Solana groggily opened her eyes. At first unsure of where she was, Solana stared up at the brilliantly lit fluorescent ceiling. She could have sworn she had been lying down in the Panula Cave, curled up in a small ball waiting for someone to come rescue her a few moments ago, but here she was in a hospital bed. She was so grateful that Lunick had got her there safely, otherwise she knew she would be in real trouble right now, or worse.

Turning her head slightly, she began looking around the room. The walls were covered were a sort of peachy color and the smell of disinfectant and medicine filled her nose. She must've been really out of it because she could have sworn she saw Lunick folding a sheet on the bed next to her.

"Pla Plah!"

Plusle hopped on the bed, a huge smile on her face.

"Plusle?"

Lunick stopped what he was doing and looked over to the bed where Solana laid. His face lit up once he saw she was awake. He put the sheet back on the bed as he and Minun walked over to her. He took a seat in the same chair he had earlier that morning as Minun hopped on the bed to join Plusle.

"So you're finally awake?"

"Lunick?" she said as she grasped her head.

"How do you feel?"

"I've felt better," she said. She had a dull throbbing headache that pervaded her entire skull.

"As long as you're feeling anything I'm okay."

Solana opened her eyes back up. She saw that warm smile on Lunick's face.

"How long have I been here?"

"Over twelve hours. We checked you in about eight o' clock last night. It's nine thirteen right now."

Solana frowned as she tried to get more comfortable in the narrow, overly used hospital bed.

"I gotta tell you, Solana, I was kind of worried there for a moment."

"Worried? Worried about what?"

"I thought we were gonna lose you. I mean, when I found you there in that cave, lying there all motionless and blue, I thought I'd never see you again. I mean…I thought…"

"I know what you mean, Lunick. And thank you."

Lunick smiled. But it was just as quickly replaced with a frown as his eyes fell to the floor.

"I'm sorry, Solana."

"Sorry? Sorry for what?"

"Well, look who's finally awake from her nap," Doctor Jared said as he walked into the room.

"Nap?"

"We almost lost you last night. Had it not been this young man here donating his blood, you may not be here right now," he said as he took her pulse, recording the results on his clipboard.

"Donating blood?" Solana said in confusion. It was then that she noticed the gauze bandage wrapped around Lunick's left arm. She noticed that same gauzed wrapped around her right arm.

"You donated your blood?"

"He didn't donate really. He gave you. We needed to do a transfusion in order to save your life, little missy. He was the only one here who had the type of blood we needed to revive you," Jared said as he looked at the heart monitor and recorded something else on his clipboard.

Solana turned to face Lunick, whose face was heating up at the moment.

"I'll be right back. I have to check on one of my younger patients. The kid nearly gave one of my nurses a heart attack when they brought him in. Pokemon battle, in the house, no chaperones. Oy," he said as he finished what he was currently writing, "I'll have one of my nurses to drop off some painkillers for you since I know your head must be throbbing right now," he said as he started back out of the room.

An awkward silence passed between the two humans in the room before Lunick broke it.

"I'm sorry, Solana."

"Why are you apologizing?"

"For what happened back at the cave. I'm sorry for causing that rockfall."

"What are talking about?"

"Solana, when we were back in the cave. Before we got separated. The rockfall…I'm sorry…" he said as he found himself on the verge of tears again.

Solana shook her head.

"Lunick, you did not cause that rockfall."

"Yes I did. I picked a fight with you. We were supposed to be working as a team and I picked a fight with you. I let you down…"

"Lunick," she held up her hand even though her whole body was hurting her at the moment, "You did not cause that rockfall. That rockfall was caused from all those pokemon who came running after us and possibly from all of that Mamoswine's attacks."

"But if I didn't start that fight, maybe we wouldn't be here in this hospital right now and I wouldn't have had to give you a blood donation," his eyes never left the floor.

"Lunick, are you hearing what you're saying? Do you see this bandage around my right arm and your left? This is your blood running through my veins right now. You saved my life, Lunick. I'd be dead right now if wasn't for you."

"But if it wasn't for me we wouldn't be here in the first place."

"Are you saying that if this didn't happen you wouldn't have done what you did?"

"Well, no…but…"

"Lunick," she closed her eyes, "Listen to me. It is not your fault. If it's anyone's fault, it's mine. I knew that cavern was unstable and I still walked in there. I got my own self trapped."

"You were analyzing the wall."

"But I knew it wasn't safe. I went in there knowing how dangerous it was. I did this to myself. I could've cost myself my own life…I'm sorry if I ever made you feel small or unimportant, Lunick. If I did, it wasn't on purpose. You've proven to me that you're strong. You're a true hero, Lunick. You were willing to sacrifice yourself to safe my stupid behind. I can't tell you how grateful I am to have such a good friend like you."

Lunick saw the few strands of tears that rolled down her cheeks. Getting up from his seat, he picked up a few tissues out of the Kleenex box and handed them to her as he sat back down. She took them and began wiping her face.

"Solana, you've always been prepared for anything. Every time we went out into the field, you always had the mission on your mind. I just…I admire you so much."

Solana paused. She stopped wiping her face and looked her friend in the eyes.

"You…you admire me?"

"Of course I do. I mean, I may have become a ranger before you but the things you do…I wish I were a good a ranger as you."

"Lunick, you are. You're even better. You saved my life and came through when I needed you the most."

"Solana, I let you down."

Solana's forehead creased even more.

"You let me down? Lunick, I'm alive! I'm alive and it's because of you. You were the only one who could save me. You gave me the blood I needed to keep going."

"But, the rockfall…back in the…"

"Why do you keep blaming yourself for what happened in the cave? Lunick, it wasn't your fault."

"You keep saying that but…"

"Lunick," she breathed out. Lunick saw the hurt in her eyes as tears continued to flow down her face, "What part of, 'I'm alive' do you not get? I could've died last night. Not many people who have hypothermia recover, and if they do, it's not complete. Some aren't even able to get a blood donation because their already too far gone to do anything. Maybe the fact that I was unconscious helped but……I could not be revived without you. You got me out of the cave and to the hospital just in time for you to make the transfusion necessary to save my life. I just…I just can't understand why you keep putting yourself down. It wasn't your fault. Okay? Please stop saying it is. Please. It wasn't your fault."

Lunick tried his best to hold back the tears that escaped from his own eyes and rolled down his face. Plusle and Minun weren't crying but they looked just as upset as their two humans.

"I'm sorry, Solana. I didn't realize I was hurting you when I said that. It just upsets me so much that I couldn't do a damn thing when you were trapped behind those rocks. I was so worried about you, Solana. I didn't want to lose you."

Solana chuckled lightly.

"You know, two years ago…when we were in the Jungle Relic, I saved you from being crushed by a few boulders. And yesterday, you saved me from losing myself from the inside out."

Lunick chuckled too.

"I guess we're kind of even now, huh?"

"Knock, knock. Anyone there?" a voice called out from the door. Lunick and Solana saw Leilani standing there, as well as Murph.

"Hi guys."

The two friends walked inside, taking a seat in the two chairs across from Lunick on the other side of the bed. It was Murph who spoke first.

"Oh, Solana you're okay. That's such a relief."

"Lunick called us this morning and told us how you were doing. But we just wanted to see for ourselves," Leilani said with a smile.

"How do you feel?"

Solana shrugged slightly.

"A little dizzy. A little nauseous. I've got this killer headache too."

Leilani's smile widened.

"Well, after the day you've been through, I'd say that's a good thing."

Just then, the nurse came in with a tray of food.

"Good morning. These are your friends I see," she said as she placed the food on the table, two ibuprofen capsules beside it.

Solana nodded her head.

"Yeah. Each and every one of them."

The nurse smiled, taking Solana's pulse again. It was still a little fast but she decided it was moving at an okay rate.

"How do you feel Solana?"

"A little dizzy. Somewhat nauseous."

"That's normal. The doctor will be back to give you your evaluation after you eat," she said as she walked out the door.

After the nurse left, Leilani and Murph wasted no time in taking the olive green lid off of the tray.

"Guys, that food is for Solana."

"Solana can we have this?" Leilani asked.

Solana nodded her head.

"Go ahead. I'm not gonna eat any of that stuff. I'll eat when I get out."

"Oh my gosh! They've got an omelet!" Murph said as he looked over the heavily seasoned egg.

"Uh-uh. That's mine, Murphy. You can have the muffin."

Lunick shook his head.

"Look at you two. Eating off your friend's food like this stuff is even worth it."

"As if, Lun. Hospital food is great," Leilani said taking a big bite out of the omelet.

"Excuse me? What hospital have you been too?" Solana's eyebrow couldn't possibly get any higher.

"You gotta a whole full course meal going on here, Sole. You got an omelet with cheese, cheddar cheese at that, ham, a grain muffin, two cookies, a banana, some jelly, tea, applesauce, 2% milk. I mean, come on," she said as she took another big bite out of the omelet.

"And don't get me started on the dinner meals," Murph said with a mouth full of food.

"Oooh Murphy, you're gonna have my mouth watering."

Lunick shook his head again.

"If you guys eat all this stuff there won't be anything left for Solana."

"Let 'em eat it. I'm sure not gonna eat any of that stuff." She flicked her hand as she said that.

"But what are you gonna eat if you won't eat their food?"

"Either something from a fast food joint, the store, or I'll just eat when I get out."

"But you don't know when you'll get out. You have to eat something."

"Gotta agree with Lunick on this one, Sole," Leilani said as she swallowed what she had in her mouth and put the fork back on the table, "You could use a little meat on those skinny bones."

"As if, Leil. I'm perfectly happy with my slender physique."

"You probably are. Especially with what you've got going on up top."

"Okay, I just became uncomfortable with this conversation," Lunick said as he crossed his arms.

"Uncomfortable or turned on?"

"Leilani!"

"I'm just messing with you," She said as she shot him a smile, "We gotta run, Solana. Murphy and I gotta get back to the base to pick up our paychecks."

Solana's face dropped.

"Oh my gosh! My paycheck! How am I supposed to get paid when I'm in this...this…hospital?"

"Don't worry about it, Solana. I'll pick up your pay when I go to the base later on," Lunick said with a smile.

"Am I even gonna get paid? I've only been doing five out of the seven days of work. And I was out cold last night, literally. And now I'm stuck in this hospital until they release me."

"I'm sure Spenser will pay you. He can't fault you for being…you know…here since you got sick on the job. If he doesn't pay you for the full week, he'll just pay you for what you've done."

"Well, I'd like to stay, but Murphy and I really got to go. We'll just leave you two to doing…whatever it was you were doing before we interrupted you," There was a slight smile on her face as she and Murph left the room.

Solana chuckled slightly.

"What are we gonna do with her?"

"I don't know," he said with a slight chuckle himself.

"I'm surprised they're the only two that visited me. I was expecting some big entourage of people to come bursting through that door."

"Actually, the Area Leaders all came to see you earlier when you were asleep. They all wanted to make sure you were okay after I called them this morning. Almost everyone came."

"Did Aria come?" she said with slight disappointment.

Lunick pursed his lips slightly.

"No………not really."

Solana sighed.

"Why doesn't she like me?"

"That's just how Aria is. She doesn't like anybody."

"She seems to like you?"

"Who told you that?"

"Nobody. A girl knows when another girl is crushing on someone. It's like a sixth sense. She's got it bad for you."

He chuckled dryly.

"Yeah, well I'm not interested. Aria's way too full of herself. And after the way she treated Minun, you can bet she doesn't float my boat. Right buddy?"

"Mai Mai!"

"I just feel sorry for Murph."

"Murph has a crush on Aria?"

"Possibly. I'm not sure but he seems really into her. Why, I don't know. That's a bridge I really don't wanna cross."

Solana raised her eyebrow.

"What's with all the idioms?"

"Nothing. That's just how I speak. I use those things all the time, no foolin'."

"You don't say?"

Lunick stretched his arms slightly. He saw that there was still some food left on the tray that Leilani and Murph hadn't touch.

"Are you gonna eat that?"

"What this? No. Why, you want it?"

"Eww, no! It's just…you have to eat something, Solana."

"I'm not eating it."

"Come on, 'Lana. You have to eat something."

"I will. Once I get out of here."

Lunick cringed. Then, a small little idea popped into his head.

"Hey, Solana? If you eat this stuff, and all the food the hospital staff brings you from now on, I'll go shopping with you when you get out."

Solana cocked an eyebrow.

"You're lying."

"Have I ever lied?"

Solana's eyebrow rose even higher.

"Okay, have I ever lied to you?"

Still raising that eyebrow, Solana blinked a couple times.

"Have I ever lied about anything that didn't benefit anybody else?"

"No, but there's a first time for everything, Lunick."

"Okay, how about this. You eat all the food they send you, and I'll take you on a shopping spree using both of our paychecks for this week, next week, the week after, and whenever you get out if it's after that."

Solana smiled.

"Really? Are you sure?"

"With Plusle and Minun as my witnesses."

Her smiled widened.

"Okay. I'll do it. But I'm gonna need to have that in writing."

"What? Why? I gave you my word."

"I know but can I trust that?"

"We're best friends."

"Friends forever stick together. Friends for life have it scribed."

"You just made that up!"

"Catchy ain't it?"

Lunick rolled his eyes.

"Okay. Whatever. I'll make up a contract that says I'll take you shopping if you eat this food every time you eat and sign it."

"Shopping spree?"

"Yes, whatever! You just gotta make sure you eat. I'll visit you every day for every meal, you know, unless I'm on a mission or something. I'm gonna make sure you eat this stuff."

Solana's smile widened. She took up the milk that was still left on her tray.

"Oh I'll eat it. You just make sure you got the money to take me shopping."

Lunick smiled slightly. He watched her slowly drink the lactose-filled liquid before setting the carton back on the tray and wiping her mouth with a napkin. He felt a small little pang in his stomach as he continued to look at his best friend and his cheery smile quickly turned into a small frown. Should he tell her? They were alone, but they were in a hospital. Not the most romantic place to tell someone your feelings, especially when they have an IV attached to their arm and a bandage wrapped around the other. But then, when was the next time he'd get the opportunity to tell her how he felt?

"Hey, Solana?"

"Yeah?"

"I…I gotta tell you something."

There was a knock on the door and Solana and Lunick saw Doctor Jared entering the room.

"All right, young lady. We've looked over you charts and I see that your heath is almost back to the way it's supposed to be. You're breathing's okay. Pressure's just about fine. Your heartbeat's still a tad fast but you seem to be good overall. Let me take your pulse here," he said as he took Solana's hand and looked down at his watch.

"How long before I can be discharge?"

"Probably still a few weeks. We wanna run a couple tests just to make sure nothing's wrong on the inside. I'm ordering a CT Scan and MRI for you. Then we want to see how your blood's circulating. We may take a sample or too just ensure accuracy. I'd say about another three to four weeks," He let go of Solana's hand and recorded her pulse on his clipboard.

"In about ten minutes, one of my nurses is going to ask you for a urine sample. You'll just go in the bathroom and you know, do your business. There's a metal cabinet behind the toilet. You can put it there when you're done and wash up."

He finished what he was writing and started for the door.

"Oh and Lunick?"

"Yes, sir?"

"We have an understanding about last, right?"

Lunick nodded his head.

"Yes, sir. Only visits from now on. And thanks again."

Jared smiled briefly before walking out of the door.

Solana turned to face Lunick.

"What happened last night?"

Lunick began to feel nervous all over again.

"Oh, uh…nothing. I just…you know…spent the night so I could see how you were doing."

"You spent the night?"

"Yeah…I just…wanted to see how you were doing."

Solana's eyes quickly filled with tenderness as she exhaled softly. Lunick stretched slightly before turning to his pokemon.

"Minun, go get my bag over there for me, please."

The little mouse hopped off the bed and went to the one where Lunick had slept the previous night to get his pack.

"Wait, Lunick. What was it you wanted to say to me before?"

Lunick's eyes slightly widened as she asked the question. He bit his lower lip before answering.

"Oh, uh…just…I can't wait until you get out."

Solana's heart slightly sank. She didn't know why but…she was disappointed that that was what he had to say. Was it because she was expecting him to say something else? Or was it because his answer seemed more like a question than a statement?

Grabbing the pack he received from his partner, Lunick stood up, Minun hopping on his shoulder as he did that.

"I'll visit you later, Solana."

Plusle got to her feet and hugged Solana, purring slightly at being able to touch her again. Solana returned the hug as she enveloped her pokemon. Lunick smiled at the display.

"Plah Pla."

"I love you too."

Lunick's smile turned into a slight frown. He knew she was talking to Plusle. But why did it feel like that little piece if affection was directed at him?

Plulse nuzzled Solana before she hopped out of her arms and onto Lunick's other shoulder. Shaking his head, Lunick tried to knock those thoughts out of his head. He blinked a couple times before looking to his friend again.

"See yah, 'Lana." He said as he started for the door.

"Lunick?"

"Yeah?" He turned around to face her.

Solana paused before a warm smile spread across her lips.

"Thank you."

Lunick smiled back. He nodded his head before walking out of the door.

Absol continued to run through Fall City. He didn't even know what it was he was supposed to be looking for. A hospital? What was a hospital? He didn't know. But he had to find those humans. He didn't know why but he just had to.

He came to an abrupt halt when he saw a human walk out of one of the big white buildings. He recognized him as the boy he saw earlier in the cave, that Minun and Plusle perched on his shoulders.

Immediately, he raced over to him.

Lunick paused as he saw something approach him. Then it hit him that it was an Absol.

"Absol?"

Absol stopped, looking up at Lunick as his breathing became heavy.

Lunick cocked his head slightly.

"Are…Are you the same Absol I met back at the Panula Cave?"

Absol merely nodded.

A large smile appeared on Lunick face as he crouched down to meet the dark pokemon on eye level.

"Oh thank you, Absol! Thank you so much. If it wasn't for you, I don't know what would have happened to Solana."

"Sol?"

"Solana…the girl I asked you to save. She's doing fine now thanks to you."

"Mai Mai!"

"Plah!"

Absol blinked a couple times before his face hardened.

"Absol, Sol Ab…"

Lunick blinked several times himself while Minun and Plusle became attentive.

"Ab…Sol Sol…"

"What is it, little buddy?"

Just then, Lunick styler began vibrating. He stood up and took it.

"Hello?…Hey, Leader……uh-huh, I'm on my way."

He disconnected the call before putting back in its holder.

"I gotta go, Absol. But thanks again for what you did. I really appreciate it. I'll find another way to thank you later," he said as he sprinted off.

Absol grimaced as the boy went away. A shrill scream to his left alerted him.

"Mommy! Mommy, an Absol!" a little girl cried a few feet away. The child's mother turned up her nose as her face became a mask of disgust.

"Oh, you retched creature! Get out of our city! You're not wanted here!"

A small crowd began to form around the wolf-like pokemon. A shopkeeper took out a broom and began swinging it at Absol.

"Get out! Our city's been peaceful the last two years without them Go-Rock Sqauds. Get out of here before you cause some other disaster to strike! Go on! Get!"

Absol dodged the man's attack. He began sprinting out of the city as fast as he could. These were the humans he didn't like. The ones that were too stupid to see that he was trying to warn them about an approaching disaster but blamed him for it when it struck.

Ignorance is bliss, he thought to himself. It'd save him a lot of time and energy if he just stopped trying to warn the humans about incoming disasters. Sure beats getting beat in the butt by prickly broom corn.

Sceptile paced back and forth through his cave. Five more herds had been consumed within the time he had sent Celebi and Mew out. He just hoped they were doing well in trying to successfully find those humans he told them about.

"Old One! Old One!"

Sceptile turned around to the cave's entrance. He saw Mew and Celebi entering it.

"How'd it go, young ones?"

Mew nearly bubbled over with excitement as she looked at her elder.

"Old One, I think we found those humans you spoke of from the legend!"

Sceptile's eyes widened.

"Did you sense their aura?"

"Yes. Celebi and I both. It grew stronger and stronger as we continued to get closer to them."

Celebi merely rolled his eyes.

"Did they match the description?"

Mew nodded her head.

Sceptile's smiled as he bowed his head and closed his eyes.

"Finally. The day has come."

There was a small crackle as a Nuzleaf climbed up the edge of cliff on cave's entrance.

"Old One…Old One…"

Mew and Celebi flied over to help him, lifting him until was completely up.

"What is it, friend?"

Nuzleaf knelt down on one knee to show his respect as a Serka native and to his elder.

"Old One, I've come bearing extremely bad news."

"What is it, Nuzleaf?"

"It appears that one of leagendary beasts, Suicune, has been consumed by the darkness."

"Oh no." Mew said as she put her paws to her mouth. Celebi's eyes just widened.

Sceptile shook his head.

"No."

"It is true. One of our tribes were out in the Jungle Relic looking for food. They spotted what appeared to be one of our young ones, a Poliwag, trapped in a cage. Suicune apparently went to rescue it, and was consumed by the darkness while she was there."

Sceptile's expression hardened.

"Celebi, Mew."

"Yes, Sir?" they said in unison.

"You need to find those humans. You need to inform them about what is going on. This madness must stop at once!"

Celebi blinked a couple times before answering his elder.

"But Old One, the last time we saw these humans they were at some medical facility. It may be weeks before we can talk to them."

"Then become their secret guardian. Protect them while you can until they are well enough to face this terror that threatens our land."

"Um…you mean like spy on them?"

The old gecko pokemon shook his head.

"No. You are their watchers. Their secret guardian."

"Um…okay," he said as he and Mew started outside of the cave.

"One thing, young ones."

The two pokemon immediately stopped and turned to face him.

Sceptile continued.

"These humans will not understand you. They do not understand our language."

"What?" they said in unison.

"They cannot understand us. Only those who share a close bond with the humans are able to get their thoughts across to them for their comprehension."

"But how will we tell them what's going on with this darkness?" Mew asked.

The aging pokemon closed his eyes.

"You must communicate with them telepathically."

Celebi stood in awe at the old pokemon.

"Telepathically?"

"That's easy-peasy for me," Mew said with a smile.

"Celebi, you also possess the powers necessary to communicate with these humans. You just haven't tapped into them. It's something you're not used to but you must try to get your thoughts across to them. They are our only hope for the future."

Celebi shook his head slightly before turning away from his elder and starting for the cave entrance once more.

Sceptile turned to Mew.

"Mew, you are the only one who knows how to use your powers to the extent needed to communicate with these humans. Show Celebi that same technique. He will be reluctant but you must be adamant. You need to get your emotions across to these great beings."

Mew nodded her head.

"Understood, Old One," she said as she started after Celebi.

The old pokemon watched as the two exited out of his home. He turned to face the small grass pokemon who had just informed him of the terrible news of what happened to the aquatic legendary beast.

"Nuzleaf."

"Yes, Old One," he got to his knees once more.

"Tell your tribe to move. All of them. Carry this message on to the other herds of the Jungle Relic. You must relocate. Get as far from the darkness as possible."

"Yes, Old One." The wily pokemon got to his feet, leaping out of the cave and onto a ledge below as he went to go inform his followers of what his elder had said.

Sceptile stood still, his hands behind his back. He gazed out at the night sky just as he had done weeks earlier, his eyes hard.

"Oh great Ho-Oh, guardian of the skies, this evil is getting stronger and stronger. It's claimed one of your fine resurrections. These two beings spoken of in our legend…please watch over them. Our fate, the world's fate…rests in their hands."

With that, the aging pokemon closed his eyes and headed back inside the cave, hoping once more that he can one day see the world returned back to what he once believed it was.