Mari bolted up from the desk. She glanced thoughtfully at the sleeping Castform, but quietly left the room without her. Running down the stairs and through the reception area, she put on her dry jacket on her way out of the center, the cold of the rainy night stinging her bare cheeks.
Mari jogged across the street and looked back at the Pokemon Center's windows on the second floor. Making a guess at which window was hers, she looked directly across the street from it and identified the alleyway she had seen Skitty in. Water splashed on her jeans as she ran for it, chilling her all the more.
Upon arriving at the alleyway, there was no sign of the Skitty. The streetlight illuminated parts of the alley, and Mari walked down it. Garbage littered either side of the alley, soaking up the water. Mari wrinkled her nose at the smell, but persisted in looking for the Pokemon. At the very end of the alley, Mari saw a stack of cardboard boxes shake. Quickening her pace, she looked inside them. Near the bottom of the stack was an open, soaking wet box on its side. Peering inside it, Mari spotted the small Skitty. A lovely lavender collar with white jewels on it starkly contrasted against the Skitty's ill appearance. Wet and shivering, her runny nose was a bright red.
She squeaked in fear as Mari reached in for her, and a bout of coughing followed.
"Oh, you poor little thing," Mari whispered gently to as she scooped her up with little resistance. "You really are sick!" She briskly turned around and ran back to the Pokemon Center.
Stepping inside the reception area, it was apparent that the staff had retired for the night. Mari pondered whether or not to wake Nurse Joy. 'Well, this is the kind of thing they taught us to take care of at the Academy,' and with that Mari went upstairs back to the guest rooms.
Walking past her own room, she went into one of the many bathrooms. Inside was a bathtub shower, a counter with sink, and toilet. Small, but clean.
Mari grabbed a dry towel from under the counter and padded the sink with it. The Skitty sneezed in Mari's arms, and she placed the petite Pokemon on the towel.
Skitty weakly meowed, still frightened of these strange surroundings and person.
"It's okay, sweetie," Mari continuously spoke to her in a calming voice. She removed Skitty's collar and placed it next to the sink to dry, and gently bathed the kitten in warm water. Skitty did not like the water at first, but soon grew accustomed to it as it warmed her body. As soon as Mari was satisfied with Skitty's body temperature, she turned off the water and wrapped the Pokemon in a fluffy white towel, carefully drying her off.
Skitty was visibly exhausted, and did little else but occasionally meow after she had been warmed up by the water.
"Alright, baby, let's go back to the room," Mari said once Skitty was dry. After cleaning up the bathroom and grabbing Skitty's collar, they left for her room.
Quietly entering, Castform proved to be sound asleep. Mari placed the wrapped up Skitty on her bed, put the collar on the desk, and took her CEIS BinBall out of her backpack, releasing the bin in front of her bed. Rummaging around in it as quietly as she could, Mari took out her first aid kit and selected a thermometer and cold medication.
Skitty was almost asleep when Mari's placed her hand on the Pokemon's forehead. She jolted awake, but did nothing to object.
'Hm, she's a bit warm,' Mari thought to herself. Using the thermometer to check her temperature, she did had a slight fever. "Well, looks like you have a cold for sure!"
This was further confirmed as Skitty's entire body shook with a series of sneezes, and she recovered with a surprised expression on her ears. Mari giggled. "Well, you won't like this much, but you need some medicine."
Mari dug into her CEIS Bin again and brought out PokeChow and a bowl. Pouring some food in the bowl, she sprinkled the prescribed amount of powdered cold medicine on it.
Skitty's ears perked at the sound of food, and readily accepted it when offered. Mari gently stroked Skitty's hair against the grain to promote circulation as she ate. When done, Skitty suffered from another noisy bout of sneezes. Mari cringed as Castform stirred in her sleep, but she did not wake.
"Whew," Mari joked to Skitty. "That was a close one!" Skitty weakly smiled, but laid on top of her towel to sleep.
"Right," Mari said looking at her watch. "Wow, it's close to eleven. We should all be getting some sleep."
Mari picked up Skitty and moved the damp towel onto the floor. After placing the kitten under the bed covers, Mari changed into her green pajamas and got in bed. She closed her heavy eyelids the second her head hit the pillow, and was soon fast asleep.
Mari's eyes drifted open. The room was filled with the soft white light of a new day. Planting her feet on the floor, she got up and looked out the window. Only a few clouds remained in the sky now. The clock on her desk read '8:02'. Stretching, she looked over at the two sleeping Pokemon on her bed. Both were visibly in better health than last night. Mari picked up Skitty's collar and for the first time examined it closely. On one of the circles where another crystal was to be expected to continue the pattern, was instead a plate of white metal engraved with the words "Porschia - 12643 Whistling Wind Road".
'Hm, looks like I found your name and your home,' Mari thought.
By eight-thirty, Mari had showered, dressed, re-packed, and was ready to go. Both of the Pokemon, however, were still asleep. A smile flickered across her lips. There was only one way to wake up a lazy person. (Or in this case, Pokemon.)
Mari crouched down next to the bed and rested her head only a few inches away from Castform's face. Mari poked her side a couple times and Castform jerked, and her eyes opened.
"Hello!" Mari said in the loud, sickeningly cheerful voice her mom had used on her a thousand mornings before.
Castform's eyes shot wide open in surprise and she involuntarily jolted back, wide awake.
Mari laughed. "Adrenaline wins again!"
"What was that?" Castform asked, bewildered.
"Sorry, Castform," Mari chuckled. "But I've always wanted to try that on someone else."
Sticking her little pink tongue out, she floated away from the bed. It was then that she noticed Skitty. "Who's that?"
"Last night when you were asleep, I found this little one outside in the rain," she explained. "She's got a nasty cold, but aside from that Skitty should be fine. But just the same, I want to get her checked out by Nurse Joy before we take her home."
"Oh, that was nice of you," Castform commented.
Mari walked over to Skitty and scooped her up into her arms. Skitty was awakened, and meowed with a friendly smile.
"You could've woken me up like that…" Castform grumbled.
Mari ignored her and spoke to the Skitty. "Good morning to you, too! Is your name Porschia?"
The Skitty nodded at the name.
Castform approached Skitty and smiled, chirping a greeting to her in Pokemon language. Skitty smiled back, but sneezed immediately afterward.
"Well, it's time to take you down to Nurse Joy," Mari said. She grabbed her backpack and left with the Castform and Skitty.
"Oh, what a darling Pokemon!" Nurse Joy said when she saw the Skitty in Mari's arms. "I didn't know you had a Skitty!"
Mari laughed. "I don't. I found this girl outside last night in the rain. I got her dried off and warmed up last night, but she still seems to have a cold."
"Oh," Nurse Joy said, placing her hand on Skitty's head. "Well, it looks to me like you're dead on." She looked over to Castform. "And you're looking much better today, Castform!
The grey Pokemon smiled. "Thank you, I feel better!"
"Oh, I found this collar on Skitty," Mari said taking it out of her pocket. "Do you know where 'Whistling Wind Road' is?"
Nurse Joy looked at the address on the collar. "Yes, that's in the north part of the city. Here, I'll get you a map." She went behind the counter of the Center and quickly returned. Opening the map, she showed Mari where they were, where Whistling Wind Road was, and how to get there.
"Thank you so much, Nurse Joy!" Mari said with sincerity.
"You're quite welcome," Joy replied. "I hope you find Porschia's owners!"
"Thanks!" Mari said. She and the Pokemon ate a brief breakfast at the Center's restaurant and then left. Mari held the sick Skitty in one arm, and used her free hand to hold the map displayed on her PPD. After a good deal of walking, the trio successfully managed to navigate their way through the city to 12643 Whistling Wind Road, and found themselves standing in front of a large two story building. In big, light yellow letters the words "Addison Breeding Center" were proudly displayed above a large rotating door.
Skitty nearly jumped out of Mari's arms trying to get at the building, but Mari managed to keep a hold of her.
"Woah, there, Porschia," she said. "This is a nice home you've got here, but you need to take it easy." Mari put the PPD back in her backpack and put Skitty's collar back on her, and the three went inside.
The inside proved far more extravagant than the outside. They were in a large, luxurious reception area with a glossy blue tiled floor and plush furniture for people and Pokemon. The high ceiling with a single chandelier greatly added to its elegance. Mari approached the marble front desk which was manned by a young man with black hair who was wearing what appeared to be uniform, for it said 'Addison Breeding Center' on the back of his grey long-sleeve shirt.
"Excuse me," she said tapping his back.
He turned and looked at her with his bright brown eyes. "Yes?"
"Uh, I found this Skitty last night and…"
"Oh, Porschia! Thank goodness you're safe!" the man took the Skitty from Mari's arms and hugged her. Skitty was just as happy, meowing and loudly purring while rubbing her head against his shoulder in a hug.
Mari laughed. "Looks like I found the right place!"
"Oh, yes, you certainly did, thank you so much!" he said, and remembering his manners, extended his hand. "I'm Matt Addison."
"Mari Donovan, and this is Castform," she shook his hand.
Castform smiled politely at him.
"I can't tell you how thankful we all are, Miss Donovan. Sis! Sis, come here!" he waved over a girl who was wearing the same uniform and had similar coloring to Matt.
"Yeah, Matt," she said, and then saw Skitty. "Porschia!" she ran over and took her from Matt. The kitten happily greeted her as well. "Oh, sweetie, I was so worried!" she then looked at Mari. "Are you the one who found Porschia?"
Before Mari could speak, Matt cut in. "Yes, she just brought Porschia in. Mari Donovan, this is my sister Hannah."
Hannah and Mari shook hands. "Again, thank you so much!" Hannah said.
"Oh, I was happy to take care of her. She's so sweet!" Mari replied.
Skitty then had another bout of sneezes, drawing the immediate concern of the siblings.