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Description
He stirred awake as he felt himself shift.

It took him a moment to remember where he was in his daze--his Pokeball, which had been comfortably sitting amongst the others on a nice, warm shelf. For a moment, he wondered why the Professor had picked his ball up. His eyes quickly began to close again and thus he decided that he didn't care. Little seemed as important as that giant berry tree he was snacking on in his slumber. The Mawile did not get a chance to fall back into dreamland, however, as with one click he was called forth.

He let himself stretch out and gave a yawn; his horns 'yawned' along with him. He was a bit scruffier than some Mawile; his fur was a tad longer and jutted out in some places. He had already heard the Professor's voice from inside the Pokeball, but it took him a second to realize...he had been speaking with someone. And that someone was now standing before him, looking at him with blue-green eyes.

"M-maw?"

"-- guidance of the stars, I believe Mawile is the best partner for you! I hope you two have a long lasting companionship!"

He blinked in rapid confusion, and looked from one human to the other. Him? He had been chosen for this girl's starter? He looked back to her and was met with her warm smile. She had long, thick tresses that had almost a metallic shine to them and covered the left side of her face. There was a dreamy look in the human's eye, and she stood politely with both hands in front of her. She looked to be an almost gentle sort of person...He didn't even realize he was staring until she spoke:
"It's a p-p-p-pleasure to meet you, M-Mawile. My n-name is Kimimi." She bent down a little, and reached out a lithe hand for him to take. It was then he finally reacted.

"Wile!" he stepped back as if her hand was a striking Ekans, and was just as quick to glare at Kimimi. He gave her little time to question his change in behavior, as he turned away from them both. He folded his arms over his chest stubbornly and left Kimimi wide-eyed.

Professor Larix sighed and scratched at his cheek. "I was afraid of this," he softly admitted. His brows furrowed with concern as the Mawile gave him a sideways glare for even daring to bring him out here...and promptly went back to ignoring them both.

"Pardon me, b-but...?" Kimi spoke up.

"Ahh, well...You see, you're not the first Trainer this Mawile would have had. O-or the second...or third. This little guy is eager but a bit stubborn, you see, and I guess he had some trouble getting along with his trainer. They returned with him after only a week. Since then, it's just...been getting worse. Each time, I think he loses a bit more faith. I had hoped if I gave him a break, time would heal his wounds." The man let out another heavy sigh, "I guess not.
...If you'd like, I could check to see who else--"

Kimimi raised a hand to gently interrupt the Professor. "I-if it won't be too much of a b-bother," she began, "I'd like to tr-try and convince him."

The Mawile opened one curious red eye at this. Convince him? he laughed in his head. He'd love to see her try! She wasn't any different from the rest--They all had said they didn't mind or it wouldn't be a problem...but in the end he always came back here. Stewing in his own thoughts, he didn't notice Kimimi kneel down next to him and so he gave a bit of a jump. Apprehensive, he tensed up and waited for her to try something...anything. But to his surprise, she merely sat there and until he calm down first. And once he did...

"Y-you...you've been alone for a l-long time, haven't you?" she inquired. Her voice was barely above a whisper, as though this was something private for just him to hear. "I would like it if w-w-we traveled together, and I think you'd like to f-finally get out of the lab. So...I promise I won't leave without you, alright?"
...well no one had ever said it like THAT before...

He felt his blood rush to his cheeks and almost reluctantly he turned his back to her again. "M-mawile...!" he huffed and pouted, cheeks still reddening. He heard her chuckle, and that only caused him to blush and wrinkle his muzzle more.

"How about I get us some tea?"

"That s-sounds wonderful, Professor. Please, allow m-m-me to assist."

He peeked over his shoulder and found that she was already walking off with Larix. He frowned over this. Wasn't she suppose to try and convince him? Why was she walking away!
...Why did he care that she was?

Over the next several hours, Kimimi kept a respectable distance from the Mawile, who lurked around the corners and hurried away once he was caught watching. Not once did she try to urge him towards anything, or corner him, or told him to come out of hiding. Instead, she just had some tea and helped the Clefairy trio clean up around the lab and whatnot, and give him more warm smiles when he caught her eye. She even laid out a dish of food for him and left him to eat in peace. It was baffling! How was this convincing him? It wasn't it wasn't! he told himself. Maybe she was playing some sort of joke on him. Wanted to lure his guard down...! He just had to wait until she went away. But day eventually turned to night, and Professor Larix offered the young woman a blanket and a place on the couch.

"I apologize for troubling you like this," she said.

"Think nothing of it! I only wish I had a more suitable place for you to sleep."

"This will do just f-fine, thank you. I bid you good night, Professor." The lights were turned out, and the Mawile watched them part from some lofty alcove overlooking the couch. He rubbed a tired eye and decided to turn in for the night as well. He was wiggling himself into comfort when he heard her speak up:
"Good night to you too, little Mawile."

This was met with silence, and that with even more silence. His hand tightened into fists as he bid himself not to turn and look, and instead shut his eyes tight in hopes that sleep would come soon. But it never did. He tossed and turned for a long while, only to get more frustrated at himself. He turned on his side and saw Kimimi sleeping soundly below him, and it was only then his muscles seemed to relax. The Mawile sat up to stare at the sleeping human, and wondered to himself...why was she still here? He thought back to this morning: 'I promise not to leave without you, alright?'
The sharp glint in his eyes softened just a bit, before he let out a wistful sigh. He wasn't the only one to have caught it however, as the Professor let out a quiet cough to announce himself.

With a small grin, the man nodded to the Mawile to stay quiet lest they woke up their guest. "I've always been a man that looked to the stars for answers and insight," he told the Pokemon, "I believe in fate and endless possibilities...you know this. This time, however, I think you should look inside yourself. I can't tell you what to do, or if this thing would work out well, but for your sake...wouldn't it be alright to try just once more?"

The Mawile didn't answer him. Instead, he turned his gaze back to the still sleeping Kimimi for a moment...before turning away in attempt to go to sleep at last. He had been hurt before...did he really want to try again? To have that hope broken again? Still--'I promise not to leave without you, alright?'
'I promise not to leave without you.'
'I promise not to leave.'
...he didn't know when he finally went to sleep.

He awoke the next morning to the sound of a door closing. The Mawile grumbled to himself and turned to his other side. Through his groggy eyes, he peeked out at the room and noticed the couch was empty.
...his eyes snapped open and he sat up in shock; the couch was empty! The door...could that have been? He jumped down from the alcove and hurried to the front door. The lab was quiet that morning and he only heard his own footsteps as he scrambled to peek out the front window. He was out of breath when he got there. He couldn't describe the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach when he found no one out front. He clenched at the window sill until his fingers threatened to make dents in the wood; he forced himself to shut his eyes...

"--Were you looking for the P-Professor? He's gone out for an errand, I'm af-fraid."

The Mawile turned with wide eyes and saw Kimimi standing behind him with the blanket wrapped around her shoulders. Her hair was a bit more wavy, as though she had only just woken up. She smiled at him as always. "He said he'll be back within the hour, so you don't have to worry about him being g-gone for long," she said before presumably walking back to the couch.

She...she hadn't left. She didn't leave.
...

Some time later, Kimimi was sitting on the couch with her Pokegear out to watch for recent news. Out of the blue, she felt a small hand grab her pants leg and was mildly surprised to find the Mawile there. He had his head bowed and looked like his was pouting again. This was the first time he had approached her; "Is...something the matter?" she asked softly. He didn't respond, though she expected that. What she didn't expect was him bumped his forehead against her leg and scooting a bit closer to her, all the while avoiding her gaze. The horns that made his second jaw then reared up and curled into a 'c' and plopped his Pokeball down in her lap. She picked it up gingerly and looked between it and the oddly bashful Mawile clinging to her leg. "...Does this m-m-mean you'd like to come with me?" Kimimi asked, with a bit of a laugh.

At this, the Mawile started blushing again as if offended and stomped his feet stubbornly. "MaWILE! W-wile!" he snapped and did his little awkward dance. However, he only seemed to make himself pout in even more embarrassment and he ran his hands over his head in annoyance. With one final cry, the Mawile jumped up and slapped the button on the Pokeball and let himself be enveloped by that familiar red glow.

Kimimi was left staring at the now occupied Pokeball in her hands, before she began to laugh again. "You're a strange one, aren't you?
I think...I think I'll call you 'Onoir'..."

END

Description
He stirred awake as he felt himself shift.

It took him a moment to remember where he was in his daze--his Pokeball, which had been comfortably sitting amongst the others on a nice, warm shelf. For a moment, he wondered why the Professor had picked his ball up. His eyes quickly began to close again and thus he decided that he didn't care. Little seemed as important as that giant berry tree he was snacking on in his slumber. The Mawile did not get a chance to fall back into dreamland, however, as with one click he was called forth.

He let himself stretch out and gave a yawn; his horns 'yawned' along with him. He was a bit scruffier than some Mawile; his fur was a tad longer and jutted out in some places. He had already heard the Professor's voice from inside the Pokeball, but it took him a second to realize...he had been speaking with someone. And that someone was now standing before him, looking at him with blue-green eyes.

"M-maw?"

"-- guidance of the stars, I believe Mawile is the best partner for you! I hope you two have a long lasting companionship!"

He blinked in rapid confusion, and looked from one human to the other. Him? He had been chosen for this girl's starter? He looked back to her and was met with her warm smile. She had long, thick tresses that had almost a metallic shine to them and covered the left side of her face. There was a dreamy look in the human's eye, and she stood politely with both hands in front of her. She looked to be an almost gentle sort of person...He didn't even realize he was staring until she spoke:
"It's a p-p-p-pleasure to meet you, M-Mawile. My n-name is Kimimi." She bent down a little, and reached out a lithe hand for him to take. It was then he finally reacted.

"Wile!" he stepped back as if her hand was a striking Ekans, and was just as quick to glare at Kimimi. He gave her little time to question his change in behavior, as he turned away from them both. He folded his arms over his chest stubbornly and left Kimimi wide-eyed.

Professor Larix sighed and scratched at his cheek. "I was afraid of this," he softly admitted. His brows furrowed with concern as the Mawile gave him a sideways glare for even daring to bring him out here...and promptly went back to ignoring them both.

"Pardon me, b-but...?" Kimi spoke up.

"Ahh, well...You see, you're not the first Trainer this Mawile would have had. O-or the second...or third. This little guy is eager but a bit stubborn, you see, and I guess he had some trouble getting along with his trainer. They returned with him after only a week. Since then, it's just...been getting worse. Each time, I think he loses a bit more faith. I had hoped if I gave him a break, time would heal his wounds." The man let out another heavy sigh, "I guess not.
...If you'd like, I could check to see who else--"

Kimimi raised a hand to gently interrupt the Professor. "I-if it won't be too much of a b-bother," she began, "I'd like to tr-try and convince him."

The Mawile opened one curious red eye at this. Convince him? he laughed in his head. He'd love to see her try! She wasn't any different from the rest--They all had said they didn't mind or it wouldn't be a problem...but in the end he always came back here. Stewing in his own thoughts, he didn't notice Kimimi kneel down next to him and so he gave a bit of a jump. Apprehensive, he tensed up and waited for her to try something...anything. But to his surprise, she merely sat there and until he calm down first. And once he did...

"Y-you...you've been alone for a l-long time, haven't you?" she inquired. Her voice was barely above a whisper, as though this was something private for just him to hear. "I would like it if w-w-we traveled together, and I think you'd like to f-finally get out of the lab. So...I promise I won't leave without you, alright?"
...well no one had ever said it like THAT before...

He felt his blood rush to his cheeks and almost reluctantly he turned his back to her again. "M-mawile...!" he huffed and pouted, cheeks still reddening. He heard her chuckle, and that only caused him to blush and wrinkle his muzzle more.

"How about I get us some tea?"

"That s-sounds wonderful, Professor. Please, allow m-m-me to assist."

He peeked over his shoulder and found that she was already walking off with Larix. He frowned over this. Wasn't she suppose to try and convince him? Why was she walking away!
...Why did he care that she was?

Over the next several hours, Kimimi kept a respectable distance from the Mawile, who lurked around the corners and hurried away once he was caught watching. Not once did she try to urge him towards anything, or corner him, or told him to come out of hiding. Instead, she just had some tea and helped the Clefairy trio clean up around the lab and whatnot, and give him more warm smiles when he caught her eye. She even laid out a dish of food for him and left him to eat in peace. It was baffling! How was this convincing him? It wasn't it wasn't! he told himself. Maybe she was playing some sort of joke on him. Wanted to lure his guard down...! He just had to wait until she went away. But day eventually turned to night, and Professor Larix offered the young woman a blanket and a place on the couch.

"I apologize for troubling you like this," she said.

"Think nothing of it! I only wish I had a more suitable place for you to sleep."

"This will do just f-fine, thank you. I bid you good night, Professor." The lights were turned out, and the Mawile watched them part from some lofty alcove overlooking the couch. He rubbed a tired eye and decided to turn in for the night as well. He was wiggling himself into comfort when he heard her speak up:
"Good night to you too, little Mawile."

This was met with silence, and that with even more silence. His hand tightened into fists as he bid himself not to turn and look, and instead shut his eyes tight in hopes that sleep would come soon. But it never did. He tossed and turned for a long while, only to get more frustrated at himself. He turned on his side and saw Kimimi sleeping soundly below him, and it was only then his muscles seemed to relax. The Mawile sat up to stare at the sleeping human, and wondered to himself...why was she still here? He thought back to this morning: 'I promise not to leave without you, alright?'
The sharp glint in his eyes softened just a bit, before he let out a wistful sigh. He wasn't the only one to have caught it however, as the Professor let out a quiet cough to announce himself.

With a small grin, the man nodded to the Mawile to stay quiet lest they woke up their guest. "I've always been a man that looked to the stars for answers and insight," he told the Pokemon, "I believe in fate and endless possibilities...you know this. This time, however, I think you should look inside yourself. I can't tell you what to do, or if this thing would work out well, but for your sake...wouldn't it be alright to try just once more?"

The Mawile didn't answer him. Instead, he turned his gaze back to the still sleeping Kimimi for a moment...before turning away in attempt to go to sleep at last. He had been hurt before...did he really want to try again? To have that hope broken again? Still--'I promise not to leave without you, alright?'
'I promise not to leave without you.'
'I promise not to leave.'
...he didn't know when he finally went to sleep.

He awoke the next morning to the sound of a door closing. The Mawile grumbled to himself and turned to his other side. Through his groggy eyes, he peeked out at the room and noticed the couch was empty.
...his eyes snapped open and he sat up in shock; the couch was empty! The door...could that have been? He jumped down from the alcove and hurried to the front door. The lab was quiet that morning and he only heard his own footsteps as he scrambled to peek out the front window. He was out of breath when he got there. He couldn't describe the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach when he found no one out front. He clenched at the window sill until his fingers threatened to make dents in the wood; he forced himself to shut his eyes...

"--Were you looking for the P-Professor? He's gone out for an errand, I'm af-fraid."

The Mawile turned with wide eyes and saw Kimimi standing behind him with the blanket wrapped around her shoulders. Her hair was a bit more wavy, as though she had only just woken up. She smiled at him as always. "He said he'll be back within the hour, so you don't have to worry about him being g-gone for long," she said before presumably walking back to the couch.

She...she hadn't left. She didn't leave.
...

Some time later, Kimimi was sitting on the couch with her Pokegear out to watch for recent news. Out of the blue, she felt a small hand grab her pants leg and was mildly surprised to find the Mawile there. He had his head bowed and looked like his was pouting again. This was the first time he had approached her; "Is...something the matter?" she asked softly. He didn't respond, though she expected that. What she didn't expect was him bumped his forehead against her leg and scooting a bit closer to her, all the while avoiding her gaze. The horns that made his second jaw then reared up and curled into a 'c' and plopped his Pokeball down in her lap. She picked it up gingerly and looked between it and the oddly bashful Mawile clinging to her leg. "...Does this m-m-mean you'd like to come with me?" Kimimi asked, with a bit of a laugh.

At this, the Mawile started blushing again as if offended and stomped his feet stubbornly. "MaWILE! W-wile!" he snapped and did his little awkward dance. However, he only seemed to make himself pout in even more embarrassment and he ran his hands over his head in annoyance. With one final cry, the Mawile jumped up and slapped the button on the Pokeball and let himself be enveloped by that familiar red glow.

Kimimi was left staring at the now occupied Pokeball in her hands, before she began to laugh again. "You're a strange one, aren't you?
I think...I think I'll call you 'Onoir'..."

END