"Girls, hurry up, we're almost there!" Paul yelled over his shoulder, out of breath.
At this time, the group is less than a quarter mile from Viridian City. The gang was exhausted after moving almost continually for what seemed like an eternity.
Everyone else tried their hardest to catch up with Ash as he made his way toward Viridian with Serena. They tried to stay close to him for a while, but Ash was correct...he was the fastest of everyone.
Ash was not only faster, even with a full-grown woman in his arms, but he also appeared to have the stamina of a triathlete. Everyone else had to slow down at some time, but Ash kept going, fulfilling his pledge to not wait for them.
The distance from the edge of the forest to Viridian City was slightly more than four and a half miles, and the gang assumed Ash had sprinted the entire distance. They would never have believed such a feat was possible, but watching Ash's unwavering drive to help Serena convinced them that he had.
They did their hardest to maintain their speed, hoping to be in the city before Ash, but having had such a long day was impacting their stamina. These frequently found themselves in need of breaks, albeit they were brief, only long enough to allow them to collect their breath.
However, now that they were on the home stretch, they pushed through the pain in their legs and the burning in their lungs, ran as quickly as they could for the final half mile.
The gang was only a few hundred meters away from formally entering Viridian City, which they believed would serve as a safe haven for them, if only for a short while. After such an interesting day, everyone wanted a decent night's sleep.
They dashed through the "Welcome to Viridian City" sign, finally arrived where they'd hoped to.
Paul, who was leading the group, permitted himself to stop once they arrived at their destination. When the others saw this, they all started wheezing excessively. Max had even dropped to his knees, his legs having had enough of being beaten for so long.
The assembly fell silent, giving everybody time to catch their breath. The only sounds were heavy panting.
It took a few minutes, but everyone's breathing ultimately returned to normalcy. They were still tired, as seen by the exhausted expressions on their faces. Despite this, they were aware that they had more pressing concerns.
"Do you know where the hospital is?" Paul asked Brock, who was unfamiliar with Kanto's cities.
Brock, who had grown up in or around Viridian City, nodded, "The hospital is in the same building as the Pokemon Center." It's not far away, just up the road. "I actually completed my residency there."
Paul nodded and let Brock take them to the center. It wasn't uncommon to find hospitals and Pokemon Centers coexisting in the same structure. It merely appeared more convenient; they both shared much of the same equipment, and many human injuries were also caused by pokemon. It was simply far more favorable for everyone.
The group rushed up to the Pokemon Center, pausing briefly to take in the enormity of the structure. It was enormous, easily one of the largest hubs not only in Kanto, but in the entire world. Despite the fact that most people had seen it before, it was still a sight to behold.
To avoid wasting any more time, the gang entered the main lobby through the building's automatic sliding glass doors.
Brock headed to the right side of the massive lobby, to the area dealing with humans, without even looking at the signs to know where he was heading.
Brock moved quickly past a receptionist, paying little attention to her, and through a set of doors that led to a waiting room, closely followed by the others.
Brock didn't even have to fully open the door to hear the activity inside.
"...you don't know yet?" It's your job as a doctor to know!" A well-known voice roared.
Brock opened the doors all the way, allowing the gang to enter the practically empty waiting area to see what was going on.
There were just two persons in the neighborhood. One was an older man with a white jacket, most likely in his 60s. His icy hair complemented his white mustache nicely. They could only presume he was some kind of doctor. Of course, the other person was Ash.
They couldn't help but notice Ash's indignant, almost begging expression. As he stood close to his trainer on the floor, Pikachu had the same expression as his trainer.
That cannot be good.
"Listen, sir, I understand your concern, but you must calm down or I will have you hauled out of here... All I can say for now is that we don't know if the anti-venom will function properly. There was a lot of venom in her blood, and it had already spread throughout her body. I'll keep you updated when additional information becomes available. For the time being, wait here." The doctor elaborated.
Ash's mouth moved as if he was about to speak something, but no words were uttered. Instead, he frowned and closed his eyes before nodding his head.
The doctor turned to walk away, but Ash grabbed his arm and stopped him. The doctor promptly returned his attention to the youngster, gazing him in the eyes.
"Am I allowed to see her?" Ash begged, his voice hushed but hopeful.
The doctor sighed; he'd seen this reaction too many times to count. It used to break his heart, but now it simply served to irritate him somewhat. He was furious that they were making him feel so depressed. He'd seemed to have forgotten how broken a person may feel when a loved one was sick or harmed after so many years.
"I can't allow you to do that right now." We still have a lot of work to do. If you want her to live, we need a place to work. Right now, the only thing you can do is pray." With that, the doctor turned away and returned to the hospital's staff area.
Although he didn't mean to, the doctor's statements made Ash believe Serena's case was hopeless. They were going to try to fix her, but he shouldn't get too excited. With that as his last thought, he dropped to the floor, allowing a single tear to fall from his eye.
When Dawn, May, and Misty saw this, they raced to Ash's side, stooping down and placing a consoling hand on him. Ash, on the other hand, didn't seem to notice their presence; he was too preoccupied with his thoughts, as seen by the blank stare he maintained with the carpeted floor below him.
Meowth also used this opportunity to try to console Ash, following the other's lead and placed a paw on the boy's leg. That left Brock, Paul, Max, Tracey, and James standing at the doors they had just entered.
"In all the years I've worked with her, I've never seen anything that touched my heart as much as this." The males were taken aback when a feminine voice said somberly.
When they turned to their right, they were met by the sight of a middle-aged black woman. They figured she was a nurse or some sort of receptionist. She was working behind a counter, so it was probably the latter.
"May I apologize?" James inquired.
"That boy over there," the woman said, motioning her head toward Ash. He walked in, bathed in perspiration and holding a girl. He thrust her into the arms of the doctor, yelling at him to fix her. "I've never seen somebody so upset in my life."
"That is, in fact, our pal Ash. Serena is the name of the girl. She had been stung by a Beedrill." Max remarked absentmindedly, his gaze fixed on Ash.
"I heard," the woman nodded. Do you know how long she's been stung? By the way, my name is Rose. Lockhart, Rose." Rose, who had recently been identified, questioned.
"I'm Brock, and this is Paul, James, Tracey, and Max," Brock nodded. Anyway, to answer your question..." Brock turned his gaze to the wall-mounted clock.
His heart sank when he saw the time. It had taken far longer than he had anticipated.
"How long has our friend been here?" Brock inquired swiftly.
"About 45 minutes before you," Rose explained.
"It's been around one hour and fifteen minutes, from the time of the sting to when Ash came," Brock said with a slight sigh of relief.
When Brock stated these words, he seemed strangely relieved. When the four other men looked at the time, they realized why. It had taken them more over two hours to get there, and Beedrill venom was widely known to be capable of killing an average person in that time.
Serena would have died by now if Ash hadn't taken her.
"Our friend...he dashed here." He rushed from the north side of the forest that separated Viridian and Pallet, never stopping. If he'd just stopped..." Paul's words were choking him.
Rose allowed a sorrowful grin to appear on her face. "That explains why he was so sweating when he walked in here...he must care a lot about this Serena girl," she said, indicating her great kindness.
For a brief while, Paul smiled, "Yeah...he does."
"Go check on your pal, and help each other get through this." Please do not hesitate to seek for assistance. I'll do everything I can to assist you all." Rose stated politely
"Thank you, Rose," James said with a smile. We sincerely appreciate it."
Rose smiled as she brushed aside the praise and returned to her paperwork on her desk. Following the advice of the elder woman, the four guys approached their companion, who had moved to one of the many chairs that littered the room.
Dawn's demeanor was similar to Ash's, who had a downcast countenance. Misty and May, on the other hand, were doing everything they could to persuade the two to think positively.
The men sat around each other since they didn't know what else to do. Everyone was terrified, but some appeared to be dealing with it better than others. This was a major reason why they required each other, in case someone fell and needed the others to help them get back up.
Taking a chance, James said, "Ash, she'll be OK, you got her here in plenty of time." Serena is going to be OK."
Ash remained silent. Instead, Dawn stood up, saying, "Actually, no...he might not have. According to reports, it takes two hours for an average guy to die from the venom. However, it is...much less for girls."
Everyone's eyes widened. How could they have missed this? It didn't really matter, though. There was nothing they could do because Ash had gotten Serena here as quickly as anyone could.
"She'll be fine," Brock said, not wanting another person's head to drop. The doctors in this hospital are among the best in the world. And because Beedrill bites are pretty common, they know how to handle them! Just have trust that she'll make it."
For the first time in a long time, Ash raised his head and fixed his attention on Brock. He looked at the man with a sad and angry expression on his face.
"And what if she doesn't?" What if she doesn't make it? Our good fortune will run out one of these days. What if that day is right now!?" Ash screamed, his voice cracking.
Tracey piped in, slightly flinching at the torrent of words, "Ash, she's going to pull through! She, like you, is a fighter. She'd never let something so insignificant bring her down. We can't stay up all night moping over it because there was nothing anyone could have done."
Ash lowered his head once more, murmuring into his hands, which were now covering his face.
"Speak up, Ash, we're not hearing you." Misty stated.
"Yes, there was!" Ash said, quickly removing his hands from his face and looked up. This was entirely my fault! I pledged to protect her, and yet here she is, on the verge of death."
Ash burst into tears as soon as he concluded his sentence, letting his feelings out. The others stood there stunned. It was difficult to watch Ash cry like way. He was the group's anchor, the strong one, and watching him break down always surprised and scared everyone.
After they got over their first shock, most of them saw how absurd Ash was acting. They knew they shouldn't have been surprised; Ash was always the type of person who blamed himself for everything, even if he had nothing to do with it.
Despite this, they could see why Ash felt this way. He'd made a commitment to protect everyone in the group not quite a full day before this happened, promising that he would not let anyone get wounded. Nonetheless, they were in a hospital, where Serena was being treated for potentially fatal injuries.
"Ash, stop blaming yourself for these things." You and I both know there was no avoiding what happened." Brock informed the younger gentleman.
Paul listened closely to everyone's statements, his face contorted in rage and grief. He truly appeared to be holding back tears.
"You're mistaken, Brock..." "Me and Ash made a commitment to defend all of you with our lives, and we failed," Paul said. Nobody hates to think about it, but Serena may die. So, yeah, Brock, we are to blame. Don't try to convince us otherwise."
The group was taken aback. Normally, Paul was fairly sensible and level-headed, but something about this circumstance made him believe that what had transpired was entirely his and Ash's fault.
May listened to what was being said, understanding that getting irrational was only making things worse for everyone. "I want both of you to look at me," the brunette said, taking care not to offend.
May took a brief pause, allowing the two men to carry out her order. After a few moments of stillness, Ash and Paul raised their heads, locking gazes with the young coordinator.
"You have no idea how much it means to me, to all of us, that we have friends ready to put their own life ahead of ours; I cannot begin to thank you enough," May said softly. However, you cannot always be there to defend us..." May said.
"Yes, we can; all we have to do is-" Ash began, only to be cut off by the attractive brunette.
"No, you can't." Things happen that no one can control at times. Serena's situation is a prime example of this. Nothing anyone could have done could have stopped it. And Ash, you went above and beyond. You carried Serena all the way here without pausing! You are the reason she is going to live." May completed her sentence nicely, her smile never leaving her face.
"Paul, I haven't known you for a long time, but I know you were entirely honest when you vowed to protect us," she said, turning her attention solely to him. But, as I already stated, some things cannot be avoided. Blaming yourself will just make things worse."
After May concluded her speech, both men sat in silence, allowing what she'd spoken to sink in. The longer they sat, the more they knew she was correct.
May added one final thought as they began to accept her words, "And I know, if there is ever a scenario when you can do something to protect one of us from getting hurt, you will." Ash, you have demonstrated that over and again, and I am confident that you, Paul, will do the same."
Both Ash and Paul smiled for the first time since Serena was stung. They recognized now that there was no turning back what had transpired. All they could do was aid wherever they could and hope Serena was okay. Dawn's weeping stopped as she learned the reality.
"May, how did you get so wise?" With a smirk on his face, Ash mocked.
"Well...I had a fairly good instructor..." May responded with a wink directed at Ash.
Everyone grinned at the exchange, but were quickly reminded of their current circumstances when the back doors of the hospital opened, showing the same doctor who had previously spoken to Ash.
When they saw the man marching toward them, the smiles vanished and were replaced with worried and concerned expressions.
"What's going on, sir?" Ash jumped out of his chair and ran toward the doctor.
"There's good news, and there's awful news," the older man groaned, sinking everyone's heart.
"The good news is, the girl is responding nicely to the anti-venom," the doctor said, seeing the worry on these young adults' faces. It's currently performing its work, clearing the venom from her bloodstream."
A flicker of optimism fluttered in the group's hearts, but it was quickly shattered when they realized there was still awful news...
"How about the bad news?" James inquired hesitantly.
"We've identified something that is causing some issues," the doctor sighed once more. "Did any of you know she's allergic to Beedrill?"
The group glanced at one other, perplexed, as no one knew anything about Serena. Most people had never idea it was possible to be allergic to a pokemon. Only Brock and Tracey appeared to comprehend the enormity of the situation.
"Doctor, what does that mean?" Max was curious.
"She was breaking out in hives and having difficulties breathing." To assist her, we had to insert a breathing tube. But the main issue is that I'm not sure how effective the anti-venom will be in her system. Being allergic to Beedrill is not a common occurrence. The anti-venom sometimes works on these patients. But sometimes it doesn't."
"So, what do we do now?" Ash felt himself becoming choked up again.
"From a medical standpoint, we've done everything we can." All that remains is to wait and hope for the best." The doctor completed his work.
Some members of the group sobbed when they heard the news, while others tried to remain tough.
Ash was currently trying his hardest not to lose it again. Serena needed him right now, and he had to be there for her.
"May I see her?" Ash inquired gently, his voice devoid of emotion.
"I'm not sure that's a good idea..." The doctor ended his sentence.
Ash snapped, like he had done previously. He lifted the doctor onto his tiptoes by grabbing his collar.
"You're not going to like what happens if you don't let me see her..." Ash made a threat. His voice was filled with venom, yet there was also a trace of sadness in it.
Pikachu stood close to Ash, fueled by his trainer's rage. His cheeks ignited, ready to attack when summoned.
"Rose, call security and get this man out of here!" yelled the doctor, fearing for his safety.
When the doctor didn't hear a response after a few seconds, he looked across at the desk where Rose was usually stationed.
He spotted the woman standing with her arms folded across her chest. Her face was filled with rage and disdain.
"I will not do anything like that." "You are denying this youngster the right to be by his friend's side when she needs him the most," Rose began humbly. In good conscience, I cannot allow it to happen. I'll turn a blind eye if you don't let him see her."
After a time of silence, Rose spoke again, "Go ahead, youngster, do what you have to."
"WAIT!" The doctor became terrified. "Wait a minute...you can go visit her." However, just you! This many individuals in her room are not permitted."
Ash swiftly lowered the doctor from his lofty position and turned to face the pleasant receptionist. The raven-haired man dashed through the doors, commencing his hunt for Serena's room after thanking her.
Before returning to the back, the doctor gave Rose a filthy look. Rose was then approached by the rest of the group.
"Do you have anything else I can do for you?" Rose inquired nicely.
Her statements made the entire group smile. She'd just brought Ash back from seeing Serena, and now she was wondering if she could do anything else.
"No thanks, Rose." You've already gone above and above." Brock gave the woman a friendly grin.
"Actually, I believe there is something else I can do for you." Tell Nurse Joy at the Pokemon Center section of the building that Rose told you to hook you up. It will get you two free accommodations for the night." Rose had finished.
The group was taken aback. What kind of human could exist? She was strikingly similar to a certain raven-haired trainer...
"I'm grateful, Rose, but I have to ask... Why are you doing all of this for us?" Dawn was curious.
"You seem like a wonderful set of folks who have fallen on hard times," the older woman replied with a smile. I just thought you might all use something useful today. That, and I know what it's like to lose someone close to you. That is something I do not want to happen to you."
Rose concluded solemnly, providing a brief insight into her background.
"I don't know who you lost, Rose, but I'm sincerely sorry." A woman like you should never have to endure something so heinous." Misty stated, immediately recognizing what had occurred.
Misty's theory turned out to be right. Rose responded with a sorrowful grin, "Thank you. It was a long time ago, yet I still remember the hurt. When I watched that boy race in here with that girl in her arms, I swore I'd do everything I could to aid him, to make sure he didn't have to go through what I did. And since you're all their pals, I'd like to assist you as well."
The woman's narrative brought tears to the eyes of a few of the group members, who quickly blinked them away.
"Thank you once more, Rose." We will never be able to repay you for the kindness you have given us today. We've hit a hard point, but you're the ray of optimism we needed to realize there's still good in the world. Thank you very much." Brock stated cheerfully.
"Oh come on now, you're going to make me weep!" Rose smiled, tears welling up in her eyes. You're very welcome! Now go on, you're all tired."
The gang turned to depart, nodding. However, Paul came to a halt as he realized something. He immediately returned his gaze to the doors Ash had just run through.
When Rose noticed this, she calmed the boy, saying, "Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on them both." I don't leave work till 8 a.m. anyway. You should go get some rest."
With a genuine smile for the woman, Paul resumed his walk to the center of the building, quickly catching up with the group.
Rose sat back down in her chair after they gone, sighing contentedly. It felt great to be able to assist others. She was pleased with herself.
She then allowed her sight drift to a photo frame on her desk.
"I only hope you're proud of me..." Rose thought, looking up from the picture.
Ash continued his hunt for Serena's room in the hospital corridors. He chastised himself for not asking where she was before hurrying off. Fortunately, he noticed a nurse emerge one of the many rooms that lined the halls.
"Excuse me, do you know where Serena Yvonne's room is?" Ash asked as she approached her.
The nurse cheerfully nodded, "I do. She's in room 115 on this floor."
Ash nodded and took off, following the signs to avoid getting lost. It didn't take long for him to find his preferred accommodation now that he knew where he was heading.
Without further ado, Ash stormed into Serena's room, room 115. As soon as he walked in, he slowed to a stroll so as not to disrupt anything in the room.
Finally, his gaze was drawn to her. She was connected up to a cardiac monitor, and a breathing tube was placed down her neck, as the doctor had previously stated.
Ash finally got a good look at Serena by pulling up a chair and placing it next to her bed. Her eyes and cheeks were puffy, as is typical of allergic reactions. But it was the hives that stuck out the most on her beautiful skin.
He loathed the Beedrill for tainting something so gentle, so... wonderful. He, on the other hand, saw right through everything that was wrong with her. After all, she was still Serena, an exceptionally attractive girl and Ash's childhood buddy.
Ash reached for her hand with caution, seizing it and gripping it with both of his own. Feeling her cool touch on his flesh caused the dams to burst once more. Ash mourned softly for what seemed like an eternity, the only sounds being his sniffling and murmuring Serena's name every now and then.
After a while, Ash realized that crying was pointless. She was going to get through it. He swore that the only time he'd be permitted to cry about it again would be when she awoke, and those tears would be joyful.
His fiery eyes were now fixed on Serena's comatose figure. She appeared weak and frail. It hurt him to see her in this condition, but he took comfort in knowing that she wouldn't remain like this for long.
He carefully began caressing his thumb over her delicate hand, primarily for his own comfort. He let his gaze drift to her face. Her lovely features.
Ash was aware that she wouldn't be able to hear him, yet he felt compelled to speak.
"Serena...
I'm so sorry that this occurred to you. The more things happen, the more I wish I could have persuaded you to let me do this on my own. But I know that would never have worked. Everyone is always there for me, no matter what the situation is." Ash stated with a smile.
"You've been there for me in my darkest hours, and now I'm going to do the same for you. I swear I won't leave your side till you wake up. When you're all well, my happy face will be the first thing you see."
His lips quivered, but he didn't dare to cry "I need you to rouse Serena up. You must combat this! I couldn't do it without you... You may be wondering why I frequently put my life in danger for my pals. I'll be the first to admit that it's not because I'm brave...far from it. Because I am the biggest coward in the world, I am willing to sacrifice myself for you..." Ash revealed himself solemnly.
"I'm so frightened of being alone, of losing you, that I'd rather die than allow anything bad to happen to you. That's why, Serena, I need you to wake up. Please..."
Ash finished, lowering his head and continuing to grip Serena's hand. He knew he shouldn't, but he felt another tear rise up in his eyes.
These tears, however, quickly dried up when he felt what had to be a sign, a glimmer of hope. He wasn't sure, but he swears he felt Serena's fingers tighten around his own.
He wasn't sure if he was hallucinating or not, but he didn't care. All he needed was that.
And that was only the second time that day that
Ash grinned.
Ash sat by Serena's side for hours, staring at her unconscious figure and thinking only about her. He yawned for the first time that night. He reluctantly shifted his gaze away from Serena and toward the wall-mounted clock. He was astonished to realize that it was already 3 a.m. He'd been seated for several hours.
It didn't matter, though. As he had stated, Ash had no intention of leaving Serena's side until she awoke. Though sleep did sound appealing at the time. The child then placed his head on the bed and closed his eyes in an attempt to sleep for the night. Pikachu, on the other hand, has already dozed out. He was currently lying between Serena's legs.
However, his plans were disrupted when he heard a knock on the door. At first, he was irritated with the perpetrator; he expected to hear someone informing him that he needed to leave, which he would refuse to do.
However, when he saw the person, any unpleasant feelings he was experiencing vanished. How could he be offended when this individual had only helped him and his pals since they'd met? The helpful secretary stood in the doorway.
"Hello, Rose. What exactly are you doing here?" Ash inquired, recalling the woman's name from when the doctor requested that he be removed from the building.
"I was just checking in on you two. I promised your buddies that I would check in on you. I sent them to the Pokemon Center so they could recuperate." Rose spoke out.
Ash smiled gratefully "Rose, I really appreciate you taking such wonderful care of us. True kindness is becoming increasingly rare these days."
Rose gave a sorrowful smile "That is something I have noticed over time. People appear to be too busy to be kind these days."
Ash agreed with a nod of his head. He then returned his gaze to Serena, his gaze lingering.
Rose slid into the seat next to Ash. She then raised a question she'd been thinking about for a while, "Isn't there more to it than simply the Beedrill sting? Something more substantial."
Ash returned his gaze to the older woman, a surprised expression on his face, "How did you-..."
"I've always had a knack for reading people. My brain is still fairly functional for an elderly woman." Rose laughed, slamming her fist on her head.
The woman's words brought a grin back to Ash's face.
"So, would you like to tell me what's going on? Perhaps I can assist." Rose stated this.
"Trust me, this is not something you could help me with," Ash moaned.
"Try me," Rose said with a confident grin.
"Shouldn't you be working right now?" Ash asked, smirking. "Alright, well—" he began, seeing the woman shrug.
The trainer halted in the middle of a statement, his smirk fading as he pondered one thing. Should he put his trust in this person? After what happened in the forest with Thomas, he realized he needed to be more cautious about who he trusted. He couldn't deny, though, how helpful Rose had been to him and his pals.
She couldn't possibly be a member of Team Rocket... Could she do it?
"No! What's the sense of living if I have to lose trust in everyone?" Ash reflected to himself. He was aware, though, that he needed to proceed with caution.
He returned his focus to the older woman, who seemed perplexed as to why he'd paused in the middle of a sentence. Ash opted to just provide her with limited information.
"Have you ever heard of Team Rocket?" Ash asked, taking a big breath. He added, seeing Rose nod her head, "Let's just say they took something from me that was very important to me. My buddies and I are attempting to reclaim it."
Rose responded to his refusal to provide specifics by saying, "That seems quite risky. Taking on a criminal organization must be something very special for you."
Ash gave a nod "It is. And I'm already aware that this is perhaps the most daring thing I've ever done. You have no idea how dangerous this is, especially for me. But I'm not going to let them keep what they've taken. I'm willing to go to any length to get it back, even if it means risking my life."
Rose's eyes widened in shock "That takes a lot of guts. If you don't mind me asking, how did your pals end up being involved in this? It appears that this is solely about you."
Ash smiled as he looked down at the ground "I warned them that it would be risky and that I didn't want them to come, but they refused. They were never going to let me attempt something so risky on my own... I have the best pals on the planet."
"They must be quite concerned about you." Rose stated, and Ash agreed.
"That is why this is so difficult. I promised them all that I would go to whatever length to protect them. That I would put their lives ahead of myself, and I meant it. And yet, here we are, in a hospital room, with one of my dearest friends in critical condition." Ash returned his eyes to Serena, his face solemn.
"I realize there was nothing I could have done, but I still feel guilty. And seeing her in this state is so...so..."
"Painful?" Rose finished for him, and he nodded. "I understand how you feel..."
Ash turned to face Rose after hearing her words, watching as grief poured across her features. "I know how it feels to watch someone you love so near to death," the woman said, her gaze fixed on the youngster.
Rose stopped, unsure of what to say next, "I lost my husband and son in a vehicle accident about 15 years ago."
Ash's lips dropped open, his gaze leaving Serena as he felt agony rush over him. Even though it had been 15 years, Ash wondered how the receptionist could be so upbeat when something so awful had happened in her life.
"For our anniversary, we planned to go to Cerulean City. We didn't have much money, so we thought seeing the water show at the Cerulean Gym would be a fun, low-cost experience. Our son was only three years old at the time, but he was overjoyed to see all of the water pokemon. When we talked about the vacation, his small face lighted up." Rose added, a sorrowful smile on her face.
She continued, taking a long breath "But, just as we were ready to leave Viridian, another vehicle veered into our lane, and we hit head on. I recall waking up in this hospital with a terrible headache. But after I found my bearings, all I could think about was my family. They refused to tell me what had happened, so I had no idea what had happened to them during the two days I was forced to recover."
Rose laughed, "They claimed I was fortunate. I barely had minor bruising and a concussion. The true agony didn't hit me until they told me what had happened."
As she fought to find her words, the woman wiped away a tear.
When Ash noticed this, she put a consoling hand on her shoulder and said, "You don't have to keep going, it's okay."
Rose regained her control and shook her head after a few moments "It's alright; I just want you to know. My husband was killed on the spot. My baby boy, on the other hand, was in severe condition. I forced them to hurry me to him, and I sat by his side, staring at him, just way you are now."
"I had to watch as my three-year-old son gradually lost his will to life. He died after four agonizing days. I've never felt so heartbroken in my entire life."
Ash couldn't believe this woman wasn't crying right now. How could such a terrible event happen to such a wonderful person? The world is definitely an unjust place.
"Despite my anguish, I found comfort in knowing they were together... Their deaths inspired me...inspired me to do everything I could to ensure that as few people as possible had to go through what I did. I wanted to be a doctor at first, but I've never been very bright, so that was out of the question. So I took menial job at the hospital instead. As a receptionist, I am able to assist people in dealing with what has happened to them." Rose had finished.
Ash stood there in awe. He was certain that if something similar had occurred to him, he would not have been able to continue. And yet, here was Rose, using her misfortune to help others deal with theirs. He realized at that moment how much he admired her.
"I was reminded of my son and I when I saw you sitting here staring at her. It reminded me of why I do what I do. Your concern for her thrills my heart, therefore I want to be here to assist you and reassure you that everything will be well." Rose continued, all traces of grief fading from her features.
"What, are you a psychic or something?" Ash asked, with a mischievous smile on his lips.
"Yeah...or something," Rose smirked.
With that, the elderly lady rose from her chair and turned to go.
When Ash noticed this, he rose up and held out his arm, saying, "Rose, wait!"
Rose turned as she heard the boy's voice, only to be engulfed in an embrace by the much taller guy.
"Thank you so much. You're a fantastic individual." The woman smiled as Ash murmured into her ear. The two then let go of one other's grip.
"Remember, Ash Ketchum, to have faith. Your pal will awaken." Rose stated.
The boy nodded and smiled. He instantly became perplexed as to how she knew his last name. He couldn't recall telling her. Perhaps one of his pals stated something.
Rose grinned and responded, realizing where the uncertainty was coming from "What? You don't think I'd recognize the World Coronation Series winner?"
The woman's response made Ash smile. With everything going on, he'd completely forgotten what he'd accomplished so recently.
Rose then walked away, returning to her seat in the waiting area.
Ash retook his place on the chair, sighing pleasantly, with newfound trust that Serena would awaken. He yawned again and rested his head next to Serena's body, reaching out to take her hand in his once again.
Ash dozed out once he was in a comfortable position.
The gang contacted Nurse Joy and told her what Rose had suggested. They were given three complimentary rooms for the night, as promised.
They all promised to return to the hospital at eight a.m. the next morning before splitting off to their designated rooms. They thought that by this time, Serena would be healthy enough that they could all see her.
Paul advised Brock to leave the door to their room unlocked in case Ash decided to return. Brock, on the other hand, simply smiled and shook his head. Knowing Ash, he would not abandon Serena anytime soon.
The group was able to obtain a nice night's sleep. To say they were exhausted after everything that had happened that day would be an understatement.
The gang gathered in the lobby at 7:55 a.m. the next morning, eager to see Serena. The gang entered the hospital's waiting room once more, not wasting any time.
Again, it was reasonably empty, which is a nice thing in hospital waiting rooms. The group then observed Rose, who was packing her belongings behind the counter.
"Hey, good morning everyone," the older woman said as she noticed the young adults approaching.
"Hello Rose, and good morning to you!" "Are you getting ready to leave?" Brock was curious.
"Yes, I am," the older woman said, nodding. "I'm finally going home to sleep."
"Did you get a chance to check on Ash and Serena before you left?" Paul was curious.
"I certainly did. I had a pleasant and lengthy talk with Ash late yesterday night. Serena is showing indications of progress, according to the physicians. Everything is going swimmingly." Rose stated cheerfully.
The news, combined with Rose's upbeat demeanor, gave the group reason to be optimistic. Things appeared to be improving for them. Viridian was definitely offering the sanctuary they had dreamed for.
"Do you think it's acceptable if we went back to see Serena?" Dawn was curious.
"Go ahead and do it. Tell anyone who attempts to stop you that Rose said it was fine. She's on the first level, in room 115." Rose winked, causing the group to laugh.
"Thank you very much, Rose." Tracey stated. Rose completely ignored the compliment.
"That's why I'm here." She stated. Then an idea occurred to her. She thought she could do one more thing for these people: "If you're up for it, why don't you all come to my house for supper tonight?" I'll prepare a delicious home-cooked supper for you all."
No one was surprised by the woman's sheer goodness at this point. She was clearly the best person the world has to offer.
May began, "We wouldn't want to intrude..."
"Please, I beg you! Allow me to jot down my address for you." Rose reached inside her purse for a pen and a small piece of paper, jotted down her address, and handed it to Brock. "It's a tiny house in the heart of Viridian. "How does 7 p.m. sound?"
"Excellent, thank you very much." Brock started. "In fact, I'm a bit of a cook myself." I'd be delighted to assist you in preparing the supper."
"Thank you very much, Brock; I would greatly appreciate your assistance." Rose stated this.
Except for Paul, everyone appeared to be looking forward to a delicious home-cooked lunch that night.
Paul thought he needed to express his displeasure. "To be honest, Rose, I don't think we'll be able to go."
The group stared at Paul, perplexed. Only the receptionist seems to understand what Paul was thinking.
"I mean, Serena hadn't woken up yet, and to be honest, I don't feel comfortable having fun without her." And because Ash would never leave her side, he will be left out as well. We truly appreciate the offer, but we'll have to decline."
The remainder of the group bowed their heads in shame, knowing that Paul's statements were accurate. Here they were, ignoring Serena in exchange for free food. Rose, on the other hand, kept a smile on her face. She was, in fact,...laughing?
"I understand, but I believe Serena will wake up much sooner than you think." If she agrees, please come. I'd want to treat you all to a wonderful dinner." Rose stated this.
Paul would be delighted to attend the dinner if Serena and Ash were present. If Serena awoke and was given permission to depart before seven o'clock, he agreed.
Rose left once everything was taken care of. Just as the older woman was about to leave, a man who they assumed was her substitute walked in. Before taking a seat behind the desk, he grinned at the group of young adults, confirming their suspicion.
The gang then went through the doors, looking for Serena's room. It didn't take long for them to get to room 115 because they knew where they were heading. They entered the room without knocking.
Serena was the first thing they noticed. She wasn't as bad as she had been the night before, but she was still covered with hives. They did observe, however, that the breathing tube stated the day before was missing. She must have progressed to the point where she could breathe normally on her own. This is a pretty positive indicator.
They then became aware of Ash. His head lay on the bed, clearly asleep. Paul's expression brightened as he observed the two's clasped hands. It wasn't long before everyone else noticed it as well.
May and Dawn, who would typically be envious of such an act, were overcome with genuine joy. They knew that if it had been them on that bed, Ash would have done the same for them.
Ash slowly stirred up, sensing that he was being watched. He got up, stretching his back as he did so; sleeping while slouching was not the most pleasant position. He then massaged any remaining tiredness from his eyes, using only one hand because the other was still holding Serena.
He became aware of the newcomers to the room at this point. "Hey guys, how'd you sleep?" Ash asked, his face fatigued.
"Very well, Ash. It felt wonderful to sleep in a bed." Misty responded.
"How is Serena getting along?" May was curious.
"Really great!" Ash said with a bright smile. The doctor arrived about five o'clock this morning and stated that she was responding normally to the anti-venom. They removed the breathing tube and said she should be able to leave as soon as she wakes up!"
It was obvious that Ash was overjoyed. His grin was contagious, and everyone's cheeks brightened up as they heard the news.
"Wow! That's wonderful!" So, Ash, how did you sleep?" Dawn inquired.
The trainer's smile didn't fade as he said, "It was a little difficult to fall asleep at first." I was just so worried about Serena that my mind couldn't stop racing. But then I talked to Rose, and she helped me realize that Serena was going to be fine. And it turned out she was correct! I can't recall the last time I felt this relieved!"
"What wonderful news! I'm hoping she wakes up soon. Oh, and Rose has invited us to dinner at her house tonight. We agreed, but only if Serena awoke first." stated Tracey
"She really is a great person, isn't she?" Ash responded with a nod. She's done a lot for us."
Ash received head nods from everyone in the room, indicating that they agreed. Dawn, Max, and Misty took the last three available seats. The rest of the group sat on the floor. Normally, Ash would have gladly relinquished his seat. However, giving up his seat meant giving up his location next to Serena, which he wasn't willing to give up at the moment.
Everyone just talked for the next few hours, forgetting about almost everything while they waited for Serena to wake up.
No one said anything, but they all understood they needed this time to recover from the stress they'd been under recently. Taking a moment to unwind felt fantastic.
They weren't, however, naive enough to believe it would stay. They'd be back on the road soon, doing their best to dodge Rockets on the hunt for Ash while marching directly into the heart of the beast. No one could forget that they still had to save Ash's mother.
Serena had yet to wake up as the clock approached noon. "Hey guys, do you think we could get some food?" Max asked, feeling a rumble in his gut. I'm hungry.
Nobody had noticed how hungry they were until he said it. They hadn't eaten since quite early the previous day.
"Sure, let's go to the pokemon center cafeteria and get some food." Tracey proposed.
Everyone appeared to be on the same page. Ash, on the other hand, refused to go. Despite his need, he'd made a promise... a commitment he meant to keep.
"You go ahead, and I'll stay here with Serena." With a smile, Ash said.
It was evident why Ash wanted to stay; if they were in the same scenario, he would not have left anyone's side. Knowing Ash, he was most likely hungry.
With this in mind, Brock said, "We'll bring you some food back, Ash."
The trainer gave his friend a grateful look before standing up and departing the room, leaving Ash and Serena alone once more. Ash never let go of Serena's hand the entire time. He hoped it was offering her comfort in some way.
With a pained expression on his face, Ash began to speak, hoping that she was hearing his words, "Serena, please wake up soon." Even though I know you'll be fine, I can't stand seeing you like this. Serena, for me... "Get up for me."
Despite his remarks, Serena remained still.
"I figured it was worth a chance..." Ash exhaled quietly to himself.
However, it was then that he felt Serena's hand wrap much more tightly around his own than the night before. Ash's gaze was drawn to her hand, ensuring that his imagination wasn't playing tricks on him.
His eyes then shifted to the rest of Serena, which was agitated. As he continued to stare, Ash became filled with optimism. Her eyes began to flutter after a few seconds, displaying her stunning blue eyes.
At this point, Ash was standing up from his chair, his face just above the girl's. And, as he had promised the night before, Ash's happy smile was the first thing Serena saw as she awoke.
Serena was still feeling some of the venom's and allergic reaction's effects, although they were minor. Her throat was also in pain. She mostly just felt weak and little fatigued.
"Ash? "What exactly are you doing?" Serena inquired, groggily. However, seeing Ash's happy face above her made her smile as well.
"You've woken up!" Ash yelled as he wrapped himself in an embrace. He gave her the closest thing to a hug he could while she was laying on a bed. Serena blushed and reciprocated the hug, unsure what was going on.
"Pika!" Pikachu continued, leaping into Serena's arms and making the woman laugh.
"Ash, where are we?" Serena queried, scanning the room for the various machines.
"We're in the hospital in Viridian City," Ash said after a little moment of calm. "Do you have any recollection of what happened?"
As soon as the words left Ash's mouth, the memories of what had occurred to her returned. She remembered being stung by the Beedrill and feeling terribly woozy, but that was all she remembered. She realized they'd arrived in Viridian City and she'd been treated for the sting.
She was about to say again when Ash interrupted, "Don't move, I'm going to get the doctor!"
Ash dashed out of the room without even waiting for a response. Serena sighed as she blinked many times.
As he walked out of the room, Ash spotted his pals approaching him with food in their hands. Ash came to a halt and said, "Guys, she's awake! "I'm going to look for a doctor."
Ash went off sprinting without waiting for a response. It took some time, but the group of pals realized what Ash had just told them. As they rushed inside Serena's room, they couldn't help but smile.
When Serena saw the rest of her pals enter, she grinned and said, "Hey guys! "How are you?"
She could tell by the relieved expressions on everyone's faces that they were all worried about her. She was grateful to have folks who genuinely cared about her well-being.
Instead of reacting, they swarmed Serena and gave her the most physically awkward group hug any of them had ever encountered.
"I'm relieved you're okay, Serena. We were terrified! Especially Ash, who never left your side!" Misty exclaimed happily.
Serena flushed subtly. That was very Ash, never leaving a friend's side when they needed him. She then addressed herself a question that had been bothering her, "How long was I unconscious?"
"Just for the night." It's just been around 11 hours since you fell asleep." James stated as he looked at the room's clock.
Ash returned with the doctor at this point. Everyone was relieved to see a different man than the night before; his bedside manner had been dreadful.
"Dear Ms. Yvonne, I'm delighted you're awake. "How are you doing?" The doctor was curious. He was probably in his mid-40s, younger than the other doctor. He shaved his head and wore large glasses on his face.
"All right, for the most part. I'm feeling a little weak and my throat is a little painful, but I'm alright." Serena responded truthfully.
"Those are both regular occurrences," the doctor said, nodding his head. The anti-venom we used tends to make individuals feel weak for a while. Your entire strength should be restored within a few hours. The aching throat is due to the breathing tube we had to insert. We had no choice because you weren't breathing well when you initially arrived."
Serena nodded, watching as the doctor scribbled something on the paper in his hands. She then turned to face Ash. For a few while, seeing his brilliant, pleasant smile made any weakness she felt vanish.
"Well, Ms. Yvonne, you are a very lucky young lady," the doctor said as he adjusted his spectacles and looked up from his clipboard.
"It turns out that you are allergic to Beedrill, which created quite a few issues," the doctor continued, seeing the blonde girl's astonishment. You also managed to come just in time. If you had arrived any later, you would most likely not have survived."
Serena's eyes widened as she heard the doctor's comments. She was aware that Beedrill bites were hazardous, but she couldn't believe she had nearly perished! She was also unaware that she was allergic to Beedrill. She vowed to remain as far away from them as possible from then on.
"I'll run a few tests, but if everything checks out, you should be out of here in an hour." The doctor told the young woman, who returned her smile. "I'm going to have to ask you guys to leave for a while," the doctor said to the other members of the group. I require space to conduct these experiments."
Everyone agreed, except Ash, who appeared uncertain. Serena gave him a reassuring glance when she noticed this. Ash agreed, smiling back at the blonde woman.
The group then returned to the waiting room to await the results of the testing. "I'm going to retrieve her discharge papers," the doctor said after 45 minutes as he stepped through the doors into the waiting area. She'll need to sign a few papers before she can leave. You can all go back and be with her if you want.
They didn't need to be reminded more than once. The gang took off toward Serena's room, with Ash leading the way. They quickly discovered it and entered.
"Do you need anything before you leave, Serena?" Ash inquired cheerfully.
Serena lowered her head and replied, "Um...I'm kind of thirsty."
"I'll get to it!" Before leaving the room in quest of water, Ash said.
Brock saw Serena's lowered head. He could only presume she was upset about something, so he tried to cheer her up by saying, "He carried you all the way here, you know."
Serena looked up, realizing Ash was no longer in the room. "Not only did he carry you, but he sprinted all the way here," Paul said. I ran for four miles without stopping. That's for sure, you inspired him."
Serena allowed a silly grin to appear on her face after hearing what Ash had done for her. She knew this before, but it was pleasant to be reminded that the boy she loved genuinely cared about her.
"Why did you appear so depressed just a minute ago, Serena?" Dawn inquired, curious as to what the others were thinking.
Serena stated, "I'm not sad, just the opposite really," after making sure Ash hadn't returned yet. It's just that I have hives all over my face and...I'm kind of embarrassed to have Ash see me like this..."
"Serena, he was with you all last night," Brock said, resting his hand on her shoulder. He's seen you like this before." This seemed to frighten the girl even more. "You know that Ash doesn't care about that kind of stuff," Brock said, noticing this. It wouldn't matter if you didn't have a face at all; he would still love you."
Even though she knew Brock's remarks were accurate, Serena couldn't help but feel embarrassed. Despite Ash's disdain for appearances, Serena always wanted to look her best with him; it gave her confidence.
Noticing her hesitation, Paul said, "If you don't trust us, why don't you ask him yourself?"
"I got you some water, Serena," Ash stepped in the doorway, a bottle of water in hand. It came from the cafeteria."
"We'll wait for you guys in the lobby," Brock said again as he handed the blonde the water.
Everyone took the hint and followed the pokemon doctor back to the hospital lobby. Paul made sure to bring Pikachu with him because he didn't want to leave the two alone. This left only Ash and Serena, the latter of whom lowered her head once again.
When Ash noticed Serena's position, he believed she was upset about something and asked, "Serena, what's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong, Ash," Serena said without raising her head. Really. It's only..." "I'm a little embarrassed about you seeing my face," she blushed as she prepared to speak again. I mean, my skin is covered in hives."
Ash couldn't help but giggle when he heard this. Serena was mildly concerned about this. She was feeling insecure, and even though she knew Ash would never laugh at her, she was worried.
"Serena, there is nothing you could say or do that could make you embarrassed around me, you know that," Ash said after a few moments.
Serena maintained her face concealment. "I understand, it's just..."
Serena's voice died off as she felt her chin lifted. She let Ash raise her head against her better judgment. The two were now face to face, only a few inches apart.
"Serena...no matter what's on your face, you are still one of the most beautiful girls I have ever seen," Ash said, not taking his hand away from Serena's face. So don't be embarrassed if you get a few rashes. You're stunning, and you know it."
Serena's cheeks flushed as a result of his remarks and their proximity. Serena's eyes closed unconsciously and she began to lean forward. She wasn't sure, but she thought she felt Ash lean in as well. A knock at the door caused the two to immediately backtrack when only millimeters separated their lips.
"Was I interrupting something?" the doctor said, standing in the open doorway with the discharge papers in his hand.
"No!" Ash exclaimed quickly. Serena remained silent. Instead, she gave the man a lethal stare.
The two were free to leave after signing a few papers. They reconnected with their teammates in the lobby and began to search Viridian for any indications of Team Rocket. They recommended Serena to stay behind because she wasn't feeling well, but she refused. She felt well enough to walk about and wanted to assist.
The group left the building after grudgingly agreeing to let Serena come. Pikachu was riding on Ash's back as he led the party about.
"So James, do you know whether there's a Team Rocket base or something here in Viridian?" Tracey asked after a few steps outdoors.
"Sadly, I have no idea. I was just a grunt, a very low level cog in the machine that is Team Rocket, and we were told almost nothing. The only base I know of is the one in Celedon City, and the only reason I even know where that one is located is because that's where I was trained."
"Meowth?" Ash inquired of the scratch cat pokemon.
"I don't know either, but I was trained at Celedon, where me, James, and Jessie all met for the first time, and that's the only base I know of," Meowth replied.
"Well, we should still explore about town, see if we can uncover any evidence of Team Rocket in these areas; it is, after all, one of Kanto's largest cities," Misty said.
"True, but that could be one of the reasons there isn't a base here; it would be far too obvious to put what is intended to be a secret hideout in such a major metropolis," James explained.
"However, there's no harm in taking a look around; we have nothing to lose," Max remarked.
The group moved forward, nodding in agreement.
"Why don't we go to the police station? Do they even know what's going on?" May inquired.
When May spoke, nearly everyone's heart rate fell. How could they have overlooked such a crucial task? They could use extra assistance in their hunt.
"I agree we should tell the police," Paul said, "but it's not going to help much. They've been chasing Giovanni and Team Rocket for years and have yet to catch him, and if they can't locate him, they won't be able to find Ash's mother either."
Everyone recognized Paul's argument and agreed that the police station would be their first visit in Viridian City. Max checked his pokegear for the time, knowing that they could now enjoy a home-cooked meal from Rose that night. He noticed it was nearly 1: 30 p.m., giving them five and a half hours to search the city, which Max reasoned should be plenty of time.
Brock estimated that the walk to the police station would take about 20 minutes due to the size of Viridian City.
Max reminded everyone about dinner, saying, "Now that Serena's up, we can go to eat at Rose's house tonight!"
"Oh yeah! I nearly forgot about that!" May said, salivating at the prospect of a good lunch.
Ash and Serena were both perplexed, although for different reasons.
"Did Rose invite us to dinner?" Ash wondered.
"Who is Rose?" Serena inquired.
"To answer your question, Ash, we were on our way to see Serena this morning, but we agreed we'd only go if Serena got up in time; we didn't want to leave you both behind," Paul explained, to which Ash smiled appreciatively. Serena was still perplexed.
"Rose was the receptionist at the hospital. She was really helpful to us. She was the only reason Ash was permitted to be with you during the night. She's done a lot for us, including asking us to dinner at her house tonight at seven," Brock said, taking the reins.
"She really helped me deal with my fear of losing you. I was so scared that you were going to leave me that I didn't know what to do, but then she told me about her past and why she was so kind to us and it made me realize that you were going to wake up. You wouldn't leave us like that, that's not who you are," Ash said sweetly, causing Serena to blush for the millionth time that day.
Her flush was accompanied by a broad smile. Hearing how much Ash cared for her warmed her heart and made her feel extra special, as it always did. That was one of the many reasons she adored him.
"You mentioned she told you why she does such kind things; would you mind telling us why?" Tracey said gently. He, like the others, had wondered why Rose was such a nice person. They knew that was the type of person she was, but they were also curious whether there had been something in her life that had caused her to be this way.
Ash decided to tell them what she'd disclosed to him because they still had a long road ahead of them. He mentioned her family, the tragedy, and how it inspired her to serve others.
There wasn't a dry eye in the house by the end of her performance. The anecdote moved even Paul to tears.
"...And that's why she does what she does," Ash said. "She said the way I watched over Serena reminded her of herself and her son."
May wiped away a tear as she replied, "Wow, what a great woman; I don't believe I could have gone on after that."
The others agreed wholeheartedly. Even Serena, who had never met Rose, was convinced she was a wonderful person.
By the time Ash finished telling the narrative, the party had caught their first glimpse of the police station, which was only a quarter-mile ahead of them. They continued on, immersed in trivial talk.
They were interrupted in their conversation by a loud explosion in front of them. Looking ahead, they saw the police station entirely destroyed, its charred ruins.
The gang fell to the ground at the first sound, not knowing how far away the explosion was. They slowly and cautiously regained their footing after realizing it was at the police station, not 2000 yards ahead of them.
Everyone in the group was filled with shock. Screams could be heard from several persons rushing frantically through the streets.
"You don't think..." Misty stopped off, out of breath.
After saying this, Ash turned to face his friends, who returned his gaze before running toward the explosion.
"Ash!" May cried as she and the others raced after the youngster.
Paul, who was pretty quick himself, caught up to the boy when they were less than 1000 feet from the ruins of Kanto's greatest police station.
Ash fought to break away from Paul's grip, but the purple-haired trainer had the upper hand.
"Ash, no! You know who did this as well as I do! We can't run into this carelessly, we have to be careful! They're here to murder you!" Paul screamed angrily.
The remainder of the group got up to the two men after Paul finished speaking. When Brock and Tracey saw Paul struggling to keep Ash under control, they rushed up to assist him. Ash had little chance of escaping now that he was being held by three individuals.
This gave Ash time to reflect about his actions. He had intended to hurry in to assist any survivors, but now that he had time to reflect...
There were no survivors.
There couldn't possibly have existed.
Everything had been depleted...
Team Rocket has just assassinated a number of honorable police officers. Ash's breathing became labored as rage surged through him. He kept his cool, knowing that rushing into this could be the worst mistake he ever made.
When the three guys saw that Ash had ceased struggling, they let him go. They did, however, continue to keep a tight eye on him just in case.
Then three rocket grunts appeared from around the corner. Fortunately, they had yet to meet the gang as they faced the aftermath of their slaughter.
"We have to hide...now!" James exclaimed, his eyes bulging.
The group ran behind one of the several houses that bordered both sides of the street they were on, knowing there were grunts nearby.
They finally got a decent look at the grunts now that they were out of sight. They appeared to be rather ordinary, neither large nor small, just...average. Two men and a woman were inspecting the station's damage.
No one, however, was naive enough to believe that these were the only rocket members in the city. When a veritable mountain of a guy and one other woman appeared, their thoughts were confirmed.
The grunts exchanged a few words before turning away from the wrecked police station. They then started going down the street, getting closer and closer to the group of pals with each step.
"What do we do?" Tracey muttered.
When they heard a disturbance from behind them, Ash was going to answer. They leaped in terror, hoping it wasn't another rocket grunt. Everyone sighed a faint sigh of relief as they turned around. Officer Jenny, who had to be off duty, was standing half inside the house they were hiding behind.
"Hurry up! Get in here!" exclaimed the officer loudly enough for the group to hear. The gang didn't need any more reason to run up the porch stairs and into the home. Jenny quietly closed and secured the door once everyone was inside.
She turned around to see that all eyes were on her. It was to be expected, she reasoned, because she was a law enforcement officer and something very unlawful had just occurred. Jenny knew she wouldn't be able to shake for a long time.
A handful of her relatives and business colleagues were in that building when it detonated, and she wasn't foolish enough to believe they would survive. But she couldn't worry about that just now. It was her responsibility to assist civilians.
"Are you all okay?" Jenny inquired.
Jenny exhaled in satisfaction when she received a series of head nods in response; this made things much easier.
"Officer Jenny, what happened?" Max inquired, despite the fact that he already knew the truth.
"I'm not sure," Jenny groaned, "all I know is that Team Rocket is here and the police station is in ruins, so your guess is as good as mine."
Jenny hurriedly walked around the home, closing shades and drawing draperies to conceal the windows. The others followed her into the living room, where she closed the final curtain.
Officer Jenny took a deep breath and sat down on the couch. "Why would they do this? What do they have to gain by blowing up the police station?" she mumbled to herself, loud enough for everyone to hear.
Officer Jenny immediately found herself crying as she remembered her fallen colleagues and relatives. She hastily blinked them away, realizing that there were still people she needed to assist.
Jenny returned her focus to the group and said, "Are you locals?"
In response, she received many head shakes.
"We come from Pallet Town," Brock explained.
Jenny nodded, "What brings you here?"
Ash, who'd managed to retain his cool, felt this was the best time to explain why he thought Team Rocket had done this.
"Officer Jenny, Team Rocket burned my home and kidnapped my mother a few days ago," Ash said, taking a big breath.
Jenny's pupils dilated. "They took her because in the past, I've foiled many of their plans," Ash said, giving her no chance to answer. "You may have heard of me, my name is Ash Ketchum."
Jenny's face brightened with recognition. Almost every cop in the globe had heard of Ash Ketchum. It was widely known that he'd played a role in bringing down a number of significant criminal groups in the past. Many law enforcement personnel saw him as a hero.
"Well...Giovanni wants me dead. They kidnapped my mother, knowing I'd go after her. I'm almost convinced Giovanni has a bounty on my head, which is why grunts are all over the place...I suppose they're here to capture me or... murder me," Ash said.
Jenny was taken aback. But she wasn't sure why. She understood that with Team Rocket's recent capture of the Silph Co. building, they were no longer above murder. It was just too much to absorb in knowing Ash Ketchum was at her house and Team Rocket was looking for him.
"So...why did they demolish the police station?" Jenny said, hoping Ash had an answer.
"I'm not sure," he said, "but I'm sure we'll find out soon enough."
Max had moved up to a window and was peering out onto the street while the two were conversing. The young youngster was clearly the most terrified at the time.
"Officer Jenny, why haven't you requested backup or something?" Max exclaimed.
Jenny sighed once again, "I've tried everything kid, but nothing works; they're jamming the signal, and I have no idea where the others who weren't in the building are."
The group heard a loud voice booming from outside as she finished speaking. Everyone crept up to one of the family room's many windows and peered out into the street. They recognized the familiar group of grunts they'd seen earlier on the street. Next to them were five persons on their knees, wrists tied behind their backs and bags draped over their heads.
One grunt stood in front of them all. He was holding a megaphone.
"Ash Ketchum! We know you're here somewhere, and we want you to come out," grunted the grunt.
He paused for about a minute before continuing, "I see...I'll ask you respectfully one more time to expose yourself."
All eyes in the house were drawn to Ash, making him even more uncomfortable than he was already. He was at a loss for what to do.
The man waited about a minute again. "Oh Ketchum, I hate that you're going to make me do this...a it's shame, truly," he muttered over the microphone when nothing happened.
Nobody knew what the man was talking about, but it couldn't be good.
"Fredrick, would you bring me the one farthest to the left?" said the leader, and the mountain of a man lifted up one of the cramped persons and placed them forcefully by the leader's side.
"Ah, thank you Fredrick...Ketchum, if you don't come out, then...well... I'm going to put a bullet in this woman's head," grunted the grunt, grabbing a revolver from a holster near his right pocket.
When Ash heard this, his heartbeat raced and his breathing got more rapid. Everyone around him was experiencing similar events. How should he proceed? He couldn't stand by and watch an innocent person die!
"Hmmm...must not be intimate enough. I guess the bag over their heads does dehumanize them a bit. Here, let me adjust that," the grunt said again, regaining everyone's complete attention.
What they witnessed nearly drove everyone insane. Rose, the cheerful receptionist, had a bruised and bleeding face beneath the mask.
Everyone froze as they saw the familiar figure. Serena thought this had to be the woman who had been so kind to her and her friends earlier after hearing the woman's description.
How could they have found her? Did they even realize she was assisting Ash, or was it just a coincidence? None of that was important at this point. The only thing that mattered was that this woman's life was on the line.
"You've got ten seconds to show yourself, Ketchum, before I blow her fucking brains out," the man said coldly, the pistol now pressed to her head.
"Ash, don't come out! I've lived a full life, I have no one left! I'll see my family again!" Rose yelled, barely audible to the gathering. The woman was afraid, and tears streamed down her cheeks. She didn't want to die, but she did want Ash to live a little longer. One of the female grunts smacked the woman in the back of the head for her outburst.
The man then started counting down.
"10"
Everyone remained frozen. Nobody can move a muscle.
"9"
Ash ignored all rational thought and sprang up from his seat near the window, knocking Pikachu off his shoulder in the process.
"8"
Paul, Brock, and Jenny all looked at the boy when they noticed this.
"7"
Ash started racing for the house's front door.
"6"
The three people that noticed Ash knew what he was doing.
"5"
They jumped from their positions and dashed at the youngster.
"4"
Ash was almost to the door.
"3"
Brock, Paul, and Jenny tackled Ash and stopped him from leaving the house.
"2"
With tears running down his cheeks, Ash cried for his release. No matter how much she fought, the three held him in place, attempting to block out what was about to happen. The others continued to stare, unable to take their gaze away from the horrible scene in front of them.
"1"
…
…
*Bang*
The booming shot echoed out throughout Viridian, joined by the shrieks and sobs of those who were unfortunate enough to witness it.
But no one screamed or fought harder than Ash Ketchum. Because, in his opinion...
...He'd just slain Rose Lockhart