Chapter 19: Jess' crisis

I woke up in a big room, lying on a soft bed. The light in the room was quite dim, it must be night outside. I was confused. I thought I'd be inside my Pokéball. I looked around in the room and recognized it as our room in the Pokémoncenter. The wound on my arm was gone. Next to my bed Jess was sleeping on a chair, and Travis was sleeping on her lap.

'They must have been really worried about me. But how long have I been asleep? It's dark outside, so I must have slept for at least half a day. Should I wake them up?' Before I could decide on that, I realised how thirsty I was. 'Alright I better get something to drink first.'

I jumped down from the bed, walked over to the bathroom, climbed up to the wash bowl and drank some tap water.

'Ah much better now.'

I heard a noise from outside. I went back to the room and saw that Travis woke up. He was standing on all fours next to Jess' chair. He looked tired, but when he saw me, he was all awake all of a sudden.

Nick! You're awake!

Yeah, I just woke up, how long did I sleep?

Well, you've been out the rest of the day and all the night. Jess was really worried about you. She watched over you all the night until she fell asleep.

I guess I really overdid it in that last battle. I should be more careful next time.

Yeah, maybe, but you were so awesome when you fought that Scizor guy.

That guy was really strong. I don't know if I could beat him again. Did anything else happen after I fainted?

I only know that Jess carried you all the way to the Pokémoncenter. She didn't even take her badge, and she was crying a lot.

'She cried because of me? She really takes things seriously.'

I knew that she was a caring trainer, but I didn't expect her to get so emotional over me. Travis kept on talking about details of the gym battle, but I didn't really listen to him. I was in thoughts. While Travis was still talking, the sun rose and shone through the window right into Jess' face, which caused her to wake up as well. She looked really tired and yawned. She must have slept for just a few hours. With half closed eyey she looked around in the room until she saw me and Travis.

"Nick! Thank God, you're awake!" She stood up from her chair, kneed down before me and hugged me.

"I'm so sorry."

Why are you sorry? I asked, ignoring the fact that she couldn't understand me.

"I'm such a horrible trainer. In the moment you needed me the most I left you alone."

What do you mean?

"I'm so sorry I couldn't give any commands in that fight, and you got hurt because of it..."

'So that's why she's like that...she's giving herself the fault because she didn't give any commands in that last battle...'

I didn't know what to do now. She was still hugging me. 'I'd like to cheer her up...but how do I do this without words?'

After a little while she released me from her hug. She still looked really tired. She should probably get some sleep. I looked around if I could find something to cheer her up. I found my Pokéball lying on the bedside table.

'Maybe that'll work'

I grabbed my Pokéball and returned to Jess, holding it towards her. She looked up.

'I really hope that she gets my message right.'

Jess grabbed the Pokéball and looked slightly confused.

"So, you want to tell me that you still want to be my Pokémon even though I totally messed up that battle?"

I smiled and nodded.

Jess looked a little happier than before, but she obviously still felt guilty for what happened. The fact that she was still tired from that sleepless night wasn't helping either. She sat there, holding my Pokéball in her hand, seemingly unable to do anything else right now, when suddenly someone knocked at the door. Jess stood up and opened the door. It was Bugsy, the gym leader.

"Bugsy? What are you doing here?"

"Well, you forgot to take your badge yesterday, and I also felt sorry for your Dewott, so I thought I came to visit and bring your badge."

"That's nice of you, but I don't deserve that badge. I didn't do anything when Nick fought your Scyther and he got badly hurt and fainted because of me."

"And yet he still won that battle even though you didn't do anything. This only shows me that you trained your Pokémon well enough that you don't even need to give orders to him. So here take your badge, I lost that battle and now please cheer up. If you keep acting like that, your Pokémon will only feel bad for you. They strongly react to their trainers emotions so go and get some rest. You look like you haven't slept last night."

Jess took the badge.

"Thank you."

She looked happier now. Suddenly one of Bugsy's Pokéballs popped open and Scyther appeared next to him.

Hey Kiddo, you in there?

I was pretty sure that he meant me, so I stepped to the door next to Jess.

You're looking for me?

Yeah, I wanted to say that I'm sorry. You're a great fighter even though you're so young. I underestimated you because of your height and your age, and I've paid the price for it. Now I wish that you could stay here, You'd be a great sparring partner with your shell-blades.

Well, sorry but I think we'll be moving on soon, but thanks for telling me this. It means something to me.

"I wonder what they're talking about." Jess said.

"Who knows, I guess it must've been something important. Scyther usually stays inside his Pokéball."