Week Fifteen
A New Adventure
By: Warrior Seadra
Disclaimer: I do not own pokemon.
Adrian yawns as he stretches his arms to the sky. He leans on the fishing boat's railing while taking in the small island before him.
"Guess I'll search for the karate master next week." Adrian grins. He stretches his neck, remembering professor Oak's phone call.
"Hello, Adrian." Professor Oak's voice comes through the poke-gear.
"Hello Professor, are you well?"
"Yes, thank you. I have a question, you're given an extended break for the foundation of the pokemon league, correct?"
"Yes, Friday, Monday, and Tuesday are holiday for us students. Why?"
"Then, I need you to investigate the Seafoam Islands for me. A legendary pokemon known as Articuno resides there and with all that's happening, I'm concerned about its well being. Can you look into this matter?"
"Of course. You can count on me, Professor."
"Just remember, be careful."
"Hey, kid." The captain calls, breaking Adrian from his memory. "Get ready, we'll be reaching the islands soon."
"Thanks." Adrian shouts back.
…..
"Kabuto," Adrian cries, recalling his pokemon into her pokeball. He glares at the Golduck before him. He tosses a pokeball into the air while shouting, "Sky attack!"
Fearow emerges in flash of light and dives at Golduck. The duck pokemon's forehead crystal glows as it lunges forward with a headbutt.
"Drill peck!" Adrian cries out.
Fearow's thrusts his spinning beak forward. The tip jabs against Golduck's forehead crystal and blows the pokemon into a stream of water.
Adrian runs his flash-light over the water in search of the duck pokemon. The pokemon does not resurface.
"Guess it ran away." Adrian sighs, relaxing his guard. "But the pokemon here are intense. Do all strong pokemon give off pressure like that?"
Adrian recalls the wild magmar from the burnt tower and his helplessness before them.
"Idiot." He mumbles, shaking the image from his head. He looks to Kabuto's pokeball and apologises, "Sorry, just rest up for now and get better."
Kabuto's nod from within the pokeball satisfies Adrian and he puts the pokeball on his belt. He continues walking down the tunnel while talking to himself, "Twenty minutes and already a pokemon down. Maybe I should just ignore the treasures." Adrian pulls an electric stone with a lightning bolt engraving from his pocket. He places the stone in his backpack while recalling how the golduck appeared soon after picking it up.
Adrian encounters a ladder and climbs down to a lower level. Midway down the ladder, he hears the echoes of a battle and shuts off his flashlight. In darkness, Adrian reaches the floor.
Keeping a hand on the wall, Adrian slides a foot forward. Adrian then transfers his weight to the foot, completing his step. Slowly, he makes his way towards the battle. He strains his ears for any slight sounds, either from pokemon or running water.
The path gradually lightens as the battle gets louder.
"Don't give up, Charmeleon." Adrian hears a male cheer.
"That's enough, Butterfree!" A girl's familiar voice cries out, "You're turn, Vulpix!"
Adrian lowers himself to the ground and crawls towards the battle. He peaks his head from the middle of some rubble and sees Caitlin calling out her new pokemon from the previous day's recognition ceremony. She battles alongside a boy against some wild pokemon.
'Must be that trainer friend she's been mentioning.' Adrian concludes as he crawls away. Upon turning a corner, Adrian rises to his feet while turning on his flashlight. Hearing them battle brings up memories of his travels with Duck. 'But he was busy this weekend.'
"Aww, fuzz!" The boy's piercing complaint echoes through the cavern.
A chill runs down Adrian's spine as he feels stabbing stares from all directions. He dashes down the corridor while grabbing two pokeballs from his belt.
'They're too close.' Adrian fears for his secret as he's being chased by the pokemon. Sprinting down the tunnel, he comes to an opening. Finding the small clearing surrounded by water, Adrian stomps his foot into the ground and forces himself to a stop.
"Ok then." Adrian sighs. He faces the tunnel and two lights flash from his pokeballs. Adrian focuses his attention on the approaching pokemon and says, "Haunter hypnosis. Bell, sleep powder."
"Haun haunter."
"Weepingbell."
The two pokemon respond, beginning their attacks.
Adrian patiently watches various pokemon pile up at the tunnel's entrance. Not one making more than five steps from the opening. Finally, the pokemon stop appearing.
"Haun..." "Bell..." The two pokemon pant upon ending their attacks.
Adrian takes a cautious step towards the sleeping pokemon. He shines his light through the tunnel, but receives no response. All Adrian hears is the soft breathing of sleeping pokemon.
"Good job, guys." Adrian says, turning to his pokemon. He rubs them and pulls out their pokeballs. "Rest up fo-"
The two pokemon are blasted away with a torrent of water.
"Gyaaaaaaa!" A pokemon roars. Arctic water sprays Adrian as the pokemon breaches the surface.
"Dratini!" Adrian throws a pokeball into the water as his light reveals a gyarados. "Protect!"
As a ball of fire crashes against Dratini's technique, Adrian turns to Haunter and Weepingbell. He calls them back into his pokeballs and turns to see gyarados charging.
"Ice beam!" Adrian cries.
Dratini fires a beam, encasing Gyarados with a coating of ice.
"Good going, Dratinit!" Adrian says walking up to the shore. He looks to Haunter and Weepingbell within their pokeballs.
"Rest up, Haunter." The trainer says to his fainted pokemon. To the unharmed Weepingbell, he apologises. "Sorry, Bell, but I'll be needing to count on you some more."
Weepingbell nods his head in response.
Adrian smiles as he places the two pokeballs back on his belt. A creaking of ice stiffens his smile.
"Wow, look at all these pokemon." Caitlin's voice further strains Adrian's smile as it carries over from the tunnel.
"Yeah, but did you hear that roar." The boy says, "Someone might need our help."
"Dratini!" Adrian shouts in a hushed voice as he leaps towards the dragon pokemon. The jump falls short and as Adrian is about to plunge into the water, Dratini emerges from below.
"Hurry!" Adrian urges the pokemon forward.
As the gyarados disappears from sight, Adrian hears a roar. "Gyaaaaaaa!"
A pair of screams accompany the roar.
"Let's go." Adrian grins, aiming his flashlight into the darkness. He rubs the side of Dratini's head, encouraging the pokemon deeper into the cave.
Adrian rides Dratini down the cave's river. He moves his flashlight around, illuminating various crevices and paths. "Still nothing."
"Dra." The miny dragon complains.
"Something wrong, Dratini?" Adrian asks his pokemon, "Do you want to take a rest?"
"Tini." The dragon pokemon shakes its head. He leans his head back as though trying to stop, but only continues to swim faster.
"Hey, Dratini?" Adrian questions.
"Tini." The pokemon strains a response. He strains trying to move to the side, but continues gaining speed while advancing forward.
Dratini looses control and is taken down the river crying, "Tiiiiiiiiiii!"
Adrian grits his teeth as he tightly holds on to his pokemon. As the two jerk around turns and bends, they hear a growing roar.
Adrian forces his head to look around Dratini's neck and illuminates the path. He sees nothing. There is only an open space emitting an ear shattering roar.
"Dra-Dratini!" Adrian cries, realising the situation.
"Kyuuuuuu!" The pokemon replies as they plunge of the edge. The two plummet into caverns below.
…..
"Ughhhh..." Adrian moans as he lifts his head from the ground. As he moves to rub his head, a cold tube hits his face. He pulls the hand away and feels the the thing rub against his arm. Rolling onto his side, Adrian grabs the thing with his free hand and finds it's the flashlight, still attached to his arm by the wrist loop.
"Heh, lucky." Adrian grins weakly. He takes the device and presses the on button. The flashlight remains off. He presses the button a few more times, and the light to blinks a few times. Adrian shakes the device and the light returns.
Adrian rises to his feet and finds Fearow resting beside him, keeping him warm despite various injuries. He pets the bird pokemon and holds up his pokeball. With a red beam of light, the pokemon disappears. Adrian, unable to find Dratini, looks to Dratini's pokeball. Inside, he finds the dragon pokemon sleeping.
Adrian illuminates the surroundings and finds himself on a small peninsula surrounded by water. Unable to hear the waterfall, he examines the water and finds it calm. Adrian purses his lips and shine his flashlight on the ceiling. Many stalactites can be seen to have been cracked as though something had rammed into them.
Adrian pieces together what happened and shakes his head. With a smile, he says "Fearow, you're amazing."
Adrian surveys the path before him and continues exploring the cavern.
…..
"Footsteps?" Adrian questions as he illuminates the ground. The area is filled with imprints. He finds wrappers and discarded silverware littering the ground.
'These aren't from trainers.' Adrian concludes as he follows the footsteps. 'But, I don't hear anyone...'
"No..." Adrian gasps and sprints down the tunnel. He hops over up turned rocks and shattered pillars. His feet echo of the cavern walls with each landing. The cavern gets colder the more he progresses.
The walls begin flashing as something reflects Adrian' light.
Adrian stops running and examines the area. 'Ice veins...' he notes upon touching the walls. Adrian spots a table like rock and approaches it. On top of the rock lies an abandoned, stone nest. Many of the stones are scattered about from what appears to have been a battle.
"Too late." Adrian clicks his tongue. He takes a few stones of interest from the nest and walks away. 'Maybe Professor Oak can tell how long ago the battle happened with these.'
"Well, well, looks like Alpha was right." A voice says as Adrian places the stones in his backpack.
Adrian jumps. His hand reaches for a pokeball on his belt as he faces the voice. He finds a man dressed in business attire, leaning against a pillar with his arms crossed. Adrian maintains his guard, but only watches the man.
"'Just wait, one will show up.' is what he said." The man says, pushing himself off the pillar. "And the person I find is my hindrance from Safari Zone."
The man takes a pokeball from his pocket.
"Magneton!" The man growls, "Eliminate the pest."
"Dratini!" Adrian calls, his voice sharp. The pokemon materialises as Magneton's magnets begin glowing.
Dratini breaths a flamethrower as Magneton blasts a silver beam of light. The two attacks collide and explode.
"Dratini," Adrian calls out, anger seethes through his words. "you heard him, right? This is the leader of those poachers. Aren't we lucky? And since Duck couldn't come, we get him all to ourselves."
"Poachers?" The man scoffs. "Don't confuse us with petty thieves. Magneton, en-"
As Magneton rises to the man's side, Dratini slams into the pokemon and sends it away. The dragon pokemon turns to the man and flicks him away with his tail.
"Kyaa!" The dragon pokemon roars with rage, forming a fireball before his mouth. The flaming sphere stops growing and Dratini fires his dragon rage after the man.
Adrian watches the fireball enter the cave and explode. Still silence follows.
"Let's go, Dratini." Adrian breaks the silence. He holds up the dragon pokemon's pokeball.
"Tini." The pokemon agrees as a red beam of light engulfs him.
As Adrian reaches the opening of a tunnel, a pair of dewgong block his path.
"Gong!" "Dew!" The two pokemon growl.
Adrian takes a step back and the pokemon leap at him. He roles to the side while grabbing two pokeballs from his belt.
"Pika, Bell!" Adrian calls out the two pokemon.
"Chuuuu!" Pikachu materialises, sending a bolt of lightning at the dewgong.
As the pokemon cry out, Weepinbell showers them with powder.
"Thanks, guys." Adrian says, releasing his breath upon seeing that the dewgong are asleep. He holds up Pikachu and Weepinbells' pokeballs, but drops to his knees over an ear piercing screech. Adrian covers his ears and grimaces as he manipulates his light to find the source. He illuminates a crevice and shouts, "There!"
"Bell!" Weepinbell replies, filling the crevice with razor leaves. The super sonic attack ends and a zubat falls from the hole.
Adrian rises to his feet and steps to the zubat. Concern fills him as he examines the pokemon within Weepinbell's leaves.
"Bro." A pokemon's chilling word confirms Adrian's suspicion.
"Guys, let's go!" Adrian shouts, leaping to the side. Upon landing, he springs through the tunnel with Pikachu and Weepinbell at his side. As Adrian ducks his head, a torrent of water shoots past. "This'll be endless."
As Adrian continues running with his pokemon, more pokemon continue to gather behind him. "Bell... sleep powder!" Adrian forces the words out from between his breaths.
"Bell!" The pokemon replies while spraying the pokemon in the back.
The pokemon put to sleep are quickly replaced with new ones. '
Why are they attacking?' Adrian wonders as a rock hits his back. A chilling blast grazes him. Adrian stumbles, but continues to run. As they turn a corner, Adrian turns around saying, "Pikachu!"
"Pika!" The mouse pokemon replies as the wild pokemon round the corner. The scene turns white as Pikachu zaps the oncoming horde. The light fades revealing Pikachu standing alone, panting, between numerous pokemon.
"Great going... Pika." Adrian says, collapsing onto the ground.
"Chu... chu." The mouse pokemon responds, mimicking its trainer.
"Weep weeping." Weepinbell says, waving its leaves in the air.
"Yeah," Adrian pants as he forces himself to his feet. "you're right Bell. We can't stay here."
Adrian looks into the darkness in front of him and takes a step forward. His pokemon follow along beside him. As they make their way over a pile of rocks and ice, a heavy weight swoops down and knocks Adrian over. As Adrian pushes himself to his knees, the same weight rams into his side. Adrian cries out, feeling something cut across his stomach, past his jacket and shirt, as he roles onto his back.
"Pika!" "Bell!" Pikachu and Weepinbell cry in alarm. They jump to Adrian's sides and search for the assailant.
Pika is knocked onto his side. Standing, he cries, "Pikaaaaa!" filling the chamber with light.
Weepinbell rolls to the side, evading a goldbat's dive. His vines catch the bat pokemon and slam it onto the ground.
With goldbat unconscious, Pikachu and Weepinbell turn to their trainer.
Adrian grins to Pikachu and Weepinbell as he struggles to his feet. "Doesn't look like they want us to leave, huh?"
"Pika pi." "Bell." His pokemon reply.
"Come on, we can't stay here." Adrian guides his pokemon down a path. As Pikachu and Weepingbell follow, a roar echoes through the cave prompting the trio to run.
…..
Adrian and his pokemon dive over a row of broken stalagmites and shelter themselves from icy wind. "Sea seal," a seal says at the end of the attack. "Seal seal." various seal reply.
"Be-Bell... sweet scent." Adrian whispers as the seal continue their conversation.
Weepinbell releases an aroma and the seal grow quiet.
Adrian hears them sniffing the air as they slide closer to the stalagmites. He taps Pikachu and the two jump from their shelter. "Thunderbolt!" Adrian pants. Holding a stalagmite for balance, he illuminates the seal with his flash light.
"Chuuu!" Pikachu unleashes a torrent of electricity at the approaching pokemon.
As Pikachu ends his attack, Adrian takes a shaky step over the stalagmites. "I saw... black ceiling back... Might have ... ladder... Let's hurry." He struggles to speak between breaths. Adrian limps through the knocked out seal, clutching his side with his free hand.
Pikachu and Weepinbell bound to their trainer's side and attack any pokemon that appear before them. They reach the ladder and Pikachu jumps onto his trainer's tattered backpack. He uses a torn pocket to maintain his grip. Weepingbell wraps his vine around Adrian's belt and dangles off of him.
Adrian, with his pokemon secure, climbs the ladder. He ignores any danger, trusting his safety to Pikachu and Weepinbell. He reaches the upper level and his pokemon dismount from him. Together they continue down a random path, fighting various pokemon along the way.
A freezing blow strikes Adrian's shoulder, sending him to his side. "Jyn Jynx," he hears as he clutches his shoulder, finding it covered in ice.
Weepingbell jumps to his trainer's defence with razor leaf. The leaves are countered with powder snow and harmlessly fall to the ground.
"A-acid." Adrian mumbles from the ground.
Jynx flinches from Weepinbell's spray. Pikachu charges and rams the human shape pokemon while discharging an electrical shock.
Adrian stand and continues walking, leaning against a wall. "The ladder... this way." he says while rubbing his frozen shoulder. Without stopping, Adrian takes a bottle from his bag. As he passes a stalagmite, he hits the top of the bottle against it and breaks it open. Adrian bring the bottle to his shoulder and pours the contents on the ice. The ice slowly fizzles away. The empty bottle drops from Adrian's hand as he continues forward.
"Was my last one," Adrian mumbles as he forces his feet forward. "didn't think it'd actually work..."
"Hey, Charizard..." Adrian says while looking to his side. "could you make it warmer?"
"Pi pika." Pikachu says to Weepingbell as his ears droop.
"Bell." Weepinbell responds. He bounces up to his trainer's side and calls out to him, "Bell."
"Ughh," Adrian shakes his head. "not good, focus..."
They reach a ladder and various pokemon roar out from the sides. Adrian grips the ladder and drops his forehead on one of the steps. He closes his eyes, muttering, "Again..."
Pikachu jumps upon Adrian's back. "Pika pika." The pokemon encourages his trainer.
Adrian lifts his head and pushes his foot up onto the bottom step.
Weepinbell wraps its vine around Adrian's waist and is lifted off the ground. He looks at the on coming pokemon and attacks with razor leaf.
Pikachu zaps the zubat and goldbat who try to knock Adrian from the ladder.
Debris falls on Adrian's head and slides across his face. He looks up and sees a slowbro and golduck attacking the ladder. "Pi-pika, above!" Adrian weakly forces the words as he tries to climb faster.
Pikachu see the pokemon and attacks them thunder shock.
As the slowbro and golduck back away, Adrian stops to exhale in relief. He reaches for the next step and hears a cracking noise.
Adrian feels the wall shift slightly. A shattering sound follows and the ladder collapses in on the wall. Adrian instinctively closes his eye and braces himself is he plunges into the sudden fissure.
Adrian grunts as he bounces off the ground and rolls with the rubble. His bag bursts and the contents scatter around. The flash-light remains strapped to his wrist.
Pikachu and Weepinbell try holding onto their trainer, but are forced away from him. Coming to a stop, they ignore the faint light coming from the end of the tunnel and make their way to Adrian.
"Pika." Pikachu says, but receives silence.
Weepingbell shakes the teen, but Adrian remains unresponsive.
A roar echoes. Pikachu and Weepinbell look towards where the sound originated, but only see darkness. Weepingbell takes Adrian's flash light. A quick search reveal they're in a narrow tunnel and no other pokemon is near by. The ceiling collapsed on itself which prevented a cave-in from crushing the three.
"Pika!" Pikachu cries.
Weepinbell turns to Pikachu and finds the mouse pokemon pointing towards something. He illuminates the direction and Pikachu runs down the path. He picks up a stone with his teeth and tosses it towards Weepinbell. After skipping off some rubble, a leaf stone lands before Weepinbell.
"Bell?" Weepinbell asks, turning to mouse pokemon. He sees Pikachu pick up another stone with his mouth. Pikachu begins glowing and evolves into Raichu.
"Rai." Raichu says. He walks to Adrian's side and looks at Weepinbell.
"We." Weepinbell nods and looks at the leaf stone. He places his vine on it and glows.
…..
"Victrrrrreeeeeee!" Victreebel cries as he engulfs a dewgon within a tornado of leaves. He spots a goldbat flying overhead and catches it with his vine. Victreebel flings the pokemon into the group of attacking pokemon and lifts his leaves. He launches razor leaf while screeching, "Beeeeeeeel!"
"Rai!" Raichi roars as he thunder punches a slowbro. As the slowbro stumbles back and trips on a group of slowpoke, Raichu discharges a thunderbolt on the group. The attack spreads and quickly electrocutes other near by pokemon. Raichi stops as the pokemon fall over. He pants as he looks at the oncoming horde.
'Treeeee!" Raichu turns and sees Victreebel fall back with his front frozen in ice. Raichu leaps towards Victreebel while firing a thunderbolt. A high pitched sonic attack disorientates the mouse pokemon causing his attack to hit the ceiling. As Raichu rises to his paws, a blow from a seal's head rolls him to the side. He helplessly watches a pair of golduck walk up to Adrian. Standing over the trainer, the golduck bring their hands to their foreheads. Little, green seeds of energy sap from the golduck and they fall.
"Viiiiii!" Victreebel roars while rising up. He throws himself into the thick of the oncoming pokemon with giga impact. As the dust clears, Victreebel is seen twisting left and right while slashing at the pokemon with his leaves.
Raichu watches the seen and forces himself up. He gathers his energy and charges a Jynx. Raichu leaps on the pokemon and releases his energy, electrocuting the target and those near by. Raichu desperately punches and discharges electricity while fending off the attacking pokemon.
A bright, light blue beam flies over Raichu and Victreebel and washes over the attacking pokemon. Where the light passes, the hostile pokemon are encased within ice. Raichu and Victreebel turn and see Adrian and Dratini.
Adrian pants as he leans against Dratini for support. He grins at Victreebel and Raichu. "You two... are incredible." Adrian says between breaths.
The two pokemon cry out in joy as they run up to their trainer.
"Easy, easy." Adrian holds up his hands. Still breathing heavily, he says, "If you... jump me now, I... really might just die."
Raichu, Victreebel, and Dratini give Adrian alarmed expressions. Adrian, seeing their faces, laughs, "Don't worry... don't worry... We just need a weeks rest. Let's go home... everyone." Adrian looks to the opposite end of the tunnel. With Dratini providing support, Adrian walks with Raichu and Victreebel alongside him.
As Adrian emerges from the tunnel, he holds up his head and allows the winter sun to wash on his face. With a sigh, he lowers his head and finds his clothes shredded into tatters. Some areas stained with blood. Adrian glances into the cave and says, "And there went all my supplies." He shrugs and steps for the beach.
'But why did that happen?' Adrian recalls the hostility the pokemon had for him. As he contemplates how to inform Professor Oak, a weight knocks him aside. A deafening beam tears through behind him as something warm splatters on his back. The attack ends as Adrian crashes into the sand.
Adrian rolls over as his Raichu and Dratini franticly cry out. He unconsciously takes hold of a wet, squishy rope as he looks for the attack's origin. Adrian pushes himself off the ground. As he looks for the attacker, he glances at the rope. It slides through Adrian's hand, leaving a sticky, purple trail as he steps back in horror. On the ground lies Bell's vine.
Adrian's breathing grows shallow as he jerks his head to the ground. He stands in the middle of green and yellow with purple splattered all around. There's nothing bigger than a leaf.
'Bell pushed me!' Adrian realises he was pushed aside.
"No- no way..." Adrian's voice trembles as he drops to his knees.
"Yet again, you've survived." A man's callous remark passes through Adrian's ears.
Adrian jumps to his feet. He trembles as he finds the man leaning against some rocks on a cliff above the exit. Next to him floats a magnezone.
"Yo-you!" Adrian roars. As he focuses completely on the enemy before him, Dratini wails in pain.
The man stiffens a moment. He steps forward and cracks his neck. "That's some good spirit. A normal person would'ave succumbed. Magnezone, lock on!" His pokemon focuses on Adrian and begins to generate plasma.
"Murderer!" Adrian shouts. With possessed eyes, Adrian glares at the man as he takes a step forward. Despite his pokemon's whithers of pain, Adrian roars, "Dratini!"
Dratini's cries peak as black aura bursts forth from his body. The cry subsides, settling with the aura to reveal a black Dratini.
"Dratini!" Adrian says once more, hatred flowing from his words.
"Krryuuuu!" Dratini roars as dark energy is concentrated before him.
"Kill him!" Adrian and the man command.
Magnezone's zap cannon is pierced by black Dratini's dragon rage. The attack continues, engulfing the man and his magnazone.
Adrian drops to the ground as Dratini's colour fades to blue. Clutching the dirt, tears drip leaving dots on the sand. Adrian cries, repeating, "Bell, Bell, Bell..."
…..
"Urgghhh," Adrian moans, opening his eyes. He blinks, attempting to focus his vision.
''A bed...?' Adrian questions. He moves to sit up only to "urk" in pain. He collapses back and stares at a white ceiling. Adrian's eyes burn as his memories return, "That's right... Bell..."
Adrian closes his eyes. He ignores the pain from moving his hand and covers his face. A rough fabric rubs against his face where his hand should be. He looks past his tears and to find his hand wrapped in bandages. The sight leads Adrian to imagine Victreebel's suffering. Adrian scoffs at his earlier weakness and reattempts to sit up.
"Don't force yourself, Adri-kun." A hand presses on Adrian's chest and prevents him from rising.
"Erika?" Adrian questions upon seeing the gym leader standing over him.
""Good morning," Erika says as she seats herself on the bed.
"Why are you here?"
Erika stiffens. In a soft voice, she says "Adri-kun, this is my house."
Adrian furrows his eyebrows in confusion. "Really, ho-how? Did you bring me fro-from..." Adrian trails off, unable to finishes his sentence. Instead, he again tries to sit up.
"Adri-kun, stop." Erika presses down on the teen's chest. She steps to Adrian's side and places a hand beneath Arian's back. Erika gently lifts and helps him rise. Silently, she seats herself next to Adrian and waits.
Adrian looks at the sheets covering his knees. Moving his hands onto his lap, he finds himself covered in bandages beneath his robe. "Why am I here?"
"Fearow brought you the other night." Erika responds. She pauses and considers her words. "You were completely covered in wounds. When you saw me, you apologised over and over and fainted soon after. You have been sleeping ever since."
"How are..." Tears well within Adrian's eyes. He cuts his sentence by turning his head. A hand's warmth spreads past his bandages and through his arm.
"My pokemon are tending to them in the garden." Erika says softly as she leans closer to Adrian. She gently pushes him back into laying down.
Adrian hears Erika say, "Just rest for now." as a fragrance from her hair drifts him to sleep.
…..
Adrian opens his eyes and stares at the ceiling. Uncertain of what to do, Adrian continues staring. He continues reliving Victreebel's death. Getting dizzy, Adrian looks to a window.
"Bell loved camping..." Adrian says upon finding the curtains dark. He rolls from the bed and limps to the window. Adrian pushes the curtains aside and gazes upon the stars. "He'd stare all night if he could."
Adrian places his hands on the windowsill and pushes away. He stumbles the few steps to the door and catches it to regain his balance. Adrian's hand trembles as it reaches for the doorknob and freezes in place. He hits his forehead against the door and squeezes his eyes shut. The words, "I have to see them." come from his mouth.
Adrian pulls the door open and steps into the hall. He supports himself against the wall and walks to the garden.
The lights turn on and a voice chides, "Adrian-san, you should be in bed."
Adrian shuts his eyes as he stops walking. He turns to the voice and cracks an eye open to see Erika's maid, Kagome, in her pyjamas. "I've slept enough."
"Under those robes and bandages, you're covered in wounds." Kagome steps towards Adrian and grabs his arm. She pulls on him towards her while saying, "Don't deny it, I've seen them myself. You need rest."
"Not," Adrian grits his teeth in pain, but breaks his arms free. "until I see them."
Kagome sighs, shaking her head. "Fine, arguing with you is pointless. Here." She steps next to Adrian and slings his arm over her shoulder. She holds the arm in place and wraps her opposite arm around Adrian's back.
"Thankfully, Erika-sama is very sound sleeper." Kagome says as Adrian leans his weight on her. Kagome supports the teen and takes him to the garden.
"We're here," Kagome says as the two step into the moon lite garden. She ignores the purr of a pokemon as she says, "your pokemon should be sleeping by that window."
With Kagome's help, Adrian makes his way past Bellossom, Bulbasur, and Chikorita as he steps towards the window. Laying next to some rocks, he finds Dratini, Raichu, Fearow, Kabuto, and Haunter turning in their sleep.
Adrian breaks away from Kagome's support and limps to the five. He crouches down and reaches out to them. The hand trembles before them, refusing to move further. He sees Bell duck underneath Spearow's dive only to be pounced on by Pikachu. Adrian keeps pushing his hand forward. Bell bounce into his sick room as a Weepingbell. Tears begin rolling down Adrian's face as he pushes his hand even harder. Bell had become a Victreebel and is fighting along side Raichu in a cave. Adrian creates a wall of ice with Dratini and Bell bounces up to him. Adrian's hand drops.
Adrian, with tears rolling from his eyes, turns away from his pokemon. Struggling to rise, he falls over. Adrian fights his tears as he continues trying to stand.
Kagome crouches next to Adrian and catches him as he falls over again. She guides him down to her lap as she kneels and strokes his hair. "It's alright. You're safe here, so go ahead and cry."
"Sorry..., Kagome..." Adrian shakily apologises as he lifts himself off Kagome's lap. Adrian comes to a kneeling position and forces his tears to stop.
"Come, you should rest now." Kagome supports Adrian as he rises. She guides him to the exit saying, "Some fresh bandages and a clean robe will help you sleep."
"Yeah, maybe..." Adrian responds, passively stepping along with Kagome.
Kagome and Adrian step out from the garden. As they return to Adrian's room, they fail to notice the light footsteps following them.
…..
Adrian sits on the edge of his bed with his arms wrapped around a leg. He rests his head on the knee and stares.
"Adri-kun, you are awake." Adrian hears. With a glance, he sees Erika standing at the door.
Erika steps into the room and closes the door. She turns to Adrian, but steps to the side in shock. "Leafeon?" she says to the space next to Adrian.
Adrian glances at the verdant pokemon curled on his bed and says, "She's been lying there all morning."
"All morning..." Erika trails off. "Adri-kun how long have you been awake?"
"Enough..." Adrian drops his gaze to the floor.
Leafeon steps next to Adrian and rubs her head against him.
"Head maid will be back with some clothes soon." Erika says while taking Adrian's bandaged hand, "But for now, let us eat breakfast."
Erika leads Adrian to the garden where a table is being prepared. She turns to a maid and says, "Please, prepare a place for Adrian as well."
As the maid leaves, Adrian and Erika seat themselves at the table. They sit in silence while watching the pokemon. Adrian's pokemon give a heavy atmosphere as they mope around the garden. Erika's pokemon keep Adrian's company, occasionally offering food and drink.
Adrian's expression wretches in pain as he watches his pokemon.
"Excuse me for a second," Adrian says, leaving Erika. He walks to his pokemon and crouches down to speak with them.
Erika sees the anguish within his movement. Frustration builds from her inability to alleviate his pain. Despite her attempts to remain strong for Adrian, she purses her lips.
Adrian rubs his pokemon, having finished speaking with them. A sad calmness surrounds each of them. Adrian stands and returns to his seat. A sigh escapes him as he sinks into the chair.
Adrian's body jumps upon the intrusion of something warm leaping onto his lap. As his arms wrap around soft fur, a purr rubs against his stomach. Adrian smiles bitterly upon seeing Leafeon and pets the pokemon.
…..
Adrian and Erika stand before the gym, their shadows stretch along the building's wall.
Erika takes hold of Adrian's arms saying, "Are you certain? You still need more rest."
"I- I have to go back." Adrian responds.
"You are a fool," Erika mumbles, laying her head on his chest. "a complete fool."
Adrian lifts his arms and wraps Erika in embrace.
"You- you talk in your sleep." Erika continues mumbling as her arms slide around Adrian's side.
"You've mentioned."
"So... you have no need to worry." Erika sighs as she slips something nto Adrian's pocket. "I have already spoken with him."
"Thank you." Adrian responds, a unknown tension releasing from his body. His head lowers and rests upon Erika's.
"Your pokemon will be safe here." Erika states as she pulls back from Adrian. "They will have peace and quite within the garden."
"I trust you." Adrian responds, his hands hands sliding to Erika's sides
"Adri-kun," Erika pauses for a moment. "you must still-"
"We already have." Adrian cuts her off. He holds up a bandaged hand and weakly clenches a fist. "Dug one our selves."
"Adri-kun..." Erika grasps the fist. "you are always so reckless."
Adrian releases himself by dropping his hand. As he walks away, Leafeon stays beside him.
Only the second page and already the chapter suffered from bad planning. I should have had Adrian find one of the evolving stones in previous chapter just for continuity. This small mishap really bothers me since I've been planning this chapter from when I first posted this story. More importantly, Adrian's suffering now. However, by over coming hardship, one grows into an adult. Now, how will Adrian mature from this moment?
This chapter had a range of emotions from happiness, to fear, relief, anger, and sorrow. I really hope I was able to portray them properly and let you, as readers, experience them too. I hope I could properly show the emotions for everyone. Please, tell me your comments in a review.
Warrior Seadra