A/N: I don't watch Pokémon often anymore so I wonder where all this inspiration is coming from… oh well; it just comes to me… I hope you all enjoy this. Bunnies will rule the world!

Fate on a Red String

Burgundy let out a loud grunt and gritted her teeth together to suppress the pain running through her body. She then fell to her knees and coughed heavily. She knew that her strength couldn't take her to the Pokémon center anymore. She'd only been able to walk these three miles on shear will power. Burgundy had hoped to have at least seen that pompous' face one last time. The tournament started in three days. Surely she would have met up with him again had she gone... She looked up at the blue sky and couldn't help but see his face with a smirk on lips- with that glint in his eyes. She pouted in despair at the realization that she wouldn't be able to watch him evaluate during his battles and those of the others. Oh, how she loved his lectures and how much she'd been abled to learn from them. Of course it was nothing that she'd openly admit to his face or that of any other person.

Burgundy coughed again and held her hands to her torso in pain. Her vision had begun to blur a while back and the swaying had her dizzy and confused but still she had kept going, in hopes of being able to see that green haired man... The man that she harbored a crush on. Or was it love?

Burgundy let her body fall forward and her cheek burned with the impact of the ground but she didn't care at this point. Her body was covered in bruises anyways, what was one more any harm? Her lavender curls were damp against her face and she knew that her clothes were torn. Burgundy scoffed to herself and the motion bought pain to her chest.

'Stupid girl... You should've paid more attention to the area. What type of Connaisseuse can you expect to become when you can't even evaluate your surroundings.'

She smirked darkly in bitterness and then found herself drifting off into a cold darkness.

When she woke up it was dark and the stars were in the sky. She pulled her body upwards and wondered if her sawbuck had recovered some of her energy back. The lilac eyed trainer opened her poke ball and released her partner.

Sawbuck still looked worn out but not as much as before due to the fact that it rushed over to Burgundy to help support her upright.

"Such a wonderful friend you are." She gave it a weak kiss and climbed on top as her Pokémon urged her to do. They travelled at a steady pace through the dark and the route they were on seemed pretty secure as no wild Pokémon appeared before them.

"Thank goodness for that. Don't you think, my dear, friend?"

Burgundy fell sleep or maybe she passed out again but she didn't notice until the sun came up at dawn and she squinted at the light.

Her sawbuck had made it to the outskirts of the city and pushed onwards, but Burgundy stopped her and got off on wobbly legs.

"That's far enough. I'll make the rest on my own. Thank you, you did a marvelous job."

Sawbuck gave her a nudge before she disappeared into the poke-ball.

Burgundy ended up finding a small clinic upon entering the city but only wavered for a second before deciding that she'd find a Pokémon center before attending to her own wounds. Seconds later a man ran out of the clinic towards her direction, "Miss are you alright?!"

Burgundy didn't glance behind her and continued onwards but then though better about it. She stopped as the man reached her.

"We can attend you, Missy. It's still early, but you need help."

Burgundy pulled out her poke balls, "Non, my Pokémon come first. Where can I find a Pokémon center?"

"Your Pokémon?"

He seemed caught off guard but then he smiled, "You're a trainer and a dedicated one at that, too."

He gave a slight laugh," I'll have my daughter take you and bring you back here so we can treat you, but you can ask to go to a hospital instead if you want. I'm not sure how injured you are."

Burgundy blushed, "Thank you."

She felt relieved but then the dizziness returned.

Ash laughed as Iris puffed up her cheeks, "You're such a kid, Ash."

Cilan laughed nervously, "Come now, Iris. Ash was only having some fun with you."

Ash smiled at Cilan, his friend, which always defended him from Iris.

Iris bit her inner cheek and pouted," Still you shouldn't mention a woman's chest so casually. You're not a kid anymore so stop acting like one."

Ash shrugged, "What's so bad? All I said that your chest isn't as soft as Dawn's."

Cilan shook his head with a mischievous smile.

That Ash…

Iris decided to ignore Ash and instead directed her attention towards a girl pushing a wheel chair towards a van.

"Hey, look, she seems familiar."

Ash looked over and so did Cilan. They didn't seem to be familiar with the girl's face, or maybe Iris had meant the one in the wheelchair but she was completely out of sight under the white cover.

"I don't remember her, Iris."

Ash looked back at her friend and then at Cilan when she didn't reply back.

"I'm sure we haven't met her, before. Is it someone you met when you lived at the Dragon village, Iris?"

Iris flounced over, "Yeah, it's her alright!"

Ash and Cilan gave each other a confused stare before following after their youngest friend.

Burgundy froze when Iris came running up towards her. She was being followed by Cilan and Ash. The fiery Connaisseuse could care less about Ash and Iris seeing her like this but not him.

Not Cilan. She wouldn't be able to stand the humiliation of facing him while she had failed once again in becoming better than him... If not his equal then she'd have to surpass him. She inconspicuously pulled the cover more firmly over her face to avoid a confrontation.

It wasn't as she had easily willed herself to do so, but there was no way she'd let his ego get more boosted by letting him see her like this.

She heard Iris talking cheerfully and then came the cheerful greet from Ginger, the daughter of the man that had helped Burgundy.

They seemed to be old friends and both Cilan and Ash introduced themselves, afterwards. They talked until Cilan asked about the person in the wheelchair.

"Oh, my father found her walking towards the Pokémon center. It seemed she got into trouble with some of the wild Pokémon toward the south of here. She fell asleep while I bought the van around and I just covered her so the morning light wouldn't wake her."

Cilan seemed concerned, "How is she? Are you taking her to the hospital?"

Iris and Ash also seemed anxious to know the stranger's well-being, "Was she alone?"

Ginger placed a finger to her lips, "Well, she was able to walk here so I don't think it's that bad. She wants to take her Pokémon to the center before having herself treated, so that's where I'm taking her."

Cilan seemed impressed, "Well it's good to know she's alright and that her love for Pokémon goes that far."

"Just like me and Pikachu!" Ash smiled as he petted his friend.

Burgundy frowned and remained silent. 'Of course if he knew it was me... He'd only lecture me.'

When Burgundy got back to the clinic she showered and then got treated before changing into her clothes and tossing the ripped ones away.

"It looks like you just have multiple bruises and a broken rib. It should heal in six weeks, but if you get any complications go see a doctor again."

Burgundy nodded. The broken rib explained the pain whenever she breathed or coughed, "I will."

She offered to pay but he only charged her half due to him admiring her strength in making it into town on her own.

Burgundy left afterwards and made her way to a hotel. She needed to rest and her Pokémon wouldn't be fully recovered until tomorrow afternoon. She sighed and flinched at the pain.

"Stupid pain."

A day later she signed up for the tournament and came across Cilan. Her pain was still present but that wouldn't stop her from seeing Cilan.

"Burgundy, we seem to meet at all these events don't we?"

"It's a small world, after all. But if I could, I'd be as far away from you as possible."

Liar. I'm the one following these tournaments in hopes of meeting with him again... Even if it only lasts a few days…

Cilan smiled and Burgundy furrowed her brows, "I'll win this whole thing."

Cilan held his chin, "Well, let's find out after the first round."

Iris snickered," She can't even get passed the first round."

Ash frowned," Well Dawn had the same problem but she surpassed that problem after training hard and kept going at it."

Cilan had met Dawn and sincerely he liked comparing her to Burgundy except their personalities were quite opposite. "I agree, Ash. Nothing's better than to keep learning to improve your skills. Whether it is for contests, battling, or in Burgundy's situation understanding the skill of evaluating Pokémon and their trainers."

Burgundy gritted her teeth and let out loud low growl, but then she found herself coughing.

Iris raised a brow and so did Ash. Cilan had a solemn smile, "You shouldn't force yourself if you're going to choke."

Burgundy glared at him," Shut up." She regained her composure and walked away from them.

Burgundy bought a water bottle out of a vending machine and drank a pain pill down.

She rubbed her side slightly to ebb the pain.

He thinks he's so smart. If he only knew I was in this pain. I wouldn't even be trying this hard if it wasn't for him.

Burgundy placed the cold bottle over her forehead, "I'll show him, I'm better than he thought."

That night, Burgundy curled up in her silk covered bed and gritted her teeth in pain to hold in her screams of rage. She gripped her sheets and shut her tearful eyes tight to stop the tears from falling but they didn't.

"You do you think your unbreakable! You think your small world is unstoppable. Don't you know who I am?!" Burgundy flinched at the pain from her ribs and sat up in the dark room. Her breath was hitched from crying. Sitting helped her breath easier... Burgundy stood up to search for her pain pills, "I'm stronger than you."

She drank the drugs with tap water and stared at her reflection in the mirror.

"Cilan, do you think you're unbreakable? I'll show you. I'll show you the pain and misery you've lead me to have."

Her curls were messed up and her face was red. Her eyes were puffy along with her nose and Burgundy found herself crying silently.

I look inférieur compared to him, but-

She tumbled back into her large bed and resumed to curl into a ball on the bed. She was tired of this feeling.

'I followed you... silently... How long must I wait for you?'

Her lilac eyes held sadness and she gripped the sheets and buried her face into the soft warm silk, "I'll cut you down!"

Her Poke balls glimmered in the dark by her nightstand...

His arms reached out to embrace her close as Burgundy held her hands to her chest. She face was scrunched up in worry.

"Come Burgundy. You've worked so hard but you should lean on me for support." Burgundy's eyes remained locked on his gentle eyes," But I've only given you trouble."

"That's not true. I enjoy your company it's like a warm cup of lemon tea."

Cilan wrapped his arms around her small waist and whispered into her ear, "Bittersweet just like your sacrifice for me."

Burgundy held her breath, " I will sacrifice all I ever have if it means being worthy of your time."

His hand gently stroked her lavender hair and smiled, "That's right."

Tears formed in her eyes, "Even if you don't notice." She buried her face in the nook of his neck and he sighed gently in return," I love you my puppet."

Burgundy shoved him away, "I'm not a puppet or some lost puppy! I don't need you! I've made it this far on my own!" Cilan smirked," But it was all for me wasn't it?"

Burgundy fumed, "You really think too highly of yourself! I'll make it your downfall! I swear you'll re-live my pain!"

Burgundy shot up in her bed and panted as sweat poured down her face, "It was just a dream, but would he care if I told him the truth?" Burgundy blushed and stared at her hands, "Not that I would ever tell him..."

Burgundy was soon on the road and held her head high. She wanted to stay and see if Cilan would win the tournament this time, but she couldn't find it in herself to see him at the moment. Not after losing again. How many times had it been already? Five? Six losses with no chance of making it to the second round... There were those tournaments that she had entered and won but still Cilan had not been present at those; so they didn't count. Burgundy would however stop by at the stadium to see if she could get a last glance of him as she would not be seeing him for a while.

She sighed deeply and pressed her back against the wall in the dark alley way. 'You shine so bright, like the brightest star in the sky.'

Burgundy wasn't thirteen anymore but twenty... That made Cilan twenty two years old.

She had attended his evaluation group meeting this afternoon, in disguise of course. He was an S-class now. She hadn't been aware of that fact till now. It was rare to cross his path. It was like she and him weren't meant to cross paths, but still she couldn't help but try to cross his path. She had finally made it to A-class and had wanted to rub it in his face but now that was down the drain... She wasn't in his standards anymore. As usual he was out of reach.

Burgundy knew she should be mad and she had been, but that was hours ago. Now all she felt was a heavy feeling in her chest.

"Non, impossible. I've been trying so hard."

"Burgundy?"

Her heart stopped for a second until Cilan came into view. He was in his usual clothes and he was ravishing as usual. Burgundy pushed away from the brick wall. "Oui."

"It's been a while. How have you been fairing?"

A/N: Some time has passed and Cilan and Burgundy haven't seen each other in a while now. Review!