CHAPTER 7: Sad Endings, Hopeful Beginnings!

It's been two days since I woke up in the hospital, and everything is still as hectic as before.

First, they doctors won't let me leave until they can take the stitches out of my arm.

Second, Dad got called back to work in Kanto, but he comes to visit every spare second he has.

And Third, Delia had to go back home to take care of her Pokemon.

So, that brings us up to today.

I'm sitting in Noctowl's room with Misty and Ash.

It took a while, but Noctowl has learned to trust both of them now, so someone can be in the room at all times.

"... and he said; 'Thats not a Raichu, it's a Cheri berry!'" Ash finishes, and we all laugh.

Ash has taken it upon himself to cheer everyone up, by sneaking food in for Noctowl and me, or telling jokes.

And man, has it helped.

"Okay guys, todays the day! They're letting me out to train. I'm thinking of going back to Route 2, as I didn't get to do much there." I announce.

"Awesome! I wanted to start training Pikachu!" Ash beams.

"And Horsea and Goldeen need some time out of their pokeballs." Misty smiles.

"Alrighty, would one of you walk me to my room?" They both jump up and grab an arm.

"Or both of you? Haha!" We all laugh and hobble to my room.

They drop me off, then head downstairs to the cafeteria to wait.

I'm just getting out of the shower, when i hear a knocking on the door.

I quickly throw on some clothes and my pokeball belt, and stumble my way to the door, and fling it open.

"Sorry! I was just showering..." I look up to see a doctor.

"Miss... Flora?" She asks.

"Thats me, doc! Come on in!" I finish towel drying my hair, and start running a brush through it.

"Um, we actually have a problem, Miss Flora. It's Noctowl. She's bein-"

She doesnt get to finish because I've already pushed past her, and am already halfway down the hall.

Noctowl's room is on the same floor as mine, just on the other side of the hospital.

As I turn around the last corner, I see a handful of people standing in front of the room, including a Officer Jenny.

I don't realize I've released Alto till im at the door.

I try to push past everyone, but Officer Jenny pushes me back.

"Excuse me, little girl, but you need to vacate this area. There is a dangerous pokemon on the loose."

She turns around to talk to a doctor, but i grab her shoulder and spin her around again.

"Excuse me, MA'AM, but that so called 'dangerous pokemon' is a Noctowl, and I'm the only one in this building she wont attack, so you need to vacate this doorway."

I smile and push past her, and one of the doctors nods to her.

As I walk in the room, I see the window has been shattered, as if something had gone... through it?

Theres also blood on the bed, and torn bandaging.

"Oh no..." I grab the nearest doctor.

"When did she leave?" I stare at the bed.

"Um... I cant tell-"

"WHEN!?"

"Ten minutes!" He shudders.

"Thanks!" I smile at him, then dart out the door, Alto barely able to stick to my shoulder.

I see Misty and Ash running down the hallway.

"Serena! What happened?" Ash pants.

"Is everything okay?" Misty grabs my shoulder.

"Noctowl escaped, and I think I know where she went. Follow me!" I turn and start to walk down the hallway...

And promptly fall flat on my face.

"Serena, you just aren't strong enough yet. Let me grab you a walking stick!" Ash books it into a janitors closet thats nearby.

He walks out with a wooden mop handle, with a snapped end.

"I couldn't get it to come off, so I improvised!" He tosses it to me, and we start down the hallway.

"So, where do you think she went?" Misty asks as we walk out the front entrance.

"There's a big pine tree, along route 2. Thats where I first encountered her. I have a feeling she went back there!"

We make it into route 2 without much trouble.

That when we see the blood.

Theres a zig zagging path of fresh blood, and it goes from tree to tree, and along the ground.

"Oh Palkia..." I stuff the fear that is rising down, and we speed up.

It doesn't take us too long before we can see the top of the gigantic pine tree above the tree line.

I turn around and face the two younger kids.

"Guys, I'm going to need you to wait here." I ask them.

"No! We wont leave your side!" Ash shouts.

"We wont!" Misty agrees.

"You guys..." Sobbing, I pull them into a hug.

"I love you guys... so much... but we don't know what is beyond these trees. If it's something bad, I don't want you guys seeing it."

"But..." Misty starts.

"Okay. We'll stay here." Ash finished, and Misty just nods.

"I'll be right back. I'll holler if I need you." I put on a brave face, and keep trekking.

Mentally, I'm prepared for the best outcome, being Noctowl is just sitting there, ruffled and furious.

But it isn't the best outcome.

As i slowly come closer to the tree, I start to hear the moaning.

"Hoooooooo... Hooooooo..."

Gulping, I walk into the small clearing that houses the pine tree.

At the base of the tree, sprawled awkwardly on the ground...

... is Noctowl.

"Dear Arceus. Hey!" I run up to her, and she weakly looks up at me.

"Hooo..." She weakly lifts a wing, and points up the tree trunk of the large pine tree.

"Up there? Whats up there?" I look up, but don't see anything noteworthy.

"Hooo!" She points more vigorously.

"Okay! I'll go up there." Setting my walking stick on the tree trunk, I release Alto and Ace.

"Can you guys give me a boost?" I start to pull myself up, but my right arm gives out, and I fall back to the ground.

"Shit!" Brushing myself off, I start climbing again, giving my right arm to Alto, who gently helps lift me.

Ace grabs my shoulder, and gently pulls, as well.

It's slow going, but we are making good progress.

The tree starts to thin out the farther up we get, and in no time I see what looks to be... a nest?

"Oh!" I clue in, and speed up as much as I physically can.

We make it to the ranch that the nest is sitting on, and i lean against the tree and pant, Alto and Ace returned to their balls.

Wow. What a gorgeous view! I can see Viridian City from here!

Finally catching my breath, I slowly crawl to the edge of the nest, which is the size of a large Torterra. I crawl up the side, until I can peek in and see...

2 Pokemon?

I crawl right over the edge, and plop right in, none to gracefully, startling the poor pokemon.

Upon further inspection, they are both the same pokemon, and they are both quite young, newly hatched.

I whip out the PokeDex from my pocket.

Hoothoot

The Owl Pokemon

It always stands on one foot. It changes feet so fast, the movement can rarely be seen.

Ability; Insomnia

Move Set; Foresight, Tackle, Growl

and

Hoothoot

The Owl Pokemon

It always stands on one foot. It changes feet so fast, the movement can rarely be seen.

Ability; Keen Eye

Move Set; Foresight, Tackle, Growl

"Oh... Hoothoot... evolves into... oh." Everything finally falls into place.

Both Hoothoot chicks are newly hatched.

Hoothoot evolves into Noctowl.

Noctowl wants to see her babies, one last time.

Releasing Alto and Ace, I stand.

I grab both chicks, and place one on Alto's back, and the other I put snuggly into my right arm.

"Ace, I'm going to need help down. You good?" He nods furiously, ready to help in any way.

It takes what feels like forever, but we finally get low enough to see Noctowl, who has managed to lean up against the tree.

When we finally reach the ground, both Hoothoot chicks start getting restless, so I place them both with Noctowl, who purrs gently.

She looks up at me, tears in her eyes, and points to her babies, then to Alto.

"Hoooo..." She cries.

Tears in my eyes, I point to my belt, and she nods.

She wants me to take her babies with me.

She nuzzles both her chicks one last time, then gently turns them to face me.

She weakly points to me, then nudges them forwards.

I bend down and gently pick them up, and they instantly nuzzle against me.

Silently sobbing, I walk over, and Noctwol leans against me, and i kiss her head softly, then she weakly pushes me back towards the forest.

"I'll take good care of them, I promise. I promise." Silently sobbing, I walk back to where an anxious duo of kids are waiting.

"Serena!" Ash runs up and hugs me, but flies back instantly.

"Whats that?" He points to the two wiggling bulges in my shirt.

Misty slaps him upside the head.

"ASH KETCHUM! You NEVER ask a lady what is in her shirt!" Misty says angrily.

"No, no! Misty, I have a surprise." I slowly lift my shirt, and Ash quickly turns away, face red.

Sniffling, I grab the two chicks out and show them to the two kids.

"Wow... Hoothoots!" Misty strokes them gently.

"Whoa..." Ash softly pats one.

"But... Noctowl..." Misty starts, Ash turning to face me.

I just shake my head, and start walking back to Pewter.

I hear Misty sob behind me, and Ash follows suite.

We make it back to the hospital in a short amount of time, where Officer Jenny is waiting, arms crossed.

She stomps towards us.

"You kids are in serious trouble! Interfering with an official police search!" She waggles her finger at me, and behind her I can see Dad and Hilary watching the proceedings.

"We didn't interfere with anything." I say calmly.

"Oh yeah? You left to find a pokemon that the POLICE were out to find." She growls.

"And we found her. The body is by the huge pine tree in route 2." I push past the now bewildered officer.

"Honey... I'm so sorry..." I push past dad as well, and head straight for reception.

"Excuse me miss, but we-" The receptionist starts, but I cut her off.

"Take these chicks, and get them checked out. Then, have them put in my room, 332K. Got it?" I gently pass the two chicks to the confused woman, who takes them back to a waiting Nurse Joy.

I take off down the hall way again, and dad stops me.

"Serena! What are-"

"Make sure Ash and Misty get their stuff, their sleeping in my room tonight. I have something I need to do, don't worry."

I smile, and after a couple seconds, he nods, and walks back to the two sobbing children.

I make my way to the gift shop, and walk right up to the cashier.

"Welcome to the Pewter City Hospital Gift Center! How can I help you?"

"Two PokeBalls, please."

Authors Note;

DX Poor Noctowl! But, now Serena has some new friends! Maybe they will become important for something? Something mentioned in an earlier chapter? 'Hoo' knows? Haha! Anyways, y'all know the dril! If you see something you think would be a great addition,
or someONE, review, let me know! I want your input! See y'all later!

~Austin