A/N: I'm sorry that this chapters rather late, my life has been getting in the way and it has been somewhat hard writing this. What has it been a month since I last uploaded? Well, anyhow on with the chapter and I hope you enjoy!

Chapter Thirteen

The Hospital

Accident and emergency, wide entrance with automatic sliding glass doors, ambulances lined up outside, paramedics wheeling in patients on trollies. The hallway had as much personality as the rest of the hospital.

The floor had a bright-grey tint and the walls were dove colored. Above, the ceiling was made from those polystyrene squares laid on a grid-like frame.

"Here I am yet again…" Hoenns champion thought as she bite her lip. She was worried. No, scratch that she was beyond worried. She was downright apprehensive.

After Maria had ran off, May became extremely fretful and vexed to know where she had gone. She searched all over Slateport, low and high, overlooking every single street and alleyway, until she came to the Oceanic Museum. There she had saw her daughter, Maria laying on the cold ground severely wounded and unconscious. Beside the teenager was Captain Stern, who knocked out senseless. The light-brown haired woman was deeply taken aback, however, she had no time to hesitate. She rapidly called for an ambience, and after some intense waiting they arrived. Hurriedly they grabbed both Captain Stern and Maria and rushed to the nearest hospital.

When there, Hoenns champion tried to persuade and convince the nurses and doctors to be alongside her child whilst seeing what was wrong with the girl. She begged and even pleaded, but it couldn't be helped and May was left in the dust. Therefore she devotedly awaited outside the room her daughter was caged in.

The stillness of the waiting room made May's blood cold as the brisk nippy air that crept through an open window. Bereft of any wind the leaves outside hung limp, until they fell of their own accord, there was no whispering sound or rustling. It was as though nature considered to allow her to rot away in the dark, not daring to breathe the reassurance she yearned. Then hurried footsteps and the squeak of a door brought her heart to race as fast as a gunshot. Her head snapped in an instant from gazing out of window with unfocused eyes to the rectangle of white formic the doctor would return from.

"Miss May Maple?" The doctor called out to May.

Immediately she answered without delay. "Yes?"

"Please, follow me." He said as he began to walk down the hasty hallway.

May was intensely confused. But suddenly, her youngster came to mind and she became absurdly worried. She quickly rushed on over to the man's side and tightly took ahold of his arm. She shakenly asked. "What has something happened to my Mariann? Is she alright? Please, tell me she's alright!" Dimly her grip on the doctor tightened and she held on, harder and firmer. And to the point, where she held on so solidly, she pitiably began to hurt him on accident.

"Madam… Please, if you may. It's starting to hurt." He achingly said, and released May's ahold of him.

Realizing what she had done, May embarrassingly and awkwardly replied. "I'm s-sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you, doctor. I'm just extremely frightened." She apologized for her actions.

"It's fine and completely understandable." The doctor stated. "But, I reassure you your daughter's perfectly fine. Now, shall we?" He calmly reported and presumed to carry on to the patient's room.

"Oh, o-okay…" May responded. Though she felt rather hasty to see Maria, however, she didn't hurry herself instead she followed the man and took her time.

Once they arrived at the room, immediately the champion charged in without a second thought. She pushed open the door and dashed to her child's side. Surprisingly, Maria was awake and no longer unconscious. Instead she was up and seating on the edge of the bed, looking out the close by window.

May instantly came to a halt, once her sapphire-blue eyes settled on her daughter. She was outright shocked to see her daughter awake, however, in a good way. When Maria was in coma, she lay as still as a brick. No, movement came from her. Not even the slight rise and fall of her chest. She was entirely still and frozen.

May drew a bit closer, eager to talk to Maria, but not keen on scaring the poor girl. Seemingly, Maria had been through a lot and probably was deeply traumatized. "Mariann… It's me your, mother…" She delicately said and slowly approached her.

The auburn haired trainer gradually swayed her glance bit by bit to see who was calling out to her. As soon as she laid her blue and brown eyes on May, she quietly uttered. "…Mom…"

Maria seat on the very edge on the bed, looking out the window. The sunlight was strong and brightly shined through the open glazing, utterly lighting the already white and flashing room, where she stayed. In the brilliant light of the sunny day. The girl couldn't even see the glass. The sun streamed in like a flamboyant guest, not waiting patiently for an invitation. No longer could she see the white vinyl frame, merely the shape.

There was absolute stillness. Silence filled the air around her, alike the subtle sea flowing calmly past without a ripple or a wave in sight. No gust of wind stirred the grass or leaves from outside. No clouds drifted in the great big sky of blue above. No water dripped or flowed from the nearby sink. Not a noise could be heard either close at hand or in the far off distance. Even the young trainers own breath appeared to die as soon as it left her mouth. It was an eerie sort of tranquility, so as an alternative of being soothed her senses became heightened. She felt like the prey even though no predator could be identified. It was as if the world were encased in a cocoon, a bubble, and there was no way out.

Apparently, when she glanced out the window, she somewhat felt peaceful and easeful and yet hemmed in. She didn't totally know why. But, maybe it was because she was trapped in the hospital and wanted to be outside and continue on her Pokemon journey. Though she did know that she was in the building for she had been out cold, and currently now she had just awoken.

Suddenly, the dreadful memories of last night came storming back. Maria remembered everything, from Corliss appearing and to the powerful punch in the stomach. Fear engulfed her. The feeling stuck to her mind like poison. And it implied to run through her thin veins and overtake her. The venom slowly began to suck the life-force out of her and sluggishly dripped down her back, but without warning, it abruptly faded away. The girl was relieved from the dire toxic, which in fact was her memories.

Unexpectedly, an annoyingly squealing creek sound came from the plain white painted door. Maria assumed it was the doctor, who was going to check up on her again and run some tests. Therefore she didn't bother to turn around and see who it was. Thus, she merely carried on to glance out the window and admire the sunny day, which in reality she couldn't truly enjoy.

The sound of footsteps unhurriedly moved toward the auburn haired trainer. The approaching footsteps had the dry noise of someone on solid ground: one who hasn't learnt to walk softly and in its place relied on the verges to muffle their steps. Each footfall was messily spaced from the last, no tempo at all. Whoever it was missed confidence, and was probably terrified. They were neither a threat or of interest. Maria didn't yearn for anyone else other than her mother. In fact the sooner it was back to being just her the better. She leaves - her footsteps as quiet as a silent Whismur.

All at once, the sound of the footsteps stopped altogether. The young Pokemon trainer still didn't trouble herself to see who it was, not even a little tilt of the head.

One more step was made, but it was vague and very short-lived. Out of the blue, it was though a voice of an angel spoke. "Mariann… It's me your, mother…" The tone of voice was sweet and melodious, for Maria it was hard to believe it was real.

"Mom…" She densely thought. The auburn haired trainer gradually swayed her glance bit by bit to see who was calling out to her. As soon as she laid her blue and brown eyes on May, she quietly uttered. "…Mom…"

Without a second to spare, May rushed towards her now conscious daughter and tightly embraced her. Whilst the mother poured her heart and soul into that one simple hug, Maria stood silent and still for some intensely drawn-out moments. Until, finally she couldn't handle it anymore and broke down into tears. The daughter cried and sobbed into her parents shoulder.

"Hush. Hush. It's alright. Just let it all out. Just let it all out" May whispered angelic and tender words while she comforted her child. As she spoke, Marias cries and sobbing grew louder and bigger. They stayed like that for a long time, up until the girl muttered.

"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry… I didn't mean to- I didn't know-" She cried and cried, until she could cry no more.

"Hush, Mariann. It's fine. Of course, you didn't mean to leave or you didn't know Corliss was going to show up." May did her best to comfort her. "All that matters now that you're safe. Safe and sound."

"Y-you're not mad or angry at m-me?..." Maria tried to stop herself from sobbing and tried to wipe her tears away. However, she couldn't hold herself together forever. The sobbing slowly began to arise up again, and as any times she tried to completely wipe the tears away, new ones would simply retake their place.

May sighed. At first she was a bit irritated and maddened that the teenager run off without a trace. Honestly, she was utterly far more worried than angry. Irritation and anger instantly drifted away from her when she found Maria blacked out. Presently, she was plainly happy and relieved that her daughter was safe and sound. "No, not at all." She softly whispered with a genially content smile.

The young teenager moderately shook her head side to side. "God! I-I'm so pathetic, weak, stupid and… and… and…" She profoundly hesitated. "I'm so sorry! It's my fault that all of this happened! I shouldn't have…" She halted in mid-sentence, finding herself to be too feeble and doleful to go on.

"No. No. Maria, hon it's not your fault. You didn't do anything wrong." May began. "You're an excellent, strong and smart girl. And not… Not this."

"Mom! You don't understand. If I haven't left you alone and wandered off than I wouldn't be stuck in this situation. Hence, it's my fault."

Hoenns champion sighed, again. She slightly pulled away from her daughter and firmly took grip on her shoulders. Her sapphire-blue eyes stared at her. "It's not your fault. Instead I should take the blame."

Marias eyes widen in surprise. "Mom, what are you saying?"

"Maria, you remember when you asked me about Corliss?" May asked and Maria naively nodded. The light-brown haired woman gently sat down on the bed next to her child and carried on. "And you asked me why she hated me and became rogue. I answered that I didn't know… Well, I lied."

The daughter didn't say a single word, but she merely looked to her mother in utter astonishment. May awkwardly permitted to continue. "You see, Maria after I calmed down Groudon Corliss became riled with me, and she was unaware that Team Magmas leader had realized his falters. Thus, she bought it upon herself to further the goal of Maxie. She vowed that she'll have her revenge on me. Ever since than the woman has gone rouge." The champion began. "Two years after the events with Rayquaza and Deoxys, when I was about eighteen, Corliss, out of blue reappeared and started causing trouble. Unexpectedly, your father and I partnered up for a short time and defeated Corliss. However, we didn't actually take her down and in the end, she got away. Seeing that she was a highly dangerous person and sacred that she'll come back for us, your father and I separated. In fear, your father left Hoenn and with his family. Shortly afterwards I realized that I was pregnant with you, Maria. Immediately after you were born, I left this region and moved to Johto."

After May had made her big declaration by telling the truth, a poisonous silence filled the air around them. And what seemed to be forever, Maria finally spoke up. "So, is that the reason why you kept me hidden away from everybody?"

"Well, yes. I was only trying to protect you. I was afraid that Corliss would eventually find you and hurt you if I didn't do anything. But, that was completely foolish of me. I caged you up like a bird Pokemon, instead of doing what I was trying to do, protect you. I should have told you the truth in the first place. Therefore, it's my fault." May claimed and gently held her daughters hand. She apologized. "I'm sorry, Maria."

Maria found that there were some truce to her mother's words. She did keep her a secret of the public almost her whole life. The auburn haired sighed and informed. "Mom I'm not going to lie. It was pretty damn stupid! But, I don't blame you and you shouldn't either. I do kind of see your point in all of it nonetheless." She paused. "Blame Corliss, because she began this entire mess and my father as well, since he left you!"

"Sweet pea, don't blame your father. The man has his reasons. Plus, he and I didn't have the greatest relationship. He never beat or hit me, however, we did argue a lot. I was young and stupid… But, on second thought he was my first lover and he did make me feel utterly different and special, in a good way though. Also, surprisingly your father was great in bed. He would sometimes-"

Maria suddenly got all red in the face and she covered her face with her hands in embarrassment. "Mom! Please, I don't want hear about the time when you and dad… you know…"

"Oh, sorry dearie." May teasingly atoned.

Apparently, it became unsettling quiet and the embarrassment faded from Maria and she quickly became shy and bashful. May instantly noticed this. "Hmm, Maria what's wrong?"

The red-brown girl sighed. "Remember when you told me that dad already has a family… Mom… Does he know about me? Do I have any half-siblings and… Am I unwanted child to him?"

"No, Maria you're but the opposite of an unwanted child. You're very much wanted." May paused. "And in truce, I'm uncertain if he knows about you. Yes, you do have a half-sibling, a half-brother to be correct."

"Do you know him? What's his name? How old is he? Will I ever meet him?" Maria came running with questions.

"That's enough questions for today, Maria. Perhaps I'll answer them another day." May reassured her daughter.

"Oh… okay…" Maria softly muttered.

May and Maria talked and talked, for what seemed to go on for hours. However like always, the mother had to eventually leave her daughters side, because duty called. The girl hugely disliked that her parent had to leave her, but she didn't argue or object to it. But in the end, the champion dropped by every single day and with her she brought small gifts, so Maria didn't find it to be so bad. Her grandmother and even grandfather visited her while in the hospital. Though their visit was very brief, she really didn't mind since she knew they had an extraordinarily busy calendar.

Maria couldn't wait until she could leave the hospital and continue on her journey. Though May highly protested against it, as for what happened with Corliss sacred her to death. And it did take a lot of convincing, Maria reassured her mother she'll be much safer and she'll go home if anything occurred. Also that the police knew where the wicked woman was headed next, Fallarbor Town, in the long run they would find her and take her to jail. Ultimately, May was uneasily persuaded and she allowed her to carry with her adventure.

The young trainer stayed in the infirmary much longer than she thought necessary. Seconds turned into minutes, minutes into hours and hours turned into days. Maria tried to assure the nurses and doctors and leave, however, they opposed to it. She was getting sick of it all. Being her rebellious self, she decided to secretly leave when the moon was high and once everybody was asleep.

Thus during nightfall, Maria quietly sneaked out of the uncomfortable hospital bed. She silently tip-toed over to the desk right next to the mattress, where all her clothes and stuff were placed. She lightly grabbed all her clothing. Without another second to spare, she torn off the tacky hospital grown and swiftly changed. She finished changing by putting on her new red small jacket her mother bought for her. She then gathered all her things into her bag and grabbed her belt of her Pokemons Pokeballs, and placed it around her waist.

Aware that the front counter was most likely open and possibly a lot of people were there, Maria dangerously decided to escape through the window. She tried to noiselessly slide the closed window open. Luckily she succeeded and climbed out. Fortunately for her, she was simply on the third floor so the climb down wasn't too risky. The girl had done some similar things when she was younger, when her mother grounded her, out of anger she would stealthily sneak out the house by going through her window. Therefore it wasn't so chancy and tricky, but it was still vastly unsafe and she understood that. The minute Marias two feet touched the grassy green soiled ground, she bolted for route 110. However, she halted for a moment to merely admire the beautiful view Slateport had to show.

The night sky was altogether black and dim. The stars and moon were bright and sheer. The lingering light was obliterated by the rapidly falling night. The once salmon and purple sky transformed into a vast expanse of jet-black that flooded the City. An awning of shimmering stars materialized amidst the ocean of darkness. Some were dull, purely flickering into existence every now and then, but there was an adequate amount of glowing stars to illuminate the dark, moon full night. The sea glistened, mirroring the dazzling assemblage of sparkling stars and the luminescence from the restaurants and designer boutiques that lined the urban. The dim wind brushed against the water's surface, the ripples ruffled the calmness of the surface, and shattered the reflection of the nearby harbor.

Then the teenager abruptly felt a slight sting of pain in her stomach. She soundlessly groaned. "Argh, it seems that I haven't completely recovered." But, she really couldn't careless she would recover sooner or later, and a mere pain from the stomach wouldn't stop her. However, that meager pain made her reflect on the time she got punched her in the gut by Corliss. "That is why I, Corliss, shall awaken Jirachi and grant leader Maxie's wish!" And she remembered when the woman told her her plans.

Suddenly it hit her. "Wait, I'm the only one who knows of Corliss plans." Of course, there was expectation that Captain Stern, the police, her mother and Steven knew as well. Nevertheless, they didn't appear to be aware. Thus, Maria was probably the only one who understood.

"No, no. That's extremely idiotic!" The girl immensely disliked the idea of her stopping Corliss on her own. But, she was only one who knew of the nasty woman's plot. Hence, she felt that it was her duty to stop her. Though she was extremely rattled by the pink haired woman's plans, she was reassured by herself to continue forth and stop the sinful woman. She left Slateport and headed for Mauville City.