Chapter Thirty Six – Hindsight
Hayden sat on the sofa with his face buried in his palms as Lily sat next to him and wrapped her arms around her distraught husband. Harvey rubbed the back of his next, guilt plaguing him as Alexa's outburst haunted his mind. Hailey and Colin gently held onto one another for solace as the harsh atmosphere lingered in the hotel room. Between them, all five of the adults felt incredibly guilty for what they had just witnessed. Lily looked at her husband with immense concern.
"Hayden? Honey, are you okay?"
"I've just driven our daughter away, Lily; how do you think I feel?" Hayden asked pessimistically. Harvey sighed heavily.
"...it wasn't you, bro; it was me."
"What are you talking about?" Hailey asked quietly. Harvey looked towards his sister with a tremendous amount of regret in his eyes.
"You heard what she said; I could have shared my idea with her before the Contest."
"We all could have done; it's not just on you," Colin said; he tried to sound reassuring, but his own guilt hindered his positivity.
"...it's my fault," Hayden said sadly. "I should have said something to her when Lily spoke to me about it." Hailey shook her head.
"Playing the blame game won't help anything." Harvey raised an eyebrow at her.
"We're blaming ourselves, not other people."
"You know what I mean," Hailey pouted.
"Look, what's done is done; we need to focus on trying to salvage this," Lily said affirmatively. Hailey grinned and nodded.
"Yeah, I agree! We've been so focused on Adelina that we've neglected the problems closer to home!" Her smile waned slightly. "As for me...I should have paid more attention to my babies after Daniel's suspension...like Colin said I should," she said with slight embarrassment. Colin pulled her closer to him and cuddled her, holding her head lightly against his shoulder.
"I should have done the same, Honeybee..." Hayden sighed as he very slightly raised his head from his palms and his arms dropped down over his knees loosely.
"...what do we do now?"
"For now? Ignore Adelina entirely, take a step back to compose ourselves and save our families," Lily replied softly. Lily's proposition cheered Hailey, Colin and Harvey up, though it seemed to have no profound effect on Hayden.
"Daniel DID say Adelina wanted us to fall apart...so I'm going to put all of my attention into making sure that her wish doesn't come true!" Harvey huffed a small and light-hearted chuckle.
"We all will, sis."
"What do you think, Hayden?" Colin asked. However, Hayden gave no response; all he could think about were the last words he heard Alexa speak before she stormed out of the hotel room, and those hurtful words stuck to him like glue.
"Tiger..." Lily couldn't help but worry for Hayden even more. Hayden looked towards Lily and would have provided her with some sort of verbal response if Hailey's Xtransceiver hadn't started to emit a melody that sounded like wind chimes blowing in a violent hurricane without the gale. All eyes turned to Hailey as she looked at the identity of her caller before accepting the communication; Daphne's bright and sunny face appeared on the screen.
"Hi, Mum!"
"Daphne! Wait, how come you're not in school?" Hailey asked, noticing the background behind her daughter; while she couldn't see it too well, she saw enough of it to tell that she was indeed not at a classroom in Striaton Academy.
"Uh, y-yeah, that's why I'm calling... W-We found Adelina at the academy..."
"What!? Daphne, please tell me you didn't chase her away!" Hailey panicked.
"No, no, no, it's not like that!" Daphne said hastily, panicking herself. "She was battling Daniel, so I gave her a hand after he made Peggy run away!"
"To the museum?" Daphne was perplexed.
"I dunno, he whispered it to her so Adelina wouldn't hear and try to follow her..."
"She didn't make it that far anyway," Daniel said loudly. The adults were confused.
"What happened?" Hailey asked.
Inside Troy's lounge, Troy and Daniel were working together to take care of the select few Pokémon that were injured during the assault on the Daycare Centre; Brent, Lukie and Mac, their wounds fully tended to and bandaged accordingly, also helped with the first aid, while Perri and Michael stayed near the pregnant Purugly, making sure she was as perfectly calm as possible. Peggy sat on the sofa next to her older sister and watched nervously as she spoke to her mother.
"We don't know," Daphne said bluntly. "When we got to the Daycare Centre, everything was chaotic; some of the Pokémon in the paddock turned against the others – even Marco and Polo turned against us!"
"How in the...?!"
"W-We don't know, but it's over now!" Daphne said nervously. "We're in the process of taking care of the Pokémon that got hurt during the chaos."
"O-Okay, but you and Peggy should really get back to school when you're done," Hailey advised.
"We will, I promise," Daphne smiled. "But not before I show you something." Daphne looked away from her Xtransceiver briefly. "Hey, Piper, c'mere a sec and say hi!" Hailey was confused until Piper approached Daphne and looked at the Xtransceiver from over her shoulder; seeing the Altaria shocked Hailey to the very core, but a wide grin made its way onto her face.
"Ti-ruuh!"
"Oh, my days, how did that happen?!"
"What happened?" Colin asked.
"Piper evolved!"
"No way, for real?!" Soon enough, Hailey lowered her arm to allow Daphne to fully see the faces of her father and older uncle. Harvey grinned as he laughed. "That's the real deal, all right! Piper, you really do look just like your mother!"
"Ti-ruuuh," Piper blushed, flattered by Harvey's observation.
"I've always said so, Harvey," Colin laughed.
"Did that happen during the Daycare Chaos?" Hailey wondered.
"Yeah, she really saved the day," Daphne said proudly. "And Peggy to boot!" Peggy shuffled herself to get a better view of Daphne's Xtransceiver; Hailey was relieved to see her youngest child unharmed.
"Oh, well done, baby...! I'm so proud of you – ALL of you!" Daniel stood up from the Furfrou he'd just finished treating and walked over to Piper, standing next to her as he looked down at his sister's Xtransceiver.
"Thanks, but what should we do about Adelina now?" he asked fairly keenly. Hailey smiled contently, confusing him.
"Nothing." All three of the Hawkstone kids were alarmed, but hearing Hailey's answer was almost music to Troy's ears, smiling as he resumed treating Pikachu's bruises.
"Nothing?"
"From now on, it's all about our families; don't give Adelina even a single thought." Daphne grinned widely.
"If she wasn't dead wood before, she sure is now!" Even Daniel was smiling.
"Thank you so much for saying that, Mum..."
Adelina groaned angrily as she walked away from the front door of the Daycare Centre, having eavesdropped on Daphne's conversation with Hailey. Huey followed her and looked up at her fearfully as she stormed towards Striaton City.
"How am I supposed to do my thing when the subjects ignore my every move!? Urgh!" She looked at the Poké Ball in her hand; it was encased in a Seal Capsule with three black smoke stickers placed on the top half in a triangular formation. "This wouldn't have happened if Carter had kept his ears shut during that bluebird's nursery rhyme...!"
"Reow...!" Adelina sighed as she flicked a small lock of her hair away from her face.
"I need to rethink this...things have taken a bad turn..."
The afternoon sky was beginning to transition from a brilliant blue to a warming orange by the time Alexa, Ryder and Jollie began their venture through Nimbasa City. By now, most of the pedestrians were enjoying themselves in the amusement park on the farther side of the city, as the streets were mostly completely empty. Alexa eventually stopped walking entirely, causing Ryder and Jollie to walk in front of her; however, they soon realised that Alexa wasn't following them and faced her in confusion.
"What's up?" Alexa held onto her arm nervously.
"I...I forgot to ask...what do you think?" A-About what-"
"A load of Tauros crap, that's what," Ryder snarled as he and Jollie approached Alexa. "I HEARD what Hayden said from the room and he had no right to defend you after he crushed you like he did!"
"...about what Uncle Harvey said," Alexa said grumpily, concluding her sentence. Ryder felt sheepish.
"Oh! Uh..." Ryder nervously rubbed the back of his neck. "The timing of it sucked Shadow Balls, but...I actually think it's a good idea." Ryder's answer alarmed Alexa.
"Buneary?" Ryder nodded happily at Jollie before facing the astonished Alexa.
"You can't tell me you disagree."
"I-I don't know yet!" Alexa exclaimed suddenly. "It..." She gripped her arm slightly. "It's like you said; the timing stunk... ...it... I-I just didn't appreciate it falling onto my lap when it did..." Ryder folded his arms and tilted his head slightly.
"Like how Hayden didn't appreciate our Team Galactic thing falling on his lap when it did?" he wondered. The amount of shock Alexa felt at that moment was immense; it was as though she'd just been struck by a lightning of realisation, and it struck her right on her heart. Jollie looked up at Ryder angrily.
"Bun-EARY!"
"N-No, he's right," Alexa sighed glumly. "...and he wasn't being rude; it was a legit question..."
"Buuuuuuuuh...!" Jollie and Ryder watched as Alexa made her way towards the bench near the bridge and sat down on it.
"Oh, God...!" Alexa buried her face in her palms. "I-I shouldn't have waited so long to tell them...!" she said tearfully. Jollie hurried over to Alexa and held onto her in a gently cuddle, but Ryder stood in front of her and gave her a gentle smile.
"Nothing we can do about it now, but at least it's out now, right?" Alexa sighed as she dropped her arms down over her knees and looked towards the river flowing through the city.
"Look where that got me," Alexa said glumly. Ryder was concerned at first, but he soon turned frustrated.
"THIS is why I like Harvey's idea!" he said suddenly. Alexa and Jollie looked up at him with surprise. "Ever since you came back from Oblivia, you've become this...I dunno, the Spoink who's lost the pearl on its head! You just...stopped being YOU! You, the almost parental Trainer with a wit that inspired mine! I want THAT Alexa back; I don't want the one that's...that's a Rock Throw away from being sadder than a Yamask!" Alexa lowered her head shamefully, worrying Jollie greatly. "Seriously, Alex...stop being such a whiny Lillipup!" Ryder shouted in anger. "...you're making ME a whiny Lillipup..." Jollie watched Alexa almost fearfully as she sat there in silence, allowing Ryder's words to sink in. Ryder himself started to feel apprehensive as he awaited Alexa's reply.
"...no...I'm not..." Ryder was alarmed when Alexa raised her head up to look at him...with a smirk. "I'm making you a whiny Lucario." Ryder grinned widely as his bushy tail began to wag violently. Jollie smiled with so much glee she could hardly contain it.
"See?! THAT'S the Alexa we ALL want to see! And there's no doubt in my mind that Keith and Xavier wouldn't want to see her, too."
"Bun, bun!" Jollie cheered encouragingly. Alexa's smirk softened to a sweet smile as she stood up.
"If you say so...but can you let me think about Uncle Harvey's idea when things are less hectic?"
"Oh! Y-Yeah, sure. Sorry about that," Ryder said timidly. Alexa chuckled as she stroked the top of Ryder's head.
"Thanks, Ryder." Ryder smiled at her as he gently rested his paw on Alexa's hand.
"Sure." Alexa smiled sweetly as she pulled her Lucario closer to her; he was alarmed as she suddenly embraced him, but was more than happy to wrap his arms around her. Jollie felt herself tearing up at the sight of two friends locked into their cuddle.
"Colin and I are going to make sure our girls get back to school okay," Hailey said as she and Colin made their way to the hotel room door. "We'll, uh...think of an excuse for them..."
"Are you sure you're okay with us leaving you alone, Lily?" Colin asked.
"Yes; we need to keep our focus on our family just as much as you need to focus on yours," Lily said kindly.
"I'll check up on Troy after I've brought Naomi up to speed," Harvey said as he opened the door. "Here's hoping I can bring my family back together."
"Harv, compared to the rest of us, you have it easy."
"Yeah, except I've been divorced for a good nine years," Harvey said crabbily. "Nonetheless, I think things are getting better for Naomi and I." Now carrying his traditional cheerful grin, Harvey looked over at Lily. "You look after my little brother, okay?"
"I haven't found a reason not to look after my Tiger just yet," Lily winked. "Be careful, all of you."
"We will," Hailey said comfortingly. "Bye!"
"Bye," Lily said in response as Hailey, Colin and Harvey walked out of the hotel room.
With the extended family gone, Lily could finally turn her undivided attention to her family, and she started with a very downtrodden Hayden. However, one of the two bedroom doors opened as a very reluctant Keenan made his way into the room, Iara faithfully at his side. Hayden and Lily looked over at Keenan and immediately noticed how reclusive he looked; it worried the pair of them.
"Are you okay, baby?" Lily asked with concern. Keenan shook his head slowly in silent response, but the apprehension Hayden and Lily felt intensified when Keenan held a hand over his eyes as he began to cry. "Hey...! Come here..." Accepting his mother's invitation for a cuddle, Keenan almost ran over to her and flung himself into her arms. Lily sat him down between her and Hayden as she began to comfort her sobbing son. "What's upset you, sweetie?" she asked gently.
"...e-everything...!" Hayden looked even more remorseful than ever before as he gently stroked the back of Keenan's head.
"I'm sorry, kiddo..." Iara walked over to the sofa and looked up at Keenan sympathetically.
"...m-me, too..."
"Hm?" Hayden was confused.
"N-Nothing..."
"What is it, sweetheart?" Lily asked dotingly. Keenan looked almost as regretful as his father, which alarmed Hayden.
"...I-I just... ...t-this shouldn't have happened...!" Keenan tried his hardest not to break into sobs as he spoke. "X-Xavier's injury, A-Alex running away... ...I-I just feel rotten about everything...!"
"Why?" Hayden asked gently as he, too, began to tear up; first his daughter was in distress and now his son was choking back his sobs – seeing both of his children, whom he adored equally, in such intense emotional pain took its toll on him.
"...I-I think it's MY fault...!"
"How do you mean, sweetie?" Lily asked in a soothing whisper, avoiding any further anxiety.
"...r-remember that photo I should you, Dad...?" Hayden wiped his eyes before he answered.
"Yeah?"
"W-While you were talking to Keith, I..." Keenan choked back another of his many sobs. "...I showed it to Alex...!"
"How come?" Lily asked carefully.
"S-She has a keener eye for detail than I do, I-I thought I could get her opinion on it...even though she said she didn't want to get involved...!"
"And you think that's why Adelina ambushed your sister?" Hayden asked as he wiped another tear from his eyes. Keenan nodded before he broke into his own tears again.
"Aw, honey...! None of that matters now...!"
"Huh?" Keenan looked up at his mother in bewilderment, his eyes already sore from his tears.
"We discussed this with your Aunt and Uncles; what we should do and what we ARE doing now is saving this family – Adelina is no longer a concern to any of us." Lily smiled kindly as she wiped her son's eyes. "Okay?" Keenan sniffed as he wiped his eyes, despite Lily already having done so.
"W-What about Alex...?" Hayden and Lily looked at one another worriedly before looking down at Keenan.
"...I...I think we should leave her be until she's ready to come back..." Lily's reply horrified Hayden while leaving Keenan heavily discouraged; neither of the reactions had escaped Lily's notice. "We've...we've not been kind to her today..." Hayden leaned back and hid his face in one hand as he fought back against his own tears.
"...you mean I've not been kind to her..." Lily looked at him sadly.
"Neither of us have, honey...I'm as guilty as you."
"At least you TRIED to be kind...!" Lily was crushed when Hayden looked at her directly; despite his best efforts, his tears fell gradually from his eyes, which reflected the sorrow deep inside him. "You heard her; I'M why she left in the first place!"
"Oh, Hayden..." Lily wiped a lingering tear from her eye before she smiled lovingly. "We need some respite."
"Huh?" Lily looked over at her confused husband.
"We should have an evening out, all three of us."
"No, thanks," Keenan said sadly. Hayden and Lily looked down at him in puzzlement.
"What's wrong, sweetie?"
"I...I don't wanna go out tonight...I don't feel like it..." Hayden and Lily felt worried, but they nodded respectfully.
"Okay, but are you sure you're going to be all right here on your own?" Keenan nodded.
"I have my Pokémon to look after me... Besides...I've been home alone before..."
"Not overnight," Hayden said worriedly.
"Oh, we'll be back before bedtime, easy," Lily said optimistically.
"It's hard to imagine how much time's passed by since this whole thing started," Ryder said as he observed the setting sun on the horizon, gradually turning the sky into an even more vibrant orange colour. He and Alexa walked along the road leading to the Driftveil Drawbridge, Jollie skipping alongside Alexa the entire time, her Soothe Bell jingling to her every movement.
"Yeah," Alexa nodded. She looked at the sunset for herself. "Unovan sunsets are really beautiful...but Hoenn sunsets are by far my absolute favourite...especially in Slateport..."
"I dunno; the sunset the day we met Skywing was pretty inspiring," Ryder smiled.
"Oh, yeah...that was gorgeous..." Alexa suddenly stopped walking when her Xtransceiver began to emit a very generic ringing telephone tune, causing Ryder and Jollie to stop and watch her as she accepted the voice only call. "H-Hello?"
"Hello, is this Miss Alexa Thorndyke?" asked a caring female. Alexa had a feeling she knew the voice, but she couldn't put her finger on who it belonged to.
"Speaking."
"Oh, good! It's Nurse Hardy speaking, from the Mistralton City Pokémon Centre?" The declared identity of the caller surprised Alexa, Ryder and Jollie. "I'm just calling to let you know that your Zoroark's surgery was a success and is now in Recovery."
"I-Is he okay?!" Alexa asked desperately. She quivered as she felt a sense of anxiety returning to her.
"I'm afraid we won't know until he regains consciousness," the nurse replied. Alexa was about to rush into asking if she could see her Zoroark, but halted herself. She took a deep breath and wiped her eyes, despite her lack of tears. She wanted to visit Xavier so badly, but she also knew that doing so before he was capable of carrying on any form of conversation would only add to her already overwhelming stress.
"...w-will you let me know when he wakes up, please?" Alexa's question surprised Ryder and Jollie greatly.
"Yes, absolutely!" Nurse Hardy said happily. "I'll call again as soon as I hear anything."
"T-Thank you..."
"You're welcome. Goodbye."
"Bye." Alexa hung up her Xtransceiver and took another deep breath. Ryder and Jollie stared at her in shock.
"Alex? What was that?" Ryder asked. Alexa avoided eye contact with her Pokémon, but Ryder soon smiled widely as his tail began wagging again. "Was that...was that you avoiding unnecessary stress?" he asked hopefully. Alexa gave him a tiny smile.
"...yes. Yes, it was."
"Buneary!" Alexa laughed as Jollie bounced up and flung herself into her arms.
"Thanks, Jollie." Through the corner of her eye, Alexa spotted the roadside café. Noticing the time of day, Alexa looked at the time on her Xtransceiver; the time it displayed shocked her. "HOW late?! I haven't eaten since breakfast! ...come to think of it, I don't think ANYONE has..."
"Huh; no wonder why I'm hungry." Alexa laughed as she petted her Lucario's head.
"Then why didn't you say anything earlier?! C'mon, let's get a quick bite."
"Works for me!"
"Buneary!"
To be continued...