Even though the poll still has two days to go, there is already a clear victor. A near landslide victory for this starter Pokemon, with more than half the votes - of which the rest were split amongst two other choices. With the obvious winner chosen by you the viewers, I will reveal the winner within this chapter.

Disclaimer: Pokemon is published and owned by Nintendo and created by Satoshi Tajiri. I own nothing but the computer this story was typed up on and the account that posts it.

[Jasmine]

I was worried.

It was already two in the morning and I hadn't heard from Lyra. Surely she would have at least called me to tell me she was going to stop and rest for the night. It is obvious she wouldn't have kept on going through the night with how far away Cianwood is. That would be crazy, surfing on in the dark with all those Tentacruel in that water. Not to mention the other trainers lurking in wait for unsuspecting swimmers. She couldn't be that reckless, I was certain.

I glanced at the digital clock on my Pokegear. Its faint glow and that of the moon outside pouring in through the windows were only lights to see with. Chewing on my bottom lip I reached out for the Pokegear. I pulled up her number tempted to try it one more time. The last few times I had tried to get a hold of her, were futile. No response, just empty rings. This meant she didn't give me a wrong number, but that she most likely couldn't hear it ringing.

Or, I thought miserably, she could be ignoring me.

Can't be, a part of me insisted but I didn't know what to really think. I could see how she might be upset with me. Asking her to go so far out of the way for a complete stranger could be kind of hard on some people. Lyra might have been one of those people who might find herself resenting the task.

No, that part of my mind stated. This time I believed it. Lyra wasn't that kind of person, I could tell. She was much more gentle, kind, and selfless. Even after only meeting her twelve hours ago, I knew that was the kind of person she was. My mind drifted back to the transaction that had conspired between us. That worried look on her face when she saw Amphy; the determination that flared in her eyes when she decided to help us. I recalled the only question she asked regarding the task - outside of the name of the item she was going to get. "How do you get there?" My heart began to beat as intensely as it had when she first said it. My laid my hand over my chest feeling the hasty thumping in my chest. She really cared about Pokemon that much to help one in distress that she did not have any person connection to, just because she could help it. That kind of love of Pokemon, I don't believe I've seen…Ever.

I heard coughing next to me.

I looking over at Amphy. It was sitting up in bed now in its coughing fit. I reached out and pet it on the back. With my free hand, I looked through my bag for a bottle of water. Once I found it I held it out for Amphy to take a drink. As I watched the yellow sheep struggle to drink the fluid, a worse thought hit me.

What if Lyra had gotten hurt in her journey over there? There were those famed whirlpools out there, besides those sneaky trainers and poisonous jellyfishes.

Perhaps she got hurt trying to help me.

My chest tightened at the thought. Unconsciously, my hand roamed back up to my chest again. If she was hurt and unable to get help…Then it was my fault. All my fault. I had sent her there, not even bothering to ask if she would do it. I had basically said to her, 'This Pokemon always keep the sea lit…but it suddenly got sick…it's gasping for air…I understand tat there is a wonderful pharmacy in Cianwood…But that's across the sea…And I can't leave Amphy unattended…May I ask you to get some medicine for me? Please?' I had selfishly got this girl to risk her safety for me. I had used her kindness and possibly…Oh Arceus, I may have got her ki-

"Pa…Paloo?" came a weak and breathless noise from the Pokemon at my side. I found its head nudging my cheek.

I blinked, causing the tears that had begun to pool up in my eyes to drip down. I was crying, I realized. I had begun to cry as I worried about her safety. That girl had me confused about so many feelings. This feeling of dread and absolute fear for her life was odder than any feeling that I may have inadvertently got someone hurt or that someone I barely knew may be hurt. It was…stronger than that feeling. I didn't really understand what the feeling was. I had never felt it…No, I had felt something similar I think. When one of my Pokemon was being hurt in battle? Not exactly, but close. My hand stroked across Amphy's head as I marveled the feeling. I felt my eyes widen when it hit me. Looking down at the Pokemon that had fallen asleep on me I had a better idea of what to compare this feeling to. The feeling I had when I declared Amphy's current state to be my fault. Hugging Amphy to me, I couldn't shake the thought. I don't mean this cruel or uncompassionate, but I just met Lyra so how compare my current feelings to that of a Pokemon I had known for almost all of my life? It didn't seem right to do, but it did feel right.

Suddenly the lighthouse been to gently shake.

Startled, I pulled Amphy even closer to me. The building shook again. It was a faint shake, but it was getting stronger. It was as if the shaking was starting on the bottom floor as it made its way up. I heard Amphy make a noise of worry. I tried to silence its fear by gently rubbing it on the head. The shaking intensified. It was getting closer. I had reasoned it must be some sort of Pokemon, judging by its ability to move and apparent size. It was no were near as heavy as an Onix, but it was still heavier than any Pokemon I knew of in this lighthouse. The largest I could remember was a Noctowl, and this was way bigger. The rumbling sounded so much closer. It was just below us. I hugged Amphy tighter, I wouldn't let it hurt him. I heard the creaking of the steps as that heavy weight was placed upon them. I glanced at my bag, instinctively thinking of battling whatever it was. I cursed my luck, I had forgot my Pokemon at the Gym when I went to stock up for my stay at the Lighthouse. I heard the thud as it reached toward the top steps. I readied myself for the attack. Out from the hole in the floor burst a Feraligatr. It took a threatening step toward us, its stare glued to us. I heard its thick tail scrape the floor as it moved towards us. Amphy let out a weak squeak as the blue crocodilian loomed over us. Shaking, I moved Amphy behind me protectively. This was no way a human could stand up against the raw, bone-crushing power of Feraligatr but I wouldn't let it have Amphy even if I had to sacrifice my own life.

The Feraligatr opened its jaw and let something fall to my feet. I looked at what it had dropped. It was a large white hat with a big red bow. My eyes widened as I looked down at the hat. I knew instantly whose hat it was. My body began to shake. It wasn't just my insistent worrying, she had been hurt. This large jawed Pokemon had attacked (and possibly killed) her and was now going to do the same to us. As its heavy webbed claws lead it closer to us, I felt a new feeling building up in my body. My eyes pulled down into a tight glare. I stood up, glaring at the blue Pokemon. My body shook as I took a step towards the big blue beast. I clenched my fists, ready to defend my remaining friend and get revenge for the possible friend this Pokemon had taken.

Before my mind had a chance to process what I could possibly do to hurt this Pokemon by myself, I felt two arms wrap around me from behind. My first thought was that this Feraligatr had had a teammate until the thing holding me spoke…

"Boy, you're either the craziest person I've ever met or the coolest Gym Leader ever," a girlish voice teased. My ridged body went limp at the realization. Lyra let me go. "You were actually going to have a fist fight with a Feraligatr, right?"

I reached down and picked up her hat. My answer to her question came in the form of me hitting her on the head with her own hat a couple of times. She raised her hands up to stop my entirely reasonable assault on her head.

"Hey, ow, that hurts! It was a joke! I was joking," she tried to reason with me.

I stopped hitting her, and thrusted her hat into her chest. With my eyes still pulled into a very upset glare, I finally spoke to her, "Don't you ever do that again! I-I was actually worried it had hurt you! That was the stupidest thing anyone has ever done to me!" I turned my back to her but saw the Feraligatr looking at me, a now blissfully oblivious joy in its eyes.

I felt those arms wrap around me again and a chin rest on my shoulder. I did my best to ignore the warmth spreading through my body at the contact.

"I'm sorry, really," she insisted. I could hear the honesty in her words. She turned me around to face her. That beaming grin was gone now, replaced with something reminiscent of concern and remorse. I felt my defense breaking down at the sight of her. "I didn't mean for you to be that worried. It was just a stupid joke. You've been so stressed lately that I thought a joke would do you some good. Besides, it was mostly Feraligatr's idea, right?"

The blue reptilian let out a grunt, meaning it disagreed. Despite its inability to properly voice its own side of the story, I found myself fully believing it already. I had already forgiven Lyra's cruel joke, but I still wanted a better apology. Frowning and crossing my arms over my chest, I gave her a very disapproving look.

"I'm sorry, okay! I swear I wasn't trying to be mean, I was only joking. What can I do to make you believe me?" Her concerned looked slowly drifted into a sly grin. "Would an apology kiss work?"

My resolve broke at that statement, turning me back to the girl. My cheeks burned brightly. Embarrassed, I turned my back to her to face Amphy, using him as a cover to hide my humiliation. "…D-did you get the medicine?" I asked once I felt most of the blood had run out of my cheeks. Turning to face her, I found a small brown bag in front of my face. Pulling back, I saw both her and the Feraligatr looking at me with near matching smiles. Near mostly do to the Feraligatr's different anatomy - but they both were still just as big and toothy smiles.

"…Will that medicine cure Amphy?"

She gave a shrug. "The man at the pharmacy said it would based on the description of the symptoms I gave me." She struck a pose and continued in a mockingly deep voice, obviously imitating the man. " 'This medicine's the strongest in the world. Why that Pokemon should be up and runnin' 'round the moment it takes this, I recon!' Hehe, he actually said 'I recon'!" She giggled, finding it funny. "But, yeah, it should work just fine."

I took the medicine from my apparent own personal tormenter.

"…Um, please don't be offended…Amphy will not take anything from anyone but me," I explained only to have her shrug it off.

"Don't worry about it, Feraligatr's the same way." She pointed over her shoulder at said big jawed Pokemon. "He's a cutup around everyone else and doesn't obey, but he follows me like a soldier."

Feraligatr's response to this was to trip her with its tail. This I found funny enough to giggle at.

I turned my attention to Amphy and sat next to him. I took the small burlap bag out of the sack. Pulling the draw strings open, I poured the contents into my hand. I held the pills out for Amphy to take. It lightly lifted his head, still very weak. Its long tongue tickled the palm of my hand as it racked the pills into its mouth. The bottle of water from earlier was suddenly held out near my face. I looked up and saw that Lyra was trying to hand it to me. Taking it, I gave her a weak smile. Using the water to help Amphy swallow the pills, we watched and waited to see if it took affect. Amphy swallowed the pills.

"…Amphy, how are you feeling?"

Amphy's eyes shot opened wide, a familiar old luster shinning back in them. "Palu! Palu," it called out. There was no hoarseness or weakness in that voice now. Its body began to glow slowly before it exploded in brightness. I held my hand up to shield my eyes from the intense light. The light slowly began to go out, leaving an excited Amphy dancing around. Lyra's Feraligatr seemed to enjoy the prospect of dancing, so it joined in. After the room shook a few times, Lyra got it to calm down. They may have been calm but Amphy was far from it. It raced at me and jumped into my arms. Holding it dearly, I couldn't stop the tears of joy and laughter from leaving me. After a few turns in a circle, I let Amphy down. It gave another bright glow, but not nearly as strong so as to not hurt our eyes.

"…Oh, I'm so relieved…This is just so wonderful…Thank you so very, very much," I said, turning to hug Lyra only to trip over Feraligatr's tail.

I crashed directly into Lyra. My knees and palms hit the ground hard. My forehead smacked against Lyra's, causing us both pain. The pain of the fall is not the importance of this retailing of me tripping. The soft and warm feeling of my lips pressed against hers, is. I stared ahead of me, back into those gorgeous chocolate pools again as they stared back. It wasn't…Unpleasant. Her lips were a little dry, but so very soft. I understood now, I realized. My feelings for this girl, I believed I had found where they were focusing. I was…interested in her in a romantic way. This would explain my confusing and foreign feelings for her. I had never been romantically interested in anyone before. I had never even kissed anyone until that moment. I definitely understood why people enjoyed that act so much. It felt good, really good. So warming and filling, as if my heart had been empty but the longer I kept our lips together the more it became full. With the fact of how chaste this kiss was, I couldn't help wondering how it would feel to apply more press and force to it. This thought, and possibility, was ripped from my mind when Lyra pulled her head as far back as she could.

My first instinct was fear as she pulled away. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, but there was no mistaking that signature smile of hers.

"Boy, I didn't expect you to literally throw yourself at me. Not that I'm complaining." I sat up to let her sit up. When she rose her head, a look of pain crossed her face. She reached up and touched the back of her head. It most likely was hurting her from the fall. "Okay, now I'm complaining. That really hurts. Geez, ow ow ow. If you wanted to kiss me you could have just said so. You didn't need to throw me to the ground and steal one." Despite her pain, she kept smiling and joking while I began to do what I always do: stammer and blush.

"I-I didn't mean to…To kiss you. It was ancient…I tr-tripped over Fer-Feraligatr's tail and then I…"

She smiled, leaning closer to me. Our noses touched.

"Kissed me," she finished.

I swallowed a dry lump in my throat. There was no mistaking the embarrassment I felt there straddling her lap after just kissing her. Wait a minute. I looked down seeing our position. I was indeed basically sitting on her lap now with my legs open…Red-faced, I shot up. Quickly I turned my back to her. My hand once more pressed against my hastily rising and falling chest. The room felt really hot in here all of a sudden. Very hot. I reached up and pulled my jacket caller away from my chest to cool off a bit.

I felt a slight pressure on my shoulder again, I looked to see Lyra smiling at me.

"Giving me another peep show or is this actually going somewhere?"

I felt dizzy headed now, with all the blood that was left in my body pooling in my head. "…I think I'll…I will return to the Gym, now…Yeah…" I took a few shaky steps towards the exit. My legs felt very weak. So weak that on the third step I nearly fell again if not for Lyra reaching out and catching me.

"Not without me helping your not, right? Geez, with all the blood in your body now in your face, topped off with your already fatigued state, you can't even walk," she pointed out.

"…Everyone is probably worried about me….I-I need to go back…"

A weak argument from a weak person.

I felt her pull me closer, as she declared, "Not without my help your not."

"…You can't lift me…I weigh too much."

She scoffed.

"You weigh what, ten pounds less than me, right? Even if your right about that, I may not can," she stepped back, releasing me. In her place, cold and much stronger claws grabbed me and lifted me off the ground. "But he can."

I choose not to argue. She would obviously get what she wanted, this time.

We walked in silence for a while after that. I must admit, it was fairly relaxing being carried like that. The reptilian's cold scales felt good on my still warm body. As we walked down the stairs away from the lighthouse a thought came to me.

"Where are you staying for the night?" I asked.

She scratched her chin and thought about it.

"Don't know, I guess at the Pokemon Center. There doesn't look like any other lodging around here. I'm sure they got at least one extra bed left," she insisted, crossing her arms behind her head. "If not, we'll just camp out. 'Snot like we've never done that before, right?"

The Feraligatr gave a grunt of agreement.

"…That won't do…It's so late, they've probably run out of beds…Besides, for your good deeds today you deserve to sleep in a warm bed."

She shrugged.

"Well, whatcha gonna do?"

I know she wasn't asking me, that she was being rhetorical, but I still had an answer. I needed to thank her for all that she had done for me. And that part of me that I had just realized was there couldn't stand the idea of leaving her to sleep out in the cold. Completely unthinkable.

"…Let you sleep with me," came my delayed reply. The moment those words left my mouth, I realized my accidentally misleading statement. My hands clasped over my mouth. I buried my head into the cold clawed arms hold me, to both hide my reddened cheeks and to cool down again.

Ever the quick-wit, Lyra already had a comment ready.

"You sure are very foreword. Stealing a kiss than telling me to sleep with you," she gave a mock shake of her head. "It's always the quiet ones."

"…That's not what I meant and you know it! I meant you could stay at the Gym for the night…In thanks for what you did for me today…"

"Oh, okay." Silence, then, "So what do I get for getting Amphy the medicine? I mean I get to stay at the Gym for kissing you, right?"

"…Shut up…"

After that awkward - for me - moment, we kept fairly quiet the rest of the way. All the lights were out in town, I noted. Everyone was a sleep. I glanced over Feraligatr's shoulder. Well, not all the lights were out. I smiled seeing the lighthouse glowing again. I really did owe this girl a lot. More than anyone I had ever owed in my life. Not only had she helped something I care about a lot get healthier, but she also built this feelings inside me. I had never felt this way for anyone in my life. I glanced down at her, she was now obliviously whistling a gentle tone. She was so very beautiful. Inside and out. I knew that she would want to battle me soon. A part of me hoped that she failed to beat me. That way I could keep her here, with me and help train her. Despite a chastising part of my brain telling me not to be so selfish, I couldn't help but find that little idea to be a good one. Even with all the happiness that had built up in the last few minutes, I couldn't hold back my mind from worrying. What if she did beat me, she would leave, right? She would just go on to the next gym and challenge them. And I would be stuck here, emotionally alone again.

"Why so down all of a sudden?" she asked me in a whisper.

"…You beat the Cianwood Gym Leader, didn't you?" I was going to dance around the question I really wanted to ask. Well, not the real question I wanted to ask, but it was connected to that question. The real question I wanted to ask was much to embarrassing.

She was silent for a moment, and than, "There was a Cianwood Gym?"

"…Yes, it should have been directly in the middle of town where everyone could see it…I believe you have to pass the Gym to get to the pharmacy, too…"

"Huh? I didn't see it. I just went directly to the building with the pharmacy sign." She rubbed the back of her head, laughing. "I was so worried about getting the medicine and getting back to you as quickly as possible, I didn't even stop to take in the town. I couldn't even tell you what the town looked like, let alone what kinds of buildings where there."

"…So you'll have to go back there?"

I felt a bit of hope, if she surfed all the way back there that meant there was a good chance she might surf back by here. That would allow me a chance to see her again. Assuming of course she doesn't have the HM for fly right now. I looked up at the reptile carrying me. If he was still out and she had said she came back to me without stopping for anything, there was a good chance she had used him to swim forward and back. Otherwise, she would have used fly since it was the quickest way between two distances. Most likely she would have to come back here. Unless she somehow gets it somewhere between here and there.

"I guess. I am trying to collect all the badges, y'know?" She looked up at me smiling. A second later, that smile was gone. She gave an annoyed look and pointed at me. "You're frowning again. What's got you so worried?"

"…Forget about it," I mumbled, before scouting myself out of Feraligatr's arms. Now standing on my own two feet, I miserably tried to take the lead. A hand reached out and stopped me, pulling me back.

"Oh no, you don't! You're not going to play Ms. Angsty-Pants…Er, Ms. Angsty-Skirt this whole time. I'm your friend now, so you're gonna tell me what's wrong," she demanded.

I looked back at her, surprised by what she said.

"…We're friends?"

"Of course."

Outside of family and Pokemon, I had never had a friend before. So, I at least had one now, in the form of this girl. This girl who I felt so strongly for. What should have made me happy to hear, actually made me feel more hollow inside. I was her friend…only her friend.

"'Course, we could be more if you still want to keep kissing me," she added, grinning but not looking at me.

I blushed again. I couldn't tell if she was still joking or if she was being sincere.

"Not denying it, right? Score," she whispered, grin now larger than Feraligatr's. At the time, I hadn't heard what she said so I couldn't feel ashamed of not covering my tracks. She looked at me. "So…Why so serious?"

"…It's nothing…"

Lyra suddenly pulled me into a tight hug.

"Don't give me that Tauroscrap. Something's bugging you, and it's bugging me that it's bugging you so stop bugging me because of your bugging."

I raised an eyebrow as I turned my head to look at her, confused.

"What?"

"You heard me!" Her voice gave a faux annoyance. She didn't want to try to repeat what she had just said. Her chin rested on my shoulder, once more. "You're upset because you think that I'm gonna leave you, right?"

I lower my head in shame. I truly needed to forget ever underestimating this girl. I pressed my back against her chest to take in the feeling of her body heat before pulling away. Free from her grip, I started walking again.

"Come on, it's getting kind of late…We need to get on to the Gym so we can go to sleep."

She didn't question it again. She just silently followed me to the Gym. Before entering, she called back Feraligatr so his heavy footsteps wouldn't wake anyone. We carefully and quietly snuck into the Gym. There were two others who stayed her with me, two trainers who trained under me. They would be asleep now, so I didn't want to wake them up. Carefully we navigating to the secret door that lead to the back of the Gym, where our rooms, dining area, and bathrooms where kept.

"I didn't know Gym's had sleeping areas," Lyra whispered.

"All Gyms have a sleeping area for the Gym Leaders…Only some of us allow the other trainers who train under us to stay with us," I explained. "It seems to be a certain…type of Gym Leader."

"Only the cute ones, or only the sweet ones?"

I didn't answer, only blushed. We made it past their bedroom doors to my room. Slowly turning the doorknob, I opened the door to my own private place to another for the first time. Lyra stepped in. She took in my bedroom.

"Really girly," she said with a nod. "Perfect for you."

"Thank you…I guess."

I slipped off my sandals, and sat them outside of my bedroom door. It was a sign at my gym to let the others who I was home. All three of us did it. Lyra hurriedly pulled her socks and shoes off before resting them next to mine. She looked out, noticing two other pairs of shoes sitting outside two other door. She seemed to get the gist of the idea because she never questioned it.

"Do you have some sleep attire or will you need to borrow something?" I asked.

She pulled out a baggy shirt from her bag smiling. She truly was very much a tomboy, I marveled with a smile. Picking up one of my silk nighties, I headed off for my own private bathroom to change so she could change in here. After I got dressed out, I knocked on the door to see if she was done changing. I stepped out into my room, taking in the sight of her. With her hair undone and wearing that baggy shirt, she looked so adorable. I noted her swallow when she looked up at me. Perhaps she wasn't expecting me to wear a nightie, but hopefully she found me as attractive as I did her.

She scratched at her arm, uncomfortably as I stepped closer to her. I walked past her to my bed. My fingers accidentally touch the back of her hand as I walk by. I feel electricity shoot through my body as my fingers drift across her skin. With that warmth still spreading through my veins, I pull back the covers and sit down on my bed. I looked up at her, seeing her swallow another lump in her throat.

"So, uh, where am I sleeping? Is there an extra bed or should I just use my futon?" Her voice is dry and cracks as she speaks.

I pat the spot on the bed next to me, looking up at her with a bashful smile.

[Lyra]

Only one thing was on Lyra's mind after she saw Jasmine pat the bed.

'Score.'

Author's Note: Gently they drift to sleep, and gentler still do they drift closer together. Will the love flower continue to bloom, or will cold, steely loneliness be all that is left for Jasmine when the two girl face off in battle?

A lot of Jasmine's lines are direct quotes from the game, itself.