Sorry for the long wait in between updates, here. This was a rough chapter to try and write, and then life had to poke its ugly little head here.
I do not own Pokemon.
Chapter 7: Watching a Healing Heart
"What? Where did you say the twerps were now?"
At an alley in Hearthome City, three figures sat down on the concrete. Two of them were human, a thin young man, and a shapely young woman. The third was small, of a feline shape, yet stood upright.
"Just what I said, Jessie." The young man said. He was tall and thin, wearing a white set of pants, and a loose shirt with a large R colored neatly into the fabric. His hair was around chin length, and was colored a light shade of lavender. His face was young and rather handsome, but held a look that was riddled with insecurity and a sort of simple frailty.
"The twerps left the city this morning." He continued.
"What!?" the woman named as Jessie shouted. The woman was tall, slender, and shapely. Her outfit closely matched that of the young man, though revealing. A small, split jacket fit snugly on her shoulders, beneath which there was a pitch black, small shirt that left her midriff exposed. She wore a small miniskirt that tightly fitted and accentuated her hips. She had on long, black boots that came above her knees. Her hair was long and red, and was made into a flamboyantly curved hairdo, almost as a fisherman's hook.
"I thought for sure they'd stick around. There's a big contest hall here in the city, and I want to stick around and win! James, you better not be lying!" Her face was contorted in a look of extreme annoyance. The young man, addressed as James, looked down and sighed.
"I saw a rather large and prestigious gym in town." He said, looking up thoughtfully. "It is a little odd that they'd skip out on it."
"If ya think that's odd," The small creature said in a heavy accent. "Getta loada dis. The twoip with the red bandana's with em."
"Meowth, are you serious?" Jessie said, almost shocked. "I thought she left them a while ago..."
Meowth shrugged. "I ain't got no idea why the twoip in red is with 'em, But they still left."
"So what will we do?" James asked.
"You numskull." Meowth said. "We follow 'em! I remember that...whatever her name, she had some pretty good Pokemon. It ain't like we gotta always go after dat Pikachu."
"Yes," replied James. "I seem to recall her having a strong Blaziken that threw us all for a loop."
"Yeah...We could really give something like Dat to da Boss." Meowth's eyes went extremely wide.
Imagine da Boss on a cold winter's night out in da middle of one of his grand log cabins. Da snowstorm got so bad dat the power goes out in da whole place. He has a fireplace and lotsa wood ta keep himself warm, but nothing ta light it with. In comes Blaziken. A blast from its wrist fire and bammo, da Boss stays warm da whole night. Afta comin home, da Boss decides to take judo lessons, but no one makes for a good sparrin' partner. Blaziken den comes and gives da Boss a good woikout. And den he'll say,
"Meowth and his friends sent me something dat not only saved my life, but it help me get stronger. Dey deserve a big bonus for dis fabulous Blaziken."
"Yes..." Jessie and James both said dreamily, sighing as they slumped to their seats. Suddenly, Jessie spoke up vehemently, a fire appearing in her eyes.
"Forget the Contests now! Let's go after Pikachu and that Blaziken!"
"Yeah!" James and Meowth shouted at the same time.
"Now, what's the plan?" She asked, bringing her voice down.
"Uhh..." Meowth let out. "That is...uhh...I...haven't thought of one." He sighed deeply. Jessie fell over in exasperation.
"I have an idea." Said James. Jessie immediately sat up. "A very good idea, actually..."
("Pikachu, are you sure about this?")
Buneary and Pikachu were away from the rest of the group. The other four were setting up a campsite on the edge of another large, rocky forest. Buneary had Dawn's plan rumbling through her head. It was sweetly romantic, but it was risky. Especially for Pikachu. She didn't want to see Pikachu harmed at all. She got very close to him, watching as he began to fidget nervously. Buneary had noticed that he seemed really nervous around her lately. That gave her hope. (Please...PLEASE let him like me...)
Putting aside those thoughts for a moment, she put her full attention back on Pikachu. Pikachu's nervousness was a little different now. That was to be expected. (Pikachu is brave...and awesome...but this is really...risky.)
("Are you really, really sure you want to do this?") She asked. She put a paw on his shoulder. Pikachu flinched almost as if stung, but turned to her and stared directly into her eyes. His breathing was irregular, and he took a deep breath to try and return his rhythm to normal.
("It's for Pikapi. It will make Pikapi happy. And it will make May happy. If it works, we will all be happy.") Pikachu looked down. ("I am not looking forward to this.")
Buneary squeezed his shoulder slightly. Smiling in much the same manner as Dawn would at the beginning of an undertaking, she began with Dawn's most frequent utterance.
("No need to worry, Pikachu. I won't let you do it yourself. I'll help you!") Her smile became broad. Pikachu blushed at her and scratched his ear.
("Thank you so much, Buneary. Aside from Pikapi, you're the best friend I have.")
Buneary froze. Her mind went completely wild, but her body did not move. Pikachu shifted at her, scratching his ears in confusion. Deciding suddenly, that he didn't want to be around any longer if he had accidentally said something wrong, he gave a short nod to her.
("I'm gonna see how they're doing setting up the camp. See you later, Buneary.") Buneary, still frozen, sad nothing. Pikachu disappeared.
(Did...he say what I think he said? He...thinks of me as his best friend?)
Buneary's cheeks began to glow a deep red. Covering her face with her neatly trimmed fluff, paying no heed to how it was being warped, she began to bounce up and down. She had never felt so happy.
That next morning, as the sun peeped on the mountaintop, Buneary came out of her ball and began to pretty herself up. (Pikachu and the others are still asleep. I guess I'll go for a walk.) As she left the tent, she noticed that May was absent from hers. Shrugging, she began to walk slowly along the pathway, breathing in the morning's freshness. A Wurmple idly crawled on the trunk of a nearby tree. She wished it a good morning, and continued walking, occasionally skipping to her thoughts of Pikachu. After a considerable amount of time She heard an odd rustling in the trees nearby. (I wonder what that could be?) She drew closer to the noise and perked up both ears, concentrating her hearing. This time, she heard a voice. (Wait...is that May's voice?) Rushing in the direction it seemed to come, she came to a small clearing.
"All right Blaziken, now, Flamethrower!"
May stood there, in a battle pose. Her eyes were focused on the tall, red bird that had flames surging from its mouth at a large boulder. Nearby was a small, blue turtle, spitting water, putting out any fires that unintentionally were being started by the wayward fires that were pouring from Blaziken. May shifted her pose.
"Keep it up Squirtle...We'll try not to burn down the forest. Now, Blaziken, another Flamethrower, and this time, stop and try to run through it! Blaze Kick the rock!"
Blaziken let loose more flame, then quickly jumped through the surge with its leg extended. Still more fire formed around its feet, as it flew faster. The Flamethrower swirled, and then burst as Blaziken came in contact with the rock. Squirtle gushed forth water at the edges of the rock, burned lichen scorching large areas on the side where Blaziken had kicked it.
"Good job, Blaziken. We...we might have a chance!" Her hand came upwards. After Squirtle doused the last of the small fires, she held out Squirtle's Pokeball, recalling it and thanking it on a job well done. "Ok, Blaziken...we can rest now."
"Blaaaaze." Blaziken responded, sitting down. To Buneary's ears, it was simply a moan.
May walked over to it and gave it a hug. Sitting down next to it, she sighed deeply. Buneary perked her ears a little further. She was curious about what she would say, but she kept herself hidden from view. After a moment, May finally spoke.
"Ash...you were right." She said to herself. "I really should go for it. I...I can beat him!"
Blaziken nodded at her. ("Yes, we can.")
May smiled again.
"I've been thinking, Blaziken. Can you keep a secret?" Blaziken stared at her. May continued.
"Ever since I came back, I've noticed something." Her cheeks began to glow. "Ash... Ash seems to be even cooler, more mature than he ever was. In fact, he really surprised me with what he said the other day. He's the one to help spur me on. Because of him, I can get better."
Buneary focused her ears ever more heavily. All other sound seemed to fade, all she heard was May's voice.
"I've noticed...Ash is always on my mind. He's always been there for me. He's helped me through so much. And he's helped Max, he's helped Brock, I'm sure he's helped Dawn...Ash is so giving, so selfless. Anyways...I just can't get him out of my mind."
Her blush went from pink to scarlet red.
"Dawn was right. I'm...in love with Ash."
Buneary smiled. (Dawn will be happy. I hope Ash will be, too.) Dawn's plans had so far gone well. She was right about May: Getting her to admit her feelings was considerably easier than it will be for Ash. (Pikachu's so...oblivious. I try, and try, but what he said last night was the best I've ever had. If Ash is any way like Pikachu, it will be tough.) Smiling, she continued to watch her as she continued speaking with Blaziken about keeping secrets.
Suddenly, she felt two gloved hands clamp around her body. They pulled her back quickly. She heard a voice speak.
"We'll take this one, too."
Buneary screamed.