Guys… I'm sorry. I done messed up D: I accidentally changed Kei's name to Kari in the previous chapters. I got this story confused with another one I've been writing. Please forgive me!

While the Pokemon all set the plan in motion, I stay with Leafeon, who is using Flash to blind the people, as if the smoke from the fire wasn't doing that anyway. Feraligatr and Mantine seem to be in good condition still, and Rapidash's flames are doing their job. The only problem is making sure Wes doesn't burn to death…

"Feraligatr! Over here!" I call, running to the building. Mantine stays using its continuous Water Guns, Surfs, and Waterfalls while Feraligatr follows me. It puts out the fire, but the hissing of its dying down hardly compares to the people's screams. It's completely immoral to make people fear like that, but hey, they made me fear for my partner's life. It's just sweet revenge.

But heck, words don't do justice for the rush I get as this plan is executed. I guess I'm not as conditioned to a rogue lifestyle as I originally thought.

I laugh quietly to myself. The me before I met Wes would've fainted by now. Sometimes I miss that peaceful life, but I'd rather live crazy like this with the rest of my life hanging in the balance at every moment than with every single day blending into the next.

As I get to the prison cell, I run down the stone stairs. "Rapidash! That's enough! Come here!" I look left and right through the smoke to find Wes. As it clears in that particular area, I see a hanging figure bound by chains attached to a wall… "Wes! Rapidash, burn the chains!" It does as it was told, and I barely catch his body before it hits the floor. I feel his neck and barely feel the pulse there. Thank Arceus, he's alive, I think. However, I have to think quickly. How am I going to get him out of here…?

Thankfully, I have a solution. "Everyone, get back here! Mantine, take Wes on your back!" I toss his limp body onto Mantine, and when I'm sure everyone is nearby, I smirk and motion for them to follow before the Flash's light and smoke clear.

I smile and let out a victorious scream as I sprint towards the base I made on Route 203.

Mission success.

When we arrive at the camp, I set Wes down on a patch of dry, dead grass. There are a lot of those, but at least I managed to build a small fort with the help of the Pokemon. I thank them all and return them to their Pokeballs. I touch Wes's arm. "Please wake up," I mutter.

Then it occurs to me that he hasn't eaten in days. I go to the trees and pick out some apples and berries, then return to where Wes is. I can still feel his pulse, but it's weak. "Wes…" I put the berry by his nose in a desperate attempt to wake him up. If I try to stimulate his senses, I bet he'll awaken.

So while I keep the berry by his nose, I gently shake him while talking next to his ear. "Wake up. Wake up, Wes, please." Eventually, his steady breathing turns a bit unsteady. He opens his eyes slowly.

"Where is this… Why is it so bright, and-" He coughs, and I hold him upright.

"It's okay, Wes, I'm here… you need to eat. Here, I brought some apples and berries."

He stares at the food for a bit, then grabs an apple and takes a bite. His dull eyes turn bright again, and he continues to eat. I smile; I saved someone's life. In exchange for the fear I caused, I saved someone.

Who probably killed people.

Nevertheless, I'm glad that he's still with us. I let the Pokemon out of their Pokeballs to show them the news. "Wes! I'm so glad you're alive!" Feraligatr cries out happily, and I smile. Wes looks to me, not expressing emotion. I hold back a giggle as he has multiple types of berry juices dripping down his chin. We stay looking at each other for a few minutes. "Is there, uh, something you want to tell me or something?" Like "thank you so much for saving me I'm eternally grateful and in your debt what can I do for you"?

"No. You just look… different."

"How so?" I ask, biting my lip at his ungraciousness.

"I mean, your eyes have a different look in them, and you look almost heartless." He looks down at the ground. "Just like me."

I blink, confused. "That was awfully sentimental of you, Wes. Did they screw with your brain in prison?"

"Nope."

"Perform surgery while you were asleep?"

He scoffs. "Who do you think I am? I didn't give in. I didn't sleep until I fainted. You barely saved my life." He wiped his chin with his sleeve. "Oh yeah, I should probably thank you for that."

That sounded insincere. Just like Wes- inconsistent and rude but smart. I smile again, this time in relief. He's no different, he's just acting like an insomniac. "You should probably get some sleep. No one has found me here, and I usually have Leafeon sit guard since it can blend in. Get some rest. You can have the blanket I made of Mareep wool I gathered. Sorry there isn't a pillow, there were only two Mareep, and that hardly made a blanket."

He stares at the blanket I handed to him in awe. "You actually care about me."

Is this guy slow? "I dunno, I've made the choice to stay with you many times, betrayed the ETPA for you to go rogue, saved your life, fed you when you were about to die, and now I'm giving you my only source of warmth for the cold night… Maybe I care about you just a little, huh?" I rambled sarcastically.

He stared for a moment and let out a laugh. Then more laughter before I shut my hand over his mouth and used the other one to put a finger to my lips. "Wow, Kari, I never thought I'd see that side of you. Very well then, thanks for everything so far. In exchange…" He thinks for a moment.

"I really don't need anything in return-"

"I'll help you catch three legendary Pokemon, all yours to keep. We can start tomorrow, if you please."

I pause in shock, then an expression of glee crosses my face. "You'd do that?" I asked with tears starting to spring in my eyes.

"If you think you're ready."

I whisper-yell, "yes! Absolutely!"

He smirks and lays down under the blanket, cuddling into it slightly. He falls asleep immediately, and when I lay on the ground, I watch his peaceful expression before drifting into sleep.