Hey! I just wanted to tell you guys that I'm going on a summer holiday, which means that I might post a little late if I get too busy. I'll still post every week without fail, but I might get a little late. With that out of the way, onto Chapter 4!
Chapter 4: A Plea
With Braixen on her shoulders, Serena backtracked to the Pokemon Centre as fast as she could. Braixen's every breath sounded like a child's vigorously shaking rattle. Its chest heaved. It was burning hot on her, and all Serena could focus on was to get help, and as fast as possible. Finally, the place came in sight, and Serena flung open the door. "Nurse Joy, we need help!" she yelled, as loudly as possible. The pinkette hared out of the treatment room, took one look at Braixen and shouted for a stretcher. Braixen was wheeled away for treatment.
After a few long minutes, Nurse Joy finally slipped out, followed by Wigglytuff, who held a clipboard. "Nurse Joy, how's Braixen?" Serena asked anxiously as Nurse Joy approached her. "I've managed to stabilize it for now, but we need that antidote, and fast. The bogs around here, when formed, are poisonous to Pokemon. Unfortunately, the storm has damaged the herbs growing around far too much for them to be of any use. The only usable herbs will be growing near the next Pokemon Centre, which normally is only a few hours away, but with all this rain, you can only reach there in three days' time," Nurse Joy explained. "I'll get it," Serena said immediately. She could give Pikachu's medicine, pluck the herb and come here. "No," Nurse Joy said gently.
"Why not?" Serena asked. "Because for you to go there and come back here will take six days in total. Braixen only has a week at most. I'll ask my sister to send somebody with the antidote," Nurse Joy explained. Serena's heart sank. Pikachu had been just fine! She winced. It had been sitting on Ash's shoulder, nowhere near the bog. "What should I do?" she asked.
"Deliver that medicine," Nurse Joy told her immediately. "But I can't leave Braixen!" Serena protested. "Braixen is too deeply unconscious to hear or see you. I've put it into a medicated sleep as it will help it to hold out longer. The best thing that you can do right now is to get that medicine to that Pikachu," Nurse Joy told her. Ash's pleading brown eyes toyed with her mind. Serena sighed. She would go, and soon. An hour later, she had set out again with a smile on her face, while a small part of her heart called for Braixen.
"That was a totally awesome battle!" Ash declared as he and Clemont walked off the battlefield. The lemon haired gym leader nodded his agreement. They stepped into Pikachu's room. Ash tried to stay cheerful. If anything, it looked worse than before. Haggard, tired and ill. "You'll be all right," he said reassuringly. He patted his partner's head when Nurse Joy walked into the room, holding a refill of whatever medicine Pikachu was taking. "There's another poisoning at the Jewel Town Centre," she murmured as she administered the medicine. "Nurse Joy, what do you mean?" Bonnie asked.
"A girl called Serena," Nurse Joy said. Ash caught his breath, and he heard Clemont do the same. What? "Nurse Joy, how?" Bonnie asked. "Her Braixen has got bog poisoning. The poor thing's really sick, and the only antidote is with me! Someone will have to take it there. I would go, but Pikachu is in a really critical condition, and Wigglytuff can't do everything," she said, palpable frustration in her voice. Serena's Braixen was poisoned? He knew that Braixen was her best friend. It would break her if it didn't make it.
Serena couldn't stop worrying about Braixen. She knew that she shouldn't worry, but still. Its rattle-like breath rang in her ears. Its dull coat, the look of pain and discomfort. She hoped that whoever was bringing the antidote would reach in time.
The three heroes were huddled up in the bedroom and talking, but the mood wasn't so happy. No one could stop worrying about Serena and Braixen.
"I hope that Serena's doing okay," Bonnie said, while Clemont merely put his arm around her. Suddenly, Ash stood up.
"I'll take the antidote to Jewel Town," he declared. He had the I'm-not-going-to-change-my-mind-so-don't-even-try look about him. Clemont and Bonnie decided to give it a shot. "Why?" Clemont asked.
"Because I've seen how much Braixen means to Serena. They're always together. It would be over for her if Braixen didn't make it. The only reason why Nurse Joy isn't going is because she's staying back to look after Pikachu, so I've gotta go," he said. "But what about Pikachu?" Bonnie asked. "Yeah, I know it's gonna be hard," Ash said, startling everyone with the tone of his voice. "But you guys are there, and Braixen's really important to Serena. I'll leave tomorrow," he said.
"You know, Serena really likes you," Bonnie said. Clemont blushed and went stiff, but Ash was as oblivious as ever. "I like her too. She's a really good friend," he said innocently. He was rewarded with a pillow in the face. "YOU'RE SO DENSE!" Bonnie yelled as she hurled another at him, and threw another at Clemont for good measure. "'Kay, it's on," Ash said, eyes gleaming. With that, a full-fledged pillow fight took place in the room, and laughter echoed down the corridor.
"Bye, guys!" Ash said as he walked out the door with the antidote safely in his bag. He suddenly felt lonely. His shoulder felt naked without Pikachu's weight on it. Bonnie's constant prattle was missing. Clemont's monologue about his various inventions was missing too. But Ash missed Serena most of all. Her cheerful humming and dancing. Her basket of macarons, or Pokepuffs. Her and Bonnie's neverending war with untidy fur (or hair). Her smile most of all. Ash sighed. He didn't know why, but he missed her smile. He just did.
Clemont and Bonnie were spending time with Pikachu when they noticed something strange. Pikachu's ears were tipped with white. It hadn't been there before. They called Nurse Joy, who took one look at the abnormal whiteness and gasped. "So soon," she whispered. "Nurse Joy what happened?" Clemont asked.
"The poison is taking hold," Nurse Joy said. The Lumiose siblings gasped. "What do you mean?" Bonnie asked.
"When its ears, forepaws and hindpaws turn completely white, it means that there's no saving it," she told them bluntly.
Clemont realized how dire the situation was.
"Hurry," he silently pleaded to whoever was bringing the antidote.
"Hurry,".
Author's Note: Welcome back! So it looks like Pikachu is in real danger now, and Braixen isn't looking too good either. What will happen next? All in its own time! Also, I'm really sorry that I got late today! Now, I would like to wish all of our amazing moms a very happy Mother's Day. There wouldn't be any of us without you guys. Before I retire to my little writing hole for the rest of the week, a big, big thank you to all of the wonderful people who followed, reviewed or favourited, or did more than one of those things. You guys are just awesome. See you guys on Sunday!
Please review and keep smiling,
Leaflame.
