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♦ ♦ Naano Hotaru ♦ ♦

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~~~~~`Naano's nightmare~~~~~~~
It was so pretty at first, she had believed that this place was peaceful, that no harm could come to her here. This forest was where she would reunite with her Pokemon. She saw them in the clearing, and ran towards them, only to be stopped by Ayato. He stood between them, her and her beloved Pokemon. Naano couldn't move, she couldn't speak. All he did was stare at her and repeat "My little butterfly girl" over and over again.
The sky turned dark and all she could do was hear thunder. Oh God the thunder. It was so loud! She thought the world was crashing down, and she looked to see her Pokemon. Each was fully evolved, but...evil. Every single one. They gave her glances of power and insanity; no longer showing loyalty towards her. Finding their new master, they nuzzled his ankles. Even Eva, who had become the Espeon of Naano's dreams....but....but she looked different. She looked so...dark.
Then lighting struck and everything when white.
~~~~~~~~~End nightmare~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Naano woke from the scare with a gasp. She covered her mouth, and replayed the horrible dream over and over in her head. Quickly slipping her shoes back on, she ran outside. It was dark, so very dark, but Naano didn't care. She ran into the woods with Shadow, who followed her, at her heels. Feeling like she was a good enough distance away from town, she screamed. Her anger just built up, and she had to release it, there was nothing more she could do. Oh she wanted so badly to run all the way to the next town, just sprint the entire way and catch up to that b*****d. Gasping at her lack of oxygen, Naano stood there for a while.
Picking up a rock, she threw it at a tree. It felt good, but not good enough....
She had to hit something herself, with her actual hands. Looking towards the trees, she contemplated it. No, one of my hands is out of commission, I need the other. Kicking wasn't an option either, how else would she travel? "Shadow! Use Shadow Ball! Make a long trail, leave no trees!" Complying with her request, Shadow swelled up his chest and released the ball of dark energy. The trees were torn down and the sound of snapping timber was exhilarating. It felt so good, damaging things.
She was going to give him another order, but stopped herself. Destroying things? Like Ayato had destroyed her? No. Never. She refused to do anymore harm to the forest.
Naano decided to return, perhaps she'd be able to cool down for a bit. As she turned to head back, she heard a noise that sounded somewhat like a Pokemon. Spinning around quickly, she found herself facing a Floatzel who was still dripping from swimming around in a nearby lake. Believing it was going to attack, she signaled Shadow to get into a fighting position, but then realized that this Floatzel must be around level 30. Fear enveloped her mind for a few moments, that is until the Floatzel breezed past Shadow and examined Naano. It's instincts could tell she was on edge, and he had seen her destroy the trees. He turned to Shadow "Float, float zel? Zel zel?" ("What is the matter with this human young one? She seems distressed.") "EEve, eevee vee ve eve." ("All of her pokemon, aside from me, were stolen from her today. She's still wrestling with her feelings of hate an anger. That's why she had me destroy those trees....")
The Floatzel nodded. "Flooat, float zel" ("Fight me young one, i will assist you in leveling up. Come on now, let us spar!"). As he got into fighting position, Shadow did the same. Noticing this, she ordered "use Bite! Then Shadow Ball!" As he bit into the water type, he jumped backwards a safe distance and released the ball of dark energy (he had learned his lesson while battling Eva). Using water pledge, the Floatzel bombarded Eevee will water. But he was going easy, he could see the potential of this young Pokemon, and he wanted him to gain experience from this.
The battle wore on. Shadow continued to attack fiercely, but he was having fun. Sparring had never been more enjoyable. He was actually happy, this Floatzel was giving him tips as they fought. Naano, of course, did not know this was a simple spar. After a while, Naano sprayed Shadow with a super potion and then called out "Take Down!" Taking damage himself, Shadow attacked the Floatzel causing it to faint. Naano subconsciously threw a Pokeball. It wiggled, and Shadow sat next to it hopefully....

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♦ ♦ Naano Hotaru ♦ ♦

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The Pokeball clicked shut, holding the Floatzel inside. She simply stood there for a while before retrieving it, but when she finally did some of the pain actually went away. About to open the Pokeball, her Eevee began to glow and shine. Naano looked up shocked, Shadow was evolving!
Soon, he no longer stood before her as an Eevee, but instead as an Umbreon. Shadow looked so...majestic. Naano was awed, and she slowly crept up to her Pokemon, hugging it. "You worked so hard, you deserve this." Shadow himself was ecstatic. Hopping about, he licked her face so as to show her to be just as happy. She smiled and chuckled at the over-excited Pokemon. Even though her team had been taken, that didn't mean she couldn't build another. She needed to either way, in order to meet up with Ayato and beat him, but those Pokemon weren't near this town yet.
Still hugging her new Umbreon, she clicked open the Pokeball holding Floatzel and healed him. "Hi there, I suppose I have to thank you." "Floooooatzel! Float floatzel!" ("Indeed! But it was my pleasure, and it will still be mine to travel with you.")
Deciding it was time to go back, she allowed her Pokemon to walk alongside her towards the Pokemon center.
She opened the door quietly, and tiptoed through the room. Naano wasn't sure if Ryan was asleep, but she didn't want to bother him either way. Shadow had grown to almost four times his size, and Floatzel was a large Pokemon as well. There wasn't room for all three of them on the twin bed, so Naano gave them the bed while she pulled a chair by the window. She didn't want to go back to sleep in fear of another nightmare, so she just watched the stars as the warm breeze flowed into the room.
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♦ ♦ Naano Hotaru ♦ ♦

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Naano had been continuously staring out the window and thinking. The glowing like had caused her to jump. It was such a contrast to the darkness. As she fell from her chair she looked around dumbfounded. Miku and Shadow woke up as well, but they weren't startled one bit.
From the ground, Naano looked up at Ryan on the bed as he and Lulu looked at each other. Oh my, she had evolved! Tonight seemed to bring such good tidings.
Picking herself up from the floor, she slowly walked up to the pair. "Well Lulu, it seems we'll have to get you a bigger flower." The one she had set behind her earlier wasn't as prominent due to her growth spurt, Naano'd find a new one.
Her smile was meek, but genuine none the less. Shadow hopped off the bed to get a closer look at Lulu, but didn't want to get too close. Ruining the moment for the trainer and his shiny would be wise to avoid. "Umbreon, Umbreeee" ("Wow Lulu! Just look at you! You're so much bigger!") He was still young, and wasn't quite good at complements, and didn't realize that you never commented on a female's size, no matter what species. Mizu simply nodded towards her respectively.
Straightening up, Naano looked outside, it was still dark but from Ryan's posture and strange look it didn't seem like he'd be going back to sleep anytime soon.
"Do you want to head out?" Was all she said. It was obvious his dreams hadn't been much nicer than hers, but she noted that doting on him wouldn't do much. But she could tell her question would hint at her concern, due to her tone.
Something told her that Ryan would gladly move along with her. "I want to catch that b*****d, and burn his little snowy soul..." Oh snow, how she despised it at this point.

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♦ ♦ Naano Hotaru ♦ ♦

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Naano got on her shoes and gathered her things, almost forgetting her grandfather's picture. She paused with it in her hands, and stared for a few moments. What would he have done in her situation when Ayato played her like the fool she was? She knew that he wouldn't have stopped, he wouldn't have gone back to rest before heading off. She was disgusted by herself.
Finally collecting herself she tired to act normal and they headed out.
Once again they walked in silence, but Naano didn't mind. It had grown to be a comfortable silence, and she knew Ryan preferred it that way. She knew Ryan? No, she didn't know him, she shouldn't make assumptions. The last time she did that she ended up torn inside.
The road they took was relatively straight, allowing her to stare up at the sky as they walked. The moonlight reflected itself in her eyes, giving them a shiny glaze; accentuating their color and making them glow. Her Umbreon and Floatzel trotted alongside her, playing little games along the way. Mizu seemed to be very affectionate towards Shadow as he pat him on the head once in a while between their conversations. She still had the picture in her hand, and refused to let go.
The words repeated 'My little Butterfly girl'. They refused to stop, and eventually Naano had to excuse herself for a moment and briskly walked into the woods, leaving her Pokemon with Ryan. She placed her weight upon a tree and stood there, trying to calm down. But the words wouldn't go away. "I don't want this, go away." she gasped. A few seconds later, the voice died down and she returned slightly breathless with shaking hands.
She brought her attention back to the sky.
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♦ ♦ Naano Hotaru ♦ ♦

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As Ryan broke the silence, she couldn't help but blush. Stopping she looked at her shaking hands. "It was never about Ayato...it was about the both of you." She said quietly "I was trying to avoid thinking of only one of you, that was the point of my actions." Looking him in the eyes, she said "And i never said we couldn't be, I said I didn't know what this was." Covering her heart she continued as she chuckled darkly "But you make a good point, although calling him a dog is giving him too much credit."
Naano thought back to the warm feeling of not only being held and kissed by Ryan, but also her kissing him on the cheek. Hadn't she done the same for Ayato? No...she hadn't. In fact, there was something different about both, something that she couldn't put her finger on.
The warm breeze blew her pigtails gently as she stood, thinking. So much thinking.
Finally, she briskly walked up to Ryan and clasped her arms around his middle and laid her head upon his chest; like she had all those time before. "Will you help me?" Realizing the vagueness of her question she said "Warmth, I want to know what it means."
Her voice was still lacking most emotion, but her words carried on the warmth that she was feeling in her chest and settled themselves upon Ryan. Would he feel them too?
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