CHAPTER 30: Hard Decisions...
"Serena?"
"Serena, wake up..."
I hear a voice that i recognize, and slowly open my eyes...
Hilary.
She's sitting on the edge of the hospital bed i'm currently inhabiting.
"Hey." I croak, my voice strained and cracked.
"When I said i got into a gang fight, I didn't expect you to go take that gang on!" She laughs, and i chuckle.
I feel the bandages wrapped snug against my throat, and see Ace on a small bed in the corner, his wing in a cast, sleeping.
"Is he okay?" I ask, and she shakes her head.
"The way the wing was broke, Ace will probably..." She stops, but i nudge her leg.
"He won't fly again." She turns away, as my eyes tear up.
"What? No... It cant... He wont..."
"He already knows, Ser. The doctors did everything they could, but the damage was done."
"What happened?" I croak, and She moves to the chair beside the bed.
After i had passed out due to blood loss, Giovanni had escaped during the mayhem as the police arrived. His Kangaskhan was determined comatose on the scene, and is currently in extensive care. The girl grunt that had the bee minions was determined dead at the scene, but since she was a wanted criminal, there were no reprimands for her death. Every single pokemon that was stolen now resides in the PokeCenter, where they are busy reading the Trainer Marks on the balls, and sending them back to their respective owners. Mimie was found locked up in a room, and returned to a very relieved Delia, who had went back home. Gardenia was treated for a head injury, but is otherwise unharmed.
"Wow." I say, leaning back to take it all in.
In answer, she hands me a water bottle, which i gratefully take and guzzle down.
"So, how long have i been out?" I ask, and Hilary's eyes go wide.
"Um..."
"What? You can tell me!"
"Serena, you've been out for... almost a week. Six days, today." My eyes go wide.
"A week? What happened?!"
"Your neck... you bled so much, Ser... they were able to revive you, but-"
"REVIVE ME?!"
"You... you..." She stutters, crying suddenly.
Before i can say anything, there is a light knock on the door, and Gardenia and Candice enter. Gardenia's head is wrapped in bandages, but she seems otherwise fine.
Candice takes Hilary, and gently leads her out of the room.
"Gar... I'm..." She stops me.
"Don't you DARE for a second think that any of this was your fault. We agreed, and I have to say, I had a great time!" She smiles brightly, and i laugh.
"So... Hilary mentioned something... about me..." She puts her hand on mine, and lays down beside me.
"By the time they got you... to the hospital..." She stops for a second, tears now streaming freely down her rosy cheeks as she continues.
"You... were declared... dead... on arrival. Your hear had stopped." She sobs quietly into my shoulder, and I hold her as she continues through her tears.
"But, some miracle doctor came in, and was able to get you up and running again. Your Dad... he..."
"What happened to Dad? Gardenia?" She sobs harder.
"He... had a... a..."
"Heart attack." I hear gently from the door, and see Brock and Misty.
"Is he okay?" I ask, sitting up.
"He's... sore. But otherwise, hes doing okay. The stress of everything just kinda... caught up with him." Misty smiles, tears in her eyes, and i gesture her over, hugging her tightly.
"I need to see him." Brock nods, grabbing me a wheelchair from somewhere in the hallway, and gently lifts me onto it.
He wheels me into the hallway, and past countless doe-eyed nurses and doctors, to the room.
"Serena, before we enter... there's something you need to know." Brock squats beside me, holding my hand.
"Your dad... after the heart attack, he... lost some... physical capability, so to speak. He now has a pretty heavy speech impediment." I nod, going to open the door, but he opens it for me.
I quietly wheel in, and see him.
Hes laying on the bed, and he looks to be asleep.
Brock wheels me in, and gently shuts the door.
At the sound of the door closing, Dad's eyes open slightly, but fly wide as he sees me.
"Serena!" He slurs, reaching for my hand.
"Oh, Dad..." I start to cry, but he wipes my tears and waggles his finger in front of me.
"No. You do NOT are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, and it breaks my heart to see you cry." I can barely make out what he is saying, but i think i got the gist of it.
"Okay, okay."
"I always told you girls you would give me a heart attack." He smiles, kissing my hand as i laugh through my tears.
The door opens behind me, and I hear Hilary's voice;
"You found him."
I lean into her as her arms as she wraps them around me.
"Has he made the heart attack joke yet?"
We all laugh and enjoy each others company.
Later, me, Gardenia, Candice, Brock, Misty, and Hilary are grabbing lunch in the hospital cafeteria.
"So, what's the plan?" Misty asks through a mouth full of food.
"What plan?" I ask, and Misty laughs.
"Celadon was the next stop in the gym circuit anyways, so now we are that much closer."
"What type?" Candice asks, and Gardenia smiles.
"Grass. Erika is the gym leader here, I trained with her a few months ago." She smiles brightly.
"That's exciting! Now, I don't know about you all, but my pokemon are DYING to get out of here!" Misty drawls, making us all laugh.
Gardenia pushes me back to my room, where i grab my pokeball belt and gently lift Ace, who has been going stir crazy these last few hours, and we head out to the hospital courtyard.
I release all of my pokemon, and they instantly mob me and Ace, kissing and hugging and chirping and hooting.
I flap them off, and they take off into the sky.
Beatrice sticks to my side, and Ace hops around, until Bane picks him up and deposits him in a low branch, where he relaxes significantly.
"What are you going to do about Ace?" Hilary asks quietly.
"I'm not sure. He can't battle." I sigh, and she nods.
:
CHAPTER 30: Hard Decisions...
"Serena?"
"Serena, wake up..."
I hear a voice that i recognize, and slowly open my eyes...
Hilary.
She's sitting on the edge of the hospital bed i'm currently inhabiting.
"Hey." I croak, my voice strained and cracked.
"When I said i got into a gang fight, I didn't expect you to go take that gang on!" She laughs, and i chuckle.
I feel the bandages wrapped snug against my throat, and see Ace on a small bed in the corner, his wing in a cast, sleeping.
"Is he okay?" I ask, and she shakes her head.
"The way the wing was broke, Ace will probably..." She stops, but i nudge her leg.
"He won't fly again. And, they had to add a lot of metal stabilizers into his bones just to get it to take the correct shape." She turns away, as my eyes tear up.
"What? No... It cant... He wont... They what..."
"He already knows, Ser. The doctors did everything they could, but the damage was done."
"What happened?" I croak, and She moves to the chair beside the bed.
After i had passed out due to blood loss, Giovanni had escaped during the mayhem as the police arrived. His Kangaskhan was determined comatose on the scene, and is currently in extensive care. The girl grunt that had the bee minions was determined dead at the scene, but since she was a wanted criminal, there were no reprimands for her death. Every single pokemon that was stolen now resides in the PokeCenter, where they are busy reading the Trainer Marks on the balls, and sending them back to their respective owners. Mimie was found locked up in a room, and returned to a very relieved Delia, who had went back home. Gardenia was treated for a head injury, but is otherwise unharmed.
"Wow." I say, leaning back to take it all in.
In answer, she hands me a water bottle, which i gratefully take and guzzle down.
"So, how long have i been out?" I ask, and Hilary's eyes go wide.
"Um..."
"What? You can tell me!"
"Serena, you've been out for... almost a week. Six days, today." My eyes go wide.
"A week? What happened?!"
"Your neck... you bled so much, Ser... they were able to revive you, but-"
"REVIVE ME?!"
"You... you..." She stutters, crying suddenly.
Before i can say anything, there is a light knock on the door, and Gardenia and Candice enter. Gardenia's head is wrapped in bandages, but she seems otherwise fine.
Candice takes Hilary, and gently leads her out of the room.
"Gar... I'm..." She stops me.
"Don't you DARE for a second think that any of this was your fault. We agreed, and I have to say, I had a great time!" She smiles brightly, and i laugh.
"So... Hilary mentioned something... about me..." She puts her hand on mine, and lays down beside me.
"By the time they got you... to the hospital..." She stops for a second, tears now streaming freely down her rosy cheeks as she continues.
"You... were declared... dead... on arrival. Your hear had stopped." She sobs quietly into my shoulder, and I hold her as she continues through her tears.
"But, some miracle doctor came in, and was able to get you up and running again. Your Dad... he..."
"What happened to Dad? Gardenia?" She sobs harder.
"He... had a... a..."
"Heart attack." I hear gently from the door, and see Brock and Misty.
"Is he okay?" I ask, sitting up.
"He's... sore. But otherwise, hes doing okay. The stress of everything just kinda... caught up with him." Misty smiles, tears in her eyes, and i gesture her over, hugging her tightly.
"I need to see him." Brock nods, grabbing me a wheelchair from somewhere in the hallway, and gently lifts me onto it.
He wheels me into the hallway, and past countless doe-eyed nurses and doctors, to the room.
"Serena, before we enter... there's something you need to know." Brock squats beside me, holding my hand.
"Your dad... after the heart attack, he... lost some... physical capability, so to speak. He now has a pretty heavy speech impediment." I nod, going to open the door, but he opens it for me.
I quietly wheel in, and see him.
Hes laying on the bed, and he looks to be asleep.
Brock wheels me in, and gently shuts the door.
At the sound of the door closing, Dad's eyes open slightly, but fly wide as he sees me.
"Serena!" He slurs, reaching for my hand.
"Oh, Dad..." I start to cry, but he wipes my tears and waggles his finger in front of me.
"No. You do NOT are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, and it breaks my heart to see you cry." I can barely make out what he is saying, but i think i got the gist of it.
"Okay, okay."
"I always told you girls you would give me a heart attack." He smiles, kissing my hand as i laugh through my tears.
The door opens behind me, and I hear Hilary's voice;
"You found him."
I lean into her as her arms as she wraps them around me.
"Has he made the heart attack joke yet?"
We all laugh and enjoy each others company.
Later, me, Gardenia, Candice, Brock, Misty, and Hilary are grabbing lunch in the hospital cafeteria.
"So, what's the plan?" Misty asks through a mouth full of food.
"What plan?" I ask, and Misty laughs.
"Celadon was the next stop in the gym circuit anyways, so now we are that much closer."
"What type?" Candice asks, and Gardenia smiles.
"Grass. Erika is the gym leader here, I trained with her a few months ago." She smiles brightly.
"That's exciting! Now, I don't know about you all, but my pokemon are DYING to get out of here!" Misty drawls, making us all laugh.
Gardenia pushes me back to my room, where i grab my pokeball belt and gently lift Ace, who has been going stir crazy these last few hours, and we head out to the hospital courtyard.
I release all of my pokemon, and they instantly mob me and Ace, kissing and hugging and chirping and hooting.
I flap them off, and they take off into the sky.
"What are you planning on doing with Ace?" Hilary asks me quietly.
Sighing, I shake my head.
"I don't know, honestly. He can't battle or fly anymore." I feel the tears in my eyes as they well up.
"Serena, why don't you send him with Dad?" I turn to face her fully, eye's wide.
"Nor release him! Just... let Dad take him back home. Mom's pokemon are there, Kally could take care of him."
I nod.
"It's a solid plan, but I will ask him what he wants." She nods, and i wheel myself over to the tree where Ace is resting.
He chirps happily as i approach, and i sit myself right under him.
"Hey, hun."
His eyes go soft at the tone of my voice, and he carefully hops down, landing in my lap gently.
"So, you have heard about... your wing." He nods solemnly.
"I have a question for you, Ace." I stroke his back feathers, as he quietly coos.
"How would you like to... go stay with Dad for awhile?" His eyes go sad, but he nods.
"It's not permanent! Just until your wing heals! I promise!" I'm in tears now, and he just leans his head against my chest, and cries softly.
I kiss his forehead as many memories flood back to me...
"I'm going to catch it, kid, so stay out of my way!" I step onto the stump, as Ash watches in awe.
"Whoa… okay! Go ahead and I'll watch!" He rests his elbows on the stump, staring in admiration at the flying type trainer.
"Alto, come out!" I release Alto from his pokeball, and he silently and gracefully lands on my shoulder. "See that… Pidgey?" I point down the road at the small figure.
"Grrr!" Alto growls, nodding.
"We are going to catch it! Are you ready?" I ask, and he nods again.
"Alright then! Alto, use Round!" I shout, running at the small bird pokemon.
Alto sings a loud song, and the sound waves hit the startled Pidgey head on, throwing it back a couple feet. It stops its self, then flies up slightly and sends a wave of sand at Alto.
"Dodge, then use Peck!" Alto flies around the mini sandstorm, then flies into the Pidgey beak first, throwing it back some more.
"Alright, now! Use Sing!" Alto sings sweetly to the damaged Pidgey, putting it sound asleep.
"Now, go! Pokeball!" I throw the empty pokeball at the sleeping bird pokemon, and it gets enveloped by a red light. The pokeball starts to shake… 1 time… 2 times… 3 times…
… DING! It seals, signifying the capture!
"YES! I CAUGHT A PIDGEY!" I scoop the pokeball, now holding a Pidgey, and start dancing around.
"Hey Hills! Hey Alto! Wheres Ace?" i look around her, but i cant see him.
"Well... hes..."
"HILARY!" i growl, but she laughs and points behind me, and i whip around...
To be thrown back in a whirlwind of feathers.
"Ace!?" I hold the ecstatic bird in front of me... and see that hes evolved!
"ACE!" I hug him, dancing around, and he squawks happily, nuzzling my cheek.
Finally letting him go, i launch onto Hilary.
"HILLS THANKYOUSOMUCH!" I sob, happy tears cascading freely down my face.
"Its no big deal sis! Ace and Alto did all of the hard work, not me!" Laughing, she kisses my hair.
"Alto! Go, Ace!" Alto flies back onto the field, as Ace appears in a flash of red.
Brock gestures towards me.
Before i can say anything though, Ace happens to see the chicks, who are all battered and bruised, but now awake, and attentive.
He looks at the chicks, then turns to the Onix, who makes the mistake of grinning back at him.
Before i can stop him, Ace sends a huge whirlwind of static purple energy at the rock snake, causing him to be pushed back, right to the edge of the platform.
I cry into the colourful feathers atop his head, and he cries into my shoulder.
After a couple minutes, he slowly detaches himself, and nods again.
"Ace... I'm so sorry..." I cry quietly, but he kisses my cheek, chirping.
I let him go, and he waddles over to where the rest of my pokemon are waiting, and they all envelop him in a group hug, chirping quietly.
I quietly wheel myself back into the hospital, waving off the others offers to help, and make my way to Dad's room.
I gently knock, and he says something I can't quite make out through the door, so i enter.
I wheel in, and move beside his bed.
"Dad... I have a favour to ask..."
"Anything for you, Serena. Anything." He slurs quietly.
"Well... Ace..." I have to stop and compose myself, but his eyes go soft as he kisses my hand.
"I am so sorry, baby girl. You have had such a tough run so far." He makes out, and i nod, before continuing.
"I wanted to ask... if you... would mind taking Ace back home with you? He needs to rest and get his strength back, and i feel that your-"
"Of course, baby. Of course." He shushes me, kissing my hand again.
"Thank you. It means a lot." He nods, as a doctor walks in.
"Hey Gerald! Hows it going?" The doctor laughs as Dad tells him, "My tickers taken a hit, doc."
I'm sure that isn't the first OR last time the doctor has heard that one.
I head out as the doctor runs some tests, and head back to the courtyard.
I wheel in, and see the most amazing thing.
"Ace!" I squeal as i wheel out.
"Oh, Serena! You just missed it!" Gardenia says, but i ignore her as i throw myself at the newly evolved Pidgeot.