Chapter 5

"Ethan! I haven't seen you in forever! How've you been?" It was Michelle. One of my closest childhood friends. She was also one of my love interests growing up. She grew up to be really pretty, smart, and incredibly athletic, so I considered her to be out of my league and grew apart from her. We ceased contact ever since. Well, up until now. She hasn't changed a bit, she's still super pretty.

Quil was standing behind me, now. He cloaked himself to hide from Michelle. This made him near invisible to anyone that happened to pass by. Unless they squinted really hard in Quil's general direction. As Michelle approached, I smiled at her. She wrapped her arms around me when I was in arms reach. I tried to pull away as quickly and smoothly as possible, but I submitted. "H-hey Michelle! I've been doing well, how about yourself?"

"Y'know, I haven't been doing much lately. I've just been working at the mall, living nice and easy, watching Pokémon battles often…"

"Sounds like a blast. Hey, do you think we could talk later? I'm in a bit of a rush to get home."

"To do what exactly?" I tried to think up an excuse, but stayed silent, nothing came to mind. "Well, not as eventful as we thought, huh Ethan?" She said smiling.

"H-ha, you caught me! So, I thought you moved to Akala Island. What're you doing in Melemele?"

"Well, like I said I started working here at the mall. And well, it just seems a lot more tranquil here in Hau'oli City. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Oh yeah, definitely." We hit it off after that. Michelle invited me to take a walk, but because of Quil's presence right behind mine, I convinced her to stay where we were. Then, after about 15 minutes of catching up, it got silent. To break the ice again, Michelle asked, "So, Ethan, since we've been talking for a bit, do you think I could invite you to that Malasada place for dinner?"

"Um, actually maybe not… I'm not interested, sorry." She stared at me with a disappointed look. "C'mon Ethan, I know you. You've had a crush on me since we were 14. You'd never let something like this pass you by."

"Well yeah but… times have changed Michelle. I'm just not interested."

"You dating anyone else?"

"No, not at all." She looked at me in disapproval. "So, what? You're gay now or something?" I heard Quil make a low and defensive growl. I gave him a little nudge with my heel. "And what's wrong with being gay, Michelle? Even if I was, there wouldn't be anything wrong with it. Thanks for trying to target my masculinity." Michelle just scoffs.

"This isn't you, Ethan. Honestly, it's strange that you don't want to date me. Next you're gonna tell me you'd date a Pokémon over me." I froze up, my cheeks flushing. "N-no! You know I wouldn't Michelle. It's against the law."

"You've been stuttering an awful lot, Ethan. Something on your mi-" She was looking behind me, frightened at something. I turn around as well, to see wings spread wide. Ready for- "Oh no." I said out loud. Then, without a moment's notice, something snatched me up by the shoulders and I was in the air; soaring a hundred feet above Hau'oli City. I looked up, and it was Quil, trying to carry me away with all of his strength. He was struggling to hold me. However, his talons' grips were starting to slip. "Quil! Quil! I-I'm slipping!" I was in a full-blown panic now. Then, one of his claws let go, and now only my left shoulder was keeping me from possible death. I hastily grabbed his ankle with my other arm to further secure myself. Adrenaline was rushing through me as we started losing altitude. But close by, I see our house! "Come on, just a little further, Quil! Don't let me fall!" Almost there… However, we were coming in a little too hot. Finally, we reached the roof in a not-so-smooth landing. He sort of dropped me before landed a little further down. We were bruised and cut, but otherwise okay. After recovering a bit, I looked at him, breathing heavily and said, "Quil, are you out of your mind?! You could've killed us!" He turned his head slightly to look at me, then turns back. All he had was a look of concern and disapproval. "First of all, calling you gay was what really set me off… Second, I'm not letting that bitch find you or me out." He was oddly calm. But I could tell just by staring at him that he had nothing but anger in his eyes. "I won't let any piece of shit homophobe find us out. Because there's no way in hell I'll let you go to prison for Pokephilia..." Woah. I didn't expect him to use that kind of language. But honestly, who could blame him? I frowned at the sight of him being reduced to pure negativity and hate. I scooch closer to him, his head down now, just taking deep breaths. I make my voice as smooth as possible to calm him down. "Quil, I get it. You don't want anything to come between us. But next time, try not to use such extreme means of getting me out of a sticky situation. I'll figure it out, okay?" Before I could make a move to comfort him, he brings me into his wings and sighs again. "I understand, Ethan… But I really don't want to see you gone for a long time. And don't… Want to be apart from you either… " His voice started getting shaky as he talked. "Quil, it's okay. Really. Nothing's going to happen." He held me tighter, and his anger seems to subside. I decide to humor him a little in order to fully get rid of his negative emotions. "Now, with you bringing up sexuality and stuff, should I assume you're, 'varied' in your tastes too?"

"Heh, shut up, Ethan… "

I couldn't help but chuckle. Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my right arm, going from my elbow to my shoulder. It felt like someone was stabbing it over and over again while submerging it in acid. I reflexively look where the pain is coming from and there's a huge gash in my arm. "Oh my god…" I stood up immediately, frightened at the sight. Quil's concerned now. "Ethan? You okay?" He then looks at my arm and gasps. "Did I do that?! C-crap! I-I'll be right back, Ethan! Wait here!" Without hesitation, he takes my arm to further assess the damage. Raising it to eye level, he studies it closely and nods. "Okay. W-where do you keep the bandages?"

"Second floor…bathroom cabinet, to the.. far right." Wincing at the pain and struggling to form a sentence.

"Right!"

"D-do me a favor and b-be quick.."

"No need to tell me twice. I'll be back!" He took flight and landed in the front of the house. I heard pounding. Oh, I forgot to give him the keys. Then, the door opens, I hear some clamoring and the door closes again, leaving me out on the roof alone. With a profusely bleeding cut. Let's just hope she doesn't take long…

After about eight long minutes of waiting on the roof, he finally arrives and starts to wrap the bandages around the gash on my arm. It got really quiet as I watched him tend to my wounds, concentrating deeply. I've never seen him so focused. It's really nice to see that he's being so careful. "Y'know, Quil, this reminds me of the first time I met you."

"Does it? How so?"

"Well the day we first met, it was under similar circumstances. Don't you remember?"

He thought for a moment. "I...don't think so… But I'm interested, care to remind me?"

"Well, it was about nine years ago. From what I remember, I was on my way to get a Pokemon from Professor Kukui. Then I saw these Team Skull guys chasing a Rowlet down into Verdant Cavern. Me being the curious kid I was, I decided to follow them—without getting spotted of course. They wandered into the cavern and you were fighting back. Well, they almost knocked you out if that huge Raticate didn't protect you. It was a lot… larger than normal, too. They ran off. Then, the Raticate looked right at me before leaving as well…" I paused. He was just listening intently. His eyes sparkling in the moonlight while he was slowly wrapping the bandages on my arm. "I saw that Rowlet at the very end of the cavern. I decided to approach it. It looked so determined to protect itself. It was pretty battered up too. I couldn't leave it there alone… So I approached slowly, and well, it backed away. I pleaded with it to let me take it to the Pokemon Center, but the Rowlet didn't want to leave the cavern at all. So, after a bit of convincing, I tended to its wounds with the spare Potion I had, wrapped it makeshift bandages from my shirt and stayed with it while it healed. I watched the Rowlet for hours; soothing it and comforting it as best as I could. When it started to get dark, I knew I had to get home, so I said my goodbyes to the Rowlet. It was feeling a lot better by this point, so I knew it'd be okay on its own. I started to leave the cavern, but I heard wobbly footsteps and the Rowlet struggling as it tried to follow. I turned around to see it following. But it got startled by me and cowered in fear that I might send it away or something. I chuckled lightly and told it that it could follow me. I decided to take a detour to Professor Kukui's house to talk to him. I burst in the door and showed him the Rowlet; explaining everything as he took it in his hand to scratch its head a little. It seemed to like it too. When I was done, he said he'd patch the Rowlet up in better bandages and give a general checkup. When he came back, it looked a lot more 'officially' bandaged and I was happy that it looked that it felt a lot better. The Professor informed me that it was a perfect, battle-ready Rowlet. Then he suggested I keep him since he was already attached to me. I decided to do so and the Rowlet was so overjoyed that it accidentally used the move Leafage on me. It was then that I decided to name him Quil. It's amazing to think that you were just a defensive and scared little Rowlet. Now, you're an incredibly strong Decidueye. It's honestly awesome how you grew to be such an amazing Pokemon. I mean, just look at you!" I gestured to Quil, arms stretched out wide. "You're the best Pokemon I've ever raised, without a shadow of a doubt, you are the best out there. You are the one who made me Champion of Alola after all." He raised his arm, and scratched at his head, blushing softly. "Thanks, Ethan. That means a lot coming from you."

"Of course. Now, could you do us both a favor, and get me down from here?"

"Well, I actually prefer staying up here for the night. Maybe, staring at the stars for a little with you? If you don't mind, of course."

"Oh yeah. Sure. I'll lay down with you." I scooted my body closer to his. We then marveled at the beautiful and starry night sky. I huddled up closer to his body, and he wrapped his wings around me again. I decided to do the same, and rest my arms on his waist. As we looked at the stars, Quil looked into my eyes. I looked back, smiling. Yawning, he says, "I'm exhausted, Ethan. Mind if I sleep here?"

"Wait, hold on, we can't-" He didn't even wait for a reply before drifting off into a deep slumber with me in his wings. Great, now how are we going to get down?