The hand of friendship

Bonnie yawned. The previous day had been so exhausting, especially coming on top of a short night. It had been pitch-black before they made it back to the pokemon centre, guided by Litleo's flame. The three friends had been concerned about letting the fire continue to rage unchecked, but Nurse Joy had pointed out that the fire was moving towards a patch of woods with no habitation, did not pose a threat to the centre, and would be circumscribed soon because a kilometer or so away there was a river big enough to form a natural barrier. Plus, they had no way to actually extinguish the fire.

"But what if other pokemon are trapped?" Bonnie had asked anxiously.

"Bonnie, you did enough," the red-haired woman had replied. "You can barely stand, you need to rest. Fires are unfortunately common in this area at that time of the year, wild pokemon have learned to deal with them. I was very surprised to see these little ones trapped actually."

Their work had been far from done when they had reached the centre. Nurse's Joy usual helpers, Blissey and Clefairy, were in no shape to assist her and indeed needed some medical attention themselves, as did Wooper and several of the three friends' companions, especially Chespin and Poliwag. And the most urgent cases were the teddiursa and the oddish, which had inhaled a lot of smoke and sported some burns despite Oddish's best efforts to shield itself and the bear cub. Bonnie, Laura and Max had assisted where needed. And there was a big, wild ursaring hoovering anxiously near the front door, though thankfully not interfering with the care that the teddiursa needed.

It turned out that the little bear was in better shape than Oddish, who had apparently protected the cub with its body when its razor leaves failed to intercept the embers, and had used the leaves on its head as a kind of smokescreen for Teddiursa. As a result, the bear cub was released relatively shortly after being admitted in the centre, and it, and its mother, disappeared into the night. Oddish however had to be kept in observation overnight. At some point Bonnie, unable to keep her eyes open any longer, had crashed on the first available bed, intending to have a nap before going back to help. When she opened her eyes again though, muted daylight was coming through the windows: it was morning, an overcast morning which bore the promise of rain later in the day.

The blond girl jumped on her feet, dismayed to realize she had slept the night away. As she prepared to run out the door though, she bumped into Laura.

"You're finally awake? Good, you needed that sleep, you were in pretty bad shape yourself yesterday evening. Relax, we managed just fine after you fell asleep, the bulk of the work was done already, remember? You were really out like a light though, neither Max and I coming to bed nor us getting up earlier made you as much as twitch."

"How is everyone?"

"Doing fine, the bunch of them. Only Oddish is still under that oxygen-bell-thingy, and looking none too happy about it, but she's way better than yesterday."

Bonnie noted that her friends had found out Oddish's gender.

"The rest, well, they're rested and mostly ready for the next adventure! You know them. They're playing a game of tag in the garden right now."

xxx

The Kalos girl checked for herself that her pokemon were alright, and promised to reward everyone with pokepuffs at the earliest opportunity. Chespin looked delighted, and she was sure the little hedgehog would help her remember her promise… Bonnie then went to see how Oddish was doing. She had been impressed with the pokemon's cool during the crisis, and how she had protected the teddiursa at all costs, even disregarding her own safety if need be. Hopefully the little bulb pokemon would be alright soon. Blissey was back at work with Nurse Joy, looking fresh and rested.

"Hey, where's Oddish?" Bonnie asked, entering the room and looking around.

"Right there! But be careful, she's a wild one!" Nurse Joy replied. She had pointed to what the blond girl had at first taken to be a potted plant. Bonnie got closer, curious.

"She calmed down somewhat after I brought her some soil," Nurse Joy explained. "Oddish usually spend the days buried to their leaves in the best soil they find, you know. Hey, look out!"

Apparently, Bonnie had gotten too close for comfort for the oddish. Still buried in the flower pot, she lashed out with razor leaf. Bonnie jumped to the side, putting her hands up for protection, and got some scratches for her troubles.

"Hey Oddish, it's ok, no need to be afraid!" she said calmly, ignoring the stinging on her arms. "We only want you to get better, you know. I was just coming to see how you were doing, since you looked pretty bad when I rescued you yesterday. How are you feeling?"

"Oddish?" said a small voice, and the "potted plant" moved, revealing two eyes in a bulbous face.

"That's right," Bonnie encouraged her, "we mean you no harm."

The bulb pokemon looked at her with an interested expression, but did not move. Then, Blissey entered the room. Upon seeing the door open, Oddish looked at Bonnie, then Nurse Joy, and made a dash for freedom, releasing purple spores in the air at the same time.

"Careful, that's sleep powder!" Nurse Joy cried out, but the warning came too late, Bonnie's head was already hitting the floor.

xxx

"Hey, wake up, sleepyhead!"

"Max?"

Bonnie opened her eyes. She was back on her bed. Sitting up slowly, she groaned, still feeling some of the effect of the attack.

"All I do is sleep today, it seems. What happened? Where's Oddish?"

"Oddish is back in her pot, thanks to Blissey's quick reaction. You were just unlucky enough to be right next to Oddish, so you got a good dose of her sleeping powder. No wonder you're feeling groggy!"

"Oh, that would explain it. I can understand her though, I suppose. She must feel trapped in that room."

"That's what Nurse Joy said. But it's only until she is all better, which should be the case in a day or so. And she's hardly the first wild pokemon to get treated at the centre. Nurse Joy said she rarely had so much trouble!"

"Well, maybe Oddish had a bad experience with humans before, as wary as she is. I wish I could show her that she can trust us!"

Max shook his head, wondering that Bonnie was not even mad about the attack, just concerned for the oddish and trying to make it feel better. Typical Bonnie, he thought.

"I know," Bonnie announced suddenly, and she got up, wobbling a little. This did not stop her though, and she walked back to Oddish's room as fast as she could. Nurse Joy was just passing in the hallway.

"Bonnie, are you feeling better?"

"Yes, yes, but never mind me. You said that Oddish usually spend their days in the earth right? So they're mostly nocturnal then?"

"Yes?"

"I think the bright lights in the room are unsettling her, could we dim them?"

"Sure, that might help. I should have thought of that myself, but then I usually need the light to treat my patients."

"I'll go back inside the room, if that's alright?" Bonnie asked. "I won't approach Oddish, I just want to talk to her and let her know we're not going to harm her."

"Very well, but be very careful, you've seen what she's like."

Bonnie stayed closeted with Oddish for most of the day. At intervals, both Max and Laura went to check on her. Their blond friend was apparently chattering away the whole time, happily monologuing, while Oddish… well it was difficult to know what Oddish did, because she resolutely stayed in the flower pot. For all they knew, she was sleeping. After a while Dedenne went to join his trainer and took a nap on her lap, while she cuddled him absently, still intent on reaching through to Oddish. It had been clear from early on that they were not going to press on that day. To be honest, neither Laura nor Max had anything against a quiet day, after the events of the previous evening! Max went back to training, while Laura assisted Nurse Joy most of the day. She had a quiet touch that went over well with the pokemon, and the red-haired woman commented that she had the makings of a first-class nurse, making Laura blush.

Bonnie did get out of Oddish's room around tea time, to bake the promised pokepuffs. Knowing the appetite of her little companions for all things sweet, she made plenty for everyone. Even Chespin, who tried to stuff himself as usual, could not quite finish the pile. Bonnie gathered a few of the little pastries on a small plate and, going back to Oddish, deposited them next to the flower pot. The plant pokemon still did not move. With a sigh, Bonnie resumed her chatting, keeping her voice soft and recounting stories from this journey and her previous one.

xxx

At dinner time, Bonnie was uncharacteristically quiet.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Laura asked. The dark-haired girl was looking at her friend with some concern.

"Oh, I don't know, I just feel there's more to Oddish's mood than just being cooped up in that room. It runs deeper than that, and I'm trying to understand, but I haven't had much success."

"Well," Nurse Joy said, "I'm still keeping her in observation for tonight, especially since the rain I expected since this morning has finally arrived. It's going to be a big storm out there tonight, no place for a still-healing pokemon. Good though, it should extinguish that fire. But after that she'll be all healed, and ready to go. I'm sure she'll feel better when she's back in the forest."

"Hmm. Would you mind if I slept with her tonight? I'd move a mattress to a corner of the room."

"If you're sure that's what you want to do, alright, I guess," the nurse replied a bit dubiously after thinking about it. "But don't you think Oddish would prefer some alone time?"

"I think she needs to know that somebody cares, even if I cannot do much more."

"Alright then, but the same rules apply, you stay quiet in the room, and you don't get too close to her. And you can stay up for a bit, but you go to sleep as well after that, no staying up all night, mind you! Are we in agreement?"

"Yes Nurse Joy, thank you!"

Oddish was out of the flower pot when Bonnie came back to her room carrying a mattress, but ran back to it as the blond girl set up camp. Bonnie had decided to have her little friends all sleep with her tonight, reasoning that it might help Oddish relax to have other pokemon around. She sang some silly songs with them and shared some more treats. She had noticed, pleased, that the pokepuffs plate was now empty, and, without making a fuss, she put some more food on it in case Oddish was still hungry.

"It's not for you, Chespin, you ate plenty already, you'll only get a bellyache" she cautioned, knowing too well her friend's penchant for gluttony. The little hedgehog, paw on his heart, promised that he would not touch the plate. After a while, Oddish's leaves moved, and the bulb-like pokemon peered cautiously over the hedge of the pot, looking in on the fun. She apparently was not inclined to join, however, and with a sigh Bonnie let it go. She prepared herself for bed and flopped down on the mattress, with Dedenne, Litleo and Chespin all cuddled with her. Soon after, all were sound asleep.

It was only much later in the night that Bonnie half-woke: Oddish had decided to join the big heap of girl and pokemon, for warmth or comfort or some other reason, and had lain down next to Chespin and close to Bonnie's head, tickling her nose with her leaves in the process. Thunder rumbled nearby, and Oddish buried her face in the mattress. Sleepily, Bonnie gathered the bulb-like pokemon to her. Still, she was rather surprised when the little burden in her arms did not put up any protest.

"Its's ok Oddish, there's nothing to be afraid about, the storm cannot reach us here," she murmured understandingly. "You're a bundle of contradictions, I have to say. So fearless in that fire, and now you're ill-at-ease with a little water? Ok, a lot of water, and some thunderbolts as well," She correctly herself when Oddish glared at her.

The blond girl yawned and settled back on the mattress, snuggling deeper under the blankets. Just before falling asleep again she reached and lightly stroke the bundle of leaves on top of Oddish's head. It was a lot softer than she thought it would be.

"Sleep, Oddish, we're all here, you'll be fine."

xxx

The next morning Bonnie woke to find that Oddish had retreated at some point during the night to a safer distance. Maybe when the storm blew over, she thought, noticing the sunlight streaming through the window. But it was nonetheless encouraging to see that she was not hiding in the flower pot anymore, but discussing earnestly with Litleo. Dedenne, upon seeing that his trainer was awake, stopped his game with Chespin and jumped into her arms with a happy cry.

"And good morning to you too, my little electric fur ball!" Bonnie said with a big smile, giving him a big cuddle. "And good morning to all of you! It's still rather early isn't it?"

"Not that early," Nurse Joy replied, entering the room. Immediately, Oddish stiffened, though she did not run for cover. "Your two friends are still asleep, and breakfast won't be ready for a while, but Blissey and I have been awake for a while now, we're just coming back from a stroll. As I predicted, with that much water falling out of the sky last night the fire is completely out. Though I did ask Wooper to round up a few friends and make sure no embers are left anywhere."

"That's good news Nurse Joy!"

"So, did you all have a good night?" The red-haired nurse asked, talking to Bonnie but looking at Oddish.

"We did, thanks for letting me sleep here."

"No problem, I had my doubts but I see it worked out. Oddish, will you let Blissey examine you? If she gives you a clean bill of health you will be free to go."

The silence stretched for a while, Oddish obviously still uncomfortable with the idea of anyone getting too close to her.

"Oddish," the little pokemon finally agreed with some reluctance.

Blissey kept her examination as non-intrusive as she could, and, turning back to Nurse Joy, indicated that Oddish was in perfect health.

"That's great!" Bonnie exclaimed, though she was a little sorry to see her go.

They accompanied their little charge to the entrance of the building. Oddish hovered nervously on the threshold, strangely unwilling to get out, even though she had tried to do just that multiple times the day before.

"Hmm, you don't have to be in a hurry," Bonnie told her, noting the hesitation though not understanding the reason behind it. "How about you eat breakfast with us first? You can hardly go on an empty stomach, after all!"

"Chespin!" The little green-headed pokemon strongly supported Bonnie's words, shuddering at the idea of an empty stomach.

One hour later, Max and Laura were up, everyone had broken their fast, and Oddish was still hanging around the pokemon centre. The weed pokemon was obviously stressed about something. Or was it fear on that little face? Either way, Bonnie did not feel like leaving her without making sure that she was alright, though Max had already asked when they could get on the road. The black-haired boy was getting impatient to reach Azalea Town and face his second gym.

"Well, how about we accompany you to your home then, before we go on our way?" Bonnie finally suggested, and Oddish, startled, looked at the Kalos girl with big eyes before nodding. "Great, let's go!" They put everyone back in their pokeballs, except Phanpy, for obvious reasons, and Dedenne, riding on Bonnie's shoulder. Phanpy was going to continue with the three friends for a while, as Nurse Joy had not heard of anyone looking for a lost phanpy. She promised to spread out the word to other pokemon centres in the regions, suggesting that they check in with other centres as often as possible, in case there was some news.

Oddish leading the way, they went into the forest once more. While they were following a different path than the one Blissey had taken two days ago, it did not take long for Bonnie, Laura and Max to realize that they were going back to the general vicinity of the fire.

"You don't suppose…?" Laura started to ask, but a worried look from Bonnie stopped the question before it could get out. They found out soon enough, as Oddish stopped abruptly on the edge of a clearing. A small brook was running in the middle, and everything beyond the brook was charred and dead. No pokemon had made their way back to the blighted area either, it would be a while before life could start again here.

"Oddiiiiiiiish!" The little pokemon wailed, contemplating the destruction of what had to have been her home.

xxx

For a while, Oddish's sobs were the only sounds in the clearing. Bonnie was trying to think of what to say, but what could you say? Oddish's home was well and truly gone, she would not be able to live in the area for quite some time, and it would not be the same anyway. As for her friends, they must have been part of the stampede, and who knew where they could be now? As the little pokemon mourned the end of the life she knew, Bonnie could only kneel on the ground besides her and hold her tight. It was a testimony to Oddish's distress that she did not try to break free, but instead leaned into the embrace. Over her head, Bonnie's eyes met Laura's and Max's. What to do now?

After some time, the weed pokemon subsided, and, regaining some of her shyness, she struggled to get some distance between Bonnie and her.

"Oddish", she said in a little, defeated voice, still looking at the charred landscape, her leaves drooping. And somehow that was even more heart wrenching than her cries had been. Bonnie took a deep breath, her decision taken.

"Oddish, I am truly sorry for you," she started, still kneeling to be at Oddish's height. "It must hurt a lot, to lose your home, and there's nothing I can do to lessen that hurt, not right now. But I also wanted you to know that you are not alone. We're here for you, and I'm hoping we'll also be here for you in the future. Oddish, I don't know how to say it but you impressed me a lot, with your strength and courage when confronted by the fire, and when I saw how you protected the teddiursa and how caring you are. I'm telling you this because I want you to understand I'm not acting out of pity. You don't deserve pity, but you do deserve to be cared for. Oddish, will you let me take care of you? I can't offer you a home, given that we're travelling all the time, but I can offer you my love and friendship. Will you join me and my friends?"

END OF CHAPTER

I tried to be quick with that update, since I had taken so much time with the last chapter. Hope you like it! Thanks for the nice reviews and messages, they really make me want to write more, I'll try to do that. But at the very least you can be reassured that I'm definitely not leaving this story, it's fun to write even though I'm not sure where it's leading me. I do have quite a few plot twists planned though, so bear with me!

Quick poll though for the next chapters, would you rather have:

A. More pokemon for the trio (subsidiary question, which ones?)

B. More battles, especially gym battles but also involving other trainers

C. More adventures of all kinds outside of the gyms

D. More guest appearances by trainers from the original series

E. Don't change anything, this is great

Feel free to comment!