The room was silent aside from the steady drip, drip of the medicine bag dangling above the occupied hospital bed. Fluorescent lights flickered lazily on the ceiling, giving just enough light to the room so that the corners were barely visible from where Manon sat stooped over the hard mattress. Her fingers grasped the linen sheets, white and bloodless.
Drip, drip . . .
Drip . . .
Tears stained her cheeks as another surge of desperate sorrow racked her body. It started with a tight whimper, but quickly escalated into a full out cry for help. The hoarse sobs echoed against the bare walls, filling her own ears. She sounded useless, felt useless.
I am useless . . . So . . .
Useless!
Manon's hands released the crumpled sheets and shot towards her shoulders. She seized her poncho in her nails and bit her lip to choke back the trembling wails that still rolled in her raw throat. Crying wasn't helping anyone. She had been crying for days! It was time to act!
"Chespie . . . I have to go . . ."
Her gaze fell back on the Chespin lying limply in the bed, bandaged and hooked up to machines. The green aura wavering around its body still persisted. Its stubborn presence teased Manon each day.
With a deep breath the small girl lifted herself from the floor, ignoring the jarring pain in her reluctant legs. She couldn't remember the last time she had moved from the bedside. When had she even eaten last? Her hand fell to her stomach which, though embarrassing to admit, was flatter than before. Biting back the last of her remorse, Manon grabbed her hat from the counter and walked towards the door. She realized then that the door in front of her had, for the last few days, been the end of the world in her mind. There had been absolutely nothing but the hospital room.
Useless.
Lunging forward she grabbed the handle, twisted it, and flung the door open. Light from the hallway blasted into the room, showering the somber chamber with new life. That one action left her with a racing flood of newfound confidence and spirit! I'll save Chespie! I'll show everyone that I can be strong too!
With a final glimpse of Chespie in her mind Manon darted down the halls of the laboratory, a determined fire shimmering within her hazel eyes.
Steven sighed as Wallace continued to stare at him from the hotel bed. He tried to ignore the handsome man, but it was of little use. With a less than settle cough, Steven tried to shoo his lover away.
"Oh, come now Steven. I've seen you without pants on before."
Steven groaned and shook his head.
"You're so shy, Steven."
"You're a pain, do you know that? I just want to go back to sleep. I was up all night because somebody took up the entire bed last night."
Wallace laughed playfully and drew a hand over his swooping hair. "You could always just go into the bathroom to change. If it would make you more comfortable."
"You'd follow me in. I know you would."
"That's right, I would."
The two smiled warmly, though Steven was a little flustered by his lover's stubborn nature. He was about to make another jab at the gym leader when a strange thumping sound came from the hallway. It was fast and loud. It stopped right outside the door before a loud BANG reverberated through the hotel room. The door rattled on its hinges and a quiet moan slithered into the room.
Wallace shot to his feet, leaping from the bed. Steven noticed the unsettled flare in his eyes and raised a hand to calm his companion. He lifted a steady, elegant finger to his lips to signal for silence, which Wallace complied to reluctantly.
There was a sloppy shuffling sound from outside the door, followed by a chorus of loud and hasty knocks.
"Room service? You shouldn't have." Wallace joked nervously.
Steven ignored the statement and set the clothes he had been planning on adorning onto the bed. Hesitantly he opened the locked door and stepped aside, revealing to Wallace a small, bruised, red headed girl. She was panting and covered in bumps and dirt stains, but a determined light sparkled in her eyes.
"Why hello there. Who might you be?"
The girl ignored Wallace's question. She marched into the room without hesitation. Her head was level with Steven's elbow, and her entire body trembled with exhaustion. She looked like a broken doll. Steven tried to steady her, but she shoved his hands away defiantly, rubbing the grime from her dirty face.
"What are you doing here?" Steven's eyes narrowed as he peered down at the petite girl in front of him. She seemed different from their previous encounter, whether it was for better or for worse was still to be determined. She was covered in dust and scrapes. It was as if she had been caught in a tornado. She had obviously fallen down multiple times, and from the sounds he had heard before, she had just run headfirst into their bedroom door.
"I don't have time to talk! I need you to battle me! I need you to make me stronger!" Manon lurched forward and grabbed Steven by the elbow, she was almost shrieking. It was then that her eyes found the other man sitting on the bed. An idea stirred within her, setting her heart ablaze. "Battle me, both of you!" She retreated from Steven and dug into her tattered orange bag to withdraw a dusty Pokéball in her wobbly hand. "I challenge you both to a battle!"
