AN: Sorry the last chapter was so short, but I wasn't sure what to write. They'll get longer once the story picks up though, promise. And for everyone's pokémon, it'll just be based on my own pokémon so don't freak out.
"Get your lazy ass up Black. You've been like this for three days already." Reuniclus hovered over Black, who was lying in bed and rolled over on his side. He had been like this since he'd woken up to find that N was gone. Black refused to see anyone, especially Cheren and Bianca. They had come to visit him the day before, but Black had remained still, completely devoid of any emotion and unaffected by his surrounding environment. He just kept quiet and stared off into space with a painfully blank expression. The pair had finally left him to wallow in his own crushing misery.
His pokémon had been trying to get through to the heartbroken boy, but hadn't quite gotten through to him yet. Reuniclus shook Black by the shoulder, but the only response from him was to turn the other way. This made the pokémon sigh and float beside his partner's head.
"I miss him too Black. Hell, we all do." Reuniclus saw Black slightly stir at the mention of the older man. "But N is gone, and I highly doubt he's going to come back. There's not much you can do now, though, so get up, shower, and just freakin' take care of yourself, please." Black was now facing Reuniclus fully now. "Black?" the teen sat up and swung his legs over the edge of his mattress. His eyes were focused solely on the ground, but it still gave Reuniclus hope. Slowly, Black looked up at his pokémon.
"Sorry for making you guy worry." Reuniclus sighed in relief and smiled, snuggling close to Black.
"It's ok; just don't give us anymore reasons to worry, though." Black returned the embrace, smiling smallishly. "Now go take a shower; you stink." Black giggled a bit and nodded, getting everything gathered for his shower. Samurott was just getting out of the bathtub when Black entered the bathroom and was shocked to see the human upand about.
"I see Rei got you to finally come to your senses." Black nodded and smiled shyly at the water-type. "Good. Go eat something after you're finished, you're way too skinny." leave to his pokémon to lecture him like they were his parents. But their concern warmed him from the inside out; it was a good distraction from the hole in hischest.
The hot water hit against his back in a nice spray, washing away the filth that had accumulated over the past few days. He hadn't realized just how dirty he was until the dirt and grease were no longer present on his body. After washing up, Black sat down on theshower floor, soaking up the warmth. Ever since N had left, he had perpetually felt cold; nothing could make him warm. "N," he thought. How was the other doing? He was supposed to have already started working at the Pokémon Research & Rescue facility located in Johto, were the old Safari Zone used to be. After much consideration, the Safari Zone had been closed and was turned into a Poképark for many different species of pokémon that had ended up there for various reasons. It was supposed to be a sanctuary of a sort, but also provided scientists with the many available species to study. Black sighed and brought his knees to his chest, hugging them close. He didn't want to think about N, but he couldn't help it.
The older male was probably better off without him anyway. He would be able to do what he loved most now; care for pokémon. Black liked to think that maybe, if he had gone after N that day, then perhaps he could have convinced N to stay. Or he could have gone with him. He could have gone with him! Why hadn't he have done that before? He sighed, turning off the water and stepping out of the tub. He dried off and dressed, sitting on the counter afterward. The thought circled around in his mind: maybe he should have gone to Johto with N instead of moping in bed.
Black jumped off the counter and ran outside where all of his pokémon were gathered. They turned to look at him and were instantly taken aback; there was a light in Black's eyes that had been missing for the past three days. "Black, what's going on?" Zekrom asked. Just an hour or so ago, he had been depressed beyond all hope, but now hewas exuding sunlight and hope.
"Get ready, 'cause we're going to Johto." they all turned to look at one another and then back to Black and yelled in happiness. Black was hopelessly hopeful, but maybe his not-so-well-thought-out plan would work. He desperately wished it would.