Chapter 5: Not your normal day...

I woke the next morning, covered in sweat, the sheets clinging to me. Nightmares had thundered through my brain during the night, refusing to leave me, as I was forced to re-enact the previous day's events. I just couldn't believe what I had seen...

Gaia...with Ash!

The look she had given be as she was tugged away did nothing to soothe me – despite the fact I knew she must've been forced to be with him, or threatened with something else if she had declined.

Pulling myself out of bed, I walked slowly into the kitchen, silently hoping for some confrontation with her. But only Max was there, assuming his usual position with his feet up on the counter.

"Alright?" he asked, drinking deep from his bottle.

I didn't reply.

"Ah, I know what's wrong. I saw them too."

I looked up, meeting his stony gaze.

"Did you?"

"Yeah. I wouldn't worry about it though, I reckon she was forced to or something, the staff here know he's guaranteed to be the Champion in the future, so they don't want to get on the wrong side of him."

I nodded. "True." But it did nothing to alleviate the horrible feeling that was lying low, in the squalid depths of my stomach.

He nudged my arm gently.

"Tell you what...we've got four hours until the lesson today, so why not come down to the fields and train with me? We can catch some other Pokemon?"

I smiled, but then realised I didn't actually own any other Poke balls other than the one that was inside my pocket, containing my brand new Gastly. I told him.

"It's fine, I've got way too many anyway, I can lend you some. Besides, it's bound to take your mind of things..."

I grudgingly agreed, and after Max got ready, we headed down to the fields. These were an area just outside of the school grounds, where the teachers didn't come, and the students had miles of greenery and lots of different terrain to catch all different types of Pokemon. We entered the gate, and Max suggested we entered a slightly wooded area, where there was practically no-one at all.

"Okay, let's get catching." I said, taking in a deep breath, and walking forward, disturbing some long grass. But there was no Pokemon that came bursting forward, readying itself for battle against me. The area still remained silent.

I turned around, and saw Max over my shoulder casually strolling forward. I narrowed my eyes, as a thin veil of sunlight crept between the trees, and continued to watch him as he made his way forward.

But he too, had no luck.

We were there for roughly half an hour, making our presence known, in case any Pokemon decided to take their chances against us. And finally, something happened.

"This is getting stupid..." panted Max, before taking another swig from his bottle. "We should head back now."

It was my turn to smile. "Nah...we've still got plenty of time. One of us is gonna catch something."

And almost as if to prove my point, I took one step forward, and a Pokemon flew itself at me from out of nowhere. I got a proper look at it, as it stood on its legs and stared intensely at me, a smile smile adorned upon its white face. It had a short, wide body, which was mostly black, but had a blue stripe that stretched from its torso to left shoulder. It lacked normal hands, because three shining claws glinted at the end of its arms.

"It's a Drillbur!" Max shouted, punching the air.

I smiled, feeling silently confident. Time to get my second Pokemon...

I pulled out the Poke ball from my pocket, and thrust it forward.

"Okay, Gastly, let's go!"

The ball burst open, and the ghost/poison type came and floated just above the ground, its poisonous gases doing nothing to disguise the almost manic grin on it's face. The drillbur reacted by flinching a little, but did not flee. I felt that if I captured it, it would be a very useful Pokemon to have.

"Gastly, use Hypnosis!" I shouted. My pokemon leapt forward on its swirling tendrils and attempted to clatter the drillbur violently across the head. However, the ground-type pokemon launched itself backwards, completely avoiding the attack that would've sent it to sleep. It gathered itself to counter.

Gastly floated, waiting. The drillbur let out a wild scream and hurtled forward. I recognised the move as Rapid Spin.

"Gastly, get out the way!" I yelled.

But it could do nothing, as the Rapid Spin smashed into it, and threw it backwards with excess force. I looked at him, but it just righted itself, looked ahead and continued smiling, it's vicious teeth bared in a display of his superiority.

"Now, Gastly! Lick it!"

Gastly laughed, flew across to the drillbur, and dragged its tongue across it, sending it flying backwards.

"Good, Gastly! Now finish it! Use Hypnosis!"

The drillbur had only just dragged itself back to its feet before my pokemon hurtled into it, sending it to sleep. Max clapped as I walked forward, praising Gastly, and caught the drillbur inside of another Poke ball.

"Nice one!" he exclaimed, as Max and I made my way back to the school grounds. "A drillbur! Pretty decent, and should be alright against whatever Ash has got."

I nodded. "I hope so! I'd better check on it later though, to make sure it's okay. It took that last hit pretty badly!"

Max nodded, his hair still stuck up erratically. I couldn't help but notice lots of girls watching him, as he strode forward, his dragon jacket billowing faintly behind him in the stiff breeze. "That Gastly sure can pack a punch..."

"Definitely, but I'm not gonna tell it to back down a bit. I need that power to beat the shit out of Ash with!"

Max laughed, patted me on the back, and went the other way – back towards our dormitories. I realised that I had a bit of time to kill, so went out to sit the courtyard, which was bathed in sunlight. There was a large clock tower to the right hand side, which chimed as it hit 11o'clock. I had a couple of hours left before my first lesson.

"Can I join you?" a small voice asked tenderly. I spun around, and saw Gaia looking at me, nervously wringing her hands together.

After a moment's hesitation, I nodded, and led her over to a wooden bench positioned in the far corner of the courtyard. We sat there in silence for a minute or two, before she turned to look at me.

"Look, Dan, you know I had no choice."

I nodded solemnly.

"I know. It just..." But I couldn't find the right words to complete my sentence.

"I just need to ask...why do you care if I'm with Ash?"

I took small, shallow breaths, fighting to keep the tears from out of my eyes. "I...I just..."

Tell her...you won't get another chance! Tell her how you feel!

"I don't want Ash to get too distracted from the fight today...it won't be the same if you're there doing-"

"Doing what?" she asked, hurt flaring up in her voice.

I could only shake my head; no words came to mind. With a small sob, Gaia got up and left, leaving me sat alone as the courtyard cleared out slowly.

Lessons were beginning, and despite the fact mine didn't start for a long time, I got up and decided to take a walk, encompassing the school grounds.

It failed to clear my head, and as I entered my very first lesson; attempting to bond with my Gastly and new Drillbur, haunting and alluring images of the love of my life kept floating through my head, distracting me from everything else.

Why hadn't I told her how I felt?...I asked myself, dragging my feet behind me as I left the lesson, and checked my watch.

I felt my heart rate dramatically increase. It felt like it was attempting to break free of my chest.

It was 3 o'clock. Time for my battle with Ash...

Taking a deep breath, shaking violently, I made my way to the Veranda.

Okay guys, I hope you're enjoying the story so far! I'm attempting more regular updates during my free periods at school, so expect more chapters very soon! Will Dan beat Ash? And finally tell Gaia, the love of his life, how he actually feels? Find out very soon! Until then... ADIOS!