Author's Note: Man, the feels in this chapter...
Ch. 2
"UP AND AT 'EM!" Aurora hollered.
Scout rolled over, blinking. Ugh...Not now…it's too early...
"Come on guys, we're burning daylight!" She insisted cheerfully.
"What daylight?" Peppy groaned, stretching. The sun was barely starting to rise as Aurora led them out of the forest and into the grassland plains.
Scout felt very out of place in this new area. He was used to there being trees around him, a quick escape route from enemies. Here, he was completely exposed on all sides. Not to mention the tall savannah grass that was above his head in height.
"This is a great place to work on close-combat moves. Nice and open." Aurora stated, stopping. "Let's start with you, Scout."
Scout's eyes widened. Huh? Me?
Aurora laughed. "Go on. Show me what you know already." Scout looked at his hands, not sure what to do. "Okay, let me show you a basic move. Position your body like this, and spin with your tail out." She explained, demonstrating a tail whip. Scout copied her, smiling as he felt his strength go to his tail and hit the air in front of him. That's so cool!
After teaching him some other basic moves, Aurora was satisfied, but felt the need to go even farther. "Do you know what aura is?" Scout shook his head.
"Really? Well, aura is the essence of life in every creature. It moves through us and gives us the strength to live. Pokemon that recognizes its existence can use aura to its full potential in battle. I'm not very good at it yet." She then summoned a small, blue ball of energy that hovered above her paw. "This is aura. It is different for everyone who uses it. You can use aura too." He looked at her questioningly. I can?
"Here, hold out your hand." Aurora stood beside him. "Feel aura's power deep inside you, and tell it to come out." Scout stared at his hand, concentrating hard. A green sphere of energy appeared, and he jumped back in surprise. Whoa, I didn't know I could do that!
"Great! That's what you call an energy ball. Now, pull your arm back, use your other hand to support the ball, then shoot it forward where you want it to go." Scout did as she said, and the energy ball flew forward and hit the ground, exploding in a small blast. Holy milktank... He stared in disbelief at the burn mark on the ground.
"Nice job! You're a natural!" Aurora cheered. She then turned to Peppy, showing her how to properly flap her wings and use her beak to attack. Soon, the three were doing practice battles with each other. Aurora was very pleased with their progress.
The sound of their training had disturbed a pack of rattata, who quietly watched in the shadows. Scout and Peppy didn't see or hear them, but when Aurora closed her eyes, her aura showed their many forms around them.
"Don't move. Don't make a sound." She shushed urgently.
"What? Why?" Peppy whispered.
"When I tell you, I want you two to get out of here as fast as you can."
"But-"
"NOW!" Aurora shoved them forward, just as the rattata emerged and attacked.
Scout sprinted in one direction and didn't stop until he was clear out of the savannah. Panting, he looked back to see Peppy close behind him. Where's Aurora?
"Is she not coming?" Peppy wondered aloud.
Uh-oh. Scout ran back into the grass, leaving Peppy there, confused.
He raced back to the clearing, finding that the rattata had her surrounded. She was holding her ground well, attacking any that came near, but she was quickly becoming overwhelmed. Scout jumped into the circle.
"Scout, I told you to run!" She scolded.
"I couldn't leave you alone." Scout replied, going back-to-back with her. Using the moves that she had taught him, Scout was able to fight back for the first time ever. But as they continued to fight, they were starting to get tired, and the rattata still persisted.
"Hey Scout, I think we'll have to make a run for it." Aurora whispered to him. Scout nodded, but was unsure how they would get away in their current position. She formed her aura sphere. "When I say go, shoot down your energy ball, and we'll jump out. Ready...set...go!" The two slammed down their spheres, causing a flash and a great deal of dust. In the confusion, Aurora grabbed Scout and the two sprinted off. The rattata quickly regained their senses and chased after them.
He glanced back to see if the rattata were following, and sure enough, they were in hot pursuit. One rat in particular ran ahead of the group. It leapt forward, poison fang ready in its jaws. Before Scout could even think, he found himself jumping in front of her.
Aurora turned when he heard Scout yelp in pain. The pack, seizing the chance, charged. A loud chirp then caught their attention. Peppy swooped in, pecking and flapping her wings in a frenzy. The rattata, frightened by the sudden gust of wind, fled.
"Scout!" Aurora yelped, running to his side. The bite from the attack had poisoned him badly. With each breath, he could feel his energy draining.
Scout gritted his teeth, clutching his bitten arm. "I think I'll be fine. I'll just walk it off, haha..ha..." His strength gave out, and he fell over, knocked out.
"No!" Peppy exclaimed, shaking him. "Wake up! Please wake up!"
"Alright, calm down. We still have time." Aurora tried to think. She knew berries would be no use at this point. She needed human help. "There's a town nearby. I think they have a hospital."
"Wait, are you saying that we should go to the humans?" Ever since a trainer had tried to capture Scout and her in the past, she had never trusted humans.
"They are his only chance now. Stay here; I'll be back." With that, Aurora raced away.
A short time later, she was on the outskirts of a small town in a valley. Trainers commonly used it as a rest stop, healing their Pokemon before the long trek through the surrounding mountains. Aurora glanced around, finding a building with a red roof that trainers frequently were going into with injured Pokemon. That must be the hospital.
Cautiously, she went through the sliding doors. There was a round counter in the center of the room, and Aurora approached it. A woman with pink hair greeted her. Her name tag said 'Nurse Joy', but of course, Pokemon can't read.
"Well hello little one! What can I do for you?" Aurora pointed to the door urgently. "What is it? You want me to come with you?"
She nodded quickly. That wasn't too hard.
A short time later, Aurora burst through the bushes to the clearing where Peppy was waiting, the woman in pink trailing behind. Peppy immediately became defensive, growling.
"No, wait! She's here to help." Aurora steadied her while Nurse Joy picked up Scout and examined him. She waved for them to come, and they hurried back to the PokeCenter.
Moments later, Scout was rushed to the emergency room, and she (along with multiple Chansey) began injecting various potions and medicines into him. Aurora and Peppy watched from a window in the hallway, feeling very helpless.
Later, as the room emptied, Nurse Joy let them come in. "We've done everything we can do, but we won't know if he'll survive the poison until morning. It would be best to let him sleep." Nurse Joy left the room, turning the light off behind her.
In the light of the moon coming from the window, the two hopped onto Scout's bed. Please, Scout... Aurora thought. You've got to live. You saved me. You can't die now. She laid her head on Scout's chest, and let his slow, quiet heartbeat lull her to sleep.