Chapter Forty Six – A Moment's Peace pt I
Alexa wiped her eyes and drew her attention to the nurse returning to the reception desk as Hayden and Keith left their seats and made their way over to the rest of the family; as Lily emptied the Poké Ball tray in front of her and reclaimed her five remaining Poké Balls, the nurse placed the two stacked trays on the desk and separated them as Hayden and Alexa walked over to her.
"Here you go; I apologise for the wait," the nurse said courteously as she smiled kindly at the two Trainers. "Dewgong's going to make a full recovery, but try to let her rest for a day or two."
"Thank you," Hayden said politely as he gathered his six Pokémon and returned them to his belt bag. The nurse, meanwhile, redirected her smile towards Alexa.
"Your Wigglytuff and Pachirisu are recovering well, but your Charizard's wings are still tender at the joints, so let him rest for a little while longer. In any case, all three will be right as Rain Dance by tomorrow at the very least."
"Thank you so much," Alexa said graciously as she collected her Poké Balls. The nurse bowed respectfully as she made her way to the back office. Alexa had managed to put away the Poké Balls belonging to Ryder, Jollie and Phoenix before she was left with Purukin's Moon Ball and Chutney's Friend Ball; she held one in each hand as she glanced over at the Pokémon Centre videophones; as with all Pokémon Centre videophones, they are connected to a Poké Ball transferring device – the unusual-looking contraption gave her an idea.
"What's on your mind?" Hayden asked, noticing her sudden silence. She looked up at him with a gentle smile.
"Nothing, I'm just going to get my party changed around," she replied as she compressed the two Poké Balls and shifted the shrunken Moon Ball over to her left hand. Keith watched her curiously as she made her way to the videophone and sat down; he kept his eye on her until Ian's face appeared on the monitor.
"By the way," Hayden began, attracting Keith's curiosity. "What are you doing for the rest of the day?"
"I, uh...I hadn't thought about that," Keith answered as he picked Ava up from the reception desk and held her in his arms; Ava nestled delightfully in his comforting grip. "Before yesterday turned sour, Alexa and I were planning to spend the day in Humilau City."
"Oh, to see the Humilau Water Gardens?" Lily asked with a slight sparkle in her hazel eyes. Keith looked at her in confusion.
"The what?"
"It's Humilau's biggest tourist attraction," Lily explained. "It's pretty self-explanatory as to what a water garden is, but it also has a small selection of aquariums and even a little zoo."
"No, that place hadn't crossed either of our minds the other day," Keith said with a raised eyebrow. "Why do you ask?" Hayden and Lily exchanged nods of mutual agreement before they smiled at Keith.
"We were wondering if you'd like to join us at the Humilau Water Gardens," Hayden proposed. Keith's eyes widened in slight shock.
"What?"
"We were going to spend the rest of the day together, but we didn't exactly establish how we would do so after we were done here," Lily explained.
"Visiting the Humilau Water Gardens does sound like a great idea," Hayden grinned. "And I thought we'd invite you to join us, since it kind of was your idea. Besides, if you're going to be part of the family, we need to start including you a lot more." Keith glanced over at Alexa; she was still sitting in front of the videophone, talking to Ian – he'd just seen Ian smiling kindly at the relieved Alexa.
"Is Alexa going to join you?" he asked.
"Of course," Lily confirmed. "...well, once she knows the plan, anyway," she added with a giggle.
"So, what do you think? Care to join us?" Hayden asked. Keith rubbed the back of his neck shyly.
"I, uh..."
"C'mon, Keith! It'll be fun!" Keenan said encouragingly.
"Don't pressure him, kiddo," Hayden laughed nervously. "You don't have to if you don't want to; I just thought that-"
"N-No, it's fine," Keith smiled quietly. "Thanks; I'd like that." Hayden smiled and nodded.
"Sounds like we have a plan." Keenan immediately ran over to Alexa; she gave off a startled yelp as he wrapped his arms around her from behind. Hayden, Lily, Keith and the Pokémon saw the act, but only Hayden and Lily were chuckling to themselves.
"Keenan, what's-"
"Hey, how's it going, Keenan?" Ian greeted happily.
"Things are much better now, Grandpa!" Keenan replied joyfully as Keith, Hayden and Lily made their way over to the videophone.
"Yes, Alexa's just finished telling me everything," Ian nodded. "It's great to know everything's worked out in the end."
"Hi, Dad," Hayden said merrily. "How are you?"
"I'm still needing to digest everything that Lexie's just told me, but I'm fine in any case," Ian replied. "Keith! It's good to see you again!"
"Y-Yeah, you, too," Keith said coyly.
"So, Lexie, have you decided who you want to swap Chutney and Purukin for?" Ian asked quickly.
"Oh, yeah, right!" Alexa laughed sheepishly. "Layla and Kayla?"
"Sure thing! I'll find them for you," Ian said as he left his seat. With Ian momentarily away from his end of the call, Hayden looked down at Alexa worriedly.
"By 'everything', Lexie, does that include...?" Knowing precisely what Hayden was hinting, Alexa begrudgingly nodded.
"I shortened the whole thing, but, yeah; he knows about Sinnoh as well."
"How did he take it?" Keenan asked.
"Surprisingly well," Alexa replied as a sudden look of perplexity reached her face. "I didn't realise he suspected something happened during my Sinnoh travels this whole time..."
"That's your Grandfather for you," Hayden laughed diffidently. Ian soon returned to his seat with two Poké Balls; one was a standard red and white Poké Ball and the other was a Fast Ball.
"Here they are, Lexie; I gotta say Layla was happier than a Wooper on cloud nine when I told her you wanted her to join you," Ian chuckled.
"I have Ryder with me, so that's hardly surprising," Alexa laughed as she placed the Moon and Friend Balls in the Poké Ball slots underneath the transferring device; faster than anyone could say 'how's tricks?', the Moon and Friend Balls disappeared through the device and were instantaneously replaced by the standard Poké Ball and the Fast Ball.
"And the boys have arrived safely."
"So have the girls," Alexa smiled as she collected both of her Poké Balls. "Thanks, Grandpa!"
"My pleasure, Lexie," Ian said as he looked over to his right hand side with a declining smile. "And I think that's my cue to exit; Kyler's fighting with Harvey's Pansear again."
"That Chimchar never learns to keep a lid on his temper," Alexa sighed. "Well, I should get going as well anyway; thanks for talking with me, Grandpa." Ian looked back at Alexa and smiled warmly.
"Anytime, sweetie. I gotta go before Kyler's parents get involved again...talk to you soon!"
"Bye, Dad!" Hayden said just before Ian ended the communication. Alexa stood up from her seat and stretched her back.
"What's going on?"
"Are you okay with us spending the day at the Humilau Water Gardens?" Lily asked.
"...I never thought of that yesterday," Alexa said shyly. "Sure, sounds great!"
"Keith's coming with us!" Keenan said excitedly. Alexa's eyes almost lit up with complete euphoria.
"Yay!" Keith smiled and laughed as he saw her enthusiasm. Lily quickly released her Gardevoir from her Poké Ball; Cheryl smiled gently at Lily as the two made eye contact.
"Can you take us to Humilau City, please?"
"Gardevoir," Cheryl nodded. She then relaxed as a rainbow glow outlined her entire body; after opening her eyes suddenly, she vanished in the blink of an eye, taking Lily, Alexa, Keith, Hayden, Keenan and the Pokémon with her.
While the rest of the Striaton Academy students were preoccupied with their recreational time in the playing field, Daphne and Peggy conversed with Daniel across the school's fence. Rhonda sat next to Daniel, looking up at him with trepidation as the pair waited for Daphne to speak up. Peggy felt anxious herself, though she couldn't fully understand why.
"Any luck?" Daniel asked. Daphne sighed quietly as she shook her head.
"Nobody in the school said anything about Two-Tone to anyone matching Adelina's description," she answered reluctantly. "I even asked the teachers who dealt with the incident and the one who followed you to the hospital, but..."
"Nobody spoke to Adelina about it?!" Daniel asked in horror.
"No," Daphne nodded begrudgingly.
"I-I didn't think she'd..." Peggy halted herself before she ended up uttering something insensitive.
"It's okay, Peggy, we didn't either," Daphne said gently.
"B-But...it-it makes no sense!" Daniel panicked.
"Daniel-"
"I-I mean...if it never reached her at all, h-how did she even-"
"Stop it!" Peggy cried suddenly. The twins looked down at her in confusion. "A-Adelina...she-she wants us to fall apart! M-Maybe all of this is just another game...? Like what we think she did to Lexa?" Daniel's eyes widened with a sudden realisation.
"Do you honestly think she'd take Two-Tone and use it like a chess piece?" Daphne asked with intrigue.
"Maybe," Peggy nodded shakily. "B-But I thought we weren't going to let her win! I thought we weren't going to think about her anymore!"
"...we won't," Daniel said quietly. All three of the girls looked up at him in puzzlement, especially when they saw him smiling and heard him chuckling. "I've been preaching about that so many times, yet I nearly failed to practise it myself...!"
"Daniel? Are you okay?" Daphne asked worriedly.
"Even Dad gave me a piece of my own advice!" Daniel raised his head and looked up at the sky as he held onto both of his arms; somehow, staring at the clear blue sky settled his anxiety as his smile warmed up slightly. "We're not going to give Adelina any satisfaction; that's what he told me before Rhonda and I left the house...and I almost turned my back on it..."
"So...?"
"She knows about it, but...I'll give it my all to not let it bother me any more than it already has," Daniel said reassuringly as he faced his twin sister eye to eye.
"Umbreon!" Rhonda rejoiced gleefully.
"Thanks, Daphne."
"For what?"
"Asking around." Daphne smiled kindly at her younger brother.
"Sure thing," she nodded. "But I hope this is going to help you get back to who you used to be."
"Here's hoping," Daniel said quietly.
"Danny?"
"Hm? What's up, Pegs?" Daniel asked.
"Do you think everything will be okay from now on?" Peggy asked tensely.
"I wouldn't worry about her, like we've just established; even if she does somehow decide to show her face again, she shouldn't be our problem."
"B-But..." Peggy wasn't so sure; she was still slightly shaken up by Adelina's presence outside the Academy the day Piper evolved into Altaria. "...w-what if she...?"
"It'll be okay, Peggy," Daphne said sweetly. "If she tries anything with us again, we can let the grown ups know and let them deal with her." Peggy looked up at Daphne with a sunny smile.
"Right!" A bell suddenly sounded from the school as the many other students began to make their way inside the building with the supervising teachers.
"Period three's about to start," Daphne sighed.
"Hey, I kinda like Mathematics!"
"It's not the subject that bores me; it's the substitute we've got until Mr. Meyers gets out of hospital," Daphne complained. She and Peggy smiled at Daniel. "See you later!" Daphne said as she and Peggy hurried towards the school doors. Daniel waved at them and waited for them to vanish inside the building before he turned to leave the outskirts of the school grounds. He sighed contently as he and Rhonda made their way through the woodlands.
"I really hope Daphne's right..."
"Umbreon," Rhonda nodded in agreement.
The very heart of the Humilau Water Gardens was thriving with vibrantly coloured flora of all kinds and tourist activity. While most of the visiting tourists were resting, there were a couple of visitors sitting at the long pool of water, with two Milotic water fountains at each end, in the middle of the entire plaza; a scarlet haired girl sat next to a boy with his brunette hair hidden under his white baseball cap as they spoke about their two Vivillon, one Monsoon patterned and the other River patterned with half of one leg missing, and of their exploits, while two other girls, one with black hair and moderately brown skin and the other with relatively wavy brunette hair, sat next to one another as they happily watched their Totodile and Swanna swimming in the water. At the other end of the pool, Reese and Iara were also swimming in the pool; Ava happly sat on Reese's back and watched the numerous Finneon, Goldeen and Barboach swimming underneath the water's surface. Robbie, meanwhile, was sitting nearby, keeping an eye on the swimming Pokémon. Hayden, Lily and Keenan each sat on one of the many white wicker chairs scattered all across the indoor plaza, while Keith and Alexa sat next to one another in front of one of the palm trees planted around the pool; everyone, however, seemed to be enjoying themselves.
"Really?! Troy's Pokémon was in a movie!?" Keith asked with surprise.
"His Golurk, yes; he played the villain's Pokémon in the film we watched on our first day in Unova – A Hero's Rising," Hayden explained.
"Was it any good?" Keith asked curiously.
"No," all four of the Thorndyke's bluntly replied harmoniously. Keith blinked in confusion.
"Seriously, just...avoid it," Keenan groaned. "Not even Peggy, one of our cousins, enjoyed it, and she's eight years old!" Keith raised an eyebrow.
"And her age is relevant because...?"
"The film tried to target her age demographic," Alexa explained. "Instead, it tried too hard to pander to it that it didn't appeal to said demographic."
"But, after that failed fairy tale parody," Hayden continued on a lighter note. "We spent the next day at Undella beach."
"I got to see the Abyssal Ruins," Alexa said with delight. "They were more amazing than I thought they would be!"
"Find anything good?" Keith asked with a smile.
"I did, actually," Alexa replied, facing him directly. "I found a copper coin that I sold to Undella's antique dealer; I got a grand for it...most of which I haven't really touched..."
"Most?"
"A tenth of that grand went towards her Xtransceiver," Hayden grinned. "While she was choosing it and her strap, I made the arrangement to meet with the XCommunications CEO, with whom I had a meeting just before yesterday's unpleasantries."
"Then there was the battle Alex and I had with our twin cousins!" Keenan said eagerly. Keith faced Alexa with alarm.
"You had a battle?"
"That was sometime after our...rocky encounter, shall we say," Alexa said timidly. "Kyle and Jollie tag-teamed against our cousins' Plusle and Minun."
"Mary and Paul put up a good fight, but Kyle and Jollie won the battle," Keenan said rather proudly.
"Aw, man, I wish I could've seen that!" Keith playfully pouted. "...actually, I mean that; I've not seen you in a proper battle," he continued as he faced her again.
"But you've seen me-"
"Emphasis on proper," Keith stated clearly. "I don't think Cain and Jordan really count."
"Okay, I'll give you that one," Alexa said sheepishly.
"How was the battle anyway?" Keith wondered.
"Considering what took place beforehand, I think Lexie-" Before Hayden could even begin sharing his thoughts on the subject, Alexa's Xtransceiver emitted a generic ringing tone as an incoming voice-only transmission was being picked up. Alexa apologised quietly and answered the call.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Miss Thorndyke? It's Nurse Hardy from the Mistralton Pokémon Centre." Suddenly, everyone felt tense, including Alexa.
"Hello..."
"I'm just calling to let you know that your Zoroark is fully conscious," Nurse Hardy said cheerfully, much to the relief of Alexa and everyone around her.
"Is he okay?" she asked rather quickly.
"His CT came back clear, which suggests that the procedure was successful, but he was complaining about his limited movement. His speech, however, seems to be slower than it should be, but he's still coherent."
"I-I'm on my way to see him now," Alexa said in mild panic.
"See you soon," Nurse Hardy said politely before hanging up on Alexa. After the communication ended, Alexa suddenly stood up.
"Dad, I-"
"It's okay, we understand; go and see him," Hayden smiled. Alexa smiled gratefully and bowed courteously.
"Thanks, Dad!"
"How are you going to get there? Phoenix isn't clear for flying," Keenan said worriedly.
"Maybe Robbie can take you there?" Keith suggested.
"No, honey, it's too far for Robbie to travel on foot," Lily stated. "Lexie, Cheryl can get you to Mistralton and back in no time flat."
"Are you sure?" Alexa asked as she looked at her mother.
"Absolutely."
"Thank you, Mum! I-I'll be as-"
"No, take as long as you need," Hayden said kindly. "We're not going to leave without you," he said endearingly as Lily released Cheryl from her Poké Ball; with her Gardevoir outside, Lily tossed the Poké Ball over to Alexa, who caught it in just her left hand.
"Wish him well from the rest of us, sweetheart."
"I will. Thank you."
"Cheryl? Can you take her to Mistralton Pokémon Centre please?" Lily requested.
"Gardevoir," Cheryl nodded as she held Alexa's hand gently. In the blink of an eye, Cheryl and Alexa vanished into thin air. Keenan stood up from his chair and stretched his back.
"Mum, I'm just going to get a drink."
"Okay, sweetie," Lily smiled.
"I'll go, too," Keith said as he stood up. Robbie watched Keith as he walked over to Keenan. "I'm kinda parched myself," he chuckled.
"Just don't get lost; this place is bigger than I thought it would be," Hayden laughed as the two boys left the plaza. With Keith and Keenan momentarily absent, Hayden began to fiddle with his Xtransceiver.
"What are you doing?" Lily asked.
"Getting in touch with Harvey and Hailey."
Piper was still flying in the sky above the Route 3 Daycare Centre alongside Zane. In the paddock, meanwhile, Troy knelt near the slightly slimmer and oddly exhausted Purugly as he used a stethoscope to examine the pale grey and white egg in front of him. Perri lay next to the panting Purugly, quietly comforting the new mother. Michael sat in front of Troy and kept his watchful eye on the egg. Troy's examination came to a sudden halt as his Xtransceiver emitted an upbeat piano tune; Michael scooted slightly closer to the egg and drew it closer to him with three of his tails as Troy picked up the incoming call – he was both surprised and delighted to see Alexa's face appearing on the screen.
"Troy-"
"Hey, Alexa! You doing okay?" Alexa rolled her eyes. "Keenan told me you-"
"I came back this morning and I patched things up with my Dad, yes, but that's not why I'm calling," she said hastily. Troy was confused. "It's Xavier; he's awake." All of a sudden, Michael and Perri watched Troy as he spoke to Alexa, interested and nervous about the subject matter.
"I-Is he okay?!" Troy asked worriedly.
"I'm about to go in and see him, but the nurse told me his procedure was successful, his speech is slow and was complaining about his movements being limited."
"But thank Arceus he's alive," Troy sighed with relief.
"I just thought I'd let you know in case you wanted to see him," Alexa said kindly.
"Thanks for the thought, but, uh...I-I don't think I can make it today," Troy said nervously. "One of the Daycare Pokémon laid her egg not too long ago."
"Aww, congrats!"
"Yeah, but I'm kinda worried about whether or not her Trainer will accept the egg...especially since I now know it's twins," Troy added with a slightly wider grin.
"Aww, how cute! But don't worry about not seeing Xavier today; I highly doubt he'll be discharged today and—oh, dammit, I forgot to get a new Poké Ball for him...!" Troy chuckled.
"Well, it's good to know you're doing okay at the very least," he said caringly. "And thanks for letting me know; Perri and Michael appreciate the sentiment."
"Xavier's their son; why wouldn't they?" Alexa grinned. "I gotta go; I only have a half hour visiting time slot."
"Say hi to him from all of us," Troy winked.
"You know it! See you later, Troy!" As soon as Alexa hung up, Troy spotted Piper darting towards the ground, veiled almost entirely in brilliant red flames; the Altaria soared back into the sky before her beak could touch the ground beneath her as her flames began to die. Troy and Zane both watched Piper's execution of the Sky Attack technique and smiled at her proudly; Piper's training was starting to pay off.
To be continued...