A/N: So I felt SO bad about cutting off chapter 6 at such a climatic part (hey, it was climatic to me) that I decided to write chapter 7 now! And ugh… Did I have to research ... I figured the forearm was a good place for an injury; not thought of as fatal but still a wound that'd be unwanted. No one wants muscles cut up. Well, I did some looking around for more info on the muscles and arteries in the arm. BOY was there more than I thought lol… One part in here is a conversation between Fenrir and Flint. Now, I know Fenrir is the only "educated" Pokémon on the rooster, but I want this part to be understood as Flint talking as a normal Charmeleon and Fenrir talking how he talks to everyone now. Flint is talking "Charmeleon char char." but I'm typing it as English. Also, there is slight throwing-up during this. It's not descriptively disgusting, but I don't know how weak people's stomachs are. (Trust me; it is not descriptive at all.) Anyway, that is all from me. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 7: Scars

Nurse Joy finally walked out of the back room where she was nursing some Pokémon to the main entrance of the center. She pulled off her last rubber glove and looked up towards the double-doors. All the trainers in the area were looking outside; some with an expression of disgust. The younger trainers were looking out with faces as white as the pale-colored moon. One of the girls was even leaning over a trashcan with a young man patting her back. Nurse Joy looked around once more, and spoke up to the masses. "What going on in here?" A few trainers turned to her, but then right back to the windows.

"It's not what's going on in here," an older trainer said in a horsed voice. He covered his mouth and swallowed as much of his own saliva as he could to rewet his throat. Nurse Joy turned to him as he continued, "It's what's going on out there…" She stared at him with a frightened and questioning look for a moment. She turned towards the doors; paused for a moment, then proceeded towards them. She thought it'd be best if she just opened the doors rather than peeked first. Her arms mid push, she stopped. After a few seconds of gathering her courage, she mustered the nerve to push the door open.

"Finally woke up I see." She looked over at the source and covered her mouth to muffle a gasp of fright. There was a boy wearing a brown-orange shirt and shorts, kneeling over a Wartortle and his right arm extended over it. A yellow tinted Charmeleon stood in front of the two; bearing a face that she thought matched her own terror-filled expression. What was causing the fright in her was the fact that the Charmeleon had stuck his right claws through the arm of the boy. Two other boys suddenly ran into the picture; snapping her back into reality.

Flint continued to stare at what he had done; his own claws had impaled Tangi's right forearm. Blood flowed out from both where the claws entered and exited. He could feel Tangi's muscles contract around his claws. He continued to stare as Genbu crawled out from between them… Staring was all he knew how to do now. Staring and feeling the blood. He started breathing faster out of terror. 'What did I do…? What did I do?!' His lips curled and his jaw dropped slightly, his whole body shaking. He hurt Tangi… His friend… The first human he could care for because he wanted to; not because he took care of him or feed him. Oak did the same thing. No, Tangi was kind to him without even knowing him. That's why he cared. And he just attacked him… Hurt him.

"Char… Char… Char," he tried to say something but it came out in hiccups. His whole body continued to shake. Tears began to form at his eyes, but he didn't have to right to cry. Why should he cry when he was the one that caused what happened to happen? His shaking started to pick up to a faster pace. His eyes becoming more watery, he kept hiccupping trying to hold them back. "Char… Char…!" Then, he felt a hand on his back. Tangi had wrapped his left arm behind him without him noticing and pulled him as close to his body as he could.

"Idiot," Tangi muttered. "Didn't I tell you it's okay to cry?" Flint's shaking stopped. His eyes widened at what he just heard. He looked up at his trainer who was still wearing the stupid grin he had when the claws went through. His eyes scanned Tangi's face franticly. He finally stopped and scrunched his face up as tears began to fall.

Genbu walked the best he could over to his trainer. Hazru stood there alongside his 'mon and Tank; who had the same expression as him. In fact, anyone who witnessed what happened would have the same expression as them. However, he was confused. 'Just what the hell happened?' The "perfect killing machine" stopped and turned into a sobbing child. All the times his name was called by his trainer, he didn't stop. Only when did he actually harm him did he become sane again. 'Shock?' That had to be it; the shock of hurting his trainer snapped him back to his senses… Though that itself was too late.

Nurse Joy held her same position by the doors with her hands still cupped over her mouth. Only her eyes seemed to move at the time; looking from the two boys standing over the one on the ground, the now sobbing Charmeleon and lastly, to what she didn't take notice to before from the shock of the scene before her, the puddle of blood forming at the boy's knees. "All of you," she yelled over at them. They all jumped slightly and turned towards her. "I'll ask for the details later! For now, you two! Give me a hand!" She ran inside followed by Hazru and Tank. Tangi and Flint were left alone for the moment. He stared at the PokéCenter in a dream-like gaze.

'Sure looks more hazy then I remember…' was the last thought that passed through Tangi's head. He pasted over, body falling limp on top of Flint. Flint, in his panic to keep his trainer from falling, pulled his right claw out of his arm. More blood that had not spewed out began to do so. He yelped.

"Char!" He yelled toward the building. 'Someone has to help him! Anyone!' He pushed Tangi over to lie on the ground and tried to press down on the wound. He didn't know what to do except that and cry as he yelled for help.

The doors opened again. Tank Hazru and Nurse Joy ran out with what looked like a folding bed to Flint. Nurse Joy moved over to the Flint. "Listen. I need you to move." Flint shook his head no and kept pushing down on the arm to try to stop the bleeding. She sighed. "Listen to me, please." He looked at her while continuing his efforts. "Right now all you're doing is forcing the blood to leave through the bottom of his arm; which is lying on the ground. It's going to get infected." Flint looked back at the injury he made, more panic appearing on his face, then to the nurse again. "I have to stop the bleeding first. Then we can take him in and get his arm fixed. Please, I need you to let go of him." She stared as coolly into Flint's eyes as possible. He looked down at Tangi once more, then reluctantly let go.

"Right, one of you holds the arm up. But put gloves on first!" She yelled at the end at Tank as he was about to do what she asked. She looked at the arm more closely. 'He'll be lucky if his arm even work after this…' she thought. She could see the torn muscles in the holes.

Tank picked the arm up. She proceeded to pad it the best she could after wiping away any visible dirt from the arm. She reached into the box and pulled out a rubber tie. After tying it around just above the elbow in hopes to lessen the blood lost, she asked Tank and Hazru to lift him onto the medical bed and wheel him inside. Flint was going to help but Hazru stared at him coldly. "Don't you think you've done enough?" He turned away from him and lifted Tangi up. Flint stood in place, the blood now creeping towards his feet. He stared where Hazru's face was just at seconds ago, not sure how to react…

"Watch what you say Hazru, or I'll slug you this time around." Hazru looked over Tangi at Tank; the now peaceful boy was staring him down. Nurse Joy looked between the boys.

"I'm not sure what just happened, but save it. You still have to explain this bit to me still." They looked at her then back at each other and nodded. "Tank." He looked back at the nurse. "I'll assume that Charmeleon is his. Does he have others?" He nodded. "Take them off his belt then. They don't need to stay in there while I operate."

"Alright." Tank started to reach for them when the cart jerked slightly. Nurse Joy must have meant to grab them, as they were moving; and she was right in choosing so. The temporary wrap was already dripping blood. He grabbed them and pocketed them into his vest. "Flint, we have to go inside." Flint's eyes jumped slightly before turning towards Tank. He nodded and walked up behind the cart.

When Flint entered the PokéCenter, there were a few gasp from the trainers closest to the doors. He looked towards one of them and they nearly leapt out of their seat. Flint stood there a moment, staring hurtfully at the human when Tank called for him again.

"Ignore'em Flint. Come on." He grabbed the Charmeleon by the paw and pulled him along behind himself.

"Chansey!" The Chansey of the Oreburgh City 'Center walked up with a chart and handed it to Nurse Joy.

"Oh good." The chart contained medical information on Tangi, sent over from Sandgem Town's Nurse Joy. "At least we know his blood type now. Chansey," she started while pulling the medical bed behind her, "Go into the blood bank and get five bags of A+ blood. Human." Chansey nodded and walked off.

"He really needs five bags worth?" Hazru was gapping at the number. Nurse Joy turned to him slightly smiling.

"No, no. Two should be the most he would need. But just in case…" she finished with. Hazru thought she was going to say more, but she was most likely saying it to herself. Tank caught up to them finally with Flint near by as they neared the ER. Hazru and Tank stood to the side while Flint decided to try to run in behind. Nurse Joy turned to him and pointed at him. "No!" Flint stopped and looked up at her. "I'm sorry, but no one is allowed past here without my consent. Wait here."

'Wait? She wants me to wait?' Flint couldn't even begin imagining how he was supposed to wait like some obedient dog. "Charmel-"

"Don't argue with me!" She glared towards him making him jump slightly. She closed her eyes and sighed. "Please wait."

Thirty minutes passed, but to Flint, it seemed like thirty hours. Every time he looked at the light above the door, it was still on. Then he would look down at the floor and, as soon as he looked at it, he went back to watching the light. Tank had let Fenrir and Nidhogg out earlier. Nidhogg was asleep on the bench with Eve while Fenrir and Tank were outside of the waiting room talking. "Probably about me…" Flint muttered to himself in his native tongue. Every other time he went to look at the light above the ER, he'd catch a glimpse of Fenrir looking at him from the corner of his eye. He looked at the clock again. "Thirty-two minutes…" Flint sighed. 'Why am I even still here? They should have called the Pokémon control center on me or something.' The door to the hallway opened.

"Hey Flint." Tank walked in with Fenrir walking behind. Flint nodded at them and went back to watching the light. Tank looked at Fenrir, who nodded at him in return. He walked over, picked Eve and Nidhogg up, and carried them to the door. "Remember Fenrir, he didn't-"

"I know." Fenrir said with his eyes closed. Flint looked back and forth between the two until Tank walked out. He blinked a few times and turned to Fenrir. -BAM-

Flint was kicked off the ground and into the nearest wall in the waiting room, bounced off it and landed on his stomach on the back of a chair. He coughed and slipped forward onto the seat of the chair. He coughed a few more times before his head was lifted up by his horn. Flint opened his eyes and looked straight into Fenrir's. "Just what the hell happened? Explain it all to me or I'll beat it out of you." Flint eyes turned into the shocked state as earlier when the thought of explaining came into mind. He clutched his upper and lower jaw tight and looked away from the Lucario. Fenrir sighed. "Fine then." -BAM-

Fenrir tossed Flint by his horn into a bookshelf on the opposite wall. He fell to the floor and became buried by the books from it. Fenrir walked over to the pile and found Flint's horn without digging around for it. He pulled the lizard Pokémon up by it and held his face in front of his own. "Tell me or I keep at it."

"…"

Fenrir raised a brow. "What?"

"I said," Flint began, "That this is nothing compared to what Tangi went through." He opened his eyes halfway, not staring so much at Fenrir than he was staring off into the memories of the night. Fenrir's patience was running slim.

"Tell me what happened." Flint glared at him; his pupils dilated again.

"You mean to tell me that human out there didn't tell you everything already?!" He couldn't help but bare his fangs at Fenrir. His anger was like nothing he ever felt when he was a Charmander. -BAM-

Fenrir pumped a fist full of Aura into Flint's gut. His eyes widening, Flint was let go of and dropped to the ground. He tried to get on all fours but a sudden urge to throw up came over him. He coughed and gagged a few times before looking up at Fenrir again. "Bastard…" Another palm of Aura to his back and he was sent over bored; vomiting on the floor. When he was finished coughing Flint pushed himself up the best he could, but Fenrir grabbed him by the shoulder. He flinched but nothing happened.

"I heard Tank's side of the story. That was it," Fenrir said with a sigh. He then picked up Flint from under his arms and walked him over to the bench Nidhogg and Eve were asleep at. Flint took a few breaths and wiped his mouth as he looked up at the Lucario. "I want to hear your side. That's all."

"… There isn't one." Flint whispered. Fenrir raised a brow again, and then lowered himself to be at eye level with Flint.

"Explain." Flint looked around the room slightly; just to escape the gaze of Fenrir even for a moment's time. Then he let out a sigh.

"All I can remember… Is being knocked into the bench outside. After that…" Flint eyes reverted back as he raked his brain for some sort of way to answer without bring up the memories. "After that…" The more he thought on it the more he started to cry again. He looked down at the floor. Fenrir could feel him shaking. He started to sob, taking a few gasp here and there before finally answering. "After th-that… I lo-looked like th-this and… And…" Flint couldn't hold back anymore. He started to cry. He cried and cursed himself for doing so. Fenrir stared deeply at him as he did so. "And my claws were in his arm!" Flint managed to shout. He went on crying and kept wiping his eyes of tears. Fenrir let go of him and let him see to his tears. He stared deeply still at Flint, looking up and down one last time. Sighing, he walked to the door.

"That's all I wanted." He looked to his right and watched Flint for a few more seconds before turning back to the door. "I'm sorry." He closed his eyes and walked out of the room to leave Flint to cry alone. He flopped to his side and cried as such.

Nurse Joy was baffled. If the Charmeleon was indeed in a blinded rage, then… 'Then how did it completely miss the arteries?' The muscles were torn, yes. However, none of the arteries were damaged. 'That isn't even medically possible,' she thought to herself. 'If the only thing damage was the flesh and the flexor muscles… Those can be repaired. I was certain at least on major artery was cut… But it wasn't.' On the bright side, he'd be able to keep his arm. Just how much use he could get out of it was in question. Nurse Joy looked up at the clock. Nearly an hour now has she been going at this.

Flint's crying finally came to a stop. He just lay on the bench wishing nothing but for it all to be a dream. Of course, he knew that couldn't be. 'Life's too cruel for that to be true.' He looked up at the clock the best he could. 'How long has it been since they took Tangi?' He stared lifelessly at the clock. Tick-Tock-Tick-Tock-Tick-Click. 'Click?' He looked towards the door. There in the doorway stood Hazru.

"Damn, what did you do in here?" He looked around and saw the books knocked on the floor and the puddle of Flint's vomit. "What, did you get sick?" Flint looked at him, and then directed his eyes back at the clock opposite of him from the bench. Hazru sighed. "I knew you were wild… Tonight just proved it." Flint's eyes changed. "Guess the first clue should have been back at the lab, but…" Hazru stopped. Flint had raised his tail into the air as he stayed on his side and hung it over an end table there. He then smacked it down as hard as he could onto it; causing the legs to crack in half. The table toppled over next to Hazru's feet. He looked over at the Pokémon who looked back with glaring eyes.

"Charmeleon…" Flint snarled at him. Hazru stared at him. Then suddenly, he started laughing. Flint's eyes went back to normal as he blinked and started widely at the human.

"You know, I think you're better this way." Flint pushed himself up onto one elbow and raised an eyebrow at him. He laughed a bit more before stopping and looking back at Flint. "I talked with Tank… He was right," he said raising his arms. "I shouldn't have said anything to you outside." Flint looked at the ground and thought back to it. "The fact Tangi protected Genbu, even though he isn't his Pokémon… I respect him for that. Just don't go telling him that, okay?" Hazru looked at Flint for some kind of response but received none. "Well. That was all I had to say." He headed to the door.

'Good. The less I hear from you the better…' Flint turned toward the clocked to be interrupted again.

"Don't let this hold you two back. Alright?" Hazru left the room. Flint looked to where he was standing and stared for a while before going back to the clock once again. Hour and twenty minutes. Still no change…

"Flint… Flint…?" A woman's voice was talking to him. Flint opened his eyes slightly and then the dropped shut again. "Poor thing must be exhausted… Are you sure we shouldn't let him sleep?"

"As depressed as he's been? Nope." Something grabbed him by the horn, causing a sudden memory of the night to return to him.

'Oh shi-'-BAM-

Flint's face met the wall across the room. Nurse Joy stood there gawking at what just took place. Fenrir "dusted" off his paws and walked over to the lizard. When he was mere inches away from grabbing hold of it, Flint shot up from the floor and put his back to the wall.

"STOP THROWING ME INTO SHIT!" Flint howled at Fenrir. Nurse Joy had to cover her ears since all she heard was a loud howl.

"Oh good. You're awake." Fenrir crossed his arms. "Napped well?"

"Napped?" They stared at him for a while until his heart sunk. "I fell asleep…?"

"That's normally what nap means." Flint smacked his face with both paws; hating himself for ever letting sleep enter his mind. "Stop sulking." Flint looked up and finally took notice of the nurse in the room.

"Wait… If she's in here, who's with Tangi?!" Flint shot up from his spot on the floor. "She's done then?!" He started to make for the door when Fenrir, yet again, grabbed him by the horn.

"Hm, I could get use to this. Makes handling you so much easier," he finished with a chuckle. Flint started to swing at Fenrir, but he had shorter arms then his captor. "Just hold on. She has something to tell you first."

"I don't care! She can tell me when we're in Tangi's room, right?!" He grabbed Fenrir's arm and removed it from his horn. He turned towards Nurse Joy with a wide smile on his face… One that soon faded from seeing the expression on her face.

"Flint, honey…" she started. She walked over to him and kneeled down to his eye level. "Flint, your trainer's operation went well. There was no major damage done to the arteries. Meaning the blood flow in his arm is normal again." Flint started to smile again when she stopped him. "But, and I'm sorry. I really am…" He froze in terror of the news that might follow. "He'll only have minimal use of his right arm now; if that. The muscles should heal if not stressed too much, but…" he cut her off by smacking her arm off him and running towards the door. She stood up and looked at where he was standing. "He didn't let me finish…"

"I'm sorry. He's just worried." Fenrir said to her. She nodded… Then suddenly gasped. "What?"

"Does he even know which room Tangi's in?" Fenrir blinked a few times and sighed.

"I'll go get him…"

"Ugh this is boring…" Tangi lay in bed with his right arm strapped down in order for him not to move it. "Wish I had a magazine or something…" He looked around the room. It has been about ten minutes since he woke up. He got that he was in the PokéCenter and that his arm was fixed up, but why did it have to be strapped down? "It's not like I planned to do anything with it… Yet." He wondered how well he could throw a Pokéball now. *Knock Knock* Tangi stared at first then remembered he had to answer. "Oh, yea. Come in?" Nurse Joy walked in.

"Are you feeling well Tangi?" She walked over to check his IV bag and the straps on his arm.

"I'd be better if you didn't have to keep this bound down…" he said, nodding towards his arm. Nurse Joy smiled.

"I'm sorry, but you have to keep it still for a few days at the minimal." Tangi felt sick.

"… How long did you say?"

"A few days. Maybe three would be best." If Tangi was in the mood to appreciate irony, he would have at the fact that staying in bed for three days was making him sicker than when he saw his arm before surgery. "So, is there anything I can get you? Water? Food? Maybe a-"

"Flint." She looked up at Tangi. He was looking at the end of his bed as he said it. "If Flint is still awake, could I see him?" He turned to her in hope that he could win her over. She nodded.

"Visitors this late at night would normally be turned down, but very well." She walked out of the room and left the door open. Tangi looked over at what was hold it open and smiled.

"Heya Nidhogg!" The green Treecko beamed at his trainer and ran up the end of the bed. He was about ready to dive head first at Tangi, who was unable to defend himself from the 'attack', when something grabbed him.

"Don't Tackle people in hospital beds." Fenrir picked Nid up from his tail while the gecko flailed about. He looked over at Tangi and smiled. "Good thing you're up now." Tangi grinned back.

"Yea, well, Nurse Joy says I can't move for a few days. Guess you're stuck babysitting till then." Tangi laughed slighting and looked back at Fenrir, seeing a mortified expression fall upon him; making Tangi laugh harder. Soon Tank, Eve and Acuity walked in the room. They all greeted him and laughed a bit with him, but there was one thing that was worrying him. "Fenrir, you know where Flint is?" He nodded. "… Well?"

Fenrir sighed and walked out of the room. "Are you ready yet?" … "What do you mean no?" … "Ugh, you're such a pain." Suddenly there was growling coming from outside. Seconds later Fenrir walked in with Flint being dragged behind by his horn. "I really am liking this new evolution," he said with a mischievous grin on his face. He picked Flint up and dropped him on his face onto the floor on Tangi's left side. He growled into the floor but stopped when he heard Tangi laughing it up.

Flint pushed himself up onto his two legs and looked at Tangi. He was laughing… He was all right… He blinked a few times until his trainer turned to him. "I have to agree with Fenrir there Flint. I'm gonna have to say I'll like this new you too if you're eating face plants like me!" Flint stared at him as he laughed away.

'He's okay… He's okay…' His eyes started watering again. On sniff and Tangi stopped laughing.

"Oh no! Don't cry!" Flint looked at him and tried to hold the tears back. "Uh, Fenrir. Can you give me a hand?" Fenrir nodded and walked over to Flint, picked him up, and plopped him on the bed. Flint blinked a bit until Tangi wrapped his arm around him and pulled him closer to him. "Okay. Now you can cry if you want to." Flint looked up and Tangi was looking back at him smiling. Then switched to a stern voice, "But only if you have to! I don't wanna find out later you learned Fake Tears too!" and he finished with a smile.

Flint stared at him. "Charmeleon…" he sighed and wiped his eyes. He looked towards where everyone else had been but they were leaving; Tangi waving them good night. Flint looked over at Tangi's right arm and stared. Tangi took notice of this.

"It's okay." Flint looked up and then back down. "Hey." Tangi looked at down at him. "Seriously, listen to me." Flint looked back up slowly. "Now, Nurse Joy said she told everyone but you ran out on her before she finished…" Flint sighed mentally.

"Char…" he stared at Tangi's arm. He remembered she said he would only have minimal use of it…

"Now, I'm only going to have minimal use of it… What's that for?!" Flint dug his face into Tangi's side to try to avoid eye contact. "Jeez, no wonder she couldn't finish talking with you… You need to cheer up." Flint raised his head; eyes dilated.

"Charmeleon!" Tangi looked down at him and he stared back on near brink of crying. He growled a few more times the next minute… Although Tangi could not understand it, it sounded like an apology… He tried to stop him a few times but he kept growling and growling… That is until Tangi reached around with his left hand and help his mouth shut. "Mrr! Mrrr mrrr!"

"Finally! Jeez!" Tangi yawned. "If you're let me finish first…" He looked at Flint for an answer. He waited a bit then the Charmeleon nodded his head. "Good. Now, and don't go emo this time, I'll have minimal use of my arm." Flint proceeded to ignore the 'don't go emo' order. "But," he looked up at Tangi. "I should have full use back in a matter of weeks if I treat my arm right." Flint's eyes widened.

"Char?!" Tangi grinned at him and nodded. Flint looked down at the arm and Tangi again, and then did some half-hug.

"Hey, I thought Charmeleons were supposed to be more rebellious." Tangi laughed slightly but Flint just tightened his grip. "Hey, hey. I'm sorry. I know you feel bad about tonight…" Tangi did too for pushing Flint into that crazed mode. He felt responsible, and didn't want Flint hating himself because of him. "Flint…" Flint looked up at him. "Let's promise something. Promise me that the scat-to-be on my arm will be the only scar from tonight." He turned to Flint. "We can't let something like this hold us back." Flint looked down, staring at nothing particular. What Hazru said to him that night rang in his head. He nodded…

'But I won't forget tonight.' He looked at Tangi. 'I'll make sure it never happens again. And that nothing hurts Tangi again…'

"Good. " Tangi looked at the door. "Hey! I bet if we fall asleep fast enough, Nurse Joy won't be able to kick you out of the room!" Flint turned to Tangi who was beaming away with the stupid grin again. He smiled back and laid down with Tangi. Tangi reached over and pulled the lamp string on the table to his left; leaving Flint's flame to be the only light in the room.

Footnotes: Aww sappy ending. Yea I'm thinking I should possibly change the rating on this from T to M for the added language. Anywho, I hope you enjoyed chapter 7! Sorry it was length and I know I have a lot of work to do with my story typing but I hope it's getting a -little- better.

Preview: No preview! You get to be surprised about what the next one will be about