Storm Sworn

Aric Fisk's Team:

Tynamo (Vita)
Veluza (Ascalon)
Silver Magikarp
Skrelp
White-Striped Basculin
Prinplup (Vorpal)

Red Tropius

Nessa's Feebas (Quin/Tessa)

Note: Some of y'all are quite vocal about the intermissions negatively. My friends liked them anyhow. But, like I said in the last chapter, they won't be returning for a good while. Mostly due to the plot progressing.

And hey, I finally hit 10 chapters on a newer story.

- [ᛊ] -

One moment, the cold and rhythmic waves were making me sleepy. The next thing I knew, I woke up with a start, surrounded by white on all sides, not too dissimilar to the first time I had arrived in this world. A hospital room, it seemed. Absent with Pokemon at that. But that meant one thing. I had done it. I made it back to civilization. If my throat wasn't so damned parched again, I think I might've cried. Instead, I could only plop my head back down and gather myself. Assessing my limbs a little, my motor functions seemed pretty normal. Sore from lack of use, but nothing some physical therapy couldn't fix in just over a week or some. Maybe less. It would suck to do get me in... working order, but humans healed faster than they did in the normal world and were overall tougher.

Dr. Osumi, Nessa, and Elesa had anticipated it on my behalf. I had been on-course to make my recovery as expected before the incident. I wouldn't have been able to help out like I did if it wasn't, now that I thought it...

I shuffled past the following thoughts quickly by recalling a few pokemon.

My Pokemon.

The small but powerful creatures that chose me for whatever reason. Tynamo and Veluza. A new thought overwrote that. Their names: Vita and Ascalon. A hint of a grin made my lips curl slightly. And that was before I got to Vorpal, who let me experience evolution for the first time.

All the same, it eventually made me realize I wasn't hearing a second, third, or even, a fourth set of breathing. I was completely alone. It was weird, having been forced to get used to the companionship of intelligent beasts.

A beep interrupted my thoughts.

My eyes shot open, looking left and right while blinking away any residual blurriness. It took a little longer than I'd liked for it to go away completely. With it gone, I spied a screen that cataloged my heartbeat and other functions. Just past it, one thing popped out to me. Contrasting against the overwhelming whiteness of everything, specks of blue and the screen hooked to wires, the red cap of a single pokeball glared at me. Honestly, I didn't know what to make of that. I couldn't even hold my head up much longer, so I simply lay back down in what wasn't quite defeat or relief.

With just one pokeball there, I assumed- hoped- that Vita got the help she needed. Ascalon was probably fine, but again, I hoped the bladed fish got the help Dr. Osumi hadn't been able to give.

And would never be able to give...

I swallowed harshly, struggling through the dryness and stuffing that can of worms for another day yet again. Waking up just to give into panic wouldn't do me any good. This- This was the Pokemon world after all! Goodness and togetherness kept the world spinning peaceful. Right?

I ignore the memories that bubbled up in sharp contrast.

T-The poisonous seahorse Pokemon as well. It really could use the help! Tropius had tried her best to help, but...

The door promptly slid open, drawing a sharp flinch from my bed-bound self. "Whoops!" came the sound of the masculine 'intruder.' "Hadn't meant to startle ya."

A dark-skinned man waved with an easy smile on his sharp features. His teal eyes were bright despite being half-lidded. He was tall enough that he had to duck slightly so his black, spiky hair that poked out the back of his cap of sorts wouldn't brush against the door frame. He seemed comfy and right at home with his black and gold hoodie. Below that, he wore tight, navy cyclist pants that reached above his ankles. There was a bit of a gap before his equally dark sneakers that carried white and red sneakers.

All in all, the young man didn't look the part of a nurse.

"It's okay," I managed to say while turned away slightly, ashamed of my obvious weakness. It was one thing if it was a professional, but a stranger...?

The newcomer's sharp eyes softened. "I fished you off the ice. Thought to check up on ya, you feel?"

That did explain a bit.

I finally turned back to face him. "Wh.. Where are the rest of my Pokemon?" Somehow, I managed all that without a single crack.

"Sorry, mate," he started playfully before his whole stature changed. "I got questions that need answers first."

The tension growing in me deflated. This was a familiar routine. "Gotcha."

The dark male pulled out his phone, ready to type out some things. "Your name?" I gave it. He frowned, but didn't linger long, having expected it seemingly with various taps. "Last thing you remember?"

"Riding the, uh, ice Pokemon to make it back to civilization—to help my starter and other two Pokemon!" I nearly shouted the last part in question, but recalled it wasn't time yet. "Oh- and to bring, I think her full name was, uhm, Rurina Nessa? Her Feebas, Quintessa, I fished her out of the water."

In the middle of typing, the older teen stiffened at the mention of Nessa. Jotting everything down and seemingly more given how long he wrote for, he asked another question. "Where did you find these pokeballs?"

"Tropius." I cringed at the voice crack but didn't stop. "She had a crate full of man-made objects. I assumed, found lost at sea on the island she lived on. I happened to fish out Tessa... who may have followed me at Nessa's behest..."

"Island?"

"Yeah." My mind went back to the titan of a Pokemon that slept within it. "A big white and fluffy dragon claimed it as its home."

This finally drew the older boy from the notepad. "A white and fluffy dragon, you say. Did it have big pink eyes? Long, sharp claws? Cloud-like fur?"

"Y-Yeah."

"How big?"

My tired eyes scanned the small room. "It could fill the room and then some. Maybe twice over." It was hard to measure the dank cave when it was usually so dark. However, it had been able to fit both it and Tropius very easily.

There was a sharp whistle. "So, Gramps is still kicking and picked up a couple strays, huh?" His sharp eyes nailed me where I lay. "How was he?"

"Sleepy?" I tried. "He didn't do much else aside from sleep. Tropius seemed to take it upon herself to take care of the dragon. The rest of us as well." I ended with a frown.

"But it wasn't enough for you lot, yeah?"

I found myself a bit startled with the slight British accent, of which I should've noticed earlier. Didn't know it existed in this world. Still, I answered with a defeated tone, "yeah."

"You were on the cruise with Nessa in Hoenn." It wasn't a question, but I nodded, nonetheless. "Any idea how you ended up on the island?"

"No," I breathed out shakily. "I think Asc- Veluza is a psychic type, but due to his condition, it was hard to communicate and train that side of him."

"Right." The notepad slapped shut. "One last question. How long do you think it's been since the Hoenn event?"

"A week and a half?"

"Two months. You have been missing at sea for two months, Aric Fisk, assumed to be dead until recently."

My stomach dropped. My voice cracked like mad, but I couldn't care less as I sputtered a reply to the reveal. "H-How is that possible? I've only slept, like... n-nine times at most on the island."

"We've done a psychic evaluation of each of your Pokemon. All possible because of your identity as a missing person with no one to call as family. These questions were mostly a lot of nothing, just to double-check. Nothin' major.

Through the evaluation, we learned that you would enter a coma-like state each time you slept. There were instances where you took over a week to wake. Sometimes, just a couple of days. You were in such a sorry state when we found you at a bodily temperature that would be fatal for basically anyone else. So, congrats on surviving, mate.

Though, riding on Avalugg is highly unadvised unless you have specific gear. Try not to repeat that."

The man let me settle with the new knowledge as he opened the door for a doctor and a pink and round Pokemon. And with that he stepped out. The doctor and familiar Pokemon prodded me and asked some questions regarding my physicality. The professionalism of the Pokemon was a little jarring, despite my experience with Nessa and Dr. Osumi. I could recall answering them, faintly, but I was still so hung up on the reveal that it was all a blur.

The pokemon's soft touch helped relax me at each prod. It was almost addicting, if not for my thoughts.

Eventually, evening came around and so did a tired nurse, doing a routine check-up on the patients on the floor. She made sure I drank some electrolyte-infused flavored water and ate some iron-rich food: slow-roasted Beef with rice. Apparently, here they preferred it over pills or some other. Even Dr. Osumi gave me some pills instead of a meal like this...

Midway through, something in her pocket vibrated. She excused herself, but I was still mostly despondent.

Maybe, it was an hour. It could've been a minute. Or even several. I couldn't trust my sense of time anymore. It was no fucking wonder the Pokemon I had were suffering so much.

The nurse reentered with a small grin.

"Mr. Fisk, good news! Young Leader Nessa is dropping by!"

"L-Leader?"

Her eyes softened with pity and understanding before the sparkle of excitement returned. "A lot happened in two months for the former model. She wants to visit to thank you for returning her Milotic."

M-Milotic?! What the fuck did I miss? I know I planned on it but...

Despite my rampant thoughts, my response was a tired "okay." I couldn't exactly ask an overworked nurse. It left me just slumped like a pile of goo on the hospital bed. Still, I was glad the shy but bubbly Quintessa had finally rejoined her family. The warm sentiment helped lift an unseen tension within me.

"Do you," the nurse started unsurely, as she replaced a cup at my bedside, "want to hold off on the meeting until tomorrow?"

"No," I said simply.

There was a lot I had to say, ask, or answer. Things like, what happened to Dr. Osumi after...

It seemed the nurse recognized my look, though I wasn't quite sure what kind of face I made. "Um, Mr. Fisk, you were basically crowned a lost hero of Hoenn, you know?"

A reply slipped out before I could decide on one.

"I barely did anything though."

If anything, I failed to do the one thing I set out to do. All because one Pokemon cut through the ice float like it was nothing. Then, murdered all those innocent baby eels, who did their best to follow my lead. My dumbass.

The nurse giggled into her hand. "Leader Elesa and Nessa said much of the same. She'll drop by in an hour, a little before visiting hours are over actually—oh! And she'll be returning your Pokemon." There was a wider smile on her face as I relaxed a ton at the last part. "I'll have to ask that you keep them quiet and just up to your smaller Pokemon during the rest of your stay."

"I understand. Thanks." I felt a smile overtake my lips just before I sighed.

The nurse had one foot in the door before she stopped. "Is.. Is there something between you and Leader Nessa?"

"I'm sorry?" I tried, not quite getting the hint.

"N-Nevermind," the woman squeaked out, finally stepping out.

I was left to stew in my thoughts and hype myself up enough to chat with my... first nurse?

I bit back a smile at the silly realization.

Maybe, I could get a head start on physical therapy. Sitting still with my thoughts wasn't going to be very conducive for anything. It'll be a little weird to do it without nature all around me, though. I thought I was just getting used to the ocean and greenery, but I had been further along than I thought.

It helped immensely in my efforts to ignore my lost time, ironically.

Not that I needed help losing track of time, apparently.

A knock to the door made me slip during a back lunge. My arms flailed, bumping against various things. The crashes are probably what made the knocker rush in.

A familiar voice greeted my spiraled form. "Geez, what are you doing up?"

"Nessa.." I managed to say, breathlessly, all but gawking at her.

She was wearing some casual clothes that covered everything except her left shoulder, with both a face mask that was now tugged below her chin and a pair of oversized sunglasses. She shot me an awkward smile. Somehow, it highlighted her beauty from this close up.

It was as if my memories from the ship that contained Nessa suddenly seemed like I was missing glasses I desperately required.

"We have got to stop meeting like this," she joked.

As she helped me up and to the bed, I tried to control my breathing. Her airy shirt was soft to the touch. Like, so much that I had nearly leaned towards it when she withdrew to get a good look at me.

God, I miss a good bed.

"Fortunately, you don't look as bad as then," she said with an approving nod.

As a model, appearances mattered, to say the least, but since I had been her patient on the cruise, she had obviously refrained from commenting on such things. Still, I could recall her dressing down plenty of her own outfits, Elesa's, or note those from Hoenn (mostly about what she could bring back to her home country).

The dark-skinned girl paused for a moment, coming to the same realization. "Pardon me, Aric. Last I saw you; you were but an icy doll. I'm glad you're looking healthier."

I sent back an understanding smile. Honestly, I was just glad it seemed like Dr. Osumi's passing hadn't changed her that much, seemingly. It was the first time I noticed her slight British accent as well. With Elesa around, it had been.. pretty much what I was used to. An American accent of sorts. A part of me couldn't help but wonder if it was a reflex or a conscious decision...

A bit of an awkward silence arose, but before it could go on long, Nessa recalled something before she dug into her purse. "I have all your Pokemon. We- uh, captured your odd Tropius for you as well."

She began to place them on the small table at the bedside, right next to that lone pokeball. In total, seven balls faced me, and, despite everything, warmth spread throughout me. Still, I had one question roaring from my soul.

"Are they all okay?"

The girl expected it and didn't miss a beat. "The sick Skrelp got the help she needed. She'll just need to upkeep a curated diet for a month to make sure the issue completely clears, and her body mass and body equilibrium return to normal. She was suffering from metal poisoning, but your pokeball and Tropius helped keep her out of the worst of it."

"And what about Vita?" At her slight head tilt, I clarified before she could ask. "T-The final Tynamo.."

She squeezed her expression but answered. "Vita isn't... your normal Tynamo. The data that replied to the late Dr. Osumi, the Unova League shared that Tynamo's aren't supposed to be so thick; it's why floating is supposed to be effortless for them. Instead, your Tynamo has many traits of a water type. She houses a pouch for water and various glands to secrete extra slime, seemingly for being away from water for extended periods or, perhaps, to make swimming easier. She's more similar to parasitic class of Phylum Anneldia."

At my questioning look, she sheepishly blushed but held her head high. "A t-type of leech, basically. The good news is she seems mostly alright? Whatever issue you're worried about, you'll have to share it with Nurse Joy or another veterinarian."

Nessa paused to squeeze her bright blue eyes but continued with the bluntness I was used to from her. "I've since given up on being a nurse and vet."

Because of her twisted expression, she missed my flinch. I couldn't help but ask, "R-Really?"

She finally opened her eyes. The poor girl was withholding tears, struggling to do exactly that, but she was adamant in capturing my reaction. With a dejected tone, she answered, "I decided to follow in Elesa's footsteps, I guess.."

She thought I was judging her harshly. I knew that look. I had to clear up the misunderstanding because it was absolutely understandable that she stepped back from something she was deathly unprepared for. If I knew anything about her, she had tried her damnest. I only wished I'd seen her face when I returned her Quintessa in all her evolved glory.

I picked my words carefully, but with an excitement that honestly surprised even me. Being a gym leader was no joke! And now, I met two!

...Can't say I recognize Nessa though.

"That's amazing, Nessa, really!" Her wide eyes made me want to laugh, but it wasn't time for that. I was hoping my words would have the proper impact as her first patient and Dr. Osumi's final one. "Don't feel bad. You picked up after Dr. Osumi's death—the nurse hinted that you put in a ton of work while I was.. stranded at sea."

I cut the girl off when it looked like she wanted to spout a bunch of apologies. It 'helped' that I had a bit of a coughing fit too. I waved her off, unconcerned about it.

"I don't blame you for that either. I don't even know where I landed." We both knew quite clearly I knew nothing about the land in general. So, I looked away and tentatively asked, "Are we even in Hoenn anymore?"

Nessa sputtered for an answer, nearly failing to collect herself. "N-No, did no one mention it? We're across the great Lugian Ocean. This is Galar, my home country; we're more up north as well."

I nodded, shoving my initial reaction of mental shock. "E-Exactly! Who would think to look this far?"

She opened her mouth to respond, but soon clicked her mouth shut, begrudgingly in thought. "...I guess."

"And imagine if I hadn't disappeared, Quintessa would've been missing or worse." I mustered the courage to glance back.

She was clutching a pokeball in between her hands. "Yeah..." she murmured with a small nod. Quintessa's ball, I could only assume.

"So it all worked out in the end, even if I'm back in a hospital bed. I never really finished my rehab anyway," I tried to joke.

She turned back to me with a scrutinizing look. "You never did, that's right... and you have nowhere to call home, Aric."

Ah, I really was trying my best to think about these wholly important details like these. I nearly shut down at the sudden change of topic, barely stopping myself from withdrawing into myself.

I know this is the Pokemon world for fuck's sake, but it was real. The things a child had to worry about weren't a part of the show. In part, because Ash was a permanent child for a cartoon made for children and because no one wanted to face those things in a world of fantastical beasts and battles...

"Sorry, I didn't mean to throw it in your face!"

"It's okay." I tried to smile. "I made a plan on the island I washed up on."

I missed her blue eyes lighting up.

"What if," she started, fiddling more with the pokeball in her hands, "what if I hired you for my future gym?"

"What?"

Nessa seemed to ignore me, briskly pacing back and forth. "It'll come with housing, pay, and a place to leave and train your Pokemon." She stopped with a fiery determination. "You won't have to worry—a-and I won't take no as an answer, Aric!" She all but shouted.

I was so taken aback by the loud and promising offer that I took too long to reply. She had soon deflated with disappointment, even though she had explicitly stated she wouldn't let me deny the offer. It was cute she was trying so hard, really.

I finally breathed out a proper reply, "Okay." From the corner of my eye, I was ignoring the monitor beeping and revealing too much. Hopefully, Neesa didn't notice...

"O-Okay?"

"Yeah, it was better than anything I had cooked up, y'know? Much better."

"We're still young, s-so setting up a new Major gym will be a lot of work. But it's a good thing, Chairman Rose is open to helping set up Gyms if they show promise."

"You don't have a gym yet?" I asked incredulously. She and the nurse had acted like it was set in stone.

"Two months isn't enough time... especially when I spent the first month holed up in my room." She confessed the last part with a barely audible whisper. "They've only started laying out the foundation yesterday to the new building."

Two months did sound too short to set up what was essentially a company or a part of the government (if following any of the manga), so it was understandable. Especially, if they were going to build it from scratch.

Nessa continued, her pacing slowing. "My mum is helping me fill out the forms, allot my money and the grant from Chairman Rose. Dad will function as gym leader for a little bit. Everyone knows I'll be the Gym Leader, but due to laws from before even the previous Chairman took over, I can't qualify more than Head Gym member.."

She sucked her teeth and crossed her arms. "Tch. They're lucky my Pokemon will listen to Mum and Dad."

The newfound Gym Leader Prospect paused and met me eye to eye. "This will give you time to relearn and explore the world- or well, learn about Galar a bit. Both your names are Galarian, but you don't really look the part." She looked like she wanted to pat me, a look I've seen during her training sessions with her Pokemon. I'm not a lost puppy! "Still, this will be your home for the foreseeable future, innit?"

I nod slowly. Her words were gradually catching up to me. It was all the implications that were mainly being a speed trap really. Like, learn what about what? And how exactly? Am I really going back to school? I don't even know my age!

"—I'm.. I'm also thinking about joining you on a journey, since it seems you haven't caught on yet." she confessed.

"You mean like Brock?" I blurted out.

"Pardon?"

I quickly scrambled for a fix and blurted my actual reaction. "You're joining me?"

She merely flickered her long black hair back. It was an involuntary reaction as she proudly stated, "Galar is the world's leader in communication." She puffed her chest. "Even if I need to do things in person, Slowking can teleport me back in a jiffy!"

"Is that the Doctor's?"

The girl immediately gained twenty years on her already mature features, admitting, "he is."

"...Is that normal?" I wasn't sure where to start, but that seemed an okay starting point.

"I don't believe so. It's a tradition among certain Hoenn people, especially the Healers. The late doctor stepped away from her people a long ago with Slowpoke, but I can only assume, she carried the values as best as she could nonetheless."

This time, I cut through the potential onset of awkward silence.

"Dr. Osumi really was the best..." I said, floundering onto my back. Now that I was resting completely, I noticed my leftover tension from my light exercising.

"She was." There was a shuffling of feet before the slight creak of a chair signified Nessa finally taking a seat.

"What about you, Gym Leader Nessa?" Despite everything, I couldn't help but crack a joke. "Sorry, I meant Gym Leader Prospect." Elesa had never failed to correct me, even if she seemed awkward around me. There was a story behind it, but I wasn't privy to it.

"What about me?"

I finally mustered the energy to turn her way.

"What..." I trailed off, seeing the tears in her eyes. Quickly, I scrambled for another topic. "What if- we went to join Elesa?"

As the words came out, my mind worked overtime.

"I know she's new to it too, but she's ahead of you and would need some hands on deck, right? It would also give you some experience before you replace whoever in Galar. I-, I don't really know if there's any politics I'm missing, so would that even be feasible?"

"...It would be, yes," she finally answered stiffly.

"Is something up?"

The girl glanced at me, paused, then sighed softly. "I didn't want to face Elesa until I finished gathering the rest of the Unova Gym Badges."

"Oh."

"It's dumb, I know." She was as blunt as ever...

I couldn't really give an opinion on the matter, nor would I pry further, so I remained silent. Nessa may have taken it as an invitation to continue, because she followed it, explaining herself.

"During our failed search for Quintessa and you, Elesa had revealed just how capable she really was. I really... I really thought I had kept pace with her. In retrospect, it was obvious that 'Gym Leader Prospect' would entail a certain level of ability... even if we had shared badge count."

She trailed off as she glared down at her fists. It was impossible to miss Nessa's competitive streak. She couldn't even sheath it within herself completely if she wanted to. It hadn't bothered herself before, but now, it made her anger shift to something uncomfortably familiar.

"But she had hid it from me."

The hurt was raw and unmistakable. I couldn't really relate, nor could I think of anything to say. So silence was all there was left, aside from the occasionally beeps from the machines capturing my vitals.

In it, I realized one thing. Nessa saw Elesa as a rival on top of being a friend. I assumed both in their modeling and trainer careers. Rivals weren't all that common in real life—no wait, my previous reality? Either way, unless you were in a competitive position or, I don't know, an avid gym goer who needed the extra push, there wasn't much point of having one.

I turned away from her slightly as to not add to her unsaid embarrassment with any extra attention.

Now that I was getting a better look at the room, I realized my hospital room was rather fancy? At least, in comparison to a basic room. The first thing that should've clued me in was the spacious nature and being all by myself. Did someone give it to me on my behalf?

...It could be that I was in a coma, but there also were the open areas of the room. I wanted to think that releasing Pokemon wasn't a common privilege, but then again, what do I know?

"S-sorry," she finally muttered, turning away slightly.

"It's alright," I managed to say through the murky awkwardness. It got easier to do as I continued to speak. "Galar... lets anyone just become a Gym Leader?"

Her expression exposed the fact she momentarily forgot my "lack of memory."

"N-No," she coughed into a fist before collecting herself. "The previous Galarian League President was.. a piece of work that had nearly sunken the economy and any diplomatic relations. About half of the Gym Leaders were found to be corrupt and were accordingly ousted in mass. It's been two years since the last Galarian Circuit while the revamped League got their shit together.

"Right now.." she paused thoughtfully. "They're thinking about pushing it off yet another year, so I'm essentially expected to take last chance at a journey before I'm locked down to Galar. They're toying with plenty of ideas, drawing upon the sport culture of Unova and Johto whilst mixing in older Galarian traditions."

I immediately recalled the various sport buildings in Elesa's city and the pokeathlon somewhere in Johto. What a throwback..

"So..." I started hesitantly, "is that a no?"

The darker girl blinked before recalling the question before this. "As much as I might.. not like it, it would be invaluable help and a much-welcomed mark to my resume... Let.. let me think about it some more," she ended with more confidence.

I nodded but was certain she hadn't noticed when she was so deep in thought. I had hoped the two of them were fine. The girls had shared much joy whilst together. It was impossible to miss. I mean, it was supposed to be a bit of vacation. Elesa had even mentioned she wanted to throw the younger model a surprise birthday party.

And before I could stop myself and think things through, I mumbled, "Oh and happy late birthday, Nessa."

Said girl froze.

I pushed past my sudden embarrassment and went to explain myself, "E-Elesa wanted me and her Pokemon to keep you busy while she prepared a small little party for it." I ended with an awkward laugh.

I had only been invited because everyone felt bad for me. I hadn't planned to join—not that it was allowed to happen for certain sunken reasons.

"...is that right?" she whispered.

"Yeah, so I-I hope you like your new Milotic."

Again, Nessa was caught flatfooted at my attempt at a joke. "Is- Is that why she—?"

"No no no, sorry! I was just joking! She must've evolved on her own before I was actaully able to help."

She froze again with an unreadable expression. "So you know?"

Oh fuck- it's supposed to be a secret, right? It was why Milotic were rare Pokemon despite the magnitude of Feebas rivaling Magikarp in some places. Still, I had revealed my hand and couldn't back out now.

"Y-Yeah."

It seemed honesty was the best answer as Nessa simply sighed.

"Tessa had already told me all about her evolution while you were out on the ice," she paused, slightly bemused, "in more than one way." Her visage cooled itself after. "Dr. Osumi noticed you hold knowledge on plenty of things already except common sense in droves, but you didn't want to share. I'm not going to pry since the doctor hadn't either, but be more careful, Aric.

"I'm thankful to you for helping push Quintessa into her evolution. Originally, I held off because she wasn't strong enough to take care of herself, and I wasn't strong enough to protect her and too prideful to take a shortcut." She finished her explanation by rubbing the same ball earlier.

"Sorry."

She shook her head. "No, you did a favor in the end, all things considered. Having a Milotic will legitimize my status as Gym Leader—or at least, as a strong trainer—and you had continued to train her... whenever you were awake that was."

The reminder made me wince.

Nessa cringed as well as she pulled up a notepad from somewhere. "It's possible you will have to go to Unova anyway. Galar isn't in a position to help your condition in case it worsens," she admitted with a frown. "It's common with those struck by lightning apparently. Given the fabled Thundurus, Unova is more equipped to handle you. Your situation is very extreme despite a lack of brain damage or what-have-you."

"...So Ihave to go to Unova anyway?"

Nessa scrunched her face. "Yeah, I guess we are." she giggled at my shock. "Someone has to watch over you, and I need more experience and Pokemon to catch. Even if we want to go to Elesa's gym, neither of us really match her specialty. I'm.. I'm sure you don't want to rely on my goodwill any longer, so you'll need to put your team to work and gather funds the ol fashion way.

"I'll be your guide and emergency funds until my Gym is up and running proper. Slowking can teleport me with a couple trips."

I moved to refute, realizing something at 'goodwill.' Nessa had been paying for everything. The meal! The spacious room! It was no wonder the nurse had suspected something!

However, she cut me off, flatly, crossing her arms, "You need help, Aric, in whatever path you end up on. You have seven Pokemon to feed and care for. You have a volatile condition. And you're definitely not equipped to handle the wilds on your lonesome. Your special Tropius can't do everything for you."

I deflated with a sigh. "You're right."

"..and this is the last thing I could do for Dr. Osumi," she murmured. Nessa's expression twisted painfully again. It was clear she wasn't as over it as she pretended. Still, feeling like a burden was a shitty feeling.

That oddly reminded me of something, which would also shift the conversation before it could depress further...

"Hey, Leader Prospect," I pushed past the flat stare I received with a small laugh, "You know that green fish I caught? Pretty sure it was a Basculin."

Nessa tapped her own PokeBall in thought before recalling. "Ah! The white-striped Basculin! It's an exceedingly rare variant that can evolve. You've caught quite a rare crowd, Aric!"

"Do you want em?"

"Pardon me?"

I scratched at my cheek, barely able to force back my laugh at her gobsmacked reaction.

"I don't have the time or desire to break in such a rowdy Pokemon. I already have a full team outside of it—I don't even know its gender, never mind how to take care of it. I'm sure Tessa shared how its capture happened and how I kept both it and my silver Magikarp in their pokeballs.

Pretty sure you need some Pokemon for your eventual Water Gym too."

By the time I finished, it was impossible to notice my shortness of breath. Shit. I had tried my best to keep an even voice and speak only when necessary, but I had droned on unconsciously.

Nessa didn't say anything, but she seemed to expect it, which was only to be expected of Dr. Osumi's student. Nonetheless, she mulled on the offer.

She came to some conclusion not long after.

"Even if I find you some place to keep your pokemon, would you reconsider?"

I simply smiled tiredly. "Could I offer the silver Magi—"

She glared hotly. I knew why. This model loved to work for every bit of beauty and power she held. The Milotic on her hands was one thing. An unwanted Pokemon was another. But three in one go—

Well, she interrupted me before I could try to convince her.

With a bit of a resigned look, Nessa nodded. "I'll take him off your hands then—NOT your female Magikarp just so you know! I'll help you with your eventual Gyarados. You can consider any debts repaid, Aric." She humphed and rose from her chair to stand over me from where I lay. "Giving me both a Milotic and a potential male Basculegion.. if I didn't know better, I would think you were proposing."

As I choked on my saliva, she giggled, throwing a joke back at me. Her hand finally left the pokeball on her hip as she did so. I knew what she was referring to—the two events, actually. The time I asked if she was my mom, and my seemingly starstruck-ness by Elesa.

Still, that left a question in my head.

"Is- Is that really how proposals work?"

"Nah, but you 'gifted' me two extraordinarily rare pokemon," she laughed off with a wave. "I'm THE third known trainer with a Milotic, the only one on this side of the world currently. I'm sure there are one or two more lesser-known trainers out there, but they stay hidden..."

I blinked, shook my head once, and blinked again. I had known they were rare, but only three among gym leaders, elite four, or champions?

Nessa continued gushing, oblivious to my thoughts, "Your.. mad entrance to Galar made it impossible to bloody hide. And to top it off, now a one-in-a-several-thousand, white-stripe variant of Basculin. I won't turn down a new gym Pokemon. Can't really afford to anyhow... Especially with all that potential."

She paused, peering down at me again. "Nice Prinplup by the way, Aric. For how unlucky you are, luck seems to like you all the same."

Her last few words brought me back to my normal. "I just wish it was much less extreme," I replied softly.

The future Gym Leader turned to the window, having lost any of the warmth from earlier and agreed just as softly, "Yeah..."

I wanted to apologize, but she briskly walked over to the entrance and said, "I'll let you catch up with your team."

She paused, turning to me slightly and tilting her head. Her long and luscious black locks fell over her exposed shoulder. The setting sunlight seemed to reflect off her sky-blue eyes, just over the sunglasses she re-equiped.

Jesus, they were so fucking pretty. Like, I knew she was a model—I've seen her in a swimsuit plenty of times before—but she was just... so suddenly gorgeous. I didn't know how to react.

"Don't forget, you cannot summon Tropius here." Whether she knew the effect she had on me wasn't obvious as she continued with a warm, comforting upturn of her lips. "Do catch up on your rest. And don't worry, you'll wake up just fine. Slowking will make sure of it if the doctors here cannot."

I hadn't even thought of that. That was even discounting how enchanted I suddenly became. Because she had been my nurse (and I, her guinea pig), it just hadn't hit me that Nessa was indeed a model.

I would be traveling with that?

I shook my head softly at my exasperated thought. Talking with her really brightened my overall mood, despite the sudden end. Maybe it was seeing a familiar face. Or, it was just now I was more certain about how the future could go.

Nessa really was finishing Dr. Osumi's last project, me.

I rolled off the bed and gradually made my way to the lounging pokeballs. There was one more thing that could cheer me up and distract me from my depressing thoughts of lost time and weakness.

Five more things, actually.

Sorry, Tropius! I'll make it up to you, somehow! She's probably dying to repeat her morning ritual...

"Ty Namo!"

- [ᛊ] -

Aes (A/N): Who's that "interviewer"? And what's his deal?

First off, no, Nessa isn't some heads-over-heels gal crushing on Aric. That would be too easy and very sudden. Given the POV, you don't get to see all her thoughts, so I couldn't share why she's acting the way that she is. You get a glimpse at it when she gave exposition in Milotic and Basculin.

Just to be clear, yes, Aric suddenly finds her attractive physically (eyes are very pretty frfr and he was too busy managing himself at first). However, he also believes he doesn't even have a chance, so he wouldn't even bother imagining such a pairing. I hadn't stated it outright because it's not something conscious on his part. Dumbass doesn't realize he got them youthful hormones back yet either, lul. Not that it played a particular part this chapter... nor will I exaggerate them as he's too self(/overly) aware to fall prey to them.

A lot happened in the two months. You only really got to see the results, given it's written from Aric's POV. Eventually, I'll get around to doing an extended cut with Nessa, similar to Elesa's long interlude (you can hold off on the flames until then, ig). It probably won't be revealed until the end of the current arc, picking up from her previous one and probably, catching all the way up to this chapter. Since Nessa isn't his personal nurse anymore, she isn't as aware of his condition entirely. Just enough to recognize that Unova is where they should go to get some answers. She had just started her mentorship with the late Doctor that cruise.

Speaking of arc, I do think it's a little weird that it ended just like that. A lot of content is missing (the vocal majority didn't want more intermissions anyway). However, that has always been the plan. I'm quite sure I did a poor job of hinting at the issues that plagued Aric, but they were there- Probably.

Edits: mostly
Words: [7,189]

Don't get it twisted. Nessa is mommy.