

Ivan couldn't look up, for his heart was beating. He found it hard to look up. Wesley grabbed his shoulder.

"You okay?"

Ivan moved Wesley's hair back to the way it was. He looked up, blushing.

"Keep your hair the way it is please?"

Wesley smiled.

"Fine..."

(A few minutes later)

When they were done, they both selected finished, and the Diggersby returned with the check. Wesley picked it up, but Ivan went to grab it. Wesley swiped it away with a smirk.

"Nope. I'm going to pay since I'm the one who asked you out."

Ivan pouted and pulled out his wallet.

"Fine, but I'm leaving the tip."

Wesley put the right amount of money on the check and Ivan pulled out twenty-five dollars and left it on the table. Wesley looked at him in shock.

"Isn't twenty-five dollars a bit much?"

Ivan put away his wallet and looked up.

"Yeah, but I always felt bad when my Dad left a five dollar tip for our waitress/waiter. I thought, that person serves us, and gets so little. So I thought if I ever had the chance to tip, I would make sure it was a good amount."

He noticed Wesley giving him a dreamy look and smiling at him.

"You sure do have a bleeding heart, don't you?"

He grabbed his jacket, and got up.

"Let's go."

Ivan stopped him.

"Hold on, I gotta use the bathroom."

Ivan ran over to the nearest facility and went in. A mysterious figure went in after him.

(Now's my chance...)

(Ivan's P.O.V.)

I exited the stall, and started to wash my hands. I looked in the mirror to see someone standing behind me.

"Poison Jab..."

My eyes widened and I fell. I was still awake, but was about to faint from being poisoned. I saw my assailant, and recognized them.

"Y-you..."

I felt myself growing weaker, and blacked out.

(3rd Person)

The two exited the bathroom inconspicuously, seeming like two friends walking together. However, one was carrying the other as they slowly made their way into the forest. A nearby waitress saw them, but carried on with her job seeing as she had food to get to some tables. Most of them impatient.

Wesley sat at their table, wondering why it was taking Ivan so long to use the bathroom. He sat for a few minutes until he heard someone walking toward him.

"Ivan?"

He sighed in disappointment when he saw it was the Diggersby. She noticed the Leafeon that was at his table before wasn't there, and that maybe...

"Did that Leafeon you were with happen to go the bathroom a few minutes ago?"

Wesley looked up, surprised.

"Yeah why?"

She pointed toward the forest.

"I saw him leave and go in the forest wit another Pokemon...It looked a little suspicious to be honest, and I thought one was carrying the other. I couldn't tell what the other the other Pokemon was, though at first glance it looked like a Hitmonlee."

Wesley's eyes widened when he realized they had only encountered one Hitmonlee, and fear had struck him. He quickly grabbed his jacket, and started to run toward the forest.

"The money to pay for the meal is on the table. Your tip is there too!"

The Diggersby looked and saw her tip was twenty-five dollars. She smiled, thankful for people like those two.

(Ivan's P.O.V.)

I slowly opened my eyes, and was immediately met with a malevolent smile, and glowing red eyes.

"Good evening Ivan."

I blinked, and spoke with slurred words.

"Jace? Where am I?"

He grinned even more(if that were possible) and lifted Ivan by the collar.

"Why you're at your favorite spot."

I looked around and realized I was on the cliff that overlooked the ocean.

"Why are we here?"

Jace chuckled.

"Why? To celebrate of course! I had my partner here hand deliver you to me for just the occasion!"

A Hitmonlee was glaring at me right behind him. I then realized he was the one who knocked me out.

"You're the Hitmonlee from that night I spent at Wesley's house!"

He squinted at me.

"Yeah, it's me. I never did like to beat on kids, but it was expected in my line of work. But you went and crippled me and my partner. We were too weak to run escape the police after the neighbors caught us...We were sent to jail to rot. She had planned on going straight, but I...I needed revenge. That's when Jace here bailed me out. He said in return all I had to do was help him get rid of you, and I'd be free."

The situation hit me hard. He was replaying his situation. By poisoning me, he ensured I was too weak to fight back. They could do what they wanted. My eyes widened.

"What're you gonna do?"

He smirked and began to walk toward me. I tried to crawl away but the Hitmonlee stood in front of me. Jace picked me up by my shirt collar. He looked me in the eye, and then carried me to the cliff. I tried to get him off of me, but my body was too weak from poison. He laughed horrifyingly as I dangled over the edge.

"See what happens when you step out of line Ivan?"

I grabbed his wrists.

"What did I do to you?! You've been bullying me since we were young and I never even knew why?!"

He stopped laughing.

"It's because you were always more well liked than me. Always. Saying hi to everyone, laughing with your friends. While I had to resort to blackmail to get people to talk to me. But now, it'll be different. I'll be the popular one. I'll have friends, people will laugh with me. And Wesley...Wesley will belong to me."

I started to feel faint, but something inside me snapped.

(3rd Person)

Ivan started to laugh.

"All this because you were jealous? That's pathetic. You couldn't beat me on your own so had Lyle do it for you. You couldn't get close to Wesley so you blackmailed him. You weren't even strong enough to drag me here, so you had him do it for you. I can't believe I'm going to be taken out by a spoiled rich brat who was too weak to do his own dirty work..."

Jace growled and lifted a flaming fist.

"SHUT UP!"

He Fire Punched Ivan in the gut. He punched him again and again, until Ivan caught one.

"Even your Fire Punches don't hurt. How weak."

Jace's eyes widened, then he smirked.

"I don't why I'm letting you get me worked up."

He lifted him over the edge again.

"After all, I'm not the one about to die."

Ivan spit in his face. Jace wiped it away and growled, simultaneously throwing Ivan off the cliff. He pointed at the Hitmonlee.

"Use Rock Slide and bury him!"

The Hitmonlee held up his hands defensively.

"I'm not so sure about this, that Leafeon is crazy. I-I can't."

Jace scowled at him.

"Fine. Strength!"

Jace smashed the ground, causing it to break apart. It crumbled, and fell.

(Ivan's P.O.V.)

(I'm going to die. Great...)

As I fell for those few seconds I realized that this was what he meant. This is what Giratina meant when he said we'd be able to talk for a long time. I didn't think he meant forever...My body splashed in the water, and I felt immense pain. Suddenly rocks from above fell on top of me, and I blacked out. The last thing I heard was Giratina's voice.

I'll see you soon Ivan...

(Unkown P.O.V.)

I heard a loud splash nearby, and went to investigate. I saw a large pile of rocks where the splash came from.

"*sigh* Stupid land dwellers. Always tossin' shit in the ocean, litterin'. Don't they know that Pokemon live down 'ere?"

I looked closer and saw green coloring, and some yellow in other areas.

(What's that?)

I used Hydro Pump to wash away the rocks, revealing a Leafeon, covered in blood. There were torn areas where rocks had impaled it. Its left ear, right shoulder, and tail were torn and bloody. There was even a large gash on the forehead.

"Oh my..."

I looked at its chest and realized it was still breathing. I used my horn to pick it up and swam as quickly as I could to the shore.

(Wesley's P.O.V.)

I sighed and sat down. I was on the beach and filled with worry. The Diggersby said she saw him going into the forest, but I haven't seen him anywhere! I put my forehead on my knees and sighed.

(Maybe I'm overreacting. Maybe he was just in the bathroom and now he's waiting for me.)

I heard someone calling me, and looked up.

"HEY!"

A Lapras was swimming toward the shore, holding Ivan. My eyes widened and I ran toward it. I noticed it was a 'she' as she bowed her head, allowing Ivan to slide into my arms. I looked at his bleeding body, his ears torn in some parts. The large cut where he had bruised his forehead during the battle with Hogan. I rubbed his face, and looked at his closed eyes.

"Oh Ivan...what did they do to you?"

The Lapras looked at us.

"'Ey, you know this kid? Get 'im to a hospital!"

I shook myself out of my thoughts, and looked around.

"Thank you. Right away!"

I pulled out my phone, and dialed my brother's number.

(A moment later...)

Beep...Beep...

I sat on the hospital bed next to Ivan, staring at his body wrapped in bandages. I was on the verge of tears, since I had never seen him like this. Suddenly the door slammed open, and his family walked in. Erica covered her mouth, and his mother started crying. She grabbed onto his father, and Amy stood, solemn. Alex simply looked away. His father put his arm on my shoulder.

"What happened?"

I looked up at him.

"I-I don't know. Were going out, and he said he had to go the bathroom. Our waitress came and told me she had seen him walking into the forest with another Pokemon, a Hitmonlee, so I went to look for him. I had stumbled upon a beach, where I decided to take a break. Then a Lapras called me, and showed his body all bloody and he was knocked out. So I called my brother, and he drove us here."

A Ninetales wearing a labcoat walked in the room.

"Ah, you must be Ivan's family. I'm terribly sorry about what happened. Erica walked up to him.

"Is he going to be okay?"

He smiled.

"He'll be fine. He's just in a coma from all the damage he suffered from falling, and apparently large rocks falling on top of him, and hitting him in an area which had already sustained damage."

Amy stood next to Erica.

"So he's just asleep?"

"Yeah, he'll probably be out for a while though. Presumably a few weeks, depending on how fast he recovers."

Everyone looked over at Ivan, the crippled Leafeon, who was slowly breathing. I laid down on the bed, and grabbed rubbed his unharmed ear. Ivan's family all huddled together. His Dad spoke up.

"Wesley, we're leaving. Would you like us to give you a ride home?"

I shook my head 'no'.

"I'm gonna stay til visiting hours are over."

They all left, leaving me and Ivan alone.

I curled up next to him. During this time, I contemplated how strong he is.

(I never would've been able to live through the stuff he did. A dangerous battle with a Drapion. A fall from a cliff, and rocks fallen on top of him. I would've died. Who could've done this? I know that Hitmonlee has something to do with this...but who else?)

I thought so hard that I fell asleep. A few moments later, I was shaken away. The doctor was standing over me.

"Excuse me, visiting hours are over..."

I gripped the sheets and looked up at him.

"Please let me stay, I don't want to leave him..."

He smiled.

"You must like him a lot. Are you..."

"Yes, we're dating..."

He put a paw on his cheek as he crossed his arms.

"Aw...Fine, from now until he wakes up I'll put a word out, allowing you to stay passed visiting hours. Just because I'm feeling generous."

He patted my head, and started to leave the room.

"Have a good night."

I cuddled next to Ivan once more, and drifted to sleep. My last thoughts being:

(I'm sorry Ivan...)