Some time since I publish or update, but this one is already completed in paper and I will update it as I type the chapters in my computer.
Disclaimer: I don't own pokemon. If I did Sceptile would have kept the girl, and gave Ash a girlfriend already.
000
Pallet Town of Kanto was known for its calm atmosphere and clear streets. The town was surrounded by clean plains and dense forests were pokemons race freely around the place. All the people here is calm, collected, and of good nature. Pallet Town is, just like his name suggests, clean and pure as the pallet of an artist. Yes, nothing could truly disturb the peace and quietness of this beautiful place.
"Sceptile, come back here!"
Well, almost nothing…
In a remote hill of Pallet Town was located the laboratory of the famous pokemon researcher, the Professor Samuel Oak. Inside the lab was one of Professor Oak's trainers that he knows pretty well, Ash Ketchum and his trusted companion, friend, and starter pokemon Pikachu. Right now, Ash and Pikachu were having a big problem concerning a certain gecko grass-type pokemon. The two of them were standing outside a locked door were that pokemon was hiding just now.
Ash: come on Sceptile, open the door already.
Sceptile: (I'm not coming out unless you promise me that you won't make me do that!)
Ash: but Sceptile, you are the only one that can do it. That's why Nurse Joy had asked for you specifically.
Sceptile: (and you accepted without asking me first? You know I can't see her!)
Ash: but Sceptile, you have to help her.
Sceptile didn't answer and only remained in silence. Ash sighed in frustration as he continued watching the closed door. He didn't expect for Sceptile to react so badly to this request. He thought back about how this problem started in first place.
Flashback, 2 hours before.
Ash was at his house resting after his last adventure through Sinnho. He reached the best 4 after losing to a kid named Tobias with his Darkrai and Latios. He wasn't depressed about his loss as many people may have thought. He gave Tobias a good fight and defeated Paul, his rival through the journey, and changed his view about pokemon battles making them both friendly rivals. He was now resting in the coach of his house watching the television with his best friend Pikachu.
Ash: Man, is good to have a break before going to a new adventure, right Pikachu?
Pikachu: (you can say it again.)
"Ring ring phone call phone call"
Suddenly, the phone starting ringing. Ash's mother, Delia, went to answer it. Once she raised the video phone, the screen come back to life and in it appeared the face of a Nurse Joy. She looked the usual, pink hair in to rings and the nurse outfit. The difference was that she looked a bit troubled and concerned if her expression was any signal. She tried to hide that with a smile, but anyone could tell that it was fake.
Delia: hello this is the Ketchum residence. Who do I have the pleasure to talk to?
Nurse Joy: Hello, I'm Nurse Joy. Is Ash Ketchum there? I need to talk to him.
Delia: yes, he is here, but what do you need from him?
Nurse Joy: I just need to ask him a little favor.
Delia. Ok, just let me call him. Ash, there is someone here asking for you!
Ash and Pikachu turn around and glance at each other in confusion. They both stood up, Pikachu hopped on Ash's shoulder, and walked to the video phone. Once Delia gave the phone to Ash, she retreated again to the kitchen to prepare the dinner. When Ash and Pikachu faced the screen, Nurse Joy's expression change to one of glee.
Nurse Joy: thanks Arceus you are here. I really need your help!
Ash: uh…O-k. Which Nurse Joy are you?
Pikachu: (I swear that they are all the same. I envy Brock for noticing any difference at all.)
Nurse Joy: I'm the Nurse Joy that you met before going to the Battle Palace. You know the one with the Meganium.
Ash's and Pikachu's eyes widened sparked in recognition as a sudden memory returned to them. They remember that Nurse Joy with the Meganium that Sceptile fell for, but was rejected for the Tropius he fought with. They looked at each other, knowing that if Sceptile know about this conversation they would be dead meat. They turn back to the screen forgetting about that for now.
Ash: hello, nice to hear from you. How are things going with Meganium and Tropius?
At the mention of those two, Nurse Joy's face made a U-turn. Both, human and pokemon were confused at the sudden change from the always cheerful medic.
Nurse Joy: truth to be told. It is because of Meganium that I am calling you.
Ash: why? What happened to her?
Nurse Joy: the thing is that Meganium broke up with Tropius.
The news took Ash and Pikachu by total surprise. They find it hard to believe that because of the faces that both pokemons had last time they saw them; they looked really happy together. While Ash was still in shock for the news, Pikachu was thinking about what would be Sceptile's reaction if he heard the news. He was between screaming in glee for Tropius pain or rage for suffering so much only for them to break up.
Ash: w-what? Why? What happened?
Nurse Joy: well, the first weeks were good for both of them. Meganium was to work at the Pokemon Center were Tropius would visit her constantly and pass the night outside looking at the stars and the moon. Everything was great at that time. I would almost suspect that they would become mates.
Pikachu: (Sceptile really doesn't need to hear this.)
Ash: that sounded like they have a healthy relationship. Where does it go wrong?
Nurse Joy: WITH THAT TROPIUS WENT WRONG!
Pikachu and Ash flinched at the tone of voice with which Nurse Joy almost shouted that. She obviously was really mad at that Tropius. Nurse Joy saw both of them flinch at her outburst and quickly put a concerned expression.
Nurse Joy: Sorry about that, it's only that it enrage me only thinking about him.
Ash: it's alright, please continue.
Nurse Joy: (sigh) about a month ago Tropius' visits started to become less frequent. At first, we didn't thought nothing of it, but as time passed Meganium started to became a bit suspicious, so she decided to follow him all day without him noticing. She was gone all day and when she came back after dawn, she was crying her eyes out. She looked pretty much destroyed.
Ash: what happened?
Pikachu: (Please tell us!)
Nurse Joy: I discovered what happened the next day. Tropius cheated on her.
This revelation catch then both by even more surprise that the first ones. One thing is that they broke up, but for the Tropius to break with Meganium by cheating on her? Ash couldn't believe it and could feel how a bit of rage was building in him just like Pikachu. He was seriously considering telling everything to Sceptile so he can beat the heck out of him. After he fought for her with his heart so he could cheat on her? Sceptile will do it with pleasure.
Pikachu: (I say let Sceptile beat the hell out of him.)
Ash: My thoughts exactly Pikachu. How he dare to do that!
Nurse Joy: I know, since that happened I have negated him to be even 100 meters near the Pokemon Center. (Sigh) Sadly, the damage was done. Meganium hardly eat and is always looking depressed. She still did her work fine, but there is no emotion behind it and I'm really worried for her.
Ash: I'm sad to hear that, but where exactly I fit here?
Nurse Joy: it's not you exactly who I need help. I'm mostly talking about your Sceptile.
The moment Nurse Joy mentioned Sceptile; it became obvious for Ash and Pikachu what Nurse Joy wanted to ask. Right now, Ash started to feel a bit uneasy and look at Pikachu with a trouble expression. He knew that Nurse Joy's intentions were good, but he wasn't sure if that was the solution. Things could go from bad to worse if they take the risk.
Ash: let me guess. You want Sceptile to go there and try to cheer her up?
Nurse Joy: YES! That's exactly what I want!
As: But why Sceptile? Why not anybody else?
Pikachu: (that's true. Including that we want to prevent another break down from him.)
Nurse Joy: Because two weeks ago I was watching the Sinnho League when I heard that you reach the semi-finals. I saw how your Sceptile defeated the believed unbeatable Darkrai of Tobias. He looked so much different than the depress state he left after…uh…Meganium rejected him…
Ash understood why Nurse Joy hesitated to say that. She must think that he could get mad because of that incident. He gave her a reassuring smile, telling her that it was alright.
Ash: don't worry about it. Go on.
Nurse Joy: thanks, so I was surprise to see him totally recovered and so strong. So I thought that because he knew what it feels to be…rejected…he could do something to help Meganium overcame her depression. Please, you are the only one I could come up with.
Ash fell silent after Nurse Joy ended her explanation. He looked at the floor thinking this carefully. Pikachu looked at Ash and how seriously he was thinking this over. In other situation he would have accepted to just help someone in need, but this time it was something far more serious. He wasn't sure how Sceptile will react to the news; he could either want to do nothing related to Meganium or want to help her. Ash wanted to believe that he would want to help, but considering who they were talking about, he most likely would say no the second they mention her. Nurse Joy seems to misunderstand his expression because she now made a pleading look with teary eyes.
Nurse Joy: I know that I'm asking a lot and you have the right to say no, but your Sceptile is my last hope and I'm really desperate.
Ash: huh? Oh! No, no I wasn't mad for you to ask. I was simple thinking about how my Sceptile would react to such a petition. This kind of favor is hard to ask him.
Nurse Joy: I understand…so what will you do?
Ash: …I will help. I will try to convince him to go. If I explain the situation to him, I know he would understand. I'm sure he will agree.
End of Flashback.
Obviously, it was easier said than done. The moment Ash finished explaining the situation to Sceptile, he run away with Ash trailing him from behind. The persecution took place all over the ranch until Sceptile run to the laboratory and locked himself inside one of the rooms. That brings us to the situation at hand.
Ash: come out already Sceptile. At least lets discus this over.
Sceptile: (THERES NOTHING TO DISCUS! I won't do it and that's final! I will stay here until you accept it.)
Pikachu: (you will have to come out eventually. Nobody can stay locked forever.)
Sceptile: (want to bet?)
Ash groaned in frustration as he banged his head on the door. Sceptile was one of Ash's most stubborn pokemon only rivaled by his Charizard. He was starting to give up, but he still has one last idea to convince him. It would sound cold and mean, but he had to at least try.
Ash: Sceptile… think about it. Do you remember how you felt after Meganium rejected you? How miserable you felt?
Sceptile: (how could I forget? It was thanks to you guys that I was able to continue forward.)
Ash: you felt really bad, right? Then listen, if it hurt you so much being rejected, how do you think Meganium feels to be cheat on?
On the other side of the door, Sceptile became silent with widened eyes. He hasn't considered that. If it hurt him so much being rejected by the one you thought you love, how bad would it feels to be cheated? Ash took Sceptile's silence as a signal that he has his attention.
Ash: I think it would be ten times worse, right? I mean, to trust someone with your heart, someone that is always in your thoughts, and someone that promise his loyalty to throw everything away for no reason and forget about that fast. She must be destroyed.
Pikachu listened to everything, confuse at first, but then understood everything. Ash was guilt tripping Sceptile telling him that he needed to help Meganium that was suffering something worse than him, and it was working. Sceptile was starting to feel a bit bad about her situation. He knew that being cheat on is far worse than being rejected, because that someone betray your trust without remorse. Sceptile knew all that, but still didn't want to go. He didn't know what he could do?
Sceptile: (can't someone else do it? Surely she has more friends that can help her better than anything I do, if I can do anything at all.)
Ash knew that he was making a progress when Sceptile started playing in the defensive side. He just needed a little push and Sceptile will accept to help.
Ash: remember that she works alone with Nurse Joy in the middle of a plain. There aren't too much people to talk to. Also, you are the one that is closer to understand her problem because both of you lose a person that they both loved.
Pikachu: (ironically, it was all the Tropius fault.)
Sceptile: (even so, what could I do? I'm no softy that will sugar coat things so they didn't seem so bad. I would certainly make things worse.)
Pikachu: (you don't have to do much Sceptile. Just go there and discus the situation.)
Ash: Pikachu is right you know. We also didn't do much to help you with your problem. We just stayed with you on your hard times until you put yourself back together. What do you say?
No answer came from behind the door, Ash and Pikachu thought for a moment that Sceptile ignore what they just said and hide deeper in the room. They were ready to leave when they heard the lock of the door and saw it open. Sceptile emerge from inside the room and looked at both, human and pokemon, with an unreadable expression. They raised their hopes for a moment as they waited for Sceptile to talk. Finally, Sceptile sighed as he looked at the ground.
Sceptile: (fine…I'll do it.)
Ash: that's great Sceptile! Just let me bring your pokeball and call Nurse Joy. You wait here.
Ash turned around and jogged to the other room to retrieve Sceptile's pokeball while Pikachu and Sceptile waited for him to return. Pikachu looked at Sceptile with a smile as he continued looking at the ground in deep thoughts.
Pikachu: (good for you Sceptile. I wish you good luck.)
Sceptile: (thanks…something tells me I'm going to need it.)
Pikachu: (don't worry Sceptile. Maybe this will be good for you too!)
Sceptile: (I hope Pikachu. I hope.)
After some minutes, Ash returned with a pokeball in hand. He returned Sceptile to it as Pikachu climbed to his shoulder. Now, they both walked to the videophone that was located on the lab and dialed to the number that Nurse Joy gave him to call her back. After some calls, the screen turned on and the face of Nurse Joy appeared on the screen.
Nurse Joy: hello Ash, did you have any luck?
Ash: as a matter of fact, yes I had. It took some work, but I was able to convince Sceptile to lend us his help. Here I have his pokeball ready for transport.
Nurse Joy. Thank you so much for this. I'm sorry for all the inconveniences.
Ash: don't sweat it, we like to help.
Nurse Joy: then put it on the transportation area and I'll do the rest.
Ash: Ok, just take care of him. This could end if something goes wrong.
Nurse Joy: don't worry. At the first sign of trouble I will sent him back. I just hope it doesn't reach to that.
Ash didn't said anything else and deposited Sceptile's pokeball in the transportation area. Some sparks started to emit and in a bright light the pokeball disappeared. Ash turned back his attention to the screen again where Nurse Joy disappeared for a moment. When she came back, she had a pokeball in her hand.
Nurse Joy: Sceptile arrive safely here.
Ash: ok, take care of him. I will call in a month to check on things.
Nurse Joy: ok, bye and thank you.
The screen went black as the transition ended and Nurse Joy turned around with the pokeball still in hand. She threw it in front of her as she released Sceptile from the pokeball. Once Sceptile was released, he put his twig in his mouth and looked around. His eyes twitch a bit as he recognized every part of the room. Nurse Joy noticed how Sceptile seemed to be in a trance while looking around. Nurse Joy cleared her throat to brought Sceptile back to his senses and turned his attention to her. She gave him a smile attempting to make him feel a bit more comfortable.
Nurse Joy: hello Sceptile, I'm happy to see you again, and I'm really thankful and appreciate what you are doing.
Sceptile: (yeah, well…just don't get your hopes too high. I'm still not sure what can I do…or how will I react when I see her again.)
Nurse Joy: I understand, just know that if you feel too uncomfortable you can return whenever you want.
Sceptile: (ok…so where is she?)
Nurse Joy: last time I saw her, she was at the back of the Pokemon Center. She always stays there until night. Good luck.
Sceptile nodded to her and walked past her to the front door. He walked outside and started to walk around the building to the back of the building. While he was walking his mind was racing with a lot of thoughts. He didn't know what to do? What could he tell her? Would she want to listen to him? Would she remember him? Will she accept his presence? He didn't know, damn he didn't even want to be here! But he is, so at least he could do something about it. That way, he at least could say that he tried, he just wish that he really would be helpful.
When he turned in the next corner, he saw her. Meganium was resting on the ground, looking all depress and her eyes where puffy and blood-red from crying. Sceptile felt a pang of pain in his chest at only seeing her like that. Last time he saw her, she was cheerful, full of energy, pretty-. Sceptile quickly shook his head to get rid of those thoughts. He wasn't here for that.
He made one step forward, stepping on a stick making it snap. Faster than what he could react, Meganium sent her vine-whip to his direction without turning to look at him. The vines tied around his arm and chest, and roughly pull him to her direction. Sceptile only had one thought in his mind as all this happened.
Sceptile: (what a way to start things.)
000
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