Hi guys. I'm sorry for not updating in ages, though I have no excuses, but I'm here now. So last time… Tia and Kurt wanted Dawn and Paul to check out Slowpoke Well. Dawn agreed (I don't think Paul had any say in this) and… That's it, so far.

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon.

Chapter 13: Down Slowpoke Well

Dawn's POV

When Paul and I leave Kurt's house, I know that Paul is angry. He doesn't like helping people out of the blue, especially if it gets in the way of his Gym battles. But how would I know that? It's not like I watch Paul, checking out details. No, I don't.

We walk in silence to the Pokemon Center. After healing our Pokemon, we sit down for a short rest. Sitting in silence bugs me, though I'm not sure Paul wants any communication. But I can't take it any more. I have to occupy myself.

I return Buneary to her poke ball, and let Piplup rest in my arms.

"Let's just get this over with," Paul grumbles and gets up from his seat. My spirits are lifted, and I follow him out of the Pokemon Center. Nurse Joy waves us off.

Getting to the well makes me feel nervous. If there are more people like the guy I threw down the well, then that would mean trouble. I shake off my worries, though, and carry on.

When we get to the well, Paul climbs down first. When he's down there, I gulp. The rickety rope ladder doesn't look very safe. And the smell is just horrendous. I stamp my foot in frustration and force myself to go down.

But as I'm climbing down, I think that Paul is watching me, and I'm wearing a dress. A short one, too. He could probably see my underwear! If he did, I would DIE. Unfortunately, my thinking takes me away from the current moment, because I then start to wobble.

Suddenly, I fall, but to my surprise, I land on something soft.

"Get off of me, Troublesome," Paul mutters, angry. I blush bright red and jump off of him, landing on the floor.

I grimace as I feel dirt and mud on my perfectly brushed hair. This is disgusting! Piplup moans in my arms. I pat his head for comfort. Piplup grumbles but snuggles into me.

"Let's go," I suggest to Paul, "We should just investigate this place and leave. It's creeping me out."

Paul chuckles. "Are you scared of the dark, Troublesome?"

I huff and stamp my foot (getting dirty water on my pink boots). I sigh. I don't know why, but Paul calling me 'Troublesome' really angers me today. "It's Dawn! My name is Dawn! Spelt D-A-W-N!"

Paul claps his hands. "Wow, Troublesome. You know how to spell your own name."

"Yet you still call me Troublesome…" I mutter, hating his sarcasm.

Paul shakes his head and walks into a cavern, only just avoiding… A body. I shiver. This…body can't be…dead.

I don't know why or how, but Paul kneels down (IN THE MUD!) next to the body and turns it over. I jump up in fright, but I calm down when I recognise the guy that I threw down here. His eyes are swirly and I can see him breathing, so I don't get scared. I'd be dead if I'd killed him. My mum would… I don't even want to think about it.

Paul shrugs and carries on through a tunnel bit. I follow (still holding a freaked out Piplup) with a brave face. I'm not afraid of the dark, but it sure is creepy. I mean, light is the best, not dark! Light is fun and warm! Dark is boring and cold.

I make a face when I see the light coming from the top of the well, fade until it goes out eventually. I'm too creeped to concentrate, and I start to hyperventilate when I hear water dripping. Dirty water. I think Paul senses that I'm freaking out, because he starts to talk to me.

"When's your next Contest?" he asks softly. I think for a bit. I'm definitely not like Paul. I don't 'research' my Contests. I do find out a little information, though.

"Umm… In Goldenrod City," I manage to say after we walk on for a while.

"The next destination after Azalea Town," Paul concludes. I nod, but stop, embarrassed, when I realise that he can't see me nod. Its pitch black in here.

"After your Gym battle," I add, slowing a bit, but catch up to Paul.

I can hear Paul clear his throat to say something, when I suddenly trip and fall over. In MUD and DIRT! This is horrible! My clothes! And my hair!

"Ewwww," I complain. I hear Paul chuckle so I just lay there (even though I know I could get poisoning from these conditions). Piplup manages to squirm out of my arms, and sits on my head.

"Get up," Paul orders. I ignore him, "Get up, Troublesome."

I sigh in defeat. "Okay, let me just… Uh oh."

"What happened?" he asks, almost alarm.

"I'm stuck," I manage to whisper. Its true, I can't get out. Of this MUD! EWWWWW! I try to get up, but the MUD squelches me back. This is horrible. Gross!

I can sense Paul's eyes on me. He's probably smirking at me. "Stop smirking," was all I could say.

"Let's get you up," he suggests. His hand finds mine, and he tries to haul me up. I blush with the contact, but I restrain myself.

After some serious pulling, Paul still can't get me up. He then gets both of my hands in his, and pulls. Finally, I get out from the mud, but I fall on top of him. Again.

But this time, he doesn't tell me to get off. This is heaven to me. Even though I know he probably doesn't love me. We're just friends in his eyes. But I swear I can feel the electricity between up. And even though we can't see each other, we lean in closer. Closer, closer, closer…

"Piplup!" Piplup bellows in my ear. Paul and I spring apart, and I get up, blushing bright red (my tomato look has come back; thank goodness Paul can't see me like this).

I scratch the back of my head and suggest we carry on. Paul agrees and we walk off in silence.

I trip again, but Paul catches me (how does he know where I am?!).

"Because you can't walk properly," Paul starts, "I'll need to pull you around."

My heart starts hammering when Paul takes me hand and pulls me along.

"Why?" I ask as we're walking.

But Paul doesn't answer. I put Piplup on my head again, and leave the question. We walk, hand in hand, until there is an opening to the tunnel. A cave. There is one big light on the cave's ceiling. So someone must be here.

We turn around a corner, and see Slowpokes. Loads of them. I let go of Paul's hand and run to one of them. They look dazed, like they can't acknowledge what's happening to them. One gives a yawn, but that's all.

I stand up from my crouching position. "We've got to get them out of here."

Paul nods until we hear a shout.

"What do you think you're doing here?!"

I turn to see a man with turquoise coloured hair and a frown. He's wearing a black t shirt with a yellow collar, black trousers, a silver belt and matching long white gloves and boots with a red trim on them. There is a red 'R' on his t shirt.

My hero mechanism kicks in. "We're here to save these Slowpokes! Who are you?"

"We," he starts to say with a smirk, "Are Team Rocket!"

A bunch of men and women with pink hair and red 'R's on their t shirts come out. They start to crowd around us. The guy with the green hair walks up to me, and eyes me. I tense. This man is creepy. Stalker creepy.

"You didn't answer her question," Paul growls at him.

"My name is Proton, one of the executives of Team Rocket. Your meddling annoys us, so we'll just take your Pokemon," Proton answers with an evil gleam in his eye.

"Not if I can help it," Paul mutters and takes his Pokemon out from their poke balls.

Turtwig and Murkrow come out with a yelp of readiness. I put Piplup on the floor, and take Buneary out.

"Two against one? No fair," Proton taunts, "Guys, you deal with the girl, I'll silence the boy."

I watch as the Team Rocket grunts surround me, poke balls in their gloved hands. I gulp and my Pokemon step in front of me.

"Come at me," I say with confidence, even though I don't feel confident. They all laugh and take out their Pokemon. They all have Zubats. I don't hate Zubats, but their cry is so ANNOYING!

"Piplup and Buneary, use your combo move!" I order.

My Pokemon nod and the grunts watch in curiosity as Piplup uses Bubble Beam. They then look confused when Buneary uses Ice Beam on the bubbles, freezing them. They then look scared as Buneary and Piplup chuck the ice bubbles at their Zubats.

I look over to Paul. He's staring at me, wondering if I can handle all these Pokemon around me. "I'll be fine," I assure him. Paul nods and puts his attention to the battle he's about to have with Proton.

Paul's POV

Proton takes out his Pokemon: Zubat and Koffing. Zubat looks like a breeze, but Koffing looks a bit stronger. Only by a little.

"A double battle," Proton states. I nod and my Pokemon get ready.

"Turtwig, use Rock Tomb on Zubat. Murkrow, use Peck on Koffing!" I order.

Turtwig's Rock Tomb traps Zubat under the rocks. Zubat cries out. I just smirk. Murkrow's beak enlarges and flies towards Koffing. Murkrow's beak pierces Koffing, and Koffing falls to the ground.

It looks like I have this battle in the bag.

"Zubat, get out from under those rocks by using Gust!" Proton shouts.

I watch in amazement as Zubat's wings start to flap, slow at first, but getting faster. The wings then push off the rocks, blowing Turtwig back. And blowing Murkrow to the ground. I clench my jaw. This guy's annoying me.

"Shake it off guys. Turtwig, use Magic Leaf on Koffing! Murkrow, use Wing Attack on Zubat!"

The leaves that Turtwig produce hit Zubat and Koffing. They push Zubat back on to Koffing, squashing Koffing. Murkrow then uses his wing to whack them both to the rocky wall. A bunch of smoke shadows the aftermath. We all wait to see if they've fainted or not.

When the smoke is gone, I see those swirly eyes. I grin and return my Pokemon to their poke balls. Proton is practically seething.

"My Pokemon!" he shouts. He returns them and frowns at me. He looks around the cave for his grunts, but doesn't see them. We then find them, in the corner, knocked out. There is rope tied around them. Dawn is by them, hands on hips, looking pleased with herself.

"Why did you want all those Slowpokes?" Dawn asks when she notices that I've beaten him.

"Their tails are very expensive on the black market," Proton answers. And before we can do anything, runs away.

Is that it?

Dawn's POV

I jump in the air. I rock at battling! I dust myself down, but it does nothing but smear my dress with more MUD.

"Let's get out of here, Dawn," Paul suggests. I nod, but then freeze.

"What did you just call me?" I ask. He then freezes.

He called me Dawn. My real name. Not Troublesome. But Dawn.

My name.

Sorry for the rubbish chapter! It's actually only a filler chapter I'm not very good at them).

So Paul actually called Dawn, Dawn! That's sweet. ^_^

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