All Alone (BEING EDITED)

Chapter V (EDITED)

My vision blurred. My head pounded, almost like my skull was about to burst. I stumbled, turned and sprinted. My feet felt like they had tied themselves in knots, and I tripped, tumbling to the floor. Chatot squawked and fell to the floor. I looked up and saw a door with a fuzzy number on the plate. Using the wall, I stood up and fumbled to grab my card. Silently hoping I had found the right door, I slid my card across the scanner. A small beep echoed, and I slammed my shoulder against the door. It gave way, and I rushed in. Chatot managed to fly inside before I shut the door and bolted it. I then sat at the base and just stared at my feet. Chatot landed next to me and cocked his head.

"This isn't happening. It can't be happening," I mumbled. Chatot hopped closer.

"N-no. It isn't possible. I was just imagining it. Y-yeah. That's it. Lack of sleep t-that's all." 

"Dawn..."

"I-I just need to lay down, a-and he'll be gone in the morning."

"Dawn!"

I looked up. Chatot rubbed his head against my hand.

"You need to calm down. Please," he begged. I nodded and exhaled slowly.

"O-okay." Chatot climbed into my lap.

"He must be on his fifth badge," He said.

"But how? He's only been here a few months! I wasn't expecting to run into him this early!" I exclaimed. "How am I supposed to avoid him? If he sees me..." Chatot looked up at me.

"You must really care about him," he mumbled. "You've never been this worried about anyone recognizing you." I sighed and ruffled my hair.

"I don't know. I honestly don't know." Silence enveloped us. After a few moments, Chatot spoke up.

"How about we go train. We have that new Ralts after all." I nodded, placed him on my shoulder, and stood up. We left the room and walked down the hall towards the lobby. When we entered, I pulled the strings of my hood tighter. Paul was still sitting in the chair with the magazine now in his lap. I stuffed my hands in my pocket and sped up my pace. He glanced up once, but that was it. I exhaled and walked out of the center. A puff of fresh air brushed past my face, and my body relaxed.

A forest stood by the city with trees towering over the houses. I smiled at Chatot and made my way towards the trees. After navigating between the trees for a few minutes, a clearing appeared amidst the underbrush. A small circle of moonlight lit the center. Chatot lifted off my shoulder and flew to a nearby tree. I grabbed a pokeball from my belt and pressed the button. It snapped open and a trail of white light appeared. The light soon took the form of Ralts.

"Ready for some training?" I asked. Ralts nodded.

"Sure!"

We begin training relentlessly: running laps, attacking trees, dodging each other's attacks. I soon called out Poochyena to join the training. But throughout it all, my mind was in another place. Paul was in the same city as I was. He was in the same center, possibly the same hallway. Was this going to be the only time I see him? Will we meet again? And if so how? How many times even? Will he figure out who I am? How would he react? What if- BAM!

I flew backward and slammed into a tree. Leaves tumbled out of the branches and littered the ground. I groaned and looked up to see Ralts shivering, and Poochyena gaping. Chatot burst out of his tree and landed at my side.

Are you alright? Is anything broken? Can you move? Does your head hurt? Can you see me? How many toes am I holding up?" He held up one foot.

"Two, Chatot. And yes, I'm fine. Just...shocked is all," I replied. I grabbed onto the bark and stood up.

"Alright. What happened?"

Poochyena looked at the ground, and Ralts started kicking at some stones.

"I...um. I used Magical Leaf, just like you told me. But when Poochyena dodged it...it hit you instead," He stuttered. "I'm really sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you! Honestly!" I chuckled and shook it off.

"It's alright. It was my fault for not paying attention."

"I'm still really sorry. If I had been controlling it properly, maybe it wouldn't have hit you."

"Hey now..." I walked over and knelt next to him and Poochyena. "Don't be like that. That was a very powerful attack, and I'm so proud of you for working so hard. Besides, I've been through a lot worse, trust me. The thing is, you can't give up. Remember the good and learn from the bad. Life is always going to trip you up, so just keep going no matter what, okay?"

Ralts nodded and smiled.

"A-alright. Thanks, Dawn." I smiled and returned both him and Poochyena to their pokeballs before standing up and stretching. My neck cracked, and I groaned. Chatot landed on my shoulder, making me flinch.

"That was a powerful attack. Come on, you need to rest," He ordered. I chuckled.

"I'm fine, really," I said, even though I was already walking back.

"I'm not gonna argue with you. You need to lie down and sleep."

"Okay, okay. But tomorrow we're heading to Rustboro. I'm not wasting a day just because I'm a little sore."

We made it back to the city and I started walking towards the center. Before I could enter, however, the doors slid open and a male rushed out. I slid to my right and looked up at him. Onyx eyes glared back down at me. I froze as we both stared at each other. Wind brushed past my hair, and my eyes widened. Paul tilted his head to the side, but before he could say anything I walked past him and into the center. Chatot started whispering in my ear, keeping me from turning around. I walked as naturally as I could, and when I got to my room, I unlocked the door and slipped inside. Then, I screamed. Chatot cringed.

"Calm down, Dawn. It's not that bad," He mumbled. I whirled around and glared at him.

"Not that bad? Not that bad! Of course, it's bad! If you didn't notice out there, my hood was down! He could've recognized me! What if he did!?" I started pacing around the room. "I could have just put our lives in danger! I probably did!"

"Dawn, listen to me." I looked at him. "You have changed, okay? Your hair is dyed, you've grown taller, you've matured. He hasn't seen you in what, 6 years? Stop panicking!" The pacing stopped, and my breathing calmed.

"You're right...you're right," I sighed. "He probably doesn't even know I'm alive." I sat down on the bed. Chatot flew over and sat on my knee. I stared at my feet.

"I don't know if I can do this anymore. I...I've spent so, so long trying to protect everyone. Trying to hide my emotions and keep everyone safe. And now...now I just-I just." I hid my face in my hands.

"Dawn, don't give up. Don't you remember what you told Ralts just a few minutes ago?" He gently used his beak to lift a hand away from my face.

"You can do this. You're strong, stronger than most out there. You have survived for so long. It's not going to end now. And you've come so far." He snuggled up against my chest.

"Tomorrow we'll be on our way to Rustboro. And we can put this day behind us." I looked down at him and smiled softly.

"What would I do without you?" I asked. He purred.

"Probably huddle up inside that hoodie of yours and never come out again."

We laughed, and I laid down, cuddling him close to my chest.

"Goodnight, Chatot."

"Goodnight, Dawn."