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Hands of Fate-Chapter 16

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A FerrisWheel Shipping Fanfiction

Chapter 16

"Oh, good! You're finally up!" Touko jumped a little at the high-pitched, childlike voice. She looked up to see a girl with familiar purple hair standing in the doorway at the other end of the room, wearing a relieved smile as she walked up to Touko and plopped down beside her on the bed. "You really had us worried, y'know. Is sleeping for that long healthy?"

Touko raised a confused eyebrow. When looked up and saw sunlight pouring in from the window, her jaw dropped a little. "How long was I out?"

"Let me think," Iris pursed her lips and counted her fingers. "If I found you hanging upside-down from that tree yesterday afternoon, and it's almost midday right now... I'd say you've been sleeping like a log close to a full 24 hours!"

The brunette's jaw dropped even further. I've been asleep for an entire day?! Before she could voice this concern, a sneeze erupted from her mouth. She soon realized that she couldn't breathe through her nose and that the pressure in her nose was giving her a headache. "Ugh..."

"Maybe that's why you slept for so long," Iris mused, checking Touko's temperature by placing her hand on her forehead. "Looks to me like you may have a cold, Touko!"

"No, I'm fine." Touko argued, pulling away from the young teen and swinging her legs over the side of the bed. "It's just a stuffed-up nose."

"Ah, don't-!" Iris's warning came a second too late. Touko landed face down on the hardwood floor after attempting to stand, letting out a yelp of pain. "Wh-What happened to my ankle?!"

"Like I said," Iris said as she helped Touko back onto the bed. "I found you hanging upside-down from a tree yesterday afternoon. Your foot got tangled up in a bunch of branches and prevented you from falling to the ground. You're lucky you only twisted it a little! You'll be able to fully walk on it again in a few days. But, for now, you should stay off of it as much as you can."

Touko pushed her bangs out of her eyes and leaned her back against the wall, groaning in frustration. So now I'm bedridden. Great.

"As for your arm," Iris continued as she propped the swollen, bruised foot on a pillow. "I could tell that you broke it recently, though why it wasn't in a cast escapes me. It's healed a lot already, but it still has a ways to go before it's completely healed. I hope you don't mind that I wrapped it up." Touko shook her head once. "What were you doing in that tree anyway?"

Before Touko could answer, there was a knock at the door. "Is everything alright in here, Iris?" Asked the bearded man who just opened the door, Alder standing behind him. "We heard yelling and... Oh! You didn't wake our guest up, did you?"

"No!" She huffed, placing her fists on her hips and pouting. "She woke up on her own accord, Master!"

He held his hands up in a 'calm down' manner. "Alright, alright. No need to shout."

"It's good to see that you're finally awake, Touko." Alder commented as he and Iris's Master entered the room. "In case you're wondering, this is Drayden, Opelucid City Gym Leader and master of dragons. You've already met Iris, who was kind enough to bring you to their home after she found you. Why were you in that tree, anyway?"

"I was just asking her that before you guys barged in..." Iris mumbled under her breath, turning to face Touko for her answer.

"Not much," The brunette lightly said, trying to sound as calm as possible. "Practicing my tree-climbing skills. Hiding from a homicidal Hydreigon trying to shoot me out of the sky. Looking for-"

"I'm sorry, what?!" Iris interrupted, she, Alder, and Drayden sharing incredulous expressions. "A Hydreigon attacked you?!"

"Yup. I was just testing how long my Chandelure could stay airborne while I held onto his arms when this Hydreigon comes out of nowhere and starts attacking us. We fought it, but it proved to be very tough and I was careless enough to get hit by one of its attacks, which busted my cast off."

"That explains that," Drayden concluded, but still looked concerned. "What happened to this Hydreigon?"

"I was able to trick it by hiding in that tree and it eventually left. But then my footing slipped and...you get the idea."

Alder held his chin in his hand. "Perhaps there should be a lookout for this Hydreigon, in case it decides to attack anyone else."

"That won't be necessary, Alder. Though we couldn't defeat it, we gave it a good battle. It won't be coming back any time soon." Touko gave them her best reassuring smile. "I'll be fine. We have more important things to deal with at the moment, anyway, like what to do about Reshiram."

"Right. Of course." Drayden agreed, but then sighed. "Unfortunately, I'm afraid that your coming here was for naught, Alder and Touko. I know not how to reawaken the legendary dragon of truth from its slumber."

"That's alright." Alder assured the Gym Leader, patting his shoulder and smiling. "The information you've provided about the original legend was already more than I've bargained for. For that I thank you."

Eventually, Drayden nodded in understanding. "What will you be doing now, Champion Alder?"

"For now, I'll return to the Pokémon League and prepare for my upcoming battle. Touko," Alder approached the brunette, pulling a purple PokéBall out of his pocket and offering it to her. "Take this and prepare for your own League challenge. In the off-chance that I don't defeat him, you'll have to awaken Reshiram and be the one to defeat N. I know it's a lot to ask of someone as young as you, especially in your current condition, but can I count on you to help protect the way things are?"

Touko nodded. "Of course you can. And you shouldn't worry too much about me." She assured him, accepting the Master Ball and slipping it into her pocket. "I'm sure I'll find a way to-to-ACHOO!"

Alder jerked away from the sneeze, still worried about whether or not the teen would be ready to take on such responsibilities. "Recover your strength, Touko." He said as he walked out of the room. "You're gonna need it."

------------

"C'mon, c'mon. Pick up already..." The device rang one more time before the words 'CALL DROPPED' appeared on its screen, followed by the option to leave a voice-mail or not. Touko pressed the 'YES' command. "Hey. It's me...again. Give me a call when you get this, please? I wanna talk to you. Okay, bye."

Click! Beeeeeeeeep...

Touko cursed under her breath and held her head in her hand. That was the eleventh time she called Bianca on her Xtransciever since the time Alder, Drayden, and Iris left the room about half an hour ago. Not a single call got through and all ended in a similar fashion to this attempt to start apologizing for what happened at the Icirrus City Pokémon Center.

She's probably still angry at me, that's why she doesn't want to talk to me. Touko grimly concluded, closing her eyes and massaging her forehead. Just another reason to hate myself...

There was a knock at the door. "I have some medicine to help your cold." Iris's voice said from the other side. "May I come in?"

"Yes, of course." At hearing Touko's answer, the purple-haired girl pushed the door open and entered the room, carrying a glass of water and pill. "Just a heads-up," Iris cautioned as she handed Touko the medicine and the water. "It's all natural and will taste a little bitter."

Just as Iris said, the pill left a bitter aftertaste on Touko's tongue after she swallowed it. After hastily washing away most of the bitterness with many gulps of water, Touko meekly smiled at the young teen. "I feel bad for imposing on you and Drayden like this. Thank you for your hospitality, either way."

"Think nothing of it!" Iris assured her, taking back the now empty glass. "You know, it is said that some things in this life, like who we'll meet and form bonds with, are predetermined. It's probably the same with you being the hero of truth. If you really are going to reawaken Reshiram and take on this N guy and Zekrom, you're gonna need to get better soon so you can do as Alder said and take on the League. Master and I are more than happy to help you out anyway we can. And another thing," She added as she walked out the door. "As long as you're here, we'll make sure that Hydreigon doesn't even think about attacking you again!"

As soon as Iris left, Touko's smile quickly drooped into a deep frown over the fact that she didn't tell the entire truth about the Hydreigon attack. There was no way to explain how she was taken over by someone else that knew Ghetsis was waiting for her on the Tubeline Bridge and that Hydreigon belonged to him, not without making it sound like she was crazy, at least. These people were counting on her to become the hero of truth and take down Team Plasma once and for all. No need for them to think she wasn't fit to fulfill this so-called predetermined destiny now. Not when that day of destiny felt so close at hand.

Even though she detested lying and never wanted to in the first place.

And the list keeps growing. Angry with herself, she leaned back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. I wonder, did the other me - the dream me - even have to deal with Team Plasma and legendary dragons and everything I'm going through right now? She held her left arm in front of her face and sighed. How nice it must be for her, now that she has everything she could've ever wished for and her life is perfect...

------------

The tinkling of a wind chime swaying in the light breeze entered in from the open glass door, filling the room with its soothing, airy melodies. Touko and her boyfriend were repainting her bedroom, changing its walls from their boring white into a light gray hue that matched the rest of the room's layout very well. They had been working all afternoon and, with only the east wall left to paint, Touko was becoming more and more anxious to finish the job.

He, however, didn't share her enthusiasm.

"You missed a spot." She noted, pointing to an area on his half of the wall where she saw where he hadn't painted yet.

"Hmm..." He distractedly mumbled, bringing his brush to the area and lazily applying the paint with uneven strokes.

Touko pouted at him. Accidentally, the tip of her paintbrush grazed the side of his hand, marking his skin with the wet gray paint. He peeked at her over his shoulder. "Please mind where you're painting." He politely asked before returning his eyes to his work.

She shyly looked down, but then her lips curved up in a smirk. It may have been a somewhat cold reaction, but she got him to react nonetheless. Acting on her quickly concocted plan, she slyly touched the tip of her brush to his hand again. When he looked at her, she had already retracted the brush, a coy look on her face as she continued painting. After he looked away, she did the same thing, only this time to his forearm.

An annoyed huff passed through his lips. "Please stop."

"Make me." She taunted before slathering some paint on his cheek.

He swiftly caught her wrist, holding it firmly and spinning her so they faced each other. He glared down at her, making her even more startled than before. "This isn't funny, Touko. Knock it off." He ordered, eyes and voice stern as he released her wrist.

Blushing madly, she looked down and held her hands behind her back. "Sorry," She meekly apologized. "It's just... You've been acting so distant and distracted today. I just wanted to lighten the mood, that's all! I didn't mean to upset you or anythi-"

She flinched when something wet touched the tip of her nose. She looked up and saw him retract his brush from in front of her face, a mischievous grin spread across his own.

He totally just played her.

She let out a scoff. "Oh, it's on now!"

Both laughed as they fenced with their brushes, gray paint flying through the air between them and flecking their faces and clothes. Their mock fight lifted the air of tension his earlier mood created, replacing it with childish fun and innocence Touko had unwarily been missing. They took swipes at each other with their paint-coated brushes, one of Touko's hitting him near his eye. He dropped his brush and backed away, holding his hand over his eye.

"Oh, gosh! I'm sorry!" Feeling guilty, she dropped her own brush and approached him. "Are you okay-?!"

He suddenly threw his arms around her and lifted her off the ground. "Gotcha." He huskily whispered in her ear.

Embarrassment struck Touko from being tricked again. Who knew he could be so cunning? She let out a 'hmph' and had her revenge by tickling his sides. He squirmed and laughed at her fingers, soon losing his balance and falling onto his backside with an 'Oof!'. "Gotcha." She playfully purred in his ear.

Still locked in an embrace, they started rolling around on the floor, still laughing. They eventually stopped, gasping in exhaustion. As they continued to stare at each other, a snicker - which soon turned into more laughter - escaped her mouth. He looked absolutely goofy and comical with the splotches of gray painting his face. He soon joined in her laughter; she must have looked a tad bit ridiculous as well.

When her laughter died down, she froze when she realized where their rolling around had landed them in. She was on her back, her hands above her head. He was kneeling over her, his knees on either side of her legs and his hands on either side of her head. Their positions - him pinning her down and she splayed out beneath him - made her blush. He soon stopped laughing when he saw her blush, also freezing when he realized their current positions. He blinked a few times before looking away, a pale pink blush highlighting his cheekbones.

Ever since his birthday a few weeks ago, there had been an air of awkwardness surrounding the pair whenever they were alone together. It was also during the time between that night and right now that he insisted on sleeping in separate rooms, to avoid any more situations like what almost went down that night. The memory making her feel embarrassed and shy, her blush deepened. She noticed something a few feet away out of the corner of her eye and turned her head to get a better look at it. "What's that?"

She saw him follow her gaze. She also saw his eyes fill with panic before he lifted himself away from her and made a mad dash for the object. She sat up and watched him quickly remove the paint from his hands with the hand towel in his back pocket before scooping up the unknown object, pursing her lips in a curious frown as both he and she wiped their faces free of paint. "Really, what is that?" She asked again, rising to her feet and approaching him.

His back facing her, he slipped the object into his pocket and scratched the back of his head. "I told myself that keeping it on me at all times was a guaranteed way to make sure it didn't get lost. But, it was really a guaranteed way for you to see it ahead of time. I had everything planned out perfectly for tonight, too. A picnic on the beach, watching the sunset together, and at that moment I would've..." He sighed in defeat and frustration. "Can't do that anymore, now that you've seen it..."

Touko was really confused now. She stopped just behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "What are you talking about?"

All was quiet in the room, save for the ringing wind chime. After a moment, he inhaled sharply and turned around, clasping her hands in both of his and staring deeply into her eyes.

"I know we have only been together for a few months," He explained, saying each word carefully and steadily. "But I have never felt more sure of myself when I say that I love you, and that I could never love anyone else more than I love you. I wish to be the only one you love as much as I love you. I wish to be by your side for the rest of my life. You want to know why I have acted so preoccupied today?" He pulled the object out of his pocket and pressed it into her palm so that they both held it at the same time. "This is why."

Her eyes widened at what they held. "Oh..."

"I have read about this," He continued as she stared at the little box in their hands. "And seen it done in movies and on TV. This may not be the most romantic of settings, but I cannot wait for this moment any longer. I have already asked permission from your friends and Pokémon, and they all give their blessings. If you grant me this honor, it would make me the happiest man in the world. I already gave you my word that I would always stay by your side, no matter what, for the rest of my life. Well," He dropped down onto one knee. "I just want to make it official."

Her right hand covered her mouth. "
Ohh..."

"Touko Lydia White," He carefully opened the small, black velvet box, revealing a simple yet stunningly beautiful diamond ring. He stared deeply into her eyes with love, confidence, and pleading, and asked:

"Will you marry me?"

Her heart beat wildly in her chest. She took many deep breaths. Her cheeks turned a rosy pink. She couldn't believe it.

He was proposing.

"...Yes."

"Yes?" He repeated, his face lighting up.

Her lips curving into a smile, she slowly nodded. "Yes. Yes. Yes." A combination of a laugh and a sob leaving her mouth, she threw herself onto him and wound her arms around his neck. "Yes yes yes! Of course I'll marry you!!"

Smiling and laughing in relief and ecstasy, he wrapped his arms around her and rose to his feet, lifting her off the ground and spinning around. After a while, he stopped spinning and gingerly placed her back on the ground, both wearing smiles that spread ear to ear. He lifted her left hand and gently slid her engagement ring onto her ring finger. She held it in front her face to examine it. It shone brilliantly in the light and fit perfectly. After examining it a moment longer, Touko gasped.

"This is...my mother's ring?" She asked in astonishment. He nodded. "But I thought... How did you...?"

"Bianca." In seeing her baffled expression, he elaborated. "Last week, when we were visiting Nuvema, I started asking her about rings. She told me that her mother had stopped your mother from selling her ring off for...you know what, and that her mother still had it, waiting for the right moment to give it to you. When she realized that I was going to propose, Bianca retrieved it, saying, 'What better way and time to give Touko her mom's wedding ring than by asking her to marry you?'" He paused for a moment, expressing concern because her eyes were moist. "Is this alright with you?"

Touko's tears were of happiness, not sorrow. Her best friend's family had kept this precious memento of her mother safe for all these years, and her newly made fiancé was thoughtful enough to ask for her hand in marriage with it. Nothing could spoil this euphoric moment for her. "More than alright." She told him, sniffling as she brought her hands to her heart. "It's perfect. Thank you."

He held her chin in his hand and turned her head back up to kiss her tears away. He pulled back a little and looked deeply into her eyes, wearing a loving, joyous smile. "I love you, Touko."

Returning the smile, she placed her right hand on his cheek, whispering before sharing their first kiss as an engaged couple, "I love you, too."


------------

She told herself that when she came out of another strangely real dream, she would not think about it at all. But, when Touko woke up in the room Iris and Drayden provided for her, she sat up and stared straight at her hand in longing. Even now, as she stared at her left ring finger again, she couldn't help but feel the same longing as before. Because, even though it may have just been a dream...

She was getting married.
*I did NOT draw this pic. I found it here: [link] All credits for this pic go to the artist!

I'm uploading this from work. Chapter 16!!~ :iconleleleplz:

Chapter trivia: I gave Touko a cold because I currently have a sinus infection. Not fun. :|
The wind chimes in the dream are based off the wind chime outside the house I work in. :meow:

..........................

Based on what happens in this chapter, I'm not gonna say anything and leave it up to your imaginations.
However, I will say this:

S
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G
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M
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:iconimhappyplz::iconimhappierplz::iconimevenhappierplz::iconimhappiestplz::iconimtoohappyplz::iconseriouslytoohappyplz:

Pokemon and all its characters belong to Nintendo.
Story is mine.
Have a wonderful day/afternoon/night/whatever.~ :heart:

*EDIT P.S. you can now read Chapter 17 here: [link]
© 2012 - 2024 FallenFromInsanity
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