Chapter 10

Alright, another chapter!

I didn't mean to take so long writing. Sorry.

"What happened!?" Dawn asked anxiously.

"It's rolling towards us!" Brock stepped back a little.

"What!?"

"Chuuu..." Pikachu growled as his cheeks sparked. He was ready to defend, Piplup was as well.

The creature's body rolled quite some distance before reaching them. It bounced one last time before landing on its side hard with a very loud 'thud'.

Brock lifted the flashlight to get a better look at it. "Its an..Ursaring..?"

Something soon fell from above them, but it wasn't just one, there were three.

"Look!" Dawn shook him by the shoulder and pointed up.

Brock watched as they landed on the Ursaring's back. He then saw a familiar red and black hat. "Wait, is that Ash!?"

"Pikapi!" Pikachu ran towards the creature in hopes of finding Ash there with Piplup close behind.

Dawn gasped. "Where?"

"There." Brock moved the light over to where the hat was, except now he could something orange as well.

"Wait." Dawn stepped aside from Brock. "That doesn't look like Ash. He doesn't wear orange..."

Pikachu and Piplup approached the hat and looked to see who or what was behind it. To their surprise, it was a Teddiursa. "Pika Pika...?" Pikachu tilted his head in confusion.

Brock and Dawn walked over cautiously. As the light grew closer Pikachu could see the dark colored hair of his trainer. "Pikapi!"

"There's Ash!" Brock said.

"And... Paul?!" Dawn pointed to the figure next to him. "Ash is wearing Paul's jacket...!" She looked to Paul who was wearing a white T-shirt that looked almost entirely drenched with sweat and a green long sleeves shirt tied around his waist.

Brock gave Dawn the flashlight as he walked around the Ursaring to examine Ash and Paul.

"Are they both alright?" Dawn asked in a worried tone.

"Pika..." Pikachu nudged his trainer's cheek. "Pi pikachu...?"

"They're both unconscious, and both have fevers." Brock looked at the back of Ash's hand and then rolled up the jacket sleeves. "Ash somehow has scars on his wrists..." He then looked over at Paul's bloodstained pant leg. "...Paul's ankle has similar scars, but it may be broken."

"I don't understand, what could they have gotten int- !" Dawn froze as the Ursaring's head rose. She had woken up and was a little dazed.

Brock stayed still as well. He didn't want the Ursaring to think that they were going to attack it. "Don't move.."

Dawn nodded. Pikachu and Piplup backed away slowly and stood in front of Dawn. Brock backed away from it as well. Ursaring stood, carefully allowing her daughter and the two boys slide to the ground. She looked to Dawn, who flinched inwardly, and then to Brock, who let his hands fall to his sides quickly after them being in the air for some time. Piplup walked over to Ursaring and sat down to talk to her for a brief moment. Piplup then signaled for Pikachu and they all nodded after sharing some information.

Dawn and Brock exchange the same questionable looks. 'What are they saying...,' they thought.

"Pika Pika...!" Pikachu waved to them.

"I guess it's safe to go over there..." They walked over to Ursaring and introduced themselves. They both told her about what happened, but of course Pikachu and Piplup had to translate some of it.

When they finished telling their story Brock went over to finish his examination of Ash and Paul. Ursaring took care of Teddiursa, who was still unconscious but had no injuries, Brock confirmed that. Dawn held Piplup, and Pikachu rested on her left shoulder.

"How are we going to find our way back, Brock?" She asked.

Brock stopped the blood flow from Paul's leg by tying a bandage in a tight knot just below his knee. He then turned to her, "I don't know, actually... Ursaring would you be willing to help carry Ash and Paul back to our camp...?"

Ursaring gave a light growl and nodded. She would be happy to help, she had been helping the two boys all night. And, both of them watching Teddiursa allowed her to catch up on her sleep. Ursaring knelt down. Brock and Dawn moved Ash and Paul closer to her, then picked them up and carefully laid them across her back. Ash and Paul winced at the sudden movement, but they would receive treatment soon.

"Pip-lup..!" Piplup retrieved the flashlight and held it for everyone to see.

"Thanks, Piplup." Dawn smiled and gave the little blue pokemon a pat on the head.

Pikachu lightly nudged Teddiursa with his nose. "Pi-ka pi-ka..." She twitched her ear and curled up into a ball. "Chuu...?"

"I'll carry Teddiursa." Brock said as he walked over to the two. He scooped her up carefully and allowed Pikachu to jump on his shoulder.

Ursaring began to walk forward, but stopped in front of the path of which Brock and Dawn had came. She looked back at them and signaled for them follow.

Piplup jumped into Dawn's arms once again and held the flashlight down at an angle so he wouldn't blind Ursaring. "Do you think she knows where to go?" Dawn asked as she walked close alongside Brock.

"I believe so, but if we have to, we'll be able remember where to go." Brock turned to her. "And, we started a campfire. Ursaring may follow that scent to get us back."

"I hope so." She sighed, it was very late and the sky was so..., she gulped, 'Dark.' Even if she had a light, it would still be pitch black behind them '...and in front of them, and around the trees, and in caves, and-!' Dawn's arms tightened a little around Piplup bringing him up slightly closer to the center of her chest. Even if she had Brock here, and Ursaring, she was still so afraid. 'Why?', she asked herself. She could only imagine how stupid she must look to be afraid of something and not know why. Her blood ran cold and a tear escaped her eye.

"Pip...?" Piplup turned around to face her. He felt her arms move from her shaking shoulders. A tear fell from her cheek and hit his face. Piplup learned of Dawn's fear of the dark at the beginning of their journey. Piplup looked to Pikachu, who then gave Brock a pat on the shoulder.

"hm..?" Brock noticed Pikachu's tap and watched as he signaled towards Dawn. Brock face went immediately from confusion to concern. Brock sighed and walked up to Ursaring and carefully placed Teddiursa between Ash and Paul.

Pikachu crawled down Brock's arm and sat down beside her. He watched silently as Brock walked back over to Dawn. Brock gently moved her arms apart and took Piplup from her and placed him on his shoulders, then wiped a tear from her eye. "What's the matter Dawn...?"

"Nothing,..." She lied. "I-I'm alright..."

Brock laid a hand on her shoulder. "Please, Dawn. I know that there's something bothering you."

Dawn shut her eyes tight and turned her head so she wouldn't face him.

"Dawn..." Brock's hand was still on her cheek as he slowly move her head to face him again. "It's better talk about things, rather than keeping them to yourself."

"I-I've told, I'm fine...," Her eyes were still closed.

"Then, why are you so upset?" He asked, wiping away another tear with his thumb. "You don't seem like the type to cry over little things."

"You're right, I'm not..." Dawn held his wrists. "I don't know what to do."

"About what?"

"Th-There's something out in the darkness that haunts me..." She said coming to a halt, causing Brock to stop as well.

"What do mean...?"

There was a long pause before Dawn sighed. "N-nevermind..." Dawn wiped her eyes and put on her best smile. "See, hehe, no need to worry."

"Uh..." Brock simply stared at her.

"Hey, you two dating or something...?" Brock and Dawn both blushed. They were surprised and looked up to find that it was Paul who had asked. He was sitting upright on Ursaring's back, cradling Teddiursa. Brock wondered how long he had been there, but instead of asking him he simply walked forward to match Ursaring's pace. Dawn had remained where she was, walking with only a few feet between them. "So, Paul, how are you feeling?" He asked.

"Don't try to play it off like it was nothing." Paul said. "I saw that entire scene you and Dawn made over there. What's her deal anyway? Is she afraid of the dark, like some bratty little kid?"

Dawn cowered slightly, taking offense from his tone. Brock gave a him a certain look that informed Paul that if he continued his rude comments he would regret saying those things. Paul cleared his throat, "...I'm fine." he said, answering Brock's question. "...thanks."

Brock examined Paul, looking for anything unusual and hoping that his condition hadn't worsened. Paul was very pale, probably due to the loss of blood through his ankle. He still had a fever, which was apparent on his flushed cheeks. Also, Paul looked very tired, Brock told him that he should resting.

Paul scoffed, "I think...I'll be just.. fine." He then yawned, he WAS very tired but he couldn't let Brock know right after what he just said.

Dawn was a little worried about Paul. They both knew he felt way worse than how he was acting, but why? Why go through all that trouble? Dawn shook her head, pitying him, even though he probably didn't deserve it.

"Right,..." Brock didn't understand either why Paul wasted his energy on trying to act tough and rude to just about everyone.

Paul opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by Teddiursa who rolled over, whining as if she were having a bad dream. He gently stroked her fur to give her a sign that everything would be alright. She snuggled closer to his chest and continued to sleep peacefully earning a small smile from Paul. Dawn smiled as well, she had never seen Paul smile before, well, not a genuine smile as sweet and kind as the one seen on his face then. But, it came as soon as it went. How come he's always so mean to all of his pokemon, but can be nice to a pokemon he probably doesn't even know all too well? It just doesn't make sense.

"..." Paul looked up to find that both Brock both Dawn were staring at him curiously. "What?" He asked, returning to his normal rude tone.

"Nothing,... but you should probably rest." Brock said. "We might not reach the campsite as soon as we want."

"Sure..." Paul said calmly.

"Good." Brock took Teddiursa from him. Paul then leaned back into the position he woke up in and went straight to sleep.

Dawn sighed at looked to the stars. "I hope we get there soon..."

I didn't think anyone was reading this to be honest, but here's another chapter for those of you who wanted me to update. Sorry if some sentences don't make sense in previous chapters. I tend to type fast and fail to some catch errors while looking over the story. Expect more soon, maybe 2 more chapters. I might end this fanfic at number 12.