Content warning: brief mention of bullying

Chapter 25

Rest

(-¤-)

I was right, the pokemon center was just around the corner. The large red glowing cross perched on the top of the multifloor building signaling all who crossed its path that sanctuary awaited any who entered.

It was much larger than Dellitowns pokemon center, which made complete sense. Dellitown was just on the verge of being a village and didn't really need anything more than a small clinic to take care of its problems. (Not that anyone used that center.) This was a much bigger town and a hotspot for trainers and tourists hoping to get a glimpse at what made Cynthia the champion.

This pokemon center was actually used and stepping inside did nothing but reinforce that fact. Trainers of all types mingled throughout the spacious lobby, from the colorfully dressed to the practically equipped. Not to mention a few familiar faces. The guy with the rosealia sat with the meditites trainer, talking adamently about their battles. The girl with the marill sat on a bench comforting her adorable blue water type while petting its bandaged form. I even saw the kid with the bidoof nodding off while watching the tv that had been set up in the upper corner of the room. It held a certain kind of warmth that I had trouble putting a name to, but felt soothing and familiar nonetheless. I quickly made my way over to the front desk and set Jacks ball on the counter as Nurse Joy greeted me.

"Hello and welcome to the pokemon center how can I help you today?"

"My buneary was hurt pretty bad in his last fight a few minutes ago, I'm not sure what happened to him." I set his ball on the counter along with everyone elses, most would just need a good rest to be back up to full health but regular checkups wouldn't hurt.

I quickly explained what had happened from the breloom setting up sunny day, to the impressive display of power Jack had shown, to how he had somehow badly burned himself and my meager medical attempts. Joy frowned as I explained his fire punch.

"It sounds like a case of eonic overcharge." She quickly brought out a indented tray and placed my team into it before handing it over to a helpful chansey.

"Eonic overcharge?" That sounds more like a finishing move than a medical condition.

She nodded, "It's more commonly known as burnout. Pokemon have special systems to channel energy into attacks, but these systems can only handle so much energy at once. If they put to much into them it can cause alot of damage to their bodies." My mind immediately conjured up the image of pumping to much power through a wire, red hot metal and ruined copper.

"They have instincts to help prevent this but." she paused, as she looked back to where chansey had disappeared, "They can still occasionally push themselves to far." She turned back to me. "It's very important that you do not let this happen again, burnout is a potentially serious condition and can even lead to a permanent lose of power."

Well... Fuck.

"Uh, ok..." How the fuck was I supposed to take that kind of news? "I'll make sure to have a talk with him afterwards." She nodded before asking the normal spiel of whether I needed a room, to see my ID, yada yada.

Honestly I just felt, kinda numb. Alot had happened today, lots of battles beat up a jerk, and now this. I think my emotions were spent for now. I should find a seat, preferably away from everybody.

The knot of worry in my gut sat there as person after person left the lobby, most if not all having a home in the surrounding city to go back to. Hours of bouncing my leg in some vain attempt of staving off the anxiety.

That terrible knot only pushed my thoughts into a rapidly steepening hole as I sat there. What if he can't fight any more, what if he thinks I pushed him into it and he hates me for it. What if I did push him to far and made him feel forced to do it. I should have stayed in Dellitown for a bit longer, I should have paid more attention, I should have known.

I could take down drunk perverts twice my size. I could outrun a cop without him ever seeing my face. I could even drive a semi truck (long story).

I could not handle waiting like this.

I was alone, the single tv in the room muted and flashing with some images of a museum that I couldn't care less about. My mind thoroughly addled from worry and guilt, when finally.

"Miss Thorn, your pokemon are ready for pick up."

I practically exploded from my seat, and rushed to the front desk. She looked tired from the work but but that knot of negative emotion that I had fed for the last few hours melted at the kind and positive smile she held.

"He should make a full recovery, the burnout was minor and only did surface damage." Relief washed through me at her words. I had been so worried about it having a permanent effect on him this whole time and to hear that he would be fine was a godsend.

"That being said, you will need to stay in Celestic for the next few days. We had to remove the damaged tissue and graft on a replacement in its place, the healing process is very delicate in this stage and I want to monitor it for any signs of infection." I nodded as I took my team back. That's fine, as long as he's ok. "Also, I gave him some pain killers for the arm, so he's going to sleep for a good long while."

So am I.

(-¤-)

I didn't want to go again, not now, not ever. The brick stretched into the sky looming over its charges as if they were just more prey for its teasing halls and jeering looks.

Metal doors parted, tiles passed under my feet as I watched them march to another day. I was small, tiny, and wanted to be smaller, I wouldn't be. They were looking, I know they were looking, they always looked.

I wish they could forget, that I could be invisible. But it was everyday, more insults more embarrassing questions, more people refusing to help.

He stood at the end of the hall, he always did, a single face in a sea of muted color.

I tried to just walk past, venom dripped from his mouth, scalding, caustic, insulting, bigoted. But something was different this time, something broke, like a dam releasing its contents with murderous intent.

I saw red.

The red of his shirt as he struggled, the red of my nails as they disappeared into my fist. The red that soon covered it. The red of the fire extinguisher in my hands, the red of the principals tie as he pulled me off all of the red.

red

Red

Red

R̸͕̼͈͇̆̍E̵͓̬̍D̶̪͉̍͂̆

R̸̦̩̈́̀͐͂̿̃̈͐͝͝E̵̘̋̌͒̾̌̒̄̒̾D̵̲̲͐͝

Color

Muted pathetic color.

He writhed on the floor, weak, feeble, and from the look in his eyes, afraid. Hands of iron clamped my arms down to my sides to prevent me from causing any more damage.

Me? I... I did that?

I barely remembered, could barely feel anything. For a few blessed fleeting minutes I simply felt, nothing. No joy, no anger, just...

Tired.

I don't remember the lecture, or the wailing and judging parents. I only knew it happened.

I do remember the look on his face when he finally came back. How he looked away as I passed by, bruised and stitched back together, and refusing to meet my eye. The whispers were different now, there were no more insults, no more questions. No one had ever been scared of me before, and suddenly they were. And...

I liked it.

(-¤-)

My eyes crept open as the alarm on the pokedex blared its digital horn at me. The dream was quickly leaving me but I didn't need the details of it, not when I had lived it years ago. I almost feel like I should thank the little prick for pushing me over the edge, almost.

After that little debacle I had gotten into fights every chance I got, keeping an ear out for anybody whispering behind my back or talking shit. Didn't matter if I won or lost so long as I got blood in the end. The red slowly started fading away as I got better and better at it, learning to focus all that rage and hate into a singular goal. it rarely ever came back now, it was more a hindrance nowadays. Blinding me in brawls and refusing to stop until I couldn't keep fighting at all. Or there was no one left to fight.

I had a really shitty childhood.

And I'm hungry.

I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and did the most important thing to come to mind. Feet hit thin cheap carpet as I strolled over to Jacks makeshift bed, the others strewn about the room in their various claimed sleeping spots. He was curled up in my jacket on the bed opposite mine (most centers have at least two bunk beds per room). Despite Nurse Joys insistence that he would sleep like a rock for a few days, he had tossed and turned a bit in his sleep in an unconscious bid for comfort. The jacket covered all but his nose, a rare and adorable pose that made me grab the pokedex and snap a picture.

I tossed the miracle of tech back on my bed and proceeded to gently attempt to stir him awake. By booping his snoot.

He immediately tried to bite me.

But I knew his habits and his hatred of being woken up like this, a scar on my finger attested to that, and I was out of teeth range before he could even open his mouth. The audible clack of enamel was followed by a low groan of tired discontent.

"Sorry buddy, you got to wake up for a little bit, doctors orders." He huffed at that.

Nurse Joy had wanted to see him again every morning for the next few days and once more before we head to bed to make sure he was properly healing and to give him another dose of medicine. Also no major activity like battling, training, or anything he actually enjoyed. It had been a slow few days for him but this should be the last one, he's getting the bandages off tonight.

We still hadn't talked about the battle, I sighed at my own bullshit. I knew I had to talk to him about it eventually but it just never felt like the right moment. Mostly because he's been high as cock off of pòke-drugs for the past few days, knocks the poor bastard right out. But still near the end of the day he would gain more lucidity and focus, that would be a perfect time to talk but I just... I didn't know how to bring it up.

This is stupid, I'm stupid. Just say something like, 'Hey Jack you know that thing you did the other day? Don't do that again, its bad for you!' Yeah, that would work. Short and blunt, works great. Now to just tell him, he's off the meds, and he's awake, perfect time.

"Hey Jack..." Good now just say it. "I..."

Say it.

Say it

He looked at me with with grumpy curiosity, an eyebrow raised up at my odd pause.

"Let's go see Joy." Mother fucker. I know why I can't say anything. It was because he scared the living shit out of me, it was the only time since I woke up here that I was completely helpless to do anything.

I didn't know what had happened.

I didn't know why it had happened.

And hearing that it could be something permanent, something I couldn't fix, made me want break something.

Stupid little girl.

(-¤-)

This couch is much more comfortable now that I wasn't fearing for my starters life. Even has a nice little depression made from the thousands of asses that have sat on it throughout the years.

Jack was in the back, no doubt being difficult and refusing to swallow a pill. Though Nurse Joy assured me that that was something that almost all pokemon had in common. I asked if she used the peanut butter trick, she said shes gotten really good at just shoving it down their throats. Must be skilled because Jacks a biter and shes never come back with a wrapped up finger.

"Alice?"

"Bweh?" I turned around and saw two familiar faces starring down at me. "Oh, Lazuli, Citrine, hows shit?"

The orange clad kid looked far more chill than the last time we met, his eyes set in a calm gaze. It gave him an air of control that the martial arts enthusiast had shed before our first meeting. Lazuli looked a little less anxious as well, though not by much. She seemed uncomfortable around the few other people that were milling in the main lobby. Her gloved hand clung tightly to Citrines eye catching jacket as if it were her only life line.

"We've been good. Lazuli caught a murkrow the other day." He kept his voice even, I wonder if the whole rage thing when we first met was rare or if he's got anger management issues. He certainly wouldn't be the only one here that does.

"Oh cool." I turned to her, "Hey if you're ever looking for a dusk stone for them, go to Mount Shady, I found two while I was training there. I'd give you the extra but I already sold it."

She mumbled out a thank you. Citrines look shifted ever so slightly to concern as she did but he didn't say anything about it.

"Hey, we should hang out if you're not to busy today." He offered, the concern having given way to only slightly exaggerated enthusiasm, "We were gonna see the town after breakfast, maybe check out the historical research center. I hear they do tours."

Breakfast did sound good, and it would be nice to actually have a look around one of these towns instead of just passing through. "You guys go ahead to the cafeteria, I gotta wait for Jack to be done." I motioned towards the front desk. He nodded and walked away.

It didn't take much longer for Nurse Joy to finish up and when she handed me my bunny he was already feeling the effects of the medicine. That is to say he was *high as fuck* again off of the bizarre mix of probiotics, hyper regeneration enhancers and painkillers. Mostly the pain killers though, forcing skin to grow back so fast wasn't painful, but the itching was comparable to torture, and the last thing he needed was to scratch away any progress. Oddly enough the move Heal Pulse negated the itching when it forces the body to recover.

Anyway, I carried my poor drugged up rat around until I found Lazuli and Citrine sitting at a booth in the pokemon centers cafeteria. They already had their trays and had even made one for me, how thoughtful.

I set Jack down, dug through my bag for his food, (it was wet food today, don't want him choking because he forgot to chew. Again) and set up his breakfast. Usually everybody got theirs at the same time but Mark had taken advantage of Jacks less than coherent state and stolen his food the first time around. Little lizard asshole held no shame for his actions.

"So, anything exciting happen since we last saw each other?" Citrine immediately struck up a conversation as I began investigating my meal. Oat meal, apple slices, and orange juice, it kinda makes me feel like a kid again. Which is stupid, considering my current situation.

"I won a local tournament." And absolutely fucking forgot to grab the cash prize, but to be fair to me I had something way more important on my plate at the time. "So that was cool."

"Congratulations, must have had a few good battles then."

I nodded with a mouth full of bland oatmeal before swallowing, "Yeah, there was this one kid with a yanma that completely shut down all of my golbats sound based techniques. Even traded a secret for how he did it."

"Thats cool, was he the other finalist?"

"Nah, that was some prick named..." ah shit what was it? "Augles Rogles." Nailed it.

"No."

"No?" The fuck's that supposed to mean.

"No it wasn't. No parent would name their kid that." He jabbed a finger at me.

"You calling me a liar." The balls!

"I'm calling you an idiot." THE BALLS!

"W-w..." Lazuli squeaked for a moment before clamping back up, effectively cutting off our impending pointless argument. Citrine gave her a small reassuring nudge with his shoulder as we both gave her time to speak. "What, uhh, happened to Jack?"

Jeez, I kinda shrugged off her being nervous last time we met because I was preoccupied, but hearing her talk now is, painful. Each word was crawling more and more towards silence as she asked her question, my starters name coming out in a muted mumble. I glanced at Citrine trying to decipher anything from his attitude towards her but instead caught him doing the same with me. A hard stare searching for even the slightest bit of hostility, he found none.

"He hurt himself in the fight with Oogles." I began but was rudely cut off by Citrine pointing out that that wasn't the name I said at first. "I'm kinda shit with names alright, get off my dick! Anyways..." I gave a good glare at orange and rude before continuing.

"He overloaded a fire punch, basically cooked his whole arm." I looked back to my bunny who was slowly and loopily shoving a handful of food into his mouth. I took a napkin and wiped off some that had gotten on his cheek. "Poor guy's been messed up on meds for the past few days."

Citrine winced at my explaination. "Burnout." It wasn't a question, just a statement, I nodded. "I've seen that happen a few times at my parents ranch. It's never pretty." Yeah no shit. "Not surprised a buneary did it though."

"Huh?" Why would bunearys do it more often.

"Well its just that, well they're not exactly the smartest pokemon around." He explained.

"And now you're calling Jack du-" My indignant outrage was interupted by a wad of finely diced vegetable mash slapping the boy in his face from just beside me. Jack, even in lala land, had heard the insult and had rightfully taken action against it at the cost of half of his breakfast, which he certainly earned back in the form of some of my oatmeal. "HA! Serves you right!"

"Ack!" He sputtered and spit out what ever bits had gotten into his mouth. Lazuli looked mortified but her expression softened a bit once both Citrine and me started laughing. Me at his expense and him at... well I'm not sure but at least he was a good sport.

These kids are fun.

(-¤-)

Alice Thorn

May 7


Team

Jack

Buneary

Moves: Pound, Foresight, Frustration, Sweetkiss, Defense Curl, Baby Doll Eyes, Quick Attack, Jumpkick, Shadow Ball, Low Kick, Swagger, Protect, Fire Punch

Ability Limber

Luke

Golbat

Moves: Absorb, Super sonic, Astonish, Bite, Whirlwind, Wing attack, Confuse ray, Air Cutter, Swift, Protect

Ability Inner focus

Karen

Cottonee
Moves: Abosrb, Fairy Wind, Growth, Leech Seed, Stun Spore, Mega Drain, Poison Powder, Protect, Swift, Razor Leaf, Cotton Spore

Ability Infiltrator

Mark

Scraggy

Moves: Leer, Headbutt, Sand Attack, Feint Attack, Swagger, Low Kick, Dragon Dance, Protect, Endure, Facade, Pay Back

Ability Moxie


3318¥


In Box

N/A

Writers block has its fingers clenched round my throat and I am but its humble simp.

Also tragedy has struck. My phone, with which I had all the notes and writings of this story stored, bit the dust. Just turned itself off and never came back on. Literally over 20k words of notes for various projects just gone. Poof. Always back up your data guys, don't learn that lesson the hard way. The show will go on though, don't worry about that.