Dakota, still feeling the effects from her attack, is being released from the hospital! But can she go in good conscience, knowing that there's still a lot wrong with her? She's still hallucinating, and she might never stop. She'll have to adapt as best as possible, and for that, she'll need a strong support structure to help her out!

KedharS: Well, you should, considering what's happened to her. It can't be easy to get a head injury like that, after all.

Just a Bad Writer for Fun: Don't worry, she's not going to start spitting fire any time soon. Unless Akira cheats on her with Misty, of course. Then all bets are off.

Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings

Chapter 837

Dakota wasn't in the best of moods. Sure, there were a lot of things that she should be happy about, like the fact that she was alive, or that she'd woken up from her coma, or that she was finally, finally being allowed to leave the hospital and return to the Pokemon Academy.

She was still upset because her hallucinations hadn't abated. She was still seeing things, images of people and places flashing in front of her whether she liked it or not. If her mind wandered too much and she was thinking about somewhere, like, say, a restaurant, she would suddenly find herself there, surrounded by the aroma of food. Or if she imagined a friend, or Akira, or even a family member, she would immediately be wherever she imagined they were, such as Serefina working in the Floette Fields, or Akira in Cerulean City.

These hallucinations would only last for an instant and then she was right back where she had been, like nothing had changed. It was so frustrating, to lose your grip on reality like this. The few times she'd brought it up with the doctor at first, they'd prescribed some anti-schizophrenic pills, which she'd taken gladly.

They hadn't helped. She was still seeing things, and not just seeing, either. She was FEELING like she was really going to those places, all of her senses were screaming at her "this is real! You're really here!" and it terrified her.

Being called crazy was not a new thing for Dakota Evans. Countless people had called her crazy over the years, accused her of seeing things that weren't there, saying that she had a warped concept of reality and had no idea what the truth was. She'd dismissed it at first, because that was the usual whining of people who didn't believe that the truth was out there.

But right now, Dakota was the one who was "out there". She couldn't deny the possibility that she was actually going crazy, for real this time.

And that was a frightening thought. Before, even when people protested, Dakota was confident that she knew what was right and what wasn't. She didn't have that anymore. Because of these repeated hallucinations, she couldn't trust herself anymore.

She was used to not trusting others. It was pathological at this point. But not being able to trust herself? Dakota didn't know how she'd be able to live if she couldn't believe that things she was seeing. Would she ever be able to really believe Akira was in front of her again? Was Serefina really here, right now, assuring her that everything was okay, or was THAT another hallucination?

Dakota didn't know. And she was afraid to find out the truth. It was an attack on everything she was as a person.

"Hey, why so down?" Serefina asked, placing her hand on Dakota's shoulder. "You're getting out of here, right?"

Dakota tried to smile, but right now she couldn't remember how. It just felt so wrong, forcing her lips like this.

Just another thing that didn't feel normal.

Serefina didn't see it that way, though. Dakota felt uncomfortable smiling? Fine. But as far as Serefina could see, her friend's smile was the same as always. Dakota's insecurities and doubts were getting to her, that was all.

Serefina wished she could do something for her friend. Hopefully, being back with the other students would help her a little bit, even if the campus wasn't very crowded.

She was a worrier at heart. If something was wrong, Serefina wanted to find some way to help, whether that was a sick pokemon, friends fighting with each other, or someone in a bad mood. But she couldn't fix Dakota's problems.

The best she could do was be her friend and be there for her.

"I'm surprised that your family was okay with you returning to the Pokemon Academy," Serefina continued, trying to change the subject. "You know… after what happened."

Fuck. She just put her foot in her mouth like a damn contortionist!

But Dakota didn't seem to mind.

"They actually wanted me to go back home for a little while, to heal," Dakota explained. "The doctor said it would be best if I was in a controlled environment, around people who cared for me. That would be better to get past whatever lingering effects there might be. Plus, you know, my family really wants to spend more time with me considering everything that happened."

Serefina was confused. That sounded like a bunch of good reasons for Dakota to go back home with her family, not stick around here. So why was she coming back with her, then? "Wouldn't it be better to go back home with your family?" She asked.

"Yeah, maybe," Dakota admitted. "But there's something I can get back at the Pokemon Academy that I can't get with my folks."

Serefina raised her eyebrow. "Oh? And what would that be?"

Dakota blushed and looked away. "Um… Aki…" She mumbled under her breath, her face heating up with embarrassment. She couldn't believe she just said that!

Serefina smiled. So that's what it was. Dakota didn't want to go home because she wanted to see her boyfriend, it was the most adorable thing in the world!

There was just one problem in her reasoning though.

"Um, Dakota… you DO remember that Akira is in Cerulean City, right? Even if you go back to the Pokemon Academy, he won't be back for another month at least."

Dakota scowled. "Yes, Seri, I'm aware of that," she scoffed. "I might have some memory problems but even I'm not that forgetful!"

"Then why do you want to go back?" Serefina was confused now. If it wasn't because Akira was there, then why?

Dakota smiled sheepishly and looked up into her friend's eyes. "Because… even if Aki isn't there… my memories of him are."

Serefina gasped in realization. So that's why Dakota wanted to go back to the academy. She hadn't even considered that.

Serefina knew that Dakota was having memory troubles, but she didn't know just how severe they were. She had a good idea, but still.

Dakota couldn't remember a lot of things. It must be hard, having those gaps in her memory. And she must be worried that she could still lose what memories she did have. She wanted to go back to where she made all those memories and experience them again. Even if Akira wasn't here at the Pokemon Academy… it was still like he was.

Serefina hugged her tightly, startling Dakota.

"Seri?!" She stuttered in surprise. "What… huh?"

"I'm sorry, Dakota," Serefina apologized, hugging her tighter. "I didn't even think about that. You're right, it would be for the best if you stayed back with me."

She pulled away and beamed at her friend. "Honestly. I'll help you however you need, okay?"

Dakota smiled back, still a little embarrassed. But it felt good, having her friend here to support her. It made her feel like maybe things wouldn't be so bad.

"Thanks, Seri. You're a really great friend," Dakota said.

Serefina was overjoyed. While it certainly wasn't a GOOD thing that Dakota got attacked and put into a coma, there had certainly been some good things to come out of it. She seemed like a more pleasant person sometimes.

For example, the old Dakota probably wouldn't have been so forthcoming with a compliment like that. She'd be a lot more snarky.

Maybe her touch with death had softened her a little and made her more sensitive?

Serefina caught herself thinking that way and chastised herself for being so insensitive! She couldn't believe she was thinking that way, believing that something so horrible was actually good! Dakota had every right to slap her across the face for behaving like that!

She redoubled her efforts to be a good friend. She was going to make it up to Dakota somehow. But right now, they needed to focus on getting back to school.

The two left the hospital and were greeted by Dakota's family on the way out. They all went to lunch, having a wonderful time. As Serefina sat on the sidelines and watched Dakota with her family, she saw more genuine smiles from the girl in one meal than she'd seen in an entire week back when they were in school together.

She was happy for her friend. It seemed everyone was glad that Dakota was back on her feet. Serefina's joy couldn't compare to that of Dakota's family, of course, but she still felt like a sister, glad that she would be okay.

After saying their goodbyes to Dakota's family (and having to put up with a few "please, are you sure you don't want to come back with us?"'s and "we're here whenever you need something, feel free to call at any time!"s) they were finally alone, and headed back to the Pokemon Academy island on the afternoon ferry.

Then the other shoe dropped.

"…Say, um, Seri, can I ask you something?" Dakota mumbled, glancing up warily at her friend.

Serefina nodded. "Sure, what is it? Anything you want!"

"Well, um… you know how you said that you wanted to help me with anything I needed?" Dakota asked, fidgeting a little in her seat. Serefina was concerned, the way Dakota was acting, this looked like something important.

"Yes, Dakota, what is it? Anything you need," Serefina said, getting a little more serious than before. Was it something else? Another hallucination? Memory problems? Did her head hurt? That would be really bad, what if-

But Serefina's concerned thoughts were cut off as Dakota explained what she needed.

"So… even though I was in a coma for a month, and even though a good chunk of the teachers and students are gone… the school still gave me homework," Dakota said, staring calmly out at the sea. She wouldn't even look Serefina in the eye.

Serefina's eye twitched.

"…Okay…" She said, trying to keep calm. She had a sinking feeling she knew where Dakota was going with this.

"…And it's a LOT of work stacked up," Dakota continued, glancing back at her with the biggest, most innocently-pleading expression her bright blue eyes could give. "So I was wondering, um… would it be possible, if you… could you help me with it? Pweaaasee?"

Dakota batted her eyelashes and Serefina held her tongue.

So that's what it was. The reason she wanted to stay back at the Pokemon Academy with Serefina wasn't because of all the memories she'd made with Akira and everyone else there.

It was because SEREFINA was there, and Dakota wanted to use her to do all of the school work that had piled up.

"Help" her? Please. Dakota didn't do "help". She was gonna make Serefina do the whole thing, Serefina could see it in that innocent smile of hers.

The nerve of this girl! Some things never changed.

But as outraged as Serefina should have felt… she wasn't. She just smiled and nodded her head. "Sure, Dakota," she agreed. "I'll help you with whatever you want."

Dakota blinked, clearly surprised. She obviously hadn't expected Serefina to go along with it so easily, and was at a loss for words.

"Oh! Um… okay, sure, I guess, if you're okay with it, then," Dakota mumbled, feeling a little embarrassed and guilty now. "Thanks, Seri… and you're sure?"

Serefina didn't mind a little extra work. She was just glad that Dakota was back to her old tricksy self, making Serefina do things that she didn't want to.

Sure, after a week or two of this freeloading attitude then she'd get properly angry, but right now Serefina was so glad to have Dakota back that she could let the girl indulge for a little bit. It made her feel like everything was going back to normal.

"I'm happy to help!" Serefina assured her friend, patting Dakota on the shoulder. "Once we get back, we can get started, okay?"

Dakota's positive attitude took a bit of a nosedive when Serefina said "we". But she knew that she was getting a lot more than she deserved regardless, so she didn't say anything. She just meekly nodded her head and went along with it.

Serefina was nice, but there were limits to her niceness. She would help Dakota get her work done, sure, but she wasn't going to do it ALL. She had to draw the line somewhere.

And there was something else that she was looking forward to when they got back that would make the extra workload dumped in her lap worth it.

Dakota stood outside her door, holding her breath. It had been a long time since she'd last set foot in her room, but to her, it had happened only a few weeks ago. She wasn't sure why she was holding herself back, what was she worried about?

Maybe it was the fact that she didn't know what she would find. Maybe because she was afraid that things would be different when she entered. Or maybe she was afraid that if she set foot inside, then all those memories would come rushing back to her, and she wasn't sure if she would be able to handle it or not.

All these ideas crossed her mind as she held the doorknob, but she pushed them aside and stepped into the room.

It was… exactly how she'd remembered it. She'd had a few hallucinations of being in her room since she'd woken up, and for a second she thought that this was another one. Everything was exactly the way she'd pictured it, right down to the crumpled pile of clothes in the corner.

"You didn't even do my laundry?" She asked in surprise, turning to Serefina. They weren't exactly the words she would have planned to say for her homecoming, but they'd just kind of slipped past her lips before she could stop them.

Serefina snickered and shook her head. "No, silly, of course I did. Do you think I would let this room stink? I just crumpled them up and left them where you'd put them, that's all."

Dakota was shocked that she would have gone through all that extra work. "But… you know, you didn't have to-"

"I wanted it to be exactly how you left it when you came back home," Serefina explained, hugging Dakota from behind. "It just wouldn't be right if this place didn't feel like home when you got back, you know?"

Dakota didn't know what to say. There were so many words in her head, but the only thing that passed her lips was a gurgle and whimper. She was trying not to break down in tears in front of her best friend, and was doing a miserable job of it.

"Seri… you're the best," she blurted out, annoyed that Serefina was hugging her. She wanted to turn around and hug her in return, but she couldn't!

"Oh, and that's not all," Serefina added, letting Dakota go. She walked over to the journalist's desk, where five pokeballs sat.

Dakota gasped. "Everybody!" She rushed over, nearly knocked Serefina out of the way.

Back in the hospital, Serefina had brought Dakota's pokemon over to show her that they were all okay. Dakota had been overjoyed to see everyone, even if Sparky was absent. But that had been in the first few days. The doctors wouldn't allow pokemon to stay overnight in the hospital, after all, so she'd had to give them back to Serefina.

Now she had them all back. She didn't waste a minute of time sending everyone out of their pokeballs to greet them with a smile.

Of course, the first pokemon she let out was her Chatot, Chatter. The little guy was overjoyed to see her again. Because he could talk, he was able to address her directly, repeatedly saying her name, as well as "welcome home", which made things even better.

"I, uh… spent the last week training him to say that," Serefina admitted, blushing a little and playing with a lock of her hair. "I thought it would be special to take advantage of Chatot's ability to talk to say stuff like that, and give you a real greeting, you know?"

Dakota couldn't believe that Serefina could be so sweet. "Thank you, Seri, that means a lot to me," she smiled. Then she returned to the rest of her pokemon.

Faux was next, and for once, the moody pokemon was being genuine about her feelings, hugging Dakota tightly and refusing to let her go. For a pokemon so prone to never expressing how she really felt, it was a wonder to see her so honest, and Dakota was thrilled, hugging her back tightly.

"Brai-Braixen!" Faux insisted, squirming out of Dakota's iron grasp, her face nearly as red as her trainer's. She backed away and turned her nose up, still glancing at Dakota out of the corner of her eye, and Dakota couldn't help but laugh at such a "Faux" action.

"I'm glad to see you, too," she whispered.

Then came Bolt. He was a lot more affectionate than Chatter or Faux, nearly knocking Dakota onto the ground and licking her furiously with his tongue. He was practically in tears.

"Hey big guy. It's okay, I'm back," Dakota laughed, petting his fur. She loved the tingly feeling from his electrified mane. She had been expecting something like this from Bolt, because he'd done the exact same thing the last time she'd seen him. After all, the Manectric was incredibly loyal to Dakota and believed himself to be her protector.

And he had failed. Her injury was his fault, in his mind, no matter how much Dakota had tried to assure him of the opposite. Right now, she didn't let that bother her. She was just happy to be back, and glad to have him with her again.

Tsubame, her Swellow, was also protective of Dakota, although a bit more gentle and nurturing. When Dakota got off of the floor and hugged her next, she was met by powerful wings wrapping around her body and pulling her in close.

"Hey, Tsubame, thanks, but it's a little hard to breathe with all these feathers in my face," Dakota laughed, pulling away from her.

"Swellow," Tsubame chirped, letting her trainer go. She was just happy that Dakota was back, safe and sound. She might have been the most worried out of all of Dakota's pokemon.

Chatter had talked, Bolt had tackled, and Faux and Tsubame had both hugged. But the last of Dakota's pokemon had a "welcome back" of a different sort.

Pumpernickel burst out of Dakota's shadow with a "GOURGEIST!" shout, flipping up her skirt for good measure.

But Dakota had expected something like that from the playful pokemon, and wasn't startled or embarrassed in the least. She turned and hugged him. "Hey, Pumpernickel, good to see you, too," she laughed, patting him on the back.

"Gour…" Pumpernickel began crying, patting her back. That set off the rest of the pokemon, and soon everybody was crying, even Faux.

Dakota wiped her eyes. Right now, it didn't matter whether or not her pokemon were real or hallucinations. Even if this was all in her head, she was still happy to be here.

Dakota has returned to school! And she's reunited with her beloved pokemon! But will that be the end of her troubles? What else will she have to deal with in terms of side-effects from her injury? Only time will tell.