Ch. 15: A Pokémon's Worse Enemy is Themselves

Everybody turned their heads because everyone knew that voice all too well. There stood Wool from Team Demolition looking exhausted, barely able to stand on two legs. In her hands was Kate, a light heartbeat sounded from her.

"What happened?" –Bolt, he could always see past things like what a Pokémon did. If the Pokémon helped him or his friends, that's all he cared about.

"When I saw her at the base of the volcano, I knew something was wrong. When I was bringing her pack, I couldn't stop her from getting poisoned." That got me moving, she wouldn't last long without treatment.

"Did you give her anything?" It seemed like Wool was poisoned herself since she was now kneeling.

"I gave her some Pecha juice, and I had a berry myself, but they were small and tasteless. Kate has a fever already, I have one too." The only way you can tell if a Pokémon with fur has a fever is by touching its nose. Only a Pokémon with a medicine background round would know that.

"Yukio, help Wool." I grabbed Kate and headed to the First Aide Center.

"But she's an outlaw!" This was no time for that, they needed help soon.

"Outlaw or not, I can't turn away a Pokémon in need."

-N-

Wool's POV

Herupa was nice to give me treatment but I couldn't blame Yukio for reacting like that. I'm not exactly the most liked Pokémon. It wasn't an easy life living as an outlaw; you ate what you could get. Survival of the fittest, it was the way it had to be.

Herupa was bringing us to the ECU, or Emergency Care Unit. We, Kate and I, were confined to giant bubbles. The two of us were in a separate room away from the other patients because that's how bad of a condition we were in. To start off recovery, I was given a green paste in a wooden bowl.

"Are these mashed up Cheri leaves?" I had sniffed them warily. "Why not add a Rabuta berry and some juicy berries?" I said it without thinking.

"Good idea!" Herupa hastily grabbed the bowl and left the room. That was just perfect, now she suspects me. What else could go wrong?

-N-

Days turned into weeks which became months. Kate still didn't wake up and I wasn't getting any better. Sometimes, I slept through the day but most, however, I couldn't get any sleep. I missed being outside and feeling the sun on my face.

"Hey Wool, has Kate woken up yet?" The saddest part was that whenever somebody visited Kate, they acted like I didn't exist. The only exception was Bolt who, every now and then, started up a conversation with me.

"Not yet." He'd always come and ask that very same question and gave the very same reaction. His ears went down, he stared at his feet, and his cheeks went redder than usual.

"I get the feeling that somebody likes Kate a lot."

My theory proved correct when he went even redder. I wanted to say that for a while. It was like he thought Kate would wake any second so he wouldn't come in until I tell him to do so. Sometimes I caught him sneaking glances to his partner whenever we talked.

"No, it's just that, um…" There he goes trying to deny his feelings. How cute!

"The more you deny it, the more I know it's true." He then shook off the blush and proceeded to change the subject.

"How's life in there?" He was obviously referring to being in a bubble. He knew that I couldn't leave it, as much as I wanted to. It wasn't fair that I couldn't go outside!

"Boring," I said flatly. It was true, the days went on uneventful. There was nothing to do but sit down and wait to get better. I wanted to see how Hideki had changed since I was little.

"I heard rumors that the sentencing would be soon." Saving one life wasn't enough for the many I ruined. I was either going to be banished, locked up for the rest of my life, or… I don't even know.

"Bye Wool and good luck."

"Thanks, I'll need it." What will happen that day? Will I be sent to my doom? Or will I be behind bars? I kept thinking the worse will happen and I wouldn't be seen again. I think there was too much fresh air in this bubble because I was slowly going mad…

-N-

?'s POV

The smell of food woke me up. I nearly freaked out when I saw I was in a bubble. That's when it hit me like Cupid's love mallet: I had fallen over the cliff of the volcano! I quickly snapped out of my thoughts when an Oran berry rolled right into face.

I realized how hungry I was, I ate it in a few bites. I then noticed that a Pecha, Belue, Cheri, and a Nanab berry were tossed into the bubble I was in. They were gone within seconds as I gulped them down.

"What the-? I know I threw some berries in there." I slightly shifted, I had stayed in my curled-up position but I used my tail to get each and every berry. I decided to lift my head since I knew that voice.

"Wool, where are we?" I guess she was surprised since she just stared at me. I knew the plan had failed since we were here, wherever here was.

"The First Aide Center, I brought you here when I found you." She must have risked a lot to come back to Hideki. Something dawned on me.

"How long have I been asleep?"

"Two months, everyone has been worried sick about you." That long. "Herupa was the one to put us in these bubbles."

"Wow… I heard of your own personal bubble but this is ridiculous." I caught a small hint of a smile from the corners of her lips.

"It's late so you might as well get some more sleep." She did have a point so I curled up again and closed my eyes. Sleep came to me easier than I thought.

-N-

Wool's POV

"Hey Herupa, how are you?" What could I gain from being grumpy? I'd only make things worse. It's bad enough that my life rests in the hands of Deputy Arcanine. He is a nice guy and all, but his punishments can be harsh.

"I'm fine." She then gave me a bowl of fruit, just like last night. I then got an idea. Instead of telling her Kate woke up, I'll show her.

"You won't want to miss this!" I held up an apple and I threw it into Kate's bubble. Herupa was just confused until the little Minccino pounced at the food.

"You're awake!"

"I threw in some food and that's what woke her."

"I guess I can settle her in Recovery, since tomorrow's that day." I knew exactly what she was referring to, my fate would be decicded.

/\-o-/\

The next day…

I stood before Deputy Arcanine, my paws tied together and a metallic band on my ankle. Everyone from Hideki was here to hear the decision of what would happen to me. Of course, most of them don't know the whole truth.

"It is decided that-" He didn't get to finish, a gigantic Pidgeot had swooped down and it grabbed me.

"Let me go!" I was not going to give up without a fight. I kept struggling until it let me go, literally. As soon as I got up, electricity coursed through my body. Great! Someone was planning I would escape!

"I'm not trusted enough to do my punishment." I then heard a high-pitched squeal. It sounded like a Pokémon was hurt, and bad. I raced through the trees, only stopping when I was hit with another surge of electricity.

"Help me!" I arrived at the bank of the Mist River. There lay a small Bidoof with burn marks and deep scratches on his back. He squeaked the cry as soon as I came from the undergrowth. I picked the little guy up and began my trek through the forest.

^-/\-^

Kate's POV

Deputy Arcanine's plan is to see if Wool would come back given the opportunity to escape but why did he have to put a shock anklet on her. It's just too cruel to do that! Now, I was just outside Hideki seeing if Wool would return. It had been two days since the Pidgeot came and Exploration teams were being sent to hunt her down.

"Kate, is that you?" I turned around to see the Pokémon I was looking. I got a sense of déjà vu when I saw a brown lump on a blue blanket in her arms. When I looked closer, it was a Bidoof…

-N-N-^-/\-^

Ello peoplez, I didn't get the chance to update again but better late than never! I'm going to try to update by Monday! Don't worry; new characters are going to appear! I can't wait to finish this story!

On the next chapter: "Wh-What?" The Hiroshi Fighters are going to Hideki? This is bad; very, very bad!"

*Note- The beginning of the chapter may sound mean, which is out-of-character for Herupa, she's supposed sound surprised/shocked.

Disclaimer: *clears throat* I don't own Pokémon in any way, shape, or form; nor will I ever own it.

R&R! :D