When I arrive at the hospital, I suddenly encounter Dr. Acutus who is in a hurry. "Where are you heading doc?" I ask.
"I'm going to do something important." He quickly replies. "No time to talk. If you're here to visit Dawn, she's at room 7, 2nd floor."
I didn't have the chance to say thanks. He's too fast. Anyhow. I go up the stairs and to my surprise, Dawn's already at a wheelchair, preparing for checkout. I guess the medical staff decided to release her early.
"Eight!" She happily screams. "I'm so glad that you're here!"
"Hey there Dawn." I reply and hug her. "So are you okay now? It seems that you're ready to leave this place."
"Yeah, I think so." She replies. "The doctors here are really great! They managed to put myself back together again. But my legs are still bad. I can't really feel them. They said it would heal after 7 months when the nerves are already connected to my feet."
"7 months?" I ask. "That's a long time. Are you going to be alright with that wheelchair hanging around?"
"Yes I'll be fine." She replies positively. "Don't worry! It is kind of fun just sitting all the time, as long as my butt doesn't hurt. * Chuckles *"
"* Laughs * So, are you going home now?" I ask.
Suddenly, her joyful tone goes down. "Actually, I have no place to stay. Because of what happened yesterday, my place is fully trashed. And I don't have the extra money to fix it up."
"How about you stay at my home?" I offer. "While you're still not able to walk, I can take care of you until you get better. And I can call the Gurdurrs to fix your house. What do you say?"
"REALLY? She replies with a wide smile. "Oh thank you Eight! Thank you! Thank you so much!"
"Don't mention it!" I say. "But… on one condition."
"Sure! What is it then?" she replies.
"Make me bread sticks." I order then laugh.
She chuckles and willingly agrees. I then ask her if she's ready to go home.
"Can we pass by to my house?" she asks. "I want to see if there are some goods there that can be salvaged. I don't want it to put into waste."
I nod. I first cover my hand with bandages after what happened earlier then we advance to the checkout counter, and the staff escort us to the infirmary's garage for a ride back to Dawn's residence. It's nice that whenever a person who has fully recovered at the hospital gets a free ride back to their house.
We arrive at Dawn's place. It's still as messy as yesterday. I see Dawn crying gently over the loss of her once pink home turned red.
"I'll scan the area to see if there are still stuff that we can use." I say. I examine the area, there are a lot of things that I manage to save – canned beef, pasta, frozen fish, among others. While I'm grabbing the goods, I find this beautiful, shining pendant buried deep into the broken wood. The pendant is colored silver and circular in shape with a half red, half green gem in the center, and a little extension bay at the bottom. The chain is broken though. I assume that this is Dawn's but dropped it when the attack happened. But I've never seen her wearing this before. Must've been someone else.
"Oh Arceus you found it!" screams Dawn. "That's the lucky pendant I've always been wearing under my dress. It serves as my good luck charm."
"Really? I reply – yes it was indeed hers – with a bulky look. "Where did you get this?"
"It was a gift from my mom back when I was a Petilil." She answers with a low tone. "She said that the gem in the middle symbolizes life that never ends, but is surrounded by the truths of man and physical matter that's why it's invisible from the world. She even told me a story about it, in which the pendant belonged to a poor man with no family. An angel gave it to her so that he could go to any time stream and the day will just repeat itself. But he abused that power, that's why the angels killed him and buried his body deep into Mount Rex, along with the gem. The lava surrounded the jewel. And someone found the precious rock, carved it into a pendant like it is now. I don't know if it's true. It's just a legend after all, and it doesn't seem so realistic to me."
That is actually an interesting story. Compared to the story my dad told me just to make me run under the covers. He said that when I stay in a shadow for too long, it would cover up my entire body and leave the skeleton out. It still haunts me to this day though. But it only creeps me out, unlike when I was a Ralts.
"Would you like to have it?" she asks.
"Oh no I wouldn't." I reply. "That's your most treasured memento. I couldn't possibly take that."
"But I insist!" she says lively. "After what you've done for me – save, gave. It's the least I can do to thank you!" She moves to her counter, grabs a silver chain and installs it on the pendant.
"Can you kneel for me?" she humbly asks. "I can't reach your head 'cause you're tall and I can't stand up. * Giggle *"
I kneel, like bowing to a royal. She then fastens the pendant chain around my neck and polishes the gem until it glows. She then kisses me on the forehead. "Someday, you'll be the bravest man in the entire world."
I shed a tear. Because those are the exact words my mom said to me when I was beaten up by school bullies. I don't know how to fight back then. I cried a lot, and no one's there to comfort me until my mother arrived to pick me up.
I hug her. "Thank you, so much" I say. I wipe out the manly tears off of my eyes and ask Dawn if we can go home now. She agrees, and then we leave her damaged shop. I proceed to walk to my apartment while pushing her wheelchair. When we arrive, she makes lunch – even handicapped, she can still cook – for the both of us. Steamed fish with baked potatoes. I've never eaten this fancy in ages! I always stick to food that are instant but high in protein and minerals. It's not really that good but hey, what's inside is important. As I finish my meal, I check the time. And… it's 1:30. Darn it! I'm always late! I wash my face since I don't have time to take a shower. Brush my teeth and suit up my signature clothing.
"Are you going to be alright here Dawn?" I ask.
"Oh yes Eight, don't worry. I'll be fine. Go now. You wouldn't want to be severely tardy." She replies.
I nod and say goodbye to her. I didn't bring any cash with me so I decide to run. Run like heck! The precinct's not really that far from my home. Maybe if I run faster, 20 minutes and I'll be there! I run and I run with no pit stops until I finally make it to the entrance. I rest for a bit, letting the air in and out – I feel that the clothes under my jacket are soaking wet – and go inside. A pair of Lucarios suddenly aim their lances at me! I freeze because one little slip could mean the end of my life. Then, the unexpected happens. Between the royal guards is King Regius! He turns around.
"Vadat." He says in a deep voice. "Ego autem novi eum."
The Lucarios pull down their lances. And I quickly bow to the royal King of Regalle.
"Sero. Descende ad locum conventus nunc. Xeva te exspectat." He says then goes to the station's training room. I wonder what he's going to do there. The King speaks Latin. He does understand English – like every Latin-speaking people in the kingdom – but can't speak. Just like every English-speaking people in the country, including me, understands Latin but can't speak.
I proceed to the briefing room. The usher sees my arrival and guides me to my seat, which is next to Xeva.
"Where have you been?" she says angrily. "You missed the opening!"
"The opening is pretty boring." I answer. "I was at home doing something important."
"Boring but needed for your knowledge!" she replies vigorously. "Anyways, enough chitchat. Just listen to the commentator. The head of the royal guards will present soon."
The leader of the most powerful force in the country is General Vindicto Incido. He's a Cobalion and he's in a tan-colored polo shirt with the emblem of the Regii Satellites – a star with the island of Regalle in the middle – everyone in the police force respect him. He's pretty noble, and will try to kill anyone who stands in his way. He will begin soon. I wonder what will he say to us. I hope he didn't see me arriving late… maybe if he did, I guess the punishment would be more excruciating than that of Xeva.