Hello again everyone! I hope you're all doing well. Got this done a bit later than I had hoped, but here it is. I've got a fair bit more class work this semester, so new chapters might be a bit slower than before.
Rocker On: Yes, I am alive. That's exactly correct on why they can't normally change back. I did see the reviews, and I'm working on the fifth chapter of about fifty that I'm aiming for. I'm planning to wrap this up rather soon actually, and leave it open ended. If/When I decide to do another fic on this site they might show up again though. No annoyance here, I like getting consistent reviews.
On with the story!
The nurse stared at us for several seconds, mouth slightly open. "I… I don't… is it really you?" She said, after a few seconds. "I know you indicated you were human, but I wasn't sure I believed you. No offense but it's… earth shatteringly insane!"
"Yeah, it's me. You'll remember Alejandra as a flareon." I said.
The nurse glanced at her, eyes gravitating to the obviously non-human ears. She seemed to stiffen slightly. "Did anyone see you going in here?" She asked.
"Don't think so." Jake said.
She relaxed slightly. "Anti-hybrid sentiment has been a bit higher than normal, lately. People don't like that I help them, and, well, you can see what happened."
"When did this happen?" Jake asked.
"Just today." The nurse said, looking down at the ground. "It'll be some time before I can get it fixed. The local government doesn't provide that much in the way of funding."
"That's awful!" Alejandra said, fiery eyed. "How can people let this be, this place is supposed to benefit everyone!"
The nurse sighed. "I wish I was still so idealistic. People don't like spending money, it turns out. By the way, we haven't introduced ourselves at all. I'm Illya, nice to get to really meet you all." Illya reached out a hand which Alejandra shook.
"I'm Alejandra, nice to meet you." She said.
"Jake." Jake said shortly.
I spoke last. "And I'm Tobias."
Illya nodded, glancing at me then at Alejandra. "Nice to see you two were able to stay together. Why don't you tell me the story now?"
Jake took a seat on the bench to the side. I glanced at Alejandra, then back to the nurse. "I'll start at the beginning. About two months ago I was a normal highschool student, I hardly thought about life beyond school, let alone traveling to another region." I began.
I told her as much as I could remember, leaving out some details about Jake. Best to protect his privacy. She listened intently, not saying a word until I was done.
"It's crazy how much you've been through and at such a young age." She said. "I'm glad it worked out for you."
"Thanks." I said. There was a few seconds silence.
"There's people coming." Swift said, almost nonchalantly. I strained my ear, and heard the sounds of feet and hushed voices.
"We should get out of here." I said, with a low voice.
"What's going on?" Illya asked, looking scared. I had forgotten she wouldn't understand Swift.
"There's a group of people headed our way." Jake said. "Is there a back exit?"
The nurse nodded, beckoning to us. Alejandra and I followed her behind the counter, and I looked back at Jake. "You coming?" I asked.
He shook his head. "I'll lead them off your trail, and try and meet up with you by the forest. Don't wait for me though, and if I don't make it in time, I wish you a safe journey and a good life." There was a steel in his eyes that stopped my argument before I could voice it.
"See you later, I hope." I said.
He flashed me a smile. "Hurry!"
We headed in back with the nurse. I had never been in the back of a pokemon center; it was just about what I had expected. A few storage rooms, an operating room, and what seemed to be a lounge of sorts. Illya led us to a door at the end of the hallway.
"This opens to out back, good luck!" She whispered.
"Thank you for all your help." I said, equally quietly.
Illya opened the door. "Just come back sometime, alright?"
I nodded, then stepped out into the cool night air. I crept around the side of the building stopping crouched below one of the broken windows. Alejandra followed by my side.
"I came here alone, no clue what you're talking about." I heard Jake say.
"Thats easy enough to check." A gruff voice said. "Gardevoir, is-" There was the sound of shattering glass.
"Don't let him get away!" The voice yelled, and there was the sound of many footsteps.
"We need to get out of here." Alejandra whispered.
I gave a slight nod. "I just hope he's ok, do you think he'll be alright?"
Alejandra shrugged. "I have a feeling he will, but there's no way to know."
We headed out, moving slowly until we had moved a full block away from the building. Before us stretched rolling hills, and in the distance the tops of trees.
I glanced back behind us. No one had followed us, no one was obviously watching us. I stepped out past the shadow of the last house and into open moonlight. Alejandra followed behind, as ever.
We walked on, eventually making camp at the edge of the forest. "Should we light a fire?" I asked. "It would make it easier for Jake to find us."
"It'd also make it easier for anyone else to find us. We shouldn't risk it." Alejandra said. I laid down on the mat, sighing slightly.
"And besides," She said, laying down so that her face was mere inches from mine. "You've got me to keep you warm." Sleep came to me only late in the night.