Chapter 14- Step into Success
"So, Falkner, we are here! Welcome to my place! Of course, this isn't my city- lacks that pizzazz. Then again, I won't mind showing you around..." Elesa proudly proclaimed while Skyla yawned and then moaned "I don't care what you are doing- just keep me out of it! I've been flying for over 21 hours you know!" Elesa just ignored her and then looked at Falkner who seemed really bushed and droopy eyed. "You know- I just want to go home!" he moaned. Elesa realised she was feeling just as sleepy, but she didn't want to go to her house, feeling so tired- certainly not at this hour?!
They had a feeling to just sleep there, but Skyla gad some answering to do about landing in a car park and Falkner was really tired. "I guess this is it, eh? Go Skarmory!" she yelled as the large steel bird flew out. "Come on, Skarmory, use fly and take us to the first place you see, like now, dear!" she ordered while Skarmory calmly obeyed. "What... we are flying on this?" Falkner exclaimed tiredly. "She is not capable of killing you... yet!" Skyla mocked. Falkner just sighed while Elesa took the back lead.
"Great. More flying? I cannot believe I'm saying this, but this sucks!" he moaned. Of course, the girls said nothing as they flew over to Skyla's house, which was not in her city. They flew over hill, dale and valley until they finally reached her house which looked more like a spaceship than a house. It was pretty high and was shaped like a large bubble of white with blue windows and doors. There was a secret set of spiral stairs which Skyla used for her acrophobic visitors. "Well guys, let's get in!" she said and then they all landed at the porch of the house. "So peeps, this is my house! How do you like it so far?" she proclaimed.
"I feel like I'm in 2050!" Falkner remarked while Elesa was jelly-kneed the minute she saw how high it was. "Aw, Elli! It isn't that bad! It's only 80 meters- the average skyscraper's height!" she said. Elesa was still shaken by this and then cowered away. "She's okay with moving heights, but stillness? Freaks her out." Skyla explained. Falkner just shrugged and the three went inside the house. It looked like- just inexplicably futuristic! It was white indie, with atomic style furnishing and models of planes everywhere along with a photo of her grandfather Miles. There were all sorts of models, from a Wilbur and Orville Wright style to a Concorde- all those models were almost studied impeccably and diplomas of passing both aviation lessons and gym leader exams were there. There was even a photocopy of her license there but the best parts were her furniture and her huge mural paintings of Altaria, which Falkner seemingly liked. "Ah, a bird!" he proclaimed. "You don't say?"Skyla spouted sarcastically. Falkner was getting irritated and then Elesa was busy rummaging round here and there. Seeing Falkner's basically blank expression, she spoke out "You aren't much of the exploratory type, are you?" Falkner shrugged. "Yeah, I'm pretty much of an 'old fart'." He responded. "I tend to stick with home comforts, is that a bad thing?" he admitted grudgingly. Elesa just smiled. "I find that sweet. A sentimental man? You don't find that very often!" she remarked making him blush a bit. She just called him a man? Most other people were hell bent on treating him like a child, which annoyed him no end.
Then Skyla unbolted a blue door which seemed pretty private. "Okay, Falkner- this is the crowning jewel of my house- welcome... to my room!" she then opened it out and Falkner almost fainted in dizziness.
Unlike Skyla's usual personality, this room was so different! It was of deep rose wallpaper, no prints and a light pink floor! If that wasn't bad enough, her bed was pink too! The only differences were that her windows were green and so was the huge green awning right above Skyla's bed. It was to be part of a sleigh bed, but it was patterned as if it was a filigree work, nevertheless it looked pretty. She even had gold pillows for two, but it was a double bed. It looked quite pretty for a girly girl's paradise, but Falkner? Meh, he thought of this as an eyesore.
"Honestly, such a monochromatic colour scheme?" Falkner groaned. "Have you like, no sense of colour or what?" Skyla turned round in indignation. "As if you have any idea? I wanted this as a kid and Dad would never let me repaint this!" she argued. "Seriously? I thought you were the only person insane enough to live here! This colour scheme sucks, it makes me want to puke!" he retorted clearly showing disgust. Then Elesa attempted to intervene, but it was failing.
"That's your opinion, bug. Doesn't matter to me!" Skyla argued.
"Don't you DARE call me that again!" he argued.
"Well, I have every right especially after you nearly killed us all using that damn cell phone!"
"I have a life too you know! I have friends who care for me and want me, so shut it! Besides, it's a mere cell phone, what use is it in destruction?"
"Easy for you to say! You don't even look like a kid smart enough to be a gym leader!"
"At least I don't look like a stripper!"
Skyla was so pale in shock; she almost fainted hearing such a term. Falkner was seemingly happy until he saw that Skyla really had fainted. A look of shock and horror spread across his face as he reflected in his actions. What did he just call her again? Conscience be dammed, Elesa would be furious if she ever found her this way.
"Oh Suicune, what do I do? I have no blooming idea where the water is either!" he cursed. He searched frantically for water around, for that was the best thing for reviving her. "Hopefully she'll forget what I said." He prayed as he kept searching without making a mess of her already sloppy house. What he never noticed was that Elesa wasn't even there! He just kept searching and scouring until he found what he was looking for- a whole bottle of water. Falkner's eyes widened- he had no signs of Elesa, but all the same, what was there to worry? He was just glad that he found it.
Anybody would have just died to drink this with all the running around, but Falkner had none of it. He ran over to Skyla and bent towards her. She looked mortifying, yet cute while fainting. "Reminds me of Morty." He mumbled and then unlocked the lid and slowly poured some water onto her face. She slowly started to flutter and blink her eyelids and then her consciousness regained. "Where am I?" she asked. Falkner smiled. "Home, your house." He replied a little embarrassed. Her eyes widened "Really? I swore I brought Elesa home, where is she? Is she okay? And how did you get here?" she blurted. He smiled "You flew home. That's all. Do you remember anything happening to you a little while ago?" Skyla shook her head. "How did I faint again?" she inquired. He smiled even wider "A little hard line argument." He answered vaguely. Falkner of course, couldn't just let her be. Feeling a strange pang of guilt of just insulting her so hard, he just went behind her and started to massage her shoulders, for she still felt weak. The same way Elesa did, albeit with a friendlier and less sensual touch, Skyla felt herself come back to her senses. "Aahhh! That's good! Are you a masseur?" she asked dreamily. Falkner blushed- "Nah. I learnt via imitation. It isn't as good as your friend's though..." he admitted.
At that very minute, Skyla sprung up. "Elesa? Where is she? Oh no, where is she? Please don't tell me that she ran away while we were fighting! She tends to be very sensitive!" she moaned. Falkner face palmed. Skyla did know of this all along. Then she looked at him and slapped him. "This is for insulting me and for lying to me, even if it was in a fragment." She scolded. Falkner seemed unremorseful; fro he felt he got what he deserved. "I'm sorry." He confessed. Skyla's ears preened. "I didn't hear that. Were you cursing or something?" she pressed. Falkner was growing embarrassed by the minute. "I..I'm sorry." He mumbled. Skyla pressed onto this further. "I did not hear that...but I swear, was that an apology?" Falkner was getting mad now. "Okay, fine!" he blurted.
"I'm sorry for insulting you so badly, I forget at times! Will you please forgive me?" he blurted. Skyla's shock turned into a big grin. She then grabbed Falkner and noogied him hard. "Of course I forgive you, you lazy devil! Is that so hard to tell me?" She yelled as Falkner suffered her wrath. "Women are weird creatures." He wondered. Soon, Skyla left him and then gave him a hand.
"Sorry for getting all furious and all. You know- that accident could have killed us and I was worried about you two." Skyla apologised. Falkner smiled. "I'm sorry for being such a jerk." He apologised shyly and then lent out a hand. "Can we be friends?" he inquired. Skyla's grin grew and she readily did so. "Of course we can! Let's put out our differences for Elesa, but now that you mention it... we have very few. Its official, we are pals!" she shook his hand hard and then hugged him, making him giggle. "Friends?" he asked yet again. "Best friends!" she beamed as they continued hugging each other.
"Friends forever, bound together!" they chanted and then high fived. Then they lay down on the floor and talked for quite a while about flying, Pokémon, career and interests. They realised they had too much in common, except they were a little different in personality and gender. Then they almost slept there, fro Skyla had been really tired and had gulped tons of coffee while at night to stay awake. Then it hit Falkner, glad he became nicer to this wonderful woman. "Where is Elesa?" he inquired. "Oh shoot! I forgot about her!" Skyla yelled worried and then looked all over for her and was about to leave the room when she heard her bathroom door click and she almost froze in fright- only to discover who it really was.
"Hey guys! Miss me?" she teased. Falkner and Skyla both stared at her. She was dressed in a short silk nightdress which was having spaghetti straps and was of a pearl white. "Let's have a sleepover!" she suggested. Skyla grinned. "You are too much of fun!" she exclaimed and then Elesa saw Falkner accidently hold Skyla's arm. She grimaced. "You guys seem to be fast friends now, eh?" she spat. Falkner withdrew his hand immediately. "Sorry about that!" he grinned sheepishly.
"So have you ever been to a sleepover before?" Skyla asked while in the loo. "Never!" Falkner replied from outside. "Well, you must have fun here, it is too good! They are epic! We get to sleep with our best friends and spend a whole day there!" Skyla replied bubbly ways. Falkner froze hearing the first sentence. "Oh really? Great!" he replied embarrassed. "Not that way, moron!" Skyla retorted making him even more embarrassed. Then Falkner asked her "What do I wear again?" Skyla then came outside and yelled "Anything comfy. But as long as it is not travel clothes, yeah!"
Skyla's outfit was pretty chic- a green silk top with purple pants. "Nice outfit, Sky!" Falkner suavely complimented. "Thanks bud! Now wear these!" Skyla flung him some clothes. "What the heck-?" he exclaimed. "These are the only men's clothes I do have!" Skyla admitted. "Rather they are like plus size, but they'll fit you! Plus size women's suits though." She admitted. Falkner had no choice, right? So off he went to change, but just before that, he felt a hard something smack his face. He picked it up to see it was a pillow. He was about to turn round in fury when he saw who did that and his anger fell. . Elesa's stern stare then disappeared the very minute something hit Skyla's face. Elesa was of course, as fun as ever and a sinister grin appeared on her face,
"Guys! It's official. Pillowfight!" she screamed. In a few seconds, everything was just blurred off by the smoky screen of feathers that blocked everything in its way...