Hunter was pulling on his jacket, getting ready to go look for Charizard. It was close to midnight and the Dragon Pokémon still hadn't come back yet. Taren walked up to him, a worried look on his face.
Dad, he said, what do you think happened?
"I don't know, Taren. I just hope that it's all right."
There was a loud thump from outside. Hunter and Taren looked towards the back door and ran to it, opening it to look out into the garden.
Hunter's eyes widened. Charizard stood in the center of the backyard, swaying. It looked up, its mouth opening in a smile at its trainer as blood flowed from its jaw.
It took a step towards him, then sank to its knees. Hunter and Taren barely managed to catch it in time as Charizard pitched forward. They both gently laid Charizard on its back on the ground as Hunter examined its injuries. Charizard's body was battered and bruised, scorch marks adorning several places. Its jaw was bleeding and it had a black eye, but there was no serious damage.
Hunter narrowed his eyes. Deoxys did this. There's no other explanation.
Riley and Maylene came out of the house, both stopping short at the scene.
"What happened?" Riley asked.
"Deoxys. Charizard apparently fought it and lost."
Maylene and Riley ran over to it. Hunter ran inside the house and got Charizard's Poké Ball then ran back outside. Returning Charizard, he looked at them all. "I'll be back. Stay alert."
Hunter then closed his eyes, imagining himself in an alley next to the Alto Mare Pokémon Center. He then disappeared. When he opened his eyes, he was in the alley. Running out of it he burst into the Pokémon Center, hoping that Nurse Joy was awake.
She was. Hunter ran up to the desk and gave her Charizard's Poké Ball. "My Charizard got into a fight. It's badly injured."
Nurse Joy looked at the ball and nodded.
A few minutes later, Hunter sat on a bench outside an operating room. He could see the room through a large window, and though he didn't want to watch, he couldn't tear his eyes away.
Charizard lay on the room's operating table. An IV needle had been taped in place on its arm. A number of Chansey and Nurse Joy herself moved to and fro about the room, looking at various machines, bandaging Charizard's injuries, and generally helping it recover.
Hunter watched for a long time. He didn't keep track. He watched until he fell asleep, falling on his side onto the bench.
When he opened his eyes, the light above the door was off. A Chansey stood in front of him, almost nose-to-nose.
Hunter sat upright, then looked at the Chansey. "May I come in now?"
The Chansey nodded, and with an eternally cheerful "Chansey!" preceded him into the room.
Charizard was awake, and it managed to lift its head and look at him. Hunter smiled and walked over to it, rubbing its head with his hand and pressing his cheek against its own.
"Hey, buddy." he whispered. "How do you feel?"
"Char," Charizard replied, butting him gently with its nose.
Hunter returned it to its ball and left the Pokémon Center, going back to his house the normal way.
As he opened the door, he could hear what sounded like a party coming from the living room. He looked inside and saw Latios and Latias playing with the other Pokémon in the room. Hunter smiled and walked over to the two guardians. "What are you both doing here?"
"They want to help," said a voice. Hunter turned to see Lorenzo and Bianca standing in the doorway to the living room.
"Don't tell me you're both going to help as well. You don't have any Pokémon."
"We're just going to watch," Bianca said. "Latios wanted to help. You're the reason he's here, you know."
Hunter looked at Latios. The guardian nodded to confirm Bianca's statements. Hunter's eyebrows came together. "No. I won't have you dying and leaving your sister alone again."
Latios's eyes narrowed back. It made a series of noises that sounded like gibberish to Hunter.
He says that he's fighting, and there's nothing you can say to change his mind, Taren translated. Let him help, Dad. He wants to protect his sister.
"And what happens if he dies, Taren?" Hunter asked, whirling on his son. "What happens if we win, and Latios dies, or if Deoxys wins and all of us are dead? Latios and Latias can get away, but what happens if Latios fights and we fail? Latias will be all alone again, and to top it off, she won't have a home or anyone to take care of her."
I did fine without you for a whole year! Taren replied.
"But you could call me when you wanted! Latias won't know anyone! She'll be alone in the world completely! Come to think of it, you're not fighting, either!"
What?!
"You heard me! You have a family, Taren! I'll tell you the same thing I told Mara after Deoxys got you. You have a family, and I'm not going to put you in the line of fire while they're waiting to hear if you're alive or dead!"
You can't stop me! Taren shot back.
"Wanna bet?" Hunter asked.
Both of them were nearly nose-to-nose, glaring at each other and growling. Visible Aura flickered around them, gathering in their hands and causing objects in the room to shake.
Mewtwo reached out his arms and pulled the two apart with Psychic. Enough! he said. This arguing is pointless. If we are to defeat Deoxys, we must all work together. He looked at Hunter. You are not fighting alone. You called me for a reason, did you not? Let your son help if he wants. If you have taught him as well as you think you have, then there is nothing to worry about.
Hunter broke Mewtwo's hold on him then disappeared.
Taren was glaring at the spot where his surrogate father stood. Everyone looked at everyone else, not saying anything.
Awkwaaaaard... R and R! The big battle will be coming up in the chapter after next.