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The usual morning, the usual stuff that always goes on in a morning, the usual, well, as usual. I ruffled my hair and yawned sleepily. Actually, usual really didn't describe the situation once I remembered the raikou from last night.
I still couldn't believe it happened. Most trainers never came close to such an opportunity. And.... If what Benny said was true... The pokemon symbolic of the month you were born...They grant you a wish.
I sat daydreaming about what I would wish for if I ever saw ho-oh. Money, a mansion... any one thing I wanted...
Right in the middle of my musings I had an unsettling feeling suddenly and turned around. Dustin was leaning on the edge of the wagon watching me.
"Just waiting to see how long it would take you to notice." Dustin said.
I blinked. "This isn't still about that rediculous secret is it?"
Dustin didn't answer. Instead, he turned his head and began to stare at some suddenly very interesting trees.
Like other times when he began to act strange, I tried to ignore it so I wouldn't insult him and lose my free ride around kanto. I simply left for town hoping to find something interesting. Instead as I was wandering off down the path I heard:
"Wait! Wait Azu!" Dustin yelled running toward me.
I stood there calmly waiting for him to catch his breath. He stood straight and looking quite flustered he opened his mouth to speak but no sound came out.
I gave him an unusual look and his cheeks turned a bit red.
He cleared his throat and tried again only emitting a small "unh" in a squeeky voice.
I tried not to laugh as I thought it must be something serious and it would hurt his feelings if I did.
He breathed deeply through his nose looking more composed and finally said, "Azu, I'd love it if-" *cough* (more blushing) "-if you'd join me tonight at the Vermillion Flower Ball."
Now it was my turn to do the blushing as I stumbled over words. "I..." I choked. "I-ye-na-maybe-yeah-uhm...." I felt incredibly foolish but he didn't seem to notice. Finally I mimicked his gesture of breathing deeply through my nose and peeping out a tiny "Yes, I'll go with you."
His eyes brightened and I felt a fierce burst of blue assault my skull. He was really happy. I blinked a bit, wondering what was supposed to happen now. Dustin spoke suddenly answering my question for me.
"Go on about your bussiness today." He said with a bit of pink still in his cheeks. "I have everything ready so just meet me at the wagon around dusk okay?"
"Kay." I said shortly hoping to end this awkward moment as soon as possible.
He wandered off back the way he came and I wandered the way I had begun to go with my heart pumping like mad. Did that just happen actually? Why did I say yes? Why didn't I say no? Why would I say no? My eyebrows had a looked of worry played across them, but my mouth had a faint smile. Nothing I was thinking was rational, I didn't even know where I was going. I just kept walking in a daze almost.
Finally the smile on my mouth over took the worry on the rest of my face and I realized I was pleased with the way this turned out.
I stopped. Pleased? I was? I had to analyze this for a moment. Did this mean I-? The whole time I never really stop to look at what was going on: Girl hitches ride with guy without him knowing. For some reason, guy lets girl stay. Hmmmm. Now that's a head scratcher. Why hadn't I seen it before?
I bit at my lip. I never really put it to thought whether he was attractive or not. I guess this explained everything. Yerrg... I hated how this whole thing was so cliche!
Oh well, I had to get over it. I had to get over that perhaps I might even have feelings for him.
I clenched my fists in denial just thinking about it.
I tried to put it all in the back of my mind as I trudged along the path still not knowing where I was off to. Suddenly I spotted a strange shape poking out of the top of the trees. I walked towards it curiously coming to find it seemed to be the top of a tower.
I hadn't anything better to do so I strayed off the path and into the woods heading to the tower. The trees were so thick it was a lot darker in there then I expected. I wacked some branches out of the way and ducked underneath a huge spinarak web still trying to keep track of the towers still just barely visible over the tips of the trees.
I wasn't paying attention to where I was walking and suddenly tripped over a pesky pinecone and fell. The ground just happened to be at a slant and I slid down the hill on my stomach with dead pine needles poking me in the face all the way down. I skidded to a stop just before hitting a giant tree and and coughed harshly to get the dirt out of my mouth. After I finally stopped hacking I looked up in awe. A magnificent mansion with huge towers stood before me. I got up and wandered toward it slowly wondering why it was there or better yet, what it was.
Finally stepping out of the forest and onto the neatly cut lawn I walked on still marvelling. Several people were getting out of sports cars and such in the driveway and flocking to the front door. I curiously joined the crowd and went into the mansion with them.
Two elegant stairwells stood to the left and right with an elaborately carved door in the center at the top of them. Another shiny double door was on the first floor underneath it. A glistening crystal chandelier hung above us and golden candle holders formed like dragonairs lined the walls. The candle light made everything sparkle beautifully and I could hardly take my eyes off the place, but the crowd of people was walking ahead and I scampered back up with them.
We went straight forward to another glamorous door and entered a grand room full of long tables. A podium stood at the front of the room on a small stage. Charizard statues holding bowls for fire stood on each side of the podium crackling with merry flames. I sat down at a table with the group I had followed and gazed around the room. The same candle holders lined the walls and a huge banner with a dragonair, charizard, and aerodactyl entwined around each other hung from the wall.
More people came into the room and soon all the chairs had been taken up. Even more people came and they all had to stand. A tall old man with a large mustache walked up the steps onto the stage and held his hand up to quiet the crowd. A young girl came in the side door leading a rapidash by the reins and the mustache man beamed at the horse proudly turning back to the crowd to speak.
"Welcome my friends to the 300th annual Pokemon Lover's Club Pokemon Celebration!" He smiled grandly and stroked his 'stache. "Seems only yesterday we were having our 250th party...Oh look at me! I'm rambling on again. Anyways, I have an important announcement to make to you all. I'm going to have the great pleasure to present my heir as president to this club to you today." He drew in a deep breath and smiled bigger than ever. "My grandson, Terry Surge!"
I choked on my spit and nearly fell out my my chair. What? Him? Here? Oh no! I looked around the room in a panic hoping he hadn't seen me and that no one had noticed me falling. Luckily, not one single person noticed my little faux paw; they were clapping too hard. I made a face, how could anyone like him?
Terry stepped up to the podium holding a pichu in his arms and smiling as much as his grandfather had. "Thank you! I can't wait to take over this wonderful establishment. I've been a member since I was born and I've become quite fond of the place over the years." He gave a huge wink to the crowd and I noticed several ladies begin to fan themselves in a swoon. "Now, who's hungry? I say a party is nothing without food!"
"Here here!" A fat lady in a much too tight dress next to me bellowed.
"Here here!" More people echoed her.
Waiters with carts entered the room putting out trays of food in each person's place place. It smelled great. Might as well stay now, I thought with a grin.
Halfway through succulent krabby claws I spotted Terry walking around through the aisles, shaking hands with people and making small talk. I sipped down the rest of the wine in my cup (they didn't seem to care if you were underage or not here), wiped my hands on my napkin, stood and hurried to the door.
I heard foot steps thumping on the plush carpet behind me and felt a strong sense of foreboding. I knew he was coming after me. I kept walking as fast as I could but suddenly felt a hand grab mine.
I turned around. I was right. Terry.
"A new member eh?" He said with a smirk.
"I was just leaving." I said shortly.
"No, no, stay a while. Heh he he. I can see you obviously thought over my offer and came to make the right choice."
"Excuse me?" I snorted. "I don't think so..." I turned to leave.
"Aaaawww, come on! It's a chance of a lifetime!" He smarted.
"I hate to break it to you, but I'm already going with someone."
"Oh yeah?" He said with a note of annoyance in his voice. "Well I'll bet he's not as good me! Come on! Reconsider, I'll make it worth your while!" He admired his fingernails snobbishly and winked at me.
"He's ten times more of a man than you'll ever be!" I barked at him and began walking away. Did I just say that?
He suddenly grasped my arm and jerked me around, snatching hold of both of my shoulders and kissed me.
I knocked him to the ground and kicked him hard. "You-" I fumed. "You! Just what do you think you're doing?!"
He looked at me blankly and pushed a lock of hair out of his eyes. "What did I do?" He smarted with a tiny smile on his face.
"Have some class! You're pathetic!" I snarled. He opened his mouth to speak, but I spat in his face and stomped out the door. I was in a bad mood all the way down the road grumbling to myself. I got back into the woods kicking pinecones angrilly and cursing worse than ever. Finally I realized it would do no good to stay mad, sat down under a pine tree, and leaned against the trunk. I sighed and stared up through the branches.
Suddenly I felt a rumble at my belt and AJ popped out of his pokeball beside me. 'Hi Azu!' He said happily.
I smiled fakely, 'Hi buddy!' I imitated in his cheerful voice.
AJ scowled. 'What's wrong with you?'
My expression softened, 'sorry. I'm just a bit angry, that's all.'
'Wanna talk about it?' He asked.
I smiled sadly and shook my head.
'Hm.' He muttered and layed down beside me to nap.
'Good idea.' I whispered and closed my eyes.
~
'Caw! Caw! Caw! Oi! Lookit dat gill down dere.'
I groaned and rolled over. 'Shaddap!!!' I yelled sleepily.
'Heh heh eh, yeah she's a real smart one she is. Sleepin' in da woods when it's dark. Wait'll the houndoom get er!'
'Hyek heh hyeh!'
I burst up suddenly. Dark?!! I slept how long?! The spearow above me cackled heinously and flapped away. It was nearly dark and far far after dusk, which ws when I was supposed to meet Dustin. I recalled AJ quickly and ran back towards the path praying I wouldn't get lost.
I was running and running and I could see the path just ahead of me. I burst out onto the road but accidentally collided with some one and almost fell. who ever it was caught by my arms and pulled me upright.
"Are you okay?"
I looked up; it was Dustin. "Oh it's you. Thank god I didn't miss you." I panted. "Err, I fell asleep in the woods." I admitted sheepishly.
"That's okay." He said finally letting go of my arms. "I'll meet you at the docks then, just go back and get ready okay?"
"Alright." I said unusually because I noticed he was wearing a tuxedo.
"Seeya then." He said and then he walked off into Vermillion.
I put my hands in my pockets and began walking back to camp blank of any feeling at all. I got back to the wagon and rumaged around for my backpack. Then it dawned on me I had nothing nice to wear to a place like this. I slumped to the ground in worry. Why must I always get into these things?!
Something slumped off the edge of the wagon and landed beside me suddenly. I looked up. Nothing there. I looked down. The crinkly plastic wrapped thing I saw in the bag yesterday! I picked up the package eagerly and unwrapped it, but almost immediately dropped what I had unwrapped in shock.
It was a silky, sleek, blue gown. I stood and held it up to myself. This is what Dustin meant when he said he had everything ready. I turned back to the wagon and noticed the velvet covered box and another small plastic bag sitting on top of a note. I squinted to read it in the dark.
~Hey. These are for you. Hope you like them.~
A smile tugged at my mouth. I slipped into the dress admiring how it fit wonderful and looked wonderful. I opened the velvet covered box, removed the elegant necklace, and fastened it around my neck, still in awe that the wonderful diamond necklace was actually for me. I opened last the plastic bag revealing matching blue heels. This kid thought of everything. I slapped them on my feet, straightened up my hair a bit, and started to walk off, but AJ suddenly burst from his pokeball out in front of me.
'I woke up in the ball, what happened?' He asked. Then he noticed that I was all dressed up, 'Hey, what's going on? Where are you going?'
'Err...' I muttered. I had a feeling he might be mad if I told him. 'To the pokemon center.' I blurted.
'Ahem?' AJ said with his "eyebrows" raised.
'Well, ya see....The thing with that is....' I said slowly as I reached into the wagon for his pokeball.
'What?' AJ asked curiously.
'This.' I recalled him quickly and slipped his ball inside my knee high just in case. Then I set off for the docks.
After the short walk to town, I arrived at Vermillion Harbor. The place was still decorated with the red banners and flower, wave, and lanturn insignia, plus staryu shaped lanturn and garlands of flowers. I looked around the docks for Dustin, but he was no where to be seen. Probably paying me back for almost being late myself, I thought.
I walked out to the end of a long dock just for fun and noticed a yacht floating about 200 yards away. It too was decorated with banners, Staryu lamps, and flower garlands. I figured that was where the ball was taking place. I turned away from the water and searched for Dustin, but I still didn't see him anywhere. I sighed.
The moon and stars were reflected perfectly in the still, black water of the bay. I stared boredly at it thinking that if Dustin didn't show up soon I might even go for a swim.
'This is the night! It's a beautiful night!!!' Someone, or something, sang.
'Shut up you bubble head!' Someone yelled back.
I turned around and there was Dustin in a flower decorated boat drawn by two lanturn.
'And they calls it the bella-!' The ditsy lanturn sang.
'You're giving me a headache!' The other snapped at it.
The boat pulled up to the end of the dock where I was standing and Dustin held out his hand to help me in. I held up the hem of my dress with one hand, grabbed his hand with the other, and stepped in carefully.
The ride to the yacht was long and embarassing. Neither of us spoke a word to each other the whole time and when the bubble-headed lanturn conviently decided to hit the boat with her tail and I fell over onto him there was a whole lot of 'uummmm's and 'sorry's and 'it's okay's going on. I was relieved when we made it on board.
At the entrance to the ballroom Dustin offered his arm to me all gentleman-like. I looped mine through his and we walked in inside. A piano stood at the back of the room along with a cello and clarinet on their stands. Tables lined the right side of the room and a dance floor was on the other. Most folks were just milling around talking to each other merrily with wine glasses in their hands. Dustin led me to a table in the farthest corner of the room, pulled the chair out for me, and pushed it back in when I had seated. It seemed like he had been to quite a few of these swanky parties.
An abra teleported by our table suddenly and I nearly jumped out of my skin. It did a little bow and said 'Farfetch'd or Tauros?'. Dustin obviously didn't understand it, but responded "farfetch'd". Then the abra bowed again and popped out of sight.
"You know-" But what Dustin was going to sat I never figured out because I felt a rumble at my ankle all of the sudden. It was AJ's Pokeball! It wouldn't be a pretty scene if he popped out now! I jerked my hand down to grab the ball suddenly and banged my head on the table accidentally.
I sucked in a breath through my teeth. "Geez!" I hissed with my hand clamped to my forhead. Dustin was looking absolutely lost.
The ball continued to shudder, "Excuse me just a moment." I squeeked as I stood up and ran out onto the side deck lobby. I tore the ball from the stocking and clenched it between my hands. Let's see him get out of this! Passers by looked at me as if I were a nuisance. The ball started to vibrate violently and I shook with it. It got so bad I lost my balance and began to stumble around, knocking over a few people. I finally found a rail to cling to and the ball stopped shaking. I grinned apologetically at the scowling people who muttered and began to wander away. I walked back into the main room and sat back down at the table.
"I heard commotion over where you ran off to," Dustin started, "I hope you weren't causing trouble..."
"Who me?" I said, innocently batting my eyelashes.
He opened his mouth to say something but the abra appeared again and set down our farfetch'd platters. I didn't feel much like eating though.
"Do you think I'm worthy enough to hear your secret yet?" Dustin asked.
"You really wanna know that bad? Still?" I asked incredulously. "Hey, wait a second, why should I tell you my secret when you won't tell me yours?" He shook his head in protest. "I know you have a secret!" I said.
He jumped just a little. "What makes you think that?"
"Hm? Oh nothing. Just lucky guess I guess." I said all-knowingly. I was acting on the instinct he had a secret from all the purple worry he had been sending since the day I met him, but it did it's purpose. My little guess successfully freaked him out enough to keep him from asking about mine again. Not that this "secret" was any big deal or anything. I actually wouldn't mind if he found out I could talk to pokemon. He'd be the first human to know anyways, I managed to keep it a secret from everyone- even my parents- for all these years...
"You never answered my question Azu." Dustin said.
"What? Oh. well..." I sat as if in deep contemplation even though I wasn't. "I'd say you're ALMOST worthy of hearing it."
"Oh really?" He said pretending not to be interested in it anymore but I could see right through it. "Please?" He peeped and smiled hopefully. "You know you can trust me, c'mon..."
"Actually, I don't know can trust you." I said. "I've only known you five days."
"Touchè" He said spearing his fork into a green bean.
We sat in an awkward silence for a minute. I was staring off into space at my dinner plate and he was still eating. Everyone in the crowd stopped talking suddenly and I looked up from my daze. A very very fat man followed by a midget and a an old lady in a walker stepped onto the satge where the piano, clarinet, and cello were. What an odd combination of band members, I though. The walker lady picked up the clarinet, the midget took the cello, and the fat man sat at the piano.
Then a insanely tall man wearing a long yellow cape swept into the room. He paced to a step in front of the stage and bowed to the audience. Everyone aplauded and a teenage kid came and took the man's cape for him. Then the man raised his baton and the musicians got into playing position.
For such and odd assortment of musicians the actually sounded really good. I got lost in the 'Snorlax Tango' and nearly fell asleep to the 'Icy Dewgong Suite'.
"Shall we?" Dustin said suddenly as the band began the 'Butterfree Ballet Waltz'.
I stood and took his hand. "Just one problem-" I whispered in his ear as we stepped to the dance floor. "I can't dance." Which was true, I hadn't danced since the days years ago when I took ballet lessons and I hardly thought that was the sort of dancing we would be doing even if the song was from a ballet.
Dustin didn't looked perturbed one bit. He simply said, "Then it's time you learned." and began putting me in the right position and placing my hands in the right places. He in turn put his hands at my waist politely. He took a step to the left with me still standing where he was before. He motioned for me to step over with him. Embarassed, I followed along and tried to follow his every move. Eventually I started to get the hang of it.
"This isn't so bad is it?" Dustin chuckled.
"Yeah..." I breathed. Since I was touching him, I could here his sendings loud and clear. I was always used to hearing them weak and lacking of color since he wasn't aware he could do it. But now it was absolutely swimming with bright color. Blues, greens, purples all circulating around the main color: white. This made me nervous somehow. The color white... well, I hadn't seen it too often in humans or pokemon and it's meaning wasn't so clear.
As we danced around, I was deep in thought. I went through all the colors I knew- brown: confusion, black: hate, red: anger, yellow: pain, green: mischief, blue: pleasure, purple: worry, orange: sorrow... White... What was it?
"Is something wrong?" Dustin asked.
"Uh- no. No." I said smiling at him.
"You just seemed kind of dazed that's all..."
We kept going and I noticed Terry in the corner scowling at Dustin jealously. I then spotted a pimply face girl in an awful purple dress next to him and figured it must be his date. I grinned at him. To my suprise he walked over and tapped Dustin on the shoulder.
"May I cut in?" He said in a rude tone to Dustin.
Dustin looked hurt.
I thought it was time to handle Terry myself like I had been since yesterday.
"No." I snapped at him and steered Dustin away while still continuing to dance.
Terry stalked off back into his corner. I smiled at Dustin mischeiviously. He grinned back thankfully.
After that we were both much more comfortable with each other, and even kept dancing when the 'Buterfree Ballet Waltz' ended and a new song came on.
Eventually, Dustin worked up the courage to slowly tighten his arms around me, pulling me so close there was no longer any air between us. I shivered just a bit. My whole body felt so tingly and light, yet very comfortable all warm and snug. Any feeling of hesitation or nervousness floated away and became nothing but pure contentment. Ah! How attitudes can change!
I layed my head on his shoulder hearing another startled flash of blue in my head. I smiled though he couldn't see it. Which brought me back to the question, what was the color white for? So I lay there puzzling. His wonderful smelling cologne wafted into my nose and I seemed to lose track of thoughts. I sighed and my eyes drooped. The warmth, the swaying, the lateness of the hour... Err.. In other words, I fell asleep on the dance floor while in his arms.
The next thing I remember was being draped acorss Dustins arms in the lanturn boat. I gulped guiltily once I realized what had happened.
"Sorry." I said with a sleepy smile.
He jumped at the sound of my voice, but looked down and smiled back. "That's alright, I'm not mad." He said.
He paused and looked out to the ocean. "Azu, I've decided that you're right..."
"What? What are you talking about?" I asked as I took the seat next to him.
"I mean about, me wanting to know your secret when I wasn't going to tell you mine."
"Nah," I waved my hand. "Don't worry about it. Mine's not that big of a secret really. I was going to tell you sooner or later anyway." I looked at him. "Hm! Why not tell you now?"
"Why not." Dustin said happily.
"Um, well, hmmm...." It occurred to me I didn't exactly know how to put it into words for him. "You know, when I'm sitting there all quiet-like. Or, um.."
"Like in the woods that day with the volbeat?" Dustin asked.
"Yeah, good example..."
And so it went on, question and answer like this to where he found out every little detail. It would be totally pointless to tell you what you already know so I'm going to skip our little discussion and go right on into what happened next.
"Wow." Dustin said in awe.
"It's really no big deal..." I shrugged. "It's just what I do."
"Could I do it too?" Dustin asked.
"I dunno, it took a long time and..."
"I really don't want to learn the talking, I just want to see- er hear- or whatever, what you do. You know, that thing."
"Uh. I don't think I could teach you how really. Just close your eyes and see if you can see it from time to time. I guess...."
"How mysterious." He muttered somewhat absentmindedly.
I stared out to sea. I could see glowing red lights from staryu floating around. I suddenly felt Dustin's warm hand on top of mine, but I kept staring at the lights.
"Azu?" Dustin blurted. "Do you like me?"
I just sat there like so big idiot, pondering what I should say when I actually already knew what I wanted to say. Me being one of those types that are always tough on the outside and ashamed to let anyone know otherwise, I kept sitting there, even after he held both of my hands and looked straight into my eyes.
The more I stared into his eyes, the more I realized it would be wrong to hurt his feelings by lying. With immense blushing, I shyly said yes.
He clutched my hands tightly in happiness and gave me a peck on the lips. I smiled and he put his arm around me in more of a friendly way.
'What does this look like? A parking lot?' I said in pokemon to the lanturn who still had not begun to go to the docks.'Let's get a move on!'
Both lanturn spun around simutaneously with looks of suprise on their blue faces.
'Well? Let's go shall we?' I winked at them.
The lanturn looked at each other, shrugged, and then began to swim to shore.
I layed my head on Dustin's shoulder comfortably. It felt as if the weight of the world had been lifted, even if I never felt like I had been carrying it before. I closed my eyes and was just bout to fall asleep again when I felt a harsh slap at my ankle and heard the unmistakable sound of a pokeball coming open.
Oh no...I thought.
'Azu!' A familiar scolding voice breathed.
I opened my eyes slowly and sat up.
'Why didn't you tell me Azu?' AJ said in a tone that would make anone feel ahamed of themselves.
'AJ, I didn't want-'
'Azu!' AJ gasped. 'You're speaking pokemon in front of him! You told him! I can't believe this!'
'Yeah? So?' I said back. 'He's not so bad.'
Dustin looked on cluelessy.
'Plus, I only didn't want to tell you because I thought you would get mad. It looks like I was right!' I glared at AJ.
'Azu! It's not about that!' He shouted. 'We used to be perfect friends, then you started keeping secrets from. Friends don't do that.'
I stood up in the boat and took a step forward angilly, 'Haven't I got the right to keep somethings to myself?!'
AJ sniffed. 'You lied to me too!'
'Well-' I started, almost falling overboard..
'Well- Maybe we weren't cut out to be partners!' AJ growled and tapped the button on his pokeball so he would get sucked back inside.
I snatched up the pokeball and clenched it in my fist angrilly. I felt like I could hurl it into the ocean at the moment, but I held back.
"Idiot..." I hissed under my breath.
My glare weakened.
I gulped ashamedly.
AJ was right. I should've told him.
I looked down at my feet... And I shouldn't have lied.
I felt empty somehow. It wasn't right for us to be fighting, we were best friends, but now it was too late to realize that.
'Don't worry dearie,' The ditsy lanturn said as the boat arrived at the docks. 'You'll make up with him.'
'I hope so.' I sighed and stepped out.
Dustin and I walked back to the camp. Me- a little gloomy. Him- a little sympathetic even though he had no idea what AJ and I had argued about.
I climbed into the back of the wagon and curled up with my backpack as a pillow. I didn't care I still had my fancy dress on, I didn't care Dustin could see me cry, I just wanted to fall asleep as fast as I could...
So I could forget...
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