Blake opened his eyes to a dimly lit room. He slowly looked around to try and gather himself, but the room was entirely unfamiliar. The bed he was in was soft, and a quiet beeping played rhythmically from beside him. He slowly turned his head towards the sound and saw a boy, slouched over and sleeping in a chair near his bed. Various machines sitting several feet from the boy were quickly deduced as the source of the beeping. Blake slowly began to sit up, only to be brought back down from the pounding in his head. As he slumped back down onto the pillow he let out a pained groan, causing the boy beside him to stir.
"You're awake." The blonde stated as he shot to his feet. "How are you feeling?"
"Like next time I will move faster when a hyper beam is aimed at me." The black-haired boy groaned out. "Where is Chance? Is he alright? What about vaporeon?"
"They are both fine." Adrian smiled. "Vaporeon is staying the night at the pokemon center to be healed up. Chance decided to stay there as well to make sure vaporeon and the injured scyther weren't alone." He explained. "As for Chance… The boy is stubborn. Scyther cut into his shoulder pretty badly, but the moment it was stitched and bandaged he went straight to the pokemon center to be with it."
The older trainer smiled at this. "I am glad he has such a good heart. Vaporeon doesn't deserve to be alone after risking so much for me." He closed his eyes once more, hiding from the dim lights that assaulted his eyes and worsened the throbbing in his head.
"Your pokemon really do care for you a lot. You should be proud." The two shared a smile at that. "Now that you're looking a bit better… I am going to head back over to the center and check on Chance and the pokemon. Try and get some more sleep, alright?"
"That shouldn't be hard." He chuckled. "Thank you." The blonde nodded before leaving his friend to rest once more.
The blonde trainer made the walk from the Goldenrod hospital to the pokemon center fairly quickly, as they were only a few blocks away from each other. Adrian hurried into the pokemon center and out of the chilly night air. He gave the nurse at the front desk a small wave as he walked back towards the hallway where he knew his redheaded companion was. He quietly walked down the hallway until he saw his friend sitting on the floor, his head lolled to the side. Adrian smiled at the quiet, even breathing of his sleeping friend. He slowly sunk down the wall to sit beside his friend, who stirred from the motion beside him.
"Hey. How ya feeling?" The blonde asked as he glanced at the bandages exposed slightly by the loose fitting hoodie.
"M'alright." The redhead let out in a slow slur as he stretched his one good arm in a yawn.
"I'm glad… Any news on the pokemon?"
"Vaporeon will be fine by tomorrow." Chance explained as he straightened his hoodie to cover up the bandages on his left shoulder. "He just won't be able to battle for a few days while he heals. As for scyther… He will recover. His injuries weren't too severe. They said he is more traumatized than anything and might not trust humans too well after having that poacher send tyranitar after him. They plan to take him and release him back into the national park tomorrow." He frowned at the ground the entire time he spoke of the bug pokemon.
Adrian put his hand on Chance's good shoulder, causing the boy to turn and look his friend in the eyes for the first time. "Both pokemon will be okay, so don't worry so much. It will take time for scyther to trust people again, but you showed him that not everybody is bad. He just might surprise you with how fast he recovers."
The redhead nodded. "I guess you're right."
"Aren't I always?" The blonde grinned. He earned a smile as a response to his sarcasm. "Come on, let's get you to a real bed now that you know the pokemon will be fine." He said as he began to stand once more.
"I'll be fine here." Chance smiled. "I have to be here when scyther wakes up."
"Is there a point arguing with you?" Adrian asked, shaking his head. "Let it be known that you will heal better if you take care of yourself, too."
The two trainers sunk down once more, doing their best to make themselves comfortable enough to get some rest and await the two pokemon waking up.
The morning seemed to come quickly, as the boys were awoken by several nurses doing their rounds and checking on all of the pokemon that had been admitted for overnight stays. Chance quickly flagged down one of the roaming nurses to ask for an update on the two pokemon he was waiting for. He was informed that both pokemon would be ready to leave as soon as they awoke. They were told that vaporeon would be released to Blake as soon as he got to the center, and scyther would be transported to the national park in a few hours.
"I'm glad they will be okay." The redhead smiled as the nurse walked away.
"There is more on your mind than that." Adrian observed his shorter friend's face.
"Just worried about scyther is all." He mumbled in response.
The boys stood in silence, staring through the large windows into the two rooms at the resting pokemon. Vaporeon was the first to stir, and after a few quick tests were done to observe the pokemon, he was allowed to stretch his legs and wait for his trainer with the two trainers outside the room. Both boys quickly grew fond of the water-type, as he was very affectionate and loved the attention he was getting as they scratched behind his large, fin-like ears.
Not long after vaporeon joined the two boys, scyther began to awaken as well. The bug-type didn't handle it nearly as well as vaporeon had. Scyther immediately panicked upon waking up. The mantis pokemon tried to stand, ripping several probes and monitors from its body. The nurses in the room panicked as well when the pokemon began to thrash about in fear. Upon seeing the scene play out in front of him, Chance quickly ran for the door to the room. The nurses scolded him that he shouldn't be in there as he bolted past them and towards the scared scyther. However, once the bug-type saw the redhead he began to slowly calm down and lower himself back onto the table.
"Everything is alright, I promise." Chance spoke softly as he reached a hand out to rest on scyther's cheek. "The nurses just have to check a few things and then we can take you back home, okay?" He smiled as he spoke to the pokemon.
"Scyther really trusts you after rescuing it." Nurse Joy observed as she entered the room as well. "We have only been able to work with it while it was sedated." Scyther's eyes scanned the three women who were in the room with it, watching every move they made.
"You're alright, buddy." Chance spoke, making small circles on the pokemon's cheek with his thumb.
The remaining tests were done as quickly as they could be and a truck was prepared to take scyther back home. The entire time, Chance was allowed to sit with scyther to keep it calm. Once the tests were done and the truck was ready and waiting in front of the pokemon center, the team of nurses exited the room with scyther, who stayed close to Chance. Upon exiting the room, Chance quickly noticed Blake had arrived as well. The two trainers shared a glance and a nod before the group headed towards the front of the pokemon center.
The group made their way to the transport truck, where two park rangers were waiting for them. Nurse Joy helped the still sore scyther into the back of the vehicle before turning to the group.
"Will you be joining us, young man?" She asked the now confused redhead. "You have been by scyther's side this entire time. Wouldn't you like to see the happy ending of it being returned to its family?" The nurse had a large smile as she spoke, and was met with a large smile in return.
"I'd like that." He nodded as he stepped into the back of the truck with the nurse. "Ready to go home, scyther?" He asked, placing his hand on scyther's shoulder. The mantis pokemon nodded with a slight smile.
The two trainers outside the truck waved farewell to their friend as the rangers shut the doors and the truck began to make its way through the city. It didn't take long before they were once again in the national park, and moving towards where the park rangers had last seen scyther's swarm. The entire ride, scyther had remained close to Chance's side, still not fully trusting the nurse that had healed its injuries.
Soon, the truck came to a halt, and those in the back could hear the park rangers exit the front of the vehicle and circle around to let them out as well. The doors swung open, revealing a small meadow surrounded by forest. Along the edge of the tree line was the scyther swarm, cautiously watching the rangers and the vehicle that had entered their territory.
Nurse Joy quickly exited the truck to stand alongside the park rangers waiting outside. She turned and motioned for scyther to follow. The mantis, slowly stepped forward, sniffing the air and constantly looking back to make sure that Chance was beside him. The redheaded trainer made sure to stay walking just behind the bug-type, talking calmly to reassure the pokemon that it was home. The two then stepped into the bright sunlight that awaited them.
Scyther took a few steps away from the humans that had formed a small group outside the truck and looked around. It quickly eyed the swarm of pokemon that was waiting a few yards away. Scyther began to run towards its swarm, who started to move forward towards their friend as well. While the group of bug pokemon had a moment to rejoice, Chance finally noticed the size difference between the scyther he had helped and the others.
"Wow… Scyther really is small compared to the rest of the swarm." He said quietly.
"Yes." Nurse Joy said with a smile. "That scyther is still very young. Right now he is only about two thirds the size of a full grown scyther. That is one of the reasons the whole ordeal rattled him so much. Being as young as he is, these things become even more frightening." She explained.
The redhead nodded in response, his eyes trained on the bug he had helped rescue. "I'm glad everything worked out. This moment makes all the pain and fear worth it." He smiled.
"Indeed it does. That's why I do this. Every time a pokemon gets to reunite with its family or trainer it tells me that I am doing the right thing." The nurse smiled once more. "But, the day has just begun. Scyther is back home and it's time for me to get back to my pokemon center. Shall we?" She asked turning back towards the truck. Chance nodded, struggling to take his eyes off the joyful reunion, before turning back towards the truck as well.
"Scyther! Scy!" The group heard the loud cry as they were once more getting into the truck. Chance turned with a look of confusion to see the small scyther standing with its swarm behind it, staring at him expectantly.
"I think he wants to thank you." Joy smiled.
"Oh? Is that it? Well, I am glad I could help, scyther." Chance spoke as he took a knee before the pokemon, reaching his hand out to pet its cheek. "Now you be safe with your family, alright?" He stood once more and began to turn around, but was stopped by scyther nudging his side. "What is it, scyther?" He asked, confused.
Scyther stared up at the trainers eyes, then turned to its swarm. The largest scyther, who stood at the front of the swarm, slowly nodded its head to the younger bug pokemon. Scyther turned once more towards the redhead and poked at the front pouch of his hoodie, where his pokeballs currently were tucked away.
"I'd wager that scyther wants to go with you now that it has said goodbye to its family." Joy explained, placing her hand on Chance's shoulder.
"What? Is that right, buddy?" Scyther nodded before poking his pokeballs once more. Chance smiled and withdrew an empty ball from within the pocket on his hoodie. "Well, if you're sure, then I would love to have you on the team." He held the pokeball out to the mantis pokemon, who poked the small circle on the front of it with the end of one of his scythes. Instantly the bug disappeared in a flash of red light and the ball clicked, finalizing the capture. Chance smiled down at the pokeball, happy that he had made a new friend.
Chance took a final moment before leaving the swarm to nod to the large leader and promise that he would take good care of the youngster that would now be accompanying him. He then trotted over to the waiting vehicle and joined Nurse Joy in the short trip back to the pokemon center.
"Chance! You're finally back! How did it go?" Adrian greeted his friend once he entered the pokemon center.
"Better than expected, actually." The redhead said with a grin. He was met with a curious look from his blonde friend, and the older, black haired trainer behind him. To answer their questions he withdrew the pokeball from his pocket and explained to them what had transpired once they reached the swarm.
"Well, you should be quite proud." Blake praised, clapping his friend on his good shoulder. "Scyther can be a very powerful pokemon if raised properly, and it will be a good learning experience for you to help this one rehabilitate and start being more comfortable with humans again. Just remember to not rush things with it."
"Yeah, it will be tough, but the two of us can handle it." The redhead grinned.
Snivy also gave an approving nod to the new capture from her spot on Adrian's shoulder, as she was currently scorning her trainer for keeping her in her pokeball overnight. The three trainers laughed at the starter pokemon's entitlement before letting their conversation drift to other topics. Blake made sure to thank Chance once again for staying with his vaporeon while he was out of commission, but before long, the older trainer said his goodbyes and left the two younger trainers to their own devices.
"So… What now?" The redhead asked his friend.
"Well, first off, we go buy you a new shirt so you're not wearing just a hoodie anymore." The blonde grinned. "And then I guess we can head to Ecruteak City tomorrow morning. Sound good?"
"Works for me." Chance replied, adjusting his loose hoodie with a small sense of insecurity, as he had given no thought to wearing just that since his old shirt had been soaked in blood and ruined.
"Alright then. It's a plan." The blonde smiled, standing from the table in the pokemon center café that they had been occupying for the past hour or so.