Hi all,
I finally had an opportunity to update as per my old schedule because I finally had a few days to myself :D
Here's the latest update!
Chapter 31Running through the small town, May tried to find someone who could help her, but everyone just ran past her. When she tried to talk to a bulky man, he sent her a sceptical glance before rushing past, ignoring her.
Letting out an irritated huff, May frantically searched around the village, not seeing anyone who looked like they'd pause to help her.
Seeing a smaller boy with messy black hair, she stopped him and asked, 'please help me! What's the fastest way to the Pokémon Centre?'
The young boy hesitated slightly before pointing towards a nearby farm with Miltank roaming lazily, appearing unaffected by the frantic movements of the villagers. It was attached to a large, wooden house, a chimney smoking into the sky.
'That's the centre?' May frowned, glancing back to see the only person who had stopped long enough to help her running away, apparently having deemed to have helped her sufficiently.
With a sigh, she stumbled forward, Riolu muttering anxiously in her ear. Taking a step on the pristine cement steps, she knocked on the large wooden door of the old, double storey farmhouse, whose rectangular windows were drawn shut. She glanced behind her apprehensively as she heard someone walking inside the house.
'Yes?' A large, imposing woman frowned upon opening the door. She had curly brown hair and large black eyes, her long nose and large lips pulling attention away from her striking jaw. Furthermore, May had a feeling that she was not a woman to be reckoned with. No, this woman was not someone to be taken lightly at all.
'I'm sorry to knock on your door, but no one could help me. I need to know where the Pokémon Centre is, please. What's the fastest way there?' May gulped, her voice breaking as she glanced at the intimidating woman.
'Is it your pokémon that needs help?' The woman frowned as she glanced at Riolu, her expression softening at May's clear distress.
'No, well they do, but I'm looking for a friend. He's been badly hurt and his Flygon should have brought him here somewhere. I need to see if he's ok,' May whispered as she glanced up at the woman, trying not to let her emotions show. Even then, she could still feel her bottom lip quiver in fear.
'Then come with me,' the woman frowned before turning into the house, 'I'll be back in five minutes. Get the remedy off the stove and put the next batch on. We're going to have a lot of ill pokémon that need our help.'
The imposing woman didn't wait for a response before closing the door and rushing down the street, not bothering to see if May was following.
Turning from one corner to another, it took May a moment to see the familiar red roof of the Pokémon Centre. If everything Harley had told her was correct, then Drew would be in there.
'Thank you so much!' May called to the woman before rushing in, not hearing the woman's calls of luck. Entering the pristine, spacious foyer, May felt a sense of ease upon seeing the familiar pink hair of Nurse Joy behind the counter.
'Nurse Joy, did a green haired trainer with a Zorua and Flygon come here? Please say yes!' May squeaked as she almost collapsed on the red table top.
'Yes, he did. Do you know what happened to him?' The woman questioned, her melodic voice as calm as ever, though her eyes widened slightly at May's frazzled appearance.
'Thank Arceus he made it here. He's a really good friend of mine, is he all right?' May whispered as she looked up into the young woman's blue eyes, trying to suppress the tears which were once again forcing their way out of her.
'We're not sure, I am trained to help pokémon, not humans. I can see there's been damage to his legs as well as a severe concussion, but I don't have any further information for you, I'm afraid. The Ranger Union are sending a doctor for them to see him as soon as possible, but they said it might take a while,' the young woman frowned, her eyes filled with a concern for May as she couldn't suppress the tears.
'So no one will be able to help him?' May cried, panic entering her voice.
'They said they would send the most able bodied person in the meantime. He should be here any moment now, but we're not sure how qualified he'll be,' the pokémon nurse frowned as May stared at her in disbelief.
'What do you mean?' May questioned as the doors behind her opened.
'He's qualified for aiding pokémon, not humans, but he was the only one willing to come,' the nurse grimaced, her eyes filled with a regret that May couldn't believe.
'Someone's injured?' A familiar voice asked, surprising May so her concerns weren't mentioned.
Turning, she questioned, 'Brock?'
'May, what are you doing here?' The tall man frowned, his spiky dark brown hair was windswept as his small black eyes widened in shock. He was as tanned as ever, and every bit as muscled as May could recall.
Letting out a sob, May responded, 'it's Drew. I know you're not qualified, but you have to help him. Please, Brock!'
Tensing his jaw, the man, who was one of May's oldest friends, nodded his head.
'Nurse, I'll need you to show me where my patient is. May, you come with me, I think you might be able to tell me what has happened.' Brock grimaced as Nurse Joy lead him and May out of the foyer and into the back rooms, May explaining as briefly as she could the events that she was aware of.
As they walked, she placed a reassuring hand on Riolu's cheek, who was wimpering into her neck.
'May, I want you to stay outside while I assess the extent of the damage,' Brock grimaced to May who nodded her head numbly.
Glancing down at Riolu, May let out a shaky sigh. The pokémon seemed to notice her concern, snuggling deeper into her arms.
Flicking through her Xtransceiver's contacts, May sent a brief message to Dawn to advise her of where she was. She knew that the bluenette would be beside herself with worry if she did not hear a message soon.
Seeing a door open at the end of the hallway, May felt her eyes widen as Solidad walked out, her expression more haggard than she'd ever seen the normally pristine woman.
'Solidad!' May cried out as the pink haired woman smiled softly at her, a bundle held close in her arms.
'Is he awake?' the woman questioned as May shook her head.
'I don't know, I haven't had the chance to see him yet,' May whispered as Riolu jumped out of her arms, heading straight to Solidad.
'He had to capture her, May,' the pink haired woman warned as Riolu's eyes widened at the news.
'He caught Zorua?' May whispered as Riolu's eyes flickered from the bundle in Solidad's arms to May, his stance tense.
'It was the only way for him to calm her down. She could have caused so much more damage to herself and others if he hadn't caught her,' Solidad whispered as May's eyes flickered to a familiar belt wrapped tightly around her mentor's waist.
'You're wearing his belt,' May grimaced, her throat tightening at the implications. If anything were to happen to Drew, surely Solidad would be the best person to look after his pokémon? She didn't know a thing about his family or any of his friends outside of those from Coordinating. Besides, Solidad had known him the longest, had kept in touch with him. She herself had seemingly disappeared off the face of the planet, ignoring her stint in space to meet Rayquaza.
'It doesn't mean anything, May. I was looking after his pokémon until you got here,' Solidad offered, her expression filled with guilt.
'No, it's fine. You're the most qualified to handle them out of the both of us. After all, you've kept in touch,' May responded with a shake of her head, hoping the older woman didn't see the crushing disappointment she felt. She had no claim to Drew, and the memory of the woman he'd had breakfast with in a café in this very town was just another reminder of that sore point.
'May,' the woman began but was cut short by an all too familiar voice, 'Yoohoo, Solidad and May, you'd better be here or I'll scream at you!'
'We're here, Harley!' May called, turning her face to the hallway she'd come from.
'May, please,' Solidad began, only to see the young brunette glower at her.
In a steady voice, the younger woman replied, 'there's nothing more to it, Solidad. He's always been there for you, as you have for him. Just take care of his pokémon and go talk to Harley. We both know that he's going to need someone who's calm and rational to acquiesce him down, and I'm not feeling either right now.'
The woman hesitated slightly before nodding her head, her lips pressed together in a tight line as she quickly hugged May.
'We'll have a proper girls talk when this is all over. There's far too much that's not being said, May,' Solidad whispered into her ear before limping out of the hallway.
Glancing down at the fighting type that was standing at her feet, May muttered, 'you can go with them, you know. Drew's caught Zorua, so you can stay with Solidad if you want.'
To her surprise, the small fighting type shook his head once, clinging onto her leg and calling out to her, his red eyes widening in despair.
Seeing his red eyes, May grimaced as she petted him, reminded of Brendan's own ruby eyes. What she wouldn't give for either him or Gary to be there. Whilst Brendan would have been a stoic shoulder of support, she couldn't help but long for Gary's self-certain ways too.
'May?' A soft voice called as May once again found herself looking at her Xtransceiver.
'Yes?' May yelped, tearing her eyes to the pink haired nurse standing at Drew's doorway.
'We're still investigating the cause of the matter, but we can't tell you any further details at this stage. Brock and I are doing all we can. He was in pain, so we've had to put him in a coma,' the nurse whispered, her eyes filled with a sadness May didn't want to see. She could remember seeing that same expression too many times when she was visiting Mauville City, and it usually occurred after something had happened to her father.
Nodding her head numbly, May waited for the nurse to disappear back into the room before leaning against the wall, her ears ringing. What if they couldn't locate the problem?
Her throat felt dry as she realised just how scared she was. She wasn't even aware of what she was doing, but her thumbs were texting the only person she could trust to hear her distress, sending a distress signal she'd been taught years ago.
Almost instantly her Xtransceiver rang. Without glancing at the caller ID, she answered.
'Steven, the Tentacruel have landed,' May whimpered the code as she sank down the wall to her feet. Taking in a shaky breath, she continued, 'it's Drew. Something happened at Nabiki Beach—they're not being positive. I think they don't think he'll make it.'
Thank you all for your reviews, follows and favourites, even for reading this. It does mean a lot to me :)