Hello readers! I'm sorry for the delay in updating, and that this chapter isn't that long, I've been frantically prepping for Anime Boston (where I sell in the Artist Alley) and that has kept me distracted from anything else! I still wanted to at least give you something, because I'm so grateful to have readers at all! I will try to resume a more normal update schedule after this weekend, when my big con is over with and I don't have to spend EVERY waking minute on merch and prep. Thanks for sticking with me and GFVC!

-9-

Amelia was slow to get out of bed the next morning, even though she was quick to wake up. She felt a lot better than she had the day before, but was still fairly sore all over, and she was not excited by the task in front of her. She had decided that today she would visit the pokemon center to check up on Pidgey, but just the thought of her hurt friend made her feel short of breath and panicky. On the one hand she really wanted to see him, but on the other still felt intensely guilty about what had befallen him.

When Amelia finally got up and dressed, Growlithe was at the ready, following her just as he had on so many other mornings. It was overcast, and a fog had settled over the streets, obscuring the roads and buildings in the distance. When Amelia went downstairs, she found her mother in the dining room by the kitchen, writing on her laptop by the sliding back door, so that the screen door could let in the cool air.

"Good morning honey, how're you feeling today?" Her mother asked.

Amelia tried to smile, "A lot better, you don't have to worry mom. I was thinking about going down to the pokemon center to check on Pidgey in a bit."

"That sounds like a good idea; did you want me to come along?" Her mother said.

"That's okay, I should be alright by myself, and it isn't very far. Thanks though," Amelia said.

"Hmm. Alright then, but make sure to call if you need me, okay?" Her mother said.

"I will, but I'm sure it'll be fine," Amelia said, though she wasn't convinced herself if she would be fine.

Growlithe met Amelia by the door, and they headed out together into the fog. The damp gloom heightened her anxiety as she headed for the mall and the pokemon center. It had only been a week since she had first brought her newly caught Pidgey to the pokemon center, but she felt so different from the girl who had done that. She had the same interests, and the same goals, but somehow life had taken on a slightly graver aspect. Amelia couldn't help feeling like the shadows were a little bit deeper now than they had been on that day.

Amelia entered the pokemon center through its external entrance, a small chime accompanying the automatic doors sliding open. Amelia's saw Lisa was at the counter, as she was on most days.

Amelia tried to be casual, "Hi Lisa, I'm here to check in on my Pidgey, do you know how he's doing?"

Lisa tried smiling, but Amelia could see in her expression that she knew at least part of what had happened. Her smile was strained, "Yeah, he had to undergo fairly extensive surgery but I believe he should be out now. You can go through to check up on him if you'd like."

Amelia nodded, "That would be nice. Do you know when he can be released?"

"Maybe in another day or so, but you should have Pidgey avoid any strenuous activity for a few days after. His wings will continue to heal for the next few days, so he should stay grounded for that time," Lisa said.

Amelia nodded, and followed Lisa back through a door towards the rooms where pokemon were treated for serious injury. The hall was warmer than Amelia had imagined, colored a soothing shade of rose. Lisa stopped next to a white door, and gestured for Amelia to enter.

"I can wait out here if you'd like," Lisa said.

"Thanks, I'd just like a moment alone with him. I'll just be few minutes," Amelia said.

Amelia cracked the door open and entered slowly. The room she entered was small, with an incubator against one wall. Pidgey sat in one corner, looking downcast, his wings bandaged so that they were held immobile at his side.

Amelia approached, and tried to look optimistic, though she could feel tears welling up.

"Hey pal, how's it going?" She said haltingly.

Pidgey chirped weakly, but seemed encouraging.

"I'm sorry I messed up, and that you were hurt because of it. I understand if that isn't good enough, or you can't forgive me so easily. I just wanted to apologize," Amelia said.

Pidgey looked up at her and with some difficulty rose from his sitting position, to face her directly. He let out a clear strong chirp, and then nodded, as if that had settled the matter. Amelia was once more struck by the profound loyalty that all her pokemon had shown her, even those she had known for a relatively short time. Their faith was a weighty responsibility for her, but it also made her feel braver.

"Thank you... the doctors say that you can come home soon, so please just rest and heal up until then. I'll see you again soon okay?" Amelia asked.

Pidgey chirped a positive, and Amelia smiled, before exiting the room, where Lisa was waiting. Amelia wiped a tear from her eye as she closed the door behind her.

"Thanks for waiting. He seems like he's in good spirits, I'm relieved," Amelia said.

"He's a tough little bird, that's for sure. You know this sort of thing isn't that uncommon... you shouldn't be too hard on yourself. I do think it's nice when a trainer is so concerned about their pokemon, but injuries are an inevitable outcome of battling," Lisa said.

"I know. I just don't want my pokemon to be injured because of my inexperience, or a lack of judgment. That should never be the cause of their injuries," Amelia said gravely, as they walked back towards the entrance.

"I suppose that's a good decision to make, just don't be too unforgiving to yourself in that regard. Anyway, I'll give you a call when Pidgey is ready to come home okay? You take it easy until then, from what I heard you went through quite an ordeal," Lisa said.

"Thanks, I'll be careful. I'll see you later Lisa," Amelia said. She headed back out onto the street, and started walking home. The fog had thinned out somewhat, but the sun was still struggling to shine through, and cast a dim, wan light onto the street. When Amelia got home, she could hear her mother shuffling papers and typing in her study, and so decided not to disturb her work. Amelia climbed the stairs to her room and changed into running shorts and a tank top, and dug through her closet to find her running shoes. She grabbed a hair tie off the end of the hairbrush on her desk, and put her hair up into a high tail. Bulbasaur watched her progress with disinterest from the far side of the room.

"I'm going for a run; do you want to come along?" Amelia asked with a wry grin.

Bulbasaur snorted derisively, and resumed his nap. Amelia wasn't surprised in the least. Bulbasaur had exhibited many virtues, but a love for running was not one of them, and furthermore she knew that Bulbasaur was likely to be less energetic on a cloudy day than a sunny one. Amelia noted a shirt sitting on the floor near her dresser that was wiggling oddly, as if it were attempting to escape. From out under it scooted Weedle, causing Amelia to tilt her head with curiosity. Had she let Weedle out of his pokeball? She couldn't remember. Weedle inched energetically to her feet, and then up her leg. Amelia held her arm out in front of her so he could inch out to face her.

"Hey there little guy! Do you want to come along for my run?" Amelia asked. Weedle wiggled and then inched excitedly in a circle around her arm, which tickled her.

"Okay okay, calm down you goof," Amelia laughed.

Amelia waited while Weedle climbed up to her shoulder, suctioning himself firmly into place, before bounding down the stairs, where Growlithe had been relaxing by the back door. Amelia clapped her hands.

"I'm going out for a run Growlithe, are you coming or what?" Amelia said.

Growlithe barked twice before jumping up from his sitting position and running toward the door. Amelia did some warm up stretches before heading out onto the misty street, setting off at a brisk clip down the sidewalk, toward the fields outside of town. Growlithe followed along, before pulling ahead and leading her, barking to express his happiness, no doubt glad to be outside after days cooped up in a hospital and then the house. Weedle gripped Amelia's shoulder tightly, his eyes closed with happiness.

Amelia followed the river as she ran, the cool misty air rushing across her face and felt for the first time since she'd been home like she was in control again. Darren had been right, she had made a mistake, but giving up would just be another, larger mistake. Amelia was angry at herself, for allowing, even for a moment, for that sullen attitude to take her. She had spent so much of her life up to the present filled with doubt, and had thought she had finally laid those demons to rest. Maybe that had been wishful thinking.

Amelia slowed to a walk, stopping on the riverbank to gaze at the water, sparkling as the sun finally shone through, the fog finally giving way to the afternoon sun. She had been so distracted that she had run most of the way to Pallet Town, the smaller town to the south of Viridian.

"Fancy running into you out here. I'm glad you're getting back to yourself," Amelia turned to see Colette walking up to the riverbank, with Marill and her new Pikachu in tow.

"Yeah, I guess so. Running helps me clear my head and I couldn't stand being stuck inside anymore after being in the hospital. I'm not much for being stuck indoors," Amelia said.

"What happened last night? One minute we were talking, and the next you shut me down and hung up. What did I say?" Colette asked.

Amelia shifted uneasily, "Look I just didn't really want to talk about what happened. You sounded so excited about the prospect of some mystery criminal, and that's just not how I feel about it."

"I was there too you know. It isn't like I don't understand how you feel," Colette said.

"But you don't understand!" Amelia cried. She took a second to try and calm down, feeling the heat rising to her face again.

"You don't understand. You weren't on the roof. That guy was trying to kill me, and my pokemon, and he nearly succeeded. You can't imagine how powerless and frustrated I felt, how scared I was, for them and for myself. I didn't mean to get mad about it, I'm sorry," Amelia said.

Colette looked regretful, "I'm sorry too. It was insensitive of me; I didn't really know the details about what happened. I knew you'd gotten hurt but... I guess you're right, I can't imagine what that must have been like."

Amelia turned back to the water, "I've been replaying that day in my head since I woke up in the hospital. I don't think I've ever been so tormented by a failure, and it had me feeling so low that I thought I would just give up. I'm not going to do that though. The best thing I can do for myself and for my pokemon is to become a stronger trainer, a stronger person, so that if I'm in that position again, I won't be helpless."

Colette nodded, "That's good. So how about it then? No time like the present, and we were just finished warming up. Growlithe vs. Pikachu?"

Amelia turned back to face Colette, and her eyes flashed defiantly, "I hope you're ready to get your butt kicked. Let's get back in the game Growlithe, you up for this?"

Growlithe assumed a low attack stance, and barked at Pikachu with a wolfish grin.

"Good answer!"