Thanks to everyone that is taking the time to read this fic! It's been my goal to finish all my fics and post them, so I'm hoping you guys are enjoying the story as much as I am. As you've noticed, I stopped posting to my other fics as it's easier to focus on one and then get the others going. Once this story is finished, I will resume posting for Layla since these two are intertwined quite a bit now.
"These roots are bitter, I don't recommend just cutting them up and feeding them to your pokemon," Melanie's voice rings out in the small clearing. Layla is taking notes while Serena makes a more easy to remember cheat sheet for herself. Opposite to them, nearly everyone else is trying to find ways to keep themselves awake. "Mash them up and mix them with berries for a more nutritious and healthy meal. It'll help them recover faster and keep them full."
Overhead, a Fearow lets out a loud cry, startling a few of the students in the class. The day is warm, the sun shining bright with fluffy clouds floating by. The trees and grass rustle in a light breeze that passes every few minutes. A typical day in this part of the region. It sends a shiver down Serena's spine with each brush of cool air. The baths have been making her scar sensitive to even the slightest touch. The thoughts of those around her have been poking at the edge of hers. It takes an effort, but her mediation in the baths have helped keep everyone's thoughts safe.
"Let's take a break," Melanie smiles at her students, noting their lack of attention. "We'll continue with making pokemon food in ten minutes."
There's a collective groan from the group, aside from Layla and Serena. The two exchange smiles at the thought of the next lesson.
"You two are such nerds," Glen settles himself next to Serena with the usual grin on his face.
"And? We're learning important stuff here," Layla retorts as Serena just shrugs, glancing away from him. "You should be interested, this stuff will keep your pokemon strong."
"I can always get a book on this stuff... Or get a copy of Serena's cheat sheet, look at this thing!" he tugs on the paper, pulling it from her grasp and holding it up. "This is something I would read while on the road."
"That's why I made it, I'm gonna get pictures of the plants to help me out," Serena flushes at the attention on her. She reaches for the paper, taking it back and placing it on her clipboard. She doesn't notice Glen blush at their fingers touching. "You can borrow the notes later to make a copy."
"Oh, yeah. Uh, are you guys going to dinner?" he continues while shuffling his feet on the dirt.
"Of course, we're always at dinner," Serena frowns at him. "Why would we miss it today?"
"N-no, I was just wondering because, uh, there was a new group coming in today," he responds, adjusting himself on the log. Behind Serena, Layla hides a laugh behind her hand, her eyes shining as she watches the flustered boy talk to the oblivious girl. He sends a glare her way when Serena reaches for her bag while asking about the new group. "Oh, it happens sometimes. Yeah, they'll be here tonight for dinner. A little late though."
"Oh, it would be nice to meet some new people," the blue eyed girl replies with a faint smile. "I've been seeing the same faces for the past three days, a change in scenery would be nice."
"You're sick of the scenery?" Glen huffs, he crosses arms and sits up straighter.
Without glancing up from her notes, Serena hums an affirmative. "I'm joking. I love being in the forest, almost reminds me of home."
"Minus the dragons right?"
"Not really, I do have my dratini with me."
Glen opens his mouth to speak again, but Melanie is back at the front commanding their attention with her voice and pokemon, Gloom. Now, her arms are wrapped around a basket full of ingredients for pokemon food. The girls' attention turns to the woman and Glen knows that he's lost to education, much to his horror.
Layla's eyes peek over to see Glen giving her a pleading look. She rolls her own, but offers a small nod at his request. Since the beginning he's been dropping hints, everyone can tell he's head over heels for the brunette. Unfortunately, they can also see that she's either oblivious or not interested in return. Being the closest to Serena, at the camp, Layla is the best to ask and, in her opinion, she feels that Serena is both.
It would be easy for his flirty quips and behavior to be passed off as him being kind and sweet. Serena could be going with the easiest explanation. Given how she talks about her childhood, as harsh as it sounds, she's more than likely not familiar with crushes.
Most of all, Layla just wants to know the details.
The rest of the lesson goes by without another peep from Glen. Serena and Layla trade notes often, helping each other get all the details down. By the end of it, everyone is tired and ready to hit the hay. This was their day off before they head deeper in the village to take care of the sick pokemon. They've been working hard at keeping the village clean and getting everything packed up. Serena is happy to be working on the next step, especially with Layla at her side. The green eyed girl has a lot of knowledge when it comes to pokemon.
Melanie bids the volunteers a farewell, inviting them to come back at anytime to learn more about herbs. The two girls pack their things up, chatting about the lesson while the rest of their group grumbles about a wasted day. Serena grins at them, they remind her of Clair in that aspect. She never liked being held down to do one thing when she could have been out playing or getting some stuff done. The thought brings a pang in her chest of her best friend.
"You ready to meet some new people?" Layla bumps her hip into Serena's as they make their way back to the main camp.
"I guess," she shrugs in return. "I'm indifferent to it."
"Just excited to finally be doing something tomorrow, huh?" Layla grins.
"Duh."
The two go back to their room and get their stuff settled back in for dinner. Layla takes this time to regard Serena with her lips curled inward and her eyes shining. "Hey, Serena?"
"Yes?" the other girl replies coming out of the bathroom, she rubs her tummy and pouts at Layla. "I hate being bloated, although dealing with a period at a campsite is better than on the trip... sorry, you were saying?"
"I can't even imagine..." Layla mutters, shuddering at the thought of being stuck in the middle of nowhere, bleeding and... She shakes her head and grins. "So, you and Glen are close, yeah?"
"Not really," Serena shrugs loosening her hair for Layla to braid. "He's a good friend, I know the basics of him, I guess."
"Oh... Do you like him?" she asks, settling behind her at the table. Layla loves running her fingers through Serena's thick locks, lord knows she can't run her fingers through her curls without getting caught or messing up her style for the day.
"Sure."
Layla frowns, the question was not thought through. "I mean do you like-like him?"
"Oh..." Serena falls silent as she contemplates. She likes being around him, he's sweet and energetic. He has a quick mind when it comes to witty comments and he has her laughing a lot when they talk. There hasn't been many, if any, people that she's really had a crush on at her school, not like she really had time between the bouts of hatred and bullying. Any slight attraction may have come from characters in books, ones she got to know intimately from the pages. Thinking back to Glen, she doesn't feel an intense kind of warmth when it comes to him, she just wants to be around his good energy. Was that the same?
Probably not.
"I don't think so."
"What has you confused?" Layla prompts her while tugging the blue eyed girl's hair together into a thick plait.
"I mean no, actually," Serena corrects herself. "I was just thinking too hard... Um, I like him as a person. I want to get to know him more and possibly stay in touch, but I don't see, uh, anything beyond that."
Layla agrees with this, humming her agreement, it makes sense. You can't help what you have no control over and she says as much. At Serena's sigh of relief, she presses the matter further.
"It's not that I needed you to tell me that it's okay to not like him," Serena replies after a short pause. She shifts on the chair, wringing her hands and taking another breath. "I just noticed that I've never really had a crush?"
Her tone rises at the end, making Layla chuckle. "That's okay, you were busy worrying about other things in your childhood. Crushes aren't the only thing in life you'll ever need, you're happy, right?"
"Yes."
"There's your answer," Layla shrugs, twisting the last piece of hair together. She pats the girl's shoulders. "Well, he likes you and if he does anything about it, just let him know you don't feel the same. Until then, ready for some dinner?"
Serena smiles. She never really worried about having a crush until this moment. Layla was right, she was busy worrying about other things; mainly, a whole clan that wanted her and her family gone. Not only that, but all her classmates hated her. There's no way she'd have a chance with any of them even if she had found any attractive.
She shrugs off the topic in favor of heading to dinner with the older girl.
The afternoon is warm and lit by an orange, setting sun. Sounds of laughter and hollering reaches their ears as the girls approach the gathering area. The center of the campsite is alive with all the volunteers chatting, running around and eating. Today's day off is celebrated by everyone it seems, even the staff are partaking in the games. It's a sight to see for Serena, she feels a surge of warmth watching everyone in their high spirits.
Glen is already sitting with the new kids by the time they make it to the table. It's a group of five people, possibly teenagers. Serena isn't sure, they look young enough to be her age, but they have the facial features of young adults. Either way, she and Layla are welcoming to them and join in their conversation with ease.
During dinner, Serena is mindful of her proximity to Glen. Every move in her direction is met with a counter move or feigned ignorance so she does not pass off as rude. Her mind races with the possibility of him getting mad, but dinner goes by with ease and the new kids scurry off in search of their cabin.
"Did they seem a little off to you?" Layla brings up later in the baths.
Serena glances over to find her eyes closed, but her brows furrowed and lips scrunched. Despite Layla not seeing it, she still shrugs and settles back in the tub. "Maybe they're shy? I was like that in the beginning."
"Yeah, but you were interested in what we had to say," the other girl continues, but ends up shrugging it off too. "Everyone is different, I have to learn to be a little more trusting."
XxXxXxX
"Hey, have you guys seen Justin?" Glen catches up to the two the next day while the teams are weeding the gardens by the village.
It's hot and sunny with an occasional breeze offering some comfort as they all work under the sun. Serena has come to love the heat and often finds herself basking in the wind every time it passes, her scars tingling in its wake. All teams are at the main site today doing some cleaning up as most of their groups are going to be leaving in the next few days; including Serena.
"Who's that?" she tilts her head.
"One of the new kids from yesterday," Glen gives her an incredulous look. "I thought you were paying attention!"
"No, we haven't seen him," Layla interrupts the conversation. "I thought he was supposed to be with you?"
"Yeah, exactly why I am looking for him," Glen rolls his eyes.
"Stop being rude," Serena frowns at him.
"Sorry..." he mutters back. "A-anyways, will you guys help me find him?"
The two share a glance, Layla's is furrowed with worry while Serena's is open to it, finally they share a shrug. Glen opts to start at the main building as that is where they received their assignments for the day. A blast of cool air greets them as they enter through the doors to find two teams deep cleaning the place along with staff.
"There are Anya and Darrel," Glen mutters under his breath as they pass the other two new kids. The two barely pay them any mind as they pass, Layla doesn't miss the glance they give each other when they do. Serena's mind prickles at the energy in the room and she nearly trips into Glen. "Whoa, you okay?"
"Y-yeah, just had a brain fart," she recovers. "Let's continue."
Glen drags them all over the building only for Justin to appear right outside the entrance after an hour of searching. He looks disheveled and jittery as the three approach. Serena wrinkles her nose at him while Layla narrows her eyes. Glen is oblivious to his state, his shoulders relax as he rushes up to pat Justin's back.
"Dude! We've been searching everywhere for you!"
"Oh, I w-was just in the shed picking up," Justin shoves his hands in his pockets and glances at the girls. "Where were you guys?"
"In there," Layla jerks her thumb behind her. "Looking for you."
"Yeah, sorry. I-I forgot my assignment," he shrugs.
"You're with me on garbage duty," Glen wraps an arm around his shoulder and drags him off. He turns to wave at the girls. "Thanks for your help, we'll see you later!"
"I've never seen anyone so happy to be on garbage duty," Serena admits as she and Layla wave the two off. "Justin looks so disgusted."
"Glen is very much an optimist," Layla rolls her eyes. "Come on, let's get back to weeding.
April 18th
My stay at the village is almost done. I'm not sure if I'm ready to leave, it's so much fun out here. Layla is so good working with Pokemon, she knows exactly what they need and how to help them efficiently. She's so cool, I want to be like her. Organized, confident... Driven. I've been working close with her to see how she works and I can't really tell what it is. People listen to her, she can be nit picky at times, but it's for the best. She's been here for so long because she wants to be like Nurse Joy when she's older. Taking care of pokemon and possibly even performing surgeries on them, too.
I hope to find something that makes me driven like that for me soon...
I managed to send a few emails yesterday to my parents and Clair. They were worried when I was not responding to phone calls at the pokemon center. I was worried Dad was going to send an entire team to find me. But I got to talking with them and they're happy that I'm doing something a little different on my travels.
Lance is still in Celadon, he's been training hard and hasn't answered my email. I imagine he's busy doing his own thing.
I've been here for three days and, so far, all is going well. I'm probably going to stay for another four or so. I've allotted my time to give myself the chance to take breathers like this. My pokemon like it out here as well. They're not allowed outside the cabins unless under supervision, they don't want any unauthorized battles with wild pokemon or not. That'd be a mess.
Anyways, everyone was so excited to see Dratini.
Well, not everyone.
Some were terrified, but I didn't care. Dratini would never hurt anyone. She's still pretty small, but she's getting stronger! I can tell.
Unfortunately, I just thought of a new problem: by staying here for a week I am setting back their training for a week! Oh no, that's not good... I'll have to work three times as hard to catch up to everyone else...
These next few weeks will be interesting.
"Why are you so scared of me seeing your back?" Layla questions from the space next to Serena. She's braiding her hair and pinning it up to prepare for the hot bath next.
Serena pauses in her cleaning to stare at the girl next to her. "I'm not scared. I'm uncomfortable."
"Oh, okay. Do you have bacne?" she moves on, picking up her items and placing them in her bag carefully.
"What? No!" Serena shouts, it echoes in the empty room, making Layla laugh. "Don't laugh, I don't!"
"Then what is it? You can tell me, you know."
Serena's heart feels like it's going to pound of her ribcage and down the drain at her feet. There are four people that have seen her scars, to her that's just enough. Layla doesn't mean harm by it, she tells herself while taking quiet deep breaths. She likes Layla a lot, the bond they share is different than hers and Clair's. They've only spent a few days with each other, but it's been three days of bonding with her. Trusting her and coming to answers she didn't know she had because Layla was open to talking about it.
Her journey has been about her taking chances, battling against gym leaders, training with Kent, leaving for this volunteering trip and making new friends. Her friendship with Layla is something she wants to last, so maybe...
"You don't have to tell me," Layla's hand on her shoulder surprises her. Serena glances up to see the other girl standing behind her with her face turned away to ensure she doesn't see her back. "I didn't mean to upset you."
"You didn't upset me," she replies in a quick breath. "I was just thinking. If you want to look you can, but I will not explain it."
"I understand," Layla shrugs, but doesn't turn to look. "Let's get in the baths already."
The two soak in silence for what seems like hours before they are getting out and drying off. It's silent as Serena pulls on her sweatpants and tank top, she hasn't heard a noise from Layla about her scars and she doesn't feel comfortable asking if she has looked. Picking up her bag, Serena turns to see Layla waiting at the entrance with a smile. She finds herself unable to care if Layla looked and exits the baths with her for the last time.
"Are you excited to leave in the morning?" Layla questions as they make their way back to their cabin.
"Yes and no," Serena replies with a grimace. "I like it here and I'm gonna miss everybody."
"We're gonna miss you."
Crunch!
The two pause at the sudden sound coming from behind their cabin. Their eyes dart to each other's and hold there. Serena's heart slows, evening out her breath like her father taught her. Layla's is in a frenzy, but she's outwardly calm. The cabins next to theirs are quiet and dark. Another crunch draws Serena close to the wall of their cabin, her hands reach out to grab Layla's and draw her close.
The other girl huddles into her side, her breathing getting heavy as the crunches lead away from them. Serena peeks around the edge of the cabin, and is greeted by nothing but darkness. Her eyes skim the grassy patches and spaces between the trees and find nothing. She turns back to Layla with a shake of her head.
"Must have been a pokemon," she shrugs it off before heading up the steps to the door. "Come on, before it decides to come back."
Layla shrugs it off and scurries in after Serena and locking the door behind her with a worried puff of air. Serena laughs at her friend while organizing her clothes into her backpack and stuffing away everything she will be taking with her in the morning. Being her last day, she will be at breakfast and then will leave in the van around 8:30 back to Cerulean City. From there, she'll have to call her parents and Clair before getting a start on traveling and training.
Stuffing her bag under her bed and slipping under the covers, Serena's eyelids droop as she watches Layla get ready for bed. The soft glow of the lamp on the table outlines her smooth, golden brown skin, skin like Serena's own. Layla hums to herself while pulling her hair back into a braid for sleeping, her curls tamed by skilled hands as the younger girl drifts off without another thought.
OoO
Serena's eyes open before anyone can even knock on the door. She sits up with a quiet gasp when the knock does happen. Layla's breathing silences and Serena hears her shift as she is stirred from sleep. Darkness drowns them, it's not yet four in the morning.
Another knock sends Serena out of her bed and into the chill of the cabin. She creeps to the door before leaning against it and closing her eyes. Her mind reaches out to one that is familiar and she pulls the door open with baited breath.
"Glen? What are you doing here?" she whispers in the night.
He says nothing, only rushes in and closes the door behind him. "I think there's trouble."
"Mm'wha?" Layla rubs the sleep out of her eyes and turns to get out of bed. "What time is it?"
"It's too early for a visitor that's for sure," Serena moves to turn on the bathroom light. She dodges Glen's hand to stop her. "It'll be less conspicuous than the lamp and if we have to stop something from happening, I'm not running out there bra-less and shoeless."
His hand curls away and he nods. "I think it's the new people."
Layla and Serena don't hold back their heavy eye rolls. Of course it is.
The two are silent as they take turns going to the bathroom to change. While one is changing, the other comforts Glen as he tells the tale of how he was woken up by the sound of footsteps outside of his cabin and then voices. He followed the voices to the edge of the campsite and heard all of the newcomers, Anya, Darrel, Tyler, Amber and Justin, talking amongst each other. Serena can barely keep up with what he is saying, her head is swimming with questions. That was all their names? She doesn't remember meeting them all...
"They're going to what?" Layla hisses in the darkness as Serena puts her stuff away. The older girl turns to Serena. "Grab your pokeballs, we gotta go save them."
"Who?"
"The sick pokemon," Layla grabs her belt with pokeballs and straps it on with a wrench of her hands. She looks like a girl on a mission and suddenly, Serena feels older and ready to go with her. "We have to get there and stop them before those pokemon get worse."
"Wait, what are we to do?" Glen stops them at the door, his hands raised in front of him. "How can we do this?"
"You have to show us where they went and we are going to follow them," Layla states it while brushing away Glen's hands away. "No time to be a coward, right Serena?"
Serena grins, gathering her pokeballs on her belt. "Right."
Glen is silent and Serena can't see his face once the bathroom light shuts off. Into the darkness the three go, into the cool air of spring that nips at Serena's nose and ears as they sneak around the back of the cabin. They pass the back of the outdoor bathrooms, and into the forest after Glen. He is quiet and clumsy as they climb over logs and through prickly bushes.
Serena is about to speak up and ask if they're going the right way when Glen halts in front of them. The two nearly knock him over, managing to catch themselves without making a big commotion. He ducks down behind a bush, waving his hands at them to do the same. Layla is the first to part the leaves of the bush and peer at the light flickering ahead. Shadows dance in the flame of a fire as laughter, sick and dark, bubbles up in the darkness.
Glen whimpers between the two girls, they nudge him to hush him up, and peer closer. They count five figures, all of them moving around the fire and tying up other figures in the darkness. Layla grimaces at the cry of a hurt pokemon and pulls out a pokeball.
"I'll create a distraction, you and Glen go free the pokemon while I draw their attention away," Layla turns back. Her hands are shaking and she looks terrified, but Serena can feel the energy seeping out of her. "Whatever you hear or see, just keep working on freeing those pokemon."
"Wh-what?" Glen tries to make sense of Layla's warning, but is shoved by her in the direction of the forest.
"Let's go," Serena grabs Glen by the hand and drags him away. They will have their answers later.
They go in a wide arc to cover the sound of their footprints and to get a better angle on them. As they approach, Serena can see the rope tied around the pokemon as they're tossed onto a wooden cart. She grits her teeth and debates using her own powers here, but the thought of Glen and Layla seeing makes her freeze.
"There's the distraction," Glen tugs on Serena's arm as a blast of air knocks the group of five away from the fire.
The flame flickers, threatening total darkness, making everything more ominous as light and dark fought to take over. Serena moves out, sprinting to the cart and sliding to the first group of pokemon, a cluster of Oddish tied together. The grass types are trembling and flinch as Serena slides up to them and reaches out to them. She hushes them and makes quick work of their bindings, her shaky fingers barely managing to free them.
Behind them, they hear a scream and a flash of blue light. Glen steals a quick look, pales and glances away. He shakes his head at Serena's questioning glance and moves on to other groups of pokemon. She does the same, not risking a glance despite the appearance of a green flash at the edge of her vision. Was that real? Is she imagining the strange feeling in her body?
"Hey!" one of the girls, one Serena doesn't remember, screams in their direction. "You two brats better stop!"
"Keep going!" Serena shouts after Glen and stands up in the middle of the camp. She spies Layla battling three of them with two pokemon; Pidgeotto and a weird blue pokemon. No signs of the strange lights anywhere, but the battle still looks fierce. The girl and Justin come running over calling forth Raticate and Ekans. "Ty and Wynn, let's do this!"
Serena takes a deep breath as she begins to worry. I can do this.
"Wynn use thunder wave!" she shouts clenching her fists.
"Raticate tackle attack!"
"Ekans poison sting!"
Sucking in air, Serena turns to Ty. "Use Ember to stop the poison sting."
From the dratini's forehead comes a blue stream of electricity, it snakes out across the field, missing Ekans but striking the charging Raticate square in the face. The rat pokemon falls back, it's body trembling as the girl shouts for it to get up. Ekans hisses, recoiling from the electricity, but once safe spits out white glowing needles from its mouth at Serena's two pokemon. Dratini hides behind Ty as the little pokemon leaps forward and releases a barrage of small flames from his mouth.
The needles are burnt up and turn into a sickly looking white cloud of smoke.
"Bite!" the cry comes from the other side.
Ekans bursts from the cloud, its jaws wide open as it encases cyndaquil and clamps down on the pokemons body. Serena grimaces at the cry of pain and bites her lip.
Focus on the moment, don't think about the future. Make your next move... now!
"Ty, smokescreen if you can! Dratini, help him out with twister!" Serena speaks in a calm voice, Kent's words flooding her mind from their training.
Ty chokes out black smoke, wiggling his body to free himself from the snake's grasp. The area is covered in black smoke before being hurtled away by the furious funnel from Dratini. Ekans is knocked back into a shaking Raticate. This frees the normal type from its paralysis.
"Get back in there with super fang!" the girl points forward, a smirk growing on her face.
"Trap them with Acid!" the boy joins in.
Serena grits her teeth, her eyes sweeping the field as the opposing two charge forward. She has only seconds to act and she does so without thought. Courage burning in her chest as she raises her hand, her fingers splayed as she calls out orders. "Wynn sand attack, cover the field! Ty, use dig!"
Wynn is quick, her large body slithers around the smaller pokemon, her scales tossing dirt into the sky. This provides a cover for them as the acid falls onto an empty patch and Raticate's jaws shut on nothing but dirt. The two pokemon glance around before Ty erupts from the ground, his head slamming into Ekans and tossing the pokemon into the air. Raticate recovers from its confusion and turns to bite the fire type, its teeth glowing white as it clamps down on him.
"Cynda!" the pokemon cries out in pain, writhing Raticate's grip.
"Wynn, help him out with Wrap," Serena huffs as Ekans struggles to get up. "Hurry!"
She nods and swoops her body around the normal type, her scales scratching against the pokemons fur causes it to lose its grip on Ty and send the fire type to the ground. Serena pulls out her pokeball to return him when he shakes his head and dodges the red light. She frowns at him, stomping her foot and shaking the ball at him.
"Ty, come back now!" she orders him, but falters when he kicks the dirt and huffs. "Ugh! Fine, finish off Ekans with Ember."
He nods, rearing his body on the tired purple pokemon and releasing more flames. Ekans is knocked back and faints at the feet of its trainer. The boy glares at Serena, returning the pokemon and pocketing the ball. The girl sneers and does the same with her now fainted Raticate. Huffing and puffing, Ty sits at Serena's feet and stares the two down.
Behind them, there's a thump of more pokemon fainting and the happy cry of Layla for winning the battles. Serena turns to see her and grins, impressed that she had won with two pokemon against three, though hers are probably a lot stronger than her opponents. To her right, she spies Glen freeing all their pokemon and offering them berries to feel better in the moment.
"Dammit," the girl swears and takes the arm of the boy next to her. "We have to report mission failure."
"Fuck, Boss is not going to be happy," he grits his teeth before pulling out something dark and tossing it into the fire.
The resulting explosions knocks everyone to their knees and turns everything black. Serena inhales some of the smoke and begins coughing. In the darkness, she hears Layla shout and a powerful blast of wind knocks the smoke away. The rising sun illuminates the way to Serena as the younger brunette rushes over with her pokemon in tow. The water type spits bubbles into the older girls face to clear it of soot and clear away dirt in her throat.
"T-thank y-y-you," Serena spits out a wad of blackened water as Layla pats her back. "Wha-"
"That was awesome!" Glen cheers.
The girls whip their heads to see him grasping a few of the grass types just as the sun peeks over the horizon. Drenched in morning light, Glen looks happier than they've ever seen him and the two can't help but giggle and lean on each other. Their breathing has yet to even out from the fight, and choking in Serena's case, and their minds are still reeling from the events.
"No better way to end your time at camp, huh?" Layla finally moves to get up. She reaches back for Serena and pulls the girl to her feet.
"Nope," she laughs before gasping and looking around for Ty. She finds him panting on the ground next to Wynn and gathers him in her arms. "Oh man, you did so well! But do not scare me like that ever again!"
Ty offers a quick nuzzle into her neck and a sigh before he begins to glow white. She feels a surge of energy rush towards him, like water rushing down the drain in a sink. Everyone is frozen as he elongates and grows heavier in her arms, forcing her to put him down. He shakes off the white light and glances up at her, a grin forming on his face as he leaps up to be in her arms again.
"Whoa!" she grunts, struggling to hold up Ty in his new form. "You evolved."
"Yep, he's a Quilava now," Layla confirms with a grin. "All that hard work paid off, I'll say."
"Well, hello," Serena coos at her new pokemon, kissing his head. "Let's get you two back to be checked out before we leave."
Ty willingly enters his ball and, after a quick kiss, Wynn does the same. Layla checks over the pokemon a few times before the three head back. With the fire put out and the cart still intact, they deem it safe enough to leave the area until they can return with the police at the camp. Glen is silent as they head back, Serena and Layla share a look before the two wrap their arms around his shoulder.
"Don't look so glum, you still have us," Layla pokes his cheek.
He releases a sigh, his shoulders slumping. "Yeah, but Serena is leaving soon."
"Okay, but she's not dying," Layla retorts. "You still have me and that will suffice until we see her again."
He huffs again before nodding and putting his arms around the two and pulling them close.
"Thanks for your help, I was an idiot, huh?"
"Just a little," Serena pats his back, she tries not to meet his gaze when they're this close. Thankfully, the camp comes into view and the three disengage upon setting foot on the path to the main center. "Let's go report what happened."
On their way to the main building they are brushed aside by a squad of armed cops. Serena rolls her eyes at the late response, as they continue on to talk to the head of the camp, Jean and Melanie. The response is explosive, orders are yelled, the cops run off into the forest using their directions and each are taken into a meeting room to give their accounts of the events. Serena is calm throughout the exchange, having been through it all before she knows the drill. Glen is shaky and can barely hold himself together as he's lead into the room and Layla is indifferent, if a little nervous.
It takes a couple of hours and lots of repeating answers before their statements are filed away, parents are called and informed and they are free to go. No longer able to leave at her original time, Serena decides to head back to their cabin, pack up and trudge over to the cafeteria. Jean promised to take her to Cerulean herself once she was done with the police and offered Serena, Glen and Layla to eat brunch while they wait.
A bunch of the other campers surround their table, desperate for answers as to what happened. They had all heard the explosion and saw smoke rise into the sky. That's when Melanie made everyone stay in their cabins until it could be sorted out and to make sure everyone was okay. When the three were determined missing, Jean sent for the police to come help.
The rumors flying around were crazy. Layla recruited the two and was trying to steal pokemon. Glen's outgoing demeanor was a distraction from the girls' plot. Glen was using the girls to steal the pokemon. Serena was second in command to Layla, using her dragon type to help funnel pokemon illegally.
All three are wiping tears of laughter away at the theories circulating the camp.
"Impressive," Layla comments with a shake of her head.
The front door slamming shut silences everyone as Jean stands at the door and motions for Serena to come when she's ready. The brunette wrings her hands and stares at everyone. She didn't get to know every single person but she feels her heart ache for them. They warmed up to her, better than she thought they would and now it's time to go. Glen and Layla walk her out, stopping at the doors to give her a hug.
Layla squeezes her tight and pats her hair. "Don't forget to email me. I had lots of fun with you here."
"I did too, thank you... for everything," Serena takes her hands in hers and squeezes them.
Layla nods and takes a deep breath to fight her tears. She turns the other brunette in the direction of Glen.
"This isn't goodbye," he states with a grin. He wraps her up in a hug, his arms are strong as he gives her a nice squeeze. "I'm sure we'll meet again."
"I hope so," she smiles up at him as he rests his hands on her shoulders.
The intense look in his light blue eyes freezes her on the spot. He sweeps his black hair out of his face and grins. "I hope you find something to work for."
The gesture brings tears to Serena's eyes and she gathers him in another hug. "Thank you."
She turns away from the two before the crying can get worse and hops into Jean's van. The older woman smiles and pulls out of the main circle with a few honks of her horn. The trip back seems even faster than the first time. Serena watches the forests give way to streets and homes and eventually the pokemon center. Jean congratulates Serena on her good deeds and tells her she's always welcome at the sanctuary.
Shutting the door, Serena waves as the van pulls a 'u' turn and disappears back the way they came. With a heavy sigh, she stalks into the center straight up to the counter and deposits her pokemon there. Ty and Dratini were taken care of during her interviews, but this is her being cautious. She's never battled like that before, two pokemon, that's a new concept they didn't teach in school...
The phones catch her eyes and she pops over there to make some calls.
Clair demands every detail of what happened, her face is intent as Serena recounts the events from the moment she woke up to the battle.
"We saw this- Dang it!" Serena smacks herself on the forehead with her palm and groans. "I forgot to ask Layla about the battle!"
"What about the battle?" Clair demands with a huff. Serena explains the weird flashes of light and screaming to the blue haired girl, the memory brings a shiver down her scars. "Huh, you think she killed someone?"
"Uh, no? Everyone was accounted for and Layla isn't that kind of person," Serena snorts.
"Oh yeah? What kind of person is she?" she retorts with her arms crossed.
Staring at her friend's pout and crossed arms and laughs. "Are you jealous?"
"N-no!" Clair averts her eyes. "Get back to the story!"
Another laugh escapes Serena's lips as she finishes the story to right where she is now. Clair is ecstatic to hear the tale and gushes about her stepping up and battling like a true trainer. The warmth in Serena's chest doubles at her best friend's praises. The two switch to more bland topics before Serena calls her mother and tells the story all over again. Her mother is more receptive of the phenomenon during the battle but doesn't offer answers. Instead she glides over it and promises to tell her father later what happened.
Hanging up Serena suddenly feels exhausted. Her head pounding with all the excitement, but her legs tired and heavy from running around and being up so early. Every flex of her achy fingers is a reminder of the ropes around those pokemon as she desperately loosened them.
She sees it's barely 10 in the morning and decides to check into a room for a quick nap. One break from the excitement won't set herself back too badly and Saffron isn't too far away anyway. She lets Nurse Joy know that she will be staying until later in the afternoon and heads up to her room. With her pokemon safe, the door locked and the curtains shut, Serena slides under the covers after a quick change and slips into a deep sleep.
