Note From Author: This is a short little fic that I decided write, and as you will notice, it's from a pokemon's point of view. The message I'm trying to get out by writing this fanfic is a question I've had for awhile that really makes me think. But anyways, I hope you enjoy reading it. ~Kitten >^.^<

      Quickly blinking open my tired eyes, I squinted into the sun gleaming down on me from the mass of blue skies above. For a moment I just lay there on my back, watching the clouds slowly drift by, before I turned over to lie on my side and stare at the grass. As I turned over, I brushed against the soft silky fur of my companion at my side. Now completely on my side, our eyes met briefly.

      My companion was a male Furret named Chestnut. Staring deep into his big black eyes always forces you to believe Furrets are the most adorable thing in the world. Not that I'll even tell him that. As for me, I'm a female Delcatty named Diamond.

      Before we were able to exchange any words, the crunching of grass sounded through the air behind us. We both swiftly jumped up to our feet, alert, to the sight of our trainer Daniel softly smiling down at us.

      "Hey guys." Daniel greeted us. "I'm back." He brushed a strand of blond hair from his aqua-green eyes with a swift movement of his hand. Then he sank back into the jet-black chair placed behind us, once again burying his nose into a book. Chestnut and I yipped in reply.

      After a few more moments of silence, I stared out at the large stadium before us. Its towers gleamed in the sunlight, as the ongoing cheers from the crowds watching battles echoed through the brisk morning air. I regretted once again staring at the stadium as the familiar feeling of my heart leaping to my throat started.

      I sighed deeply. "Chestnut, I'm so nervous." I said softly.

      Chestnut slowly stood up, stretching his long body out, before he replied. "For the hundredth time, you're a pokemon. You're too worthless to feel nervous." First a roll of the eyes, and then a grin.

      I felt my own face arise into a grin as the memories of that one moment from years ago trickled through my mind. It had been fifteen minutes before a big battle coming up that Daniel suddenly said, in a trembling voice, "You two are so lucky that you're pokemon. I can't believe how nervous I am about this battle." The irony from those sentences had always amused us over the years of offense, defense, and being knocked unconscious. They never seem to fail to help my heart sink down to normal level, too. Funny how some things work out eventually.

      After the amusement of our inside joke had slowly faded away, Chestnut and I just sat there, continuing to stare out at the stadium and then eventually, the sun sinking down into the towering mountains beyond that seemed as if they were scraping the skies of deep reds, oranges, and yellows that turned the tips of clouds floating nearby to a faded tint of pink. As Chestnut rested his head on my firm shoulder, I knew he was feeling just as nervous as I was, through the midst of the silence. I could feel the deep thudding of his heart in his chest, and with every thud, it seemed to softly whisper "Fear, fear, fear." And I knew that my heart was probably playing the same rhythm.

      My ears perked up at the sudden sound of Daniel setting his book down to stand up. Then he slowly leaned down to kneel between the two of us. "You both know which book I'm reading, right? The favorite one of mine?" He asked.

      We both nodded. Daniel continued on. "I've always been fond of reading this book right before a big pokemon battle, mainly because of the ending. How the main character's friend dies... it's just so descriptive. You can almost feel the peacefulness seeping through the air as they take their one last breath before dying. I've always tried my best to feel this same peacefulness right when I start a battle, so I can stay calm."

      I was surprised to hear Daniel so deep in thought. He had never told us anything like this before. One last breath. As I exchanged wondrous glances with Chestnut, I knew he was questioning the same thing that I was.

      The sound of Daniel's voice interrupted my thoughts. "I'm going to check the list of which battles are over, okay? Just stay right here. I'll be back." He told us, smiling, as he stood back up to walk off towards the distance. It was only after he was out of sight did Chestnut and I start the discussion.

      "How can someone's one last breath bring peacefulness to the air?" Chestnut asked in a curious tone. "It's... stupid." I could tell he was going to say something else, but I didn't mention it.

      I was silent for a moment, letting everything sink in. Then I spoke. "Of course it's not stupid." I replied calmly. "The one final breath you take before events that you know will change your life always seem to be important."

      At first I hadn't realized I said this until it had come out. I was right, though. The final breath had always been important. I just hadn't taken the time to realize it, and neither had Chestnut.

      "Hm... really?" Chestnut murmured softly. "Give me some examples."

      Examples. Of course. "Well, say, when you're behind the curtain in a dance recital, and your stomach is bouncing with that nervous feeling... then you see the curtain start to rise and you see hundreds of people beaming out at you, the bright spotlight shinning down on your own body. Right before the music starts to play, that's when you take it... that one last breath before it all begins." I explained softly. By the time I had reached the end, my voice had drifted off into a world of wonders.

      We were both silent as we sank down into our own questions about the whole situation. Chestnut then began, slowly but surely. "Or when you're at a swim meet and are standing on top of the starting blocks, about to dive into the pool to begin your event, and they've just said 'Take your mark...' During that split second before the starter buzzer goes off, you take your one last breath before you dive into the waters below."

      I nodded. Chestnut was starting to get the idea... and so was I. "And when you're about to play the clarinet solo in the school band. All the rest of the melody has already drifted away, you've stood up, and all eyes are on you, including the band director's. Then he gives you the cue to play, and right before you blow your first note, you take that one last breath." I added on.

      This time it was Chestnut's turn to nod. From then on we took turns sharing examples of when that one last breath you take always seems to be so important. Being pokemon, we had never actually experienced these moments before, but we knew. We knew what it felt like to take that final breath, that final breath that wishes for everything to be okay. After we were out of examples to share, we sank back down into the lush grass in a sudden wave of soft silence.

      I sighed. "I guess that one final breath you take, you take because you know you're nervous and things might not turn out right." I whispered softly. "But you also take it because you know there's a chance that things might work out too, and if they do, your life may never be the same. It's a breath you take to assure yourself that the nervous feeling in your heart will go away soon." I finished.

      Chestnut's eyes pierced into mine as he continued to stay silent. Before he could open his mouth to reply, the familiar sound of grass crunching beneath someone's feet sounded through the air in front of us. We looked up to the sight of Daniel grinning nervously.

      "Diamond, Chestnut, come on. Our battle will be starting soon." He told us softly, gesturing for us to get up. Chestnut and I obeyed his orders, standing up and then slowly trotting by Daniel's side. Only then did we realize that the sky had darkened. It was now nighttime. Stars twinkled above us, and the full moon glowed eerily. We could hear a radio speaker from somewhere in the distance playing a song.

"'Cause you can't jump the track

We're like cars on a cable

And life's like an hourglass glued to the table

No one can find the rewind button boys, so cradle your head in your hands

And breathe, just breathe, whoa breathe, just breathe..."

      Chestnut then glanced at me, a warm soft smile etched on his face. It was unlike anything I had seen before. "It's just like the song. That one last breath. It's like what you had said before, too. In our battle today, we don't know how it will go, but we'll still take that final breath anyways. We'll take the chance to change our lives forever for this championship."

      As I remained silent, letting the words from the song ring through my ears, I knew. I knew both Chestnut and I were right. And I knew that whether we won or lost these championship battles, Daniel would still be proud of us. It was only after a couple more minutes of nervous feelings did we all find ourselves out on the battle field, the surrounding audience's screams echoing through the brisk night air. Our opponent was standing on the other side, glaring at Daniel with a look of determination in her eyes. Her two pokemon, an Electrike and a Squirtle, were both standing before us.

      And as the judge raised both flags in his hands up into the air and shouted "Let the double battle begin!", I took my one last breath... the one last breath before everything started.

Lyrics are from the song "Breathe" by Anna Nalick.