*~*DISCLAIMER*~*
I don't own Pokémon.
Chapter Three
Both Ash and Gary watch her intently with curiosity on their faces. This makes her laugh.
"Gary, I'm kinda surprised you care so much."
He scoffs at her remark. "Please, this walk is boring. Any story right now would be better than all this quiet." He crosses his arms trying to clear his face of any emotion. Ash rolls his eyes at his attitude.
"Ok Nora! No more distractions! Where did you get Jasper?"
"Alright, alright! Let's try to make it out of Viridian Forest and I'll tell you the story." She runs ahead.
About 20 minutes into the forest, a flock of Pidgey fly from the bushes, cutting her off.
"They're so cute!" She chases after them with admiration when a smaller Pidgey wattles into her leg. It falls over and starts to cry.
"Awe you poor thing…" She picks up the little bird and cradles it. Seeing how small it is reminds her of her moms' Pidgeot. She looks down at the Pidgey. "You know, my mom has a Pidgeot, and has told me she started out as a runt as well. Would you like to come with me?" The little Pidgey flutters out of her arms and starts to chirp excitedly.
"Coo!" Nora laughs at its excitement and reaches into her bag for a Pokéball. She taps him on the head and he warps into the ball with a click. Nora looks at the boys and gives them a smug look. "This is gonna be easy." And starts walking away.
Right as the sun is setting they make camp. Two tents, and 15 fed Pokémon later, Nora starts her story.
"When I was little, like maybe six or seven, I used to go adventuring around Pokémon Tower. I loved the silence, watching the Gastly flutter through walls, it was serene to me. I would also leave flowers on some of the graves to show someone still remembered them." She trailed off in thought, trying to pull specifics about that day in Pokémon Tower.
*~*Flashback*~*
The old doors of the tower creaked as she slowly pushed into them. The attendant on duty looked up from her magazine and smiled at the little girl. "Good evening Nora. Come to visit the graves again?"
"Yes ma'am. Look! I even brought more flowers!" She excitedly jumped up to show her handful of wildflowers. She smiled and waved goodbye before the attendant could comment on them.
She climbs to the top floor, where there is a shrine set up. She walks up to it slowly, bending down to place her flowers, and to pray.
*~*End Flashback*~*
"I never would have seen you being the religious type Nora" Gary interrupts her story.
"Well Gary," there is a hint of bitterness in her tone. "I'm not. When I would pray at that shrine, it was for the Pokémon souls traveling to their resting place…" She looks down at the fire Ash's Charizard had started. The flames looked like they danced differently than those man made.
"But, anyways…"
*~*Flashback*~*
Nora's silent words hung in the air. Something starts to rustle around the graves, causing Nora to jump. Out from the headstones materialize five Gastly, and four Haunters. They silently circle her, laughing, watching her every move. One of the Haunters breaks the formation to hover overhead while Nora shakes underneath. Freaked, she tries to make a run for the door leading to the stairs. Panting, just as she's about to reach the door, the Haunter forms in front of her. Its laugh is maniacal as his hands move in a pattern, causing the whole room to melt away. The other Haunters and Gastly join in.
"Eeeeek!" In a panic, she tries to scramble for someplace to go. But every way she turned, a Haunter or Gastly would get in her way, making gruesome faces and shrieking. Her mind was flustered from their Night Shades, making her sick. All she saw were the creatures that made up her nightmares. She lay in the fetal position crying, all the while they were laughing…
*~*End Flashback*~*
She pauses to see the shocked looks she is getting from Ash and Gary, Jasper still just smiling.
"Holy shit! I didn't think Gastly and Haunter ever got violent with people." Ash gives her a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry that happened to you… but uh, where does Jasper fit into this?"
"I learned later that they just play hard. I don't think they're actually all that violent." She adjusts herself on the seat. "Hold on Ash! I'm getting there!" She giggles, and continues on.
*~*Flashback*~*
Just when she thought it would never end, a loud roar fills the room. All of the Gastly and Haunters stopped, the Night Shade lifted instantly. Another roar fills the room, scattering all of them, straight to the graves that they came from. Confused, Nora looks around to see where the noise was coming from.
"Hello…?" Her voice sounds weak and shaky in the sudden silence. She sees a figure standing in the shadows.
"Are you alright?" Out of the shadows, comes a boy about her age. She notices something strange about him…
His hair looks black, but has a glint of purple in the light and is shoved in a beanie that points out in two different directions. His eyes are wide, black in color. He was wearing a baggy, purple hoodie and black jeans. The one thing that stood out the most was his smile. It reminded her of a Gengar.
"Uh… Yeah. I think so…" As she tried to stand, she stumbled a bit, but the strange boy caught her. "H-how did you…?" The gap between them was large, it didn't make sense that he reached her so quickly…
He just laughs. "Glad to see you're ok. I'll escort you to the first floor." He keeps his hand on her back, making sure she doesn't fall again. He stops at the door leading to the main hall. "I hope to see you soon."
She turns to say thank you, but he's gone. "Where did that boy go?" She looks around for a short while, but decides it is best to go home. As she reaches the front door, the attendant stops her again.
"Nora, dear, before you go home, someone dropped this off and said it was for you?" She has a vacant look on her face, but hands her a Pokéball with a note attached to it.
"Jasper? Who is Jasper?" Nora looks at her with a confused look, but says goodnight and pushes through the doors anyways. As she walks home, she turns the ball around in her hand, wondering what could be inside. Something brushes against her shoulder as she's about to press the center.
"Hey Nora."
A slight gasp leaves her mouth as she turns to see the boy from the tower. "Who are you?!" She moves backwards to create a gap between them. "If you don't leave me alone, I will use my Pokémon!" She holds the ball in an aggressive stance, which just makes the boy chuckle.
"Throwing that ball will do you no good considering I'm standing right here." His smile curls into that creepy grin again.
"What are you?!" She screams into the night staring at the boy. But then it clicks. "This is… your Pokéball...?" At the realization, the boy fades into a mist, reforming into a Gengar.
He laughs, and finally makes a proper introduction. "I am Jasper." And his smile grows wider.
Suddenly, his smile doesn't seem so scary. It's almost… comforting. He reaches for her hand again; he interlaces their fingers and walks her home.
*~*End Flashback*~*
"I still have no idea where he actually came from though; he refuses to tell me anything about his past." She glances at Jasper, who just looks back.
"Maybe you'll never know." With that, he fades away.
Ash and Gary just stare at her in disbelief.
"That's incredible that he protected you like that… I bet Pikachu would do the same for me." Ash looks into his lap to see Pikachu sleeping, and strokes his back.
"Yeah, yeah. Touching." Gary ruins the moment and rushes to his tent. "I'm going to bed, night." With a zip of his tent, Ash and Nora are left alone at the dying fire.
"So uh, Nora." Ash tries to clear his throat. "Off topic but, is there anyone waiting for you at home? You know, like a-" Nora laughs at his awkwardness while finishing his sentence.
"Like a boyfriend? No." She blushes at the idea of having a boyfriend though. She never had many friends, so in turn, no boyfriends. Ash then touches her shoulder, taking her by surprise.
"Well, I'm shocked that you don't. But I'm gonna head off to bed as well Nora. Goodnight." He gives her shoulder a light squeeze and carries Pikachu to his tent.
Nora just sits there blushing like crazy. "Was Ash flirting with me?" She just shrugs it off. "There's no way. He's practically famous for disbanding Team Rocket from Celadon City. He probably has women from every town waiting for him." She chuckles at the idea.
Jasper shows up next to her, slightly irritated. "He better not be flirting with you. But you're right. It is unlikely" Jasper makes his smile.
Nora looks up at him and laughs at his jealousy. "Yeah, I know." She stands up from her seat, pouring water on the campfire. She leans against Jasper, "Let's go to bed, ok?"
Jasper gives a nod of approval and disappears into the tent, with Nora right behind him.
END
Once again, I would like some criticism for I feel I'm already making this story drag =/
But I will try my best to keep it interesting!