Well sorry for the delay but I'm suffering from a very nasty case of the flu. So I write about three sentances before I have to leg it for the tissue box. I'll try not to let it affect me that much but I'll apolagise in advance, just in case. Sorry for any inconvieniance.
Comments are still wanted, as Flame comes to terms with the events of the last episode.
Episode 102: Guilt Trip
The next minute was the most numbing of my entire life. It all passed in a blur. The only concrete details I can recall is Moron pulling out a shirt and using it as a makeshift bandage while Joanne called out Scout and gave him a note to pass onto someone at the Center.
I remember Moron picking up the bleeding bundle and setting off for the Center, Joanne following behind. They were going at full sprint while I was trying to get my legs to move. I failed miserably and slumped to the ground.
"Damnit, why am I so afraid?" I muttered to myself, untill a purr coming from behind me caused me to turn around.
"One down," the Persian purred as it stepped towards me, "only four more and that Umbreon will pay."
I felt that fear come back as it moved fowards, claws sliding out of their sheaths. I wanted to run but I knew that I wouldn't get very far before it caught me, plus my legs refused to move again.
"With you out of the way, there will be no resistance when Master returns," the Persian purred before leaping fowards.
At the very last second, I managed to force my legs into moving and shot clear of those razor sharp claws. I realised that the Persian was talking about the Hypno, which did little to stop my fear.
"I killed Hypno!" I yelled as the Persian came round to face me.
"And now, I shall kill you," it replied, "then the rest of your little group will follow."
"Not if Scyther kills crazy cat thing first," Scyther muttered as he appeared behind the Persian.
He lept fowards, blades ready to slash at Persian. There was a bright flash of light and he was flung backwards, just managing to land on his feet. The Persian glanced across at me, I was still frozen to the spot, and grinned. The sudden show of very nasty looking teeth allowed me to take a step away from the feline.
"You are mine, Charmander," it growled before bounding off into the undergrowth. Scyther walked up to me, limping slightly.
"Is Flame okay?" He asked, I managed a small nod, "then Scyther suggests we head to Cerulean, Squirt is keeping an eye on Moron. Now Scyther knows why."
"Yeah," I muttered quietly, allowing myself to be herded away, 'when I said that I wanted a reason to stay in Cerulean a while, I did not quiet mean for this.'
"Flame let his fear take over," Scyther said as we both plodded along. Neither of us were in any condition for anything faster than a walk.
"I know," I replied quietly, still trying to get my nerves under control.
"How is Flame going to stay alive if fear is an issue?" Scyther asked, "Scyther won't always be around to save Flame, and Pika is dying because of it."
"I said I know!" I yelled, my jumpiness being replaced by seething rage, "I don't need you pointing out my flaws every single damn time something happens."
Scyther stared at me for several seconds, stunned by my sudden outburst. I kept walking, refusing to look back.
"Scyther apolagises," he finally said as he caught up, "Scyther was only trying to help."
"I don't need anyones help!" I snarled, "and I suggest that you don't forget that. Unless you want me to punch you in the face again."
"There is no need to get hostile," he muttered, trying to calm me down. It failed.
"There is every bloody need to get hostile. Pika nearly died there because of me and there is you giving me a fucking lecture!"
Next thing I recall is waking up in the Pokémon Center, Squirt sitting on the ground beside the bed. He appeared ti be dozing
"What happened?" I asked, causing him to jump up and spin around
"Yeesh. It's about time you woke up," he told me, "Scyther knocked you out to calm you down and somehow managed to haul you here. He also mentioned something about 'a little payback'. For someone with nothing that resembles hands, he sure can do some crazy stuff."
I climbed out of bed and headed towards the exit, not replying to Squirt.
"Pika should be fine, they're fixing up the injuries right now," he added, which did get a reaction.
"That changes nothing," I muttered as I left the room, slamming the door shut behind me.
I headed along random corridoors, eventually managing to reach the lobby. Moron was waiting there, along with Scyther and Scout. They all looked up as I walked in, I couldn't look any of them in the eye. There was a hiss from my right and Nurse Joy, one of the not evil ones, headed in. Joanne followed behind, looking incredibly pale
"Pika will be fine," the nurse told everyone, "although she did tear her main elecrical charge organ so she won't be able to use any powerfull electical attacks ever again. Also, several muscles were torn so she will probably end up with a nasty limp. So I doubt she'd be able to battle anymore, especially not a competitive one."
Everyone let out a sigh of relief, except me. I was too busy heading for the door. Nobody noticed me leave the building and I headed through the streets. I wasn't sure where I was going, but I didn't exactly care.
"No matter what I do, I just end up hurting someone," I muttered to myself as I walked along.
Eventually I found myself at the city gates, leading out towards the route where the Persian had attacked. I slumped down by a lamppost and leaned against it, looking down that route.
"What am I supposed to do?" I asked out loud, "how am I going to fight that thing if I can't even fight my own fear?"
"Now that is a toughie," came a quiet voice as someone came and sat down beside me, "but only you are the one that knows the answer."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" I muttered, turning to look at my companion.
"Hello to you too, Uncle," the Eevee replied, "and it means that you have to calm down and think things through before you get yourself killed."
"Right now, death would be a good thing," I told Spiral, returning my gaze to the gate.
Spiral moved round and set directly in front of me, staring me in the eye. She had grown since our last meeting so we were pretty much nose to nose now.
"I've been living in that Pokémon Center since you left, I've seen people walk in with injuries just like Pika's and none of them said anything like that. You have to snap yourself out of your little guilt trip. I heard the news about what happened in Vermillion. Someone actually recorded your little speech and played it on TV, so I saw all of that. You made a mistake there and fixed it, so do the same now."
I stared back at her and managed a small smile before speaking, "you have a point."
"Of course I do, I'm the only one in the family with any sense."
"True. Thanks Spiral."
"You're welcome. Nice to know that I didn't grow up mentally for nothing. I'm going to head back to the Center now, you coming?"
"You go on ahead," I said, "I'm gonna stay here and think a little more."
Spiral nodded and headed off, leaving me alone once more. I waited a few minutes untill I was sure that she was out of sight before getting to my feet.
"I'm going to go fix that mess," I said to myself as I headed towards the gate, "and I fix things through violence."