CHAPTER 13: To Mt. Moon!
"Serena?"
"Serena, baby. Please wake up."
I hear a strangely familiar voice, and internally sigh before i open my eyes.
"Baby!" Dad hugs me, and i can feel his tears against my neck.
"Hey dad..." I whisper, and my voice is just a hoarse hiss.
"Oh, baby girl... What did you go and get yourself into this time?" He whispers, and i chuckle.
"If it makes you feel any better, i FEEL great." I cough, and he hands me a glass of water, which i gladly consume.
He chuckles, taking the empty glass from my hands, "I FEEL like you need to stop hurting yourself!" He exclaims, laughing now.
"Hey! That's not fair! I just went for a swim!" This causes both of us to laugh, and i hear someone enter the room behind dad.
"Thank god your awake." Hilary and Brock come and sit beside me, on the other side from dad.
"Before you say anything, i had already called dad by the time you told me not to!" Hilary quickly spits out, and i huff.
"Why wouldnt you call me?!" He looks hurt.
"I just didnt want you to worry! It was just a cold!" i say, and Brock shakes his head.
"Just a cold? Serena, you suffered hypothermia, basic pneumonia, and a concussion from holding your breath for so long!" He scolds, and my dad nods.
"Thank you, Brock! You see, Ser bear? You have to be more careful, or..." He trails off, but i pursue the answer.
"Or what, Dad?" I ask, and he shakes his head.
"OR WHAT?!"
"Or your coming back home, and never going on an adventure again."
My heart stops.
"What?"
"If you end up in another hospital again, you're coming home, to work for me at the Safari Zone."
"No. I cant! I wont!" I gasp, suddenly at a loss of breath and words.
"I'm sorry, Serena, but i will do whatever i have to to keep you safe and sound. I lost your mother, i cant lose you to." I turn away at that, but i can hear the tears in his voice.
I try to stand up, but they all push me back down.
"Not yet, hun." But i push against them, and finally win, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"I need to see my pokemon, and that egg." I stand, wobbly at first, and slowly make my way to the reception desk, where Nurse Joy stares at me incredulously.
"Ma'am, you cant be up!" She scolds, but i wave her off.
"Wheres the egg? Is it okay?"
"Ma'am, you really cant be-"
"IS THE EGG OKAY?!" I thunder, and she gulps, pointing at a door behind her.
"Thank you!" I sigh, wobbling into the room, Dad, Brock & Hilary behind me.
Inside the room, the Egg is in a large machine, and is encased in glass. Around the machine, Ash and Misty are soundly sleeping on couches, and all four of my birds are huddled in a corner, keeping warm.
They instantly perk up when they see me, squawking and hooting, all coming to hug me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Dad's awkward glance, that soon turns to amazement.
"Are they... all yours?" He asks quietly, and i nod.
"Belle, Bane, and Ace! This here is my father!" I point over to him, and all four birds tweet and chirp as they hop over to him, nuzzling his legs.
"H-hey everyone!" He leans down and pets them all, while i head over to the machine.
I gently sit down beside Misty, and brush the hair out of her face, smiling.
"Thank you." I whisper, before heading over to the machine.
"The egg is healthy now, thanks to you. If it had stayed any longer in those temperatures..." Nurse Joy says quietly behind me.
"As long as its healthy now, i can leave happy." I sigh, turning around, but Nurse Joy stops me.
"You cant leave the egg here!" She exclaims, and now its my turn to look confused.
"Well, i cant take care of an egg!" I almost shout, and i hear the two kids stir.
"If you leave it here, the egg becomes open property to any trainer that comes to claim it." Nurse Joys whimpers, stepping back.
I go to say something else, but Hilary cuts in.
"I'll take it! I'll take care of the egg." She tells the Nurse, who sighs in relief.
"Awesome. Now, if you all dont mind, I am going to get changed, so we can get started on Mt. Moon."
Before anyone can stop me, i shakily dart past them, and head to my room.
After changing, i look at the clock.
8:48AM.
Perfect.
I grab my bag and head to the lobby, where Dad is waiting.
"Where is everyone?" I ask, and he points to the door.
"Waiting outside. But Serena, before you go, i have something i need to tell you..."
I brace myself, expecting the worse.
"... I am SO proud of you, for rescuing those chicks, raising them as your own. For rescuing that Egg, when it was in dire need. For beating your first gym! You are such a remarkable young woman, and..."
The tears are rolling down my cheeks well before he finishes his sentence.
"... your mother would be so proud of you, Ser bear. SO proud." He embraces me, and cries into my shoulder, as do I on him.
I get myself under control, and step back.
"I'll make you proud, dad. I'll beat the gyms, the Elite four, and even the Champion! Just you wait." I hug him tightly once more, then head outside, before i can cry again.
"Wheres dad?" Hilary asks as i walk past them, haeding for the entrance of Mt. Moon.
"He had to use the video-phones." I lie, and plunge into the cave entrance.
Brock stops us all a ways in, and asks us some questions.
"Okay y'all, there's two ways this could go. One, i show you the quickest way through, which would honestly have us out by tonight. Or, two! I follow, and let you guys discover everything for yourselves."
He takes a tally of hands.
Option One; Me.
Option Two; Hilary, Ash, and Misty.
Sighing in defeat, i follow the excited kids as they throw themselves into the darkness.
Authors Note:
Hey everyone! So sorry i havent been active in the last... like... year... (Shamefully slaps wrist) But im back! I hope everyones enjoying the content so far, and im sorry for the short chapter! I wanted Mt. Moon to be it's own chapter or two, and have it be a third training montage, if you will. Anyways! Thanks for reading, and be sure to leave a review, tell me how i've done. Favorite, Follow, and please please please continue reading!
Thank you guys!
Austin