All three Pokémon turned at once.
The emergency room's sterile white lights reflected in their eyes as the doctor stepped out.
He adjusted his coat, his gaze sweeping over them. He took in their injuries, their tense postures, and the way their eyes fixed on him with urgent expectation.
For a moment, he remained silent.
Then his expression softened. The lines around his eyes eased into something gentler.
"Your trainer should be fine now," he said calmly. "The injuries were serious, but he is stable. We have treated the wounds. Now he just needs rest."
Relief washed over them instantly.
Lopunny shifted where she stood. Her posture relaxed as her long ears lifted slightly.
Meowscarada let out a quiet breath. Her shoulders dropped as the tension finally left her body.
Gardevoir stayed still. The small wooden box rested carefully in her hands. Yet the tightness in her gaze softened. Her grip loosened just a fraction as the heavy weight in her chest began to ease.
The doctor watched them for a moment longer.
"You can see him now," he added gently. "But please be careful. He shouldn't be disturbed too much."
All three gave small, quiet nods. They rushed inside without hesitation…
---
Some time earlier…
When I woke up, I was lying on my stomach. For a few seconds, I did not move. My thoughts felt slow and heavy, as if I had not fully returned to myself yet.
Then everything came rushing back. The shouting. The smoke. The voices of Team Rocket. And then Kirlia.
She had been right behind me. The attacks had been reaching for her. My body had moved on instinct, stepping in front of her.
Then came the pain, tearing across my back before the world went dark.
My breath hitched as my eyes opened fully.
This time the agony hit with full force. Sharp heat tore across my back like fire crawling beneath my skin.
A weak breath escaped me. Even that small movement pulled harshly at the wounds.
Thick medical wraps covered my back, layered tightly to hold the burns and torn skin together. Yet they did nothing to dull the burning underneath.
I tried to stay still.
But I could not.
Are they okay?
That thought came first. Before the pain. Before myself.
I tried to push myself up. The moment my back shifted, fresh fire ripped through the wounds and my vision blurred. My fingers tightened against the sheets.
Before I could move further, the doctor was already there. He stopped me with steady hands and told me not to move.
I barely heard him.
Instead, I forced the question out, asking about my Pokémon.
He told me they were safe. That they had already been treated.
Relief flooded through me. But it did not stop me.
I still tried to move.
After trying to stop me for a while longer, the doctor let out a quiet sigh and finally gave in. Instead of holding me down, he supported me as I slowly pushed myself up.
Every small movement sent fresh fire through the wounds. My breath hitched again and again, but I didn't stop.
Bit by bit, I forced myself upright until I was sitting, leaning forward with my arms resting over the pillows to keep any pressure off my back.
My body trembled slightly from the strain, my breathing uneven.
Still… I stayed like that.
I didn't want them to walk in and see me lying there, unable to move, completely helpless. If they were going to see me, then I would face them like this… no matter how much it hurt.
The doctor adjusted the pillows and checked the wraps across my back. Then he stepped away.
When I asked to see my Pokémon, he gave a small nod and left the room.
A little while later, the door opened.
They stepped inside.
The moment I saw them, something in my chest tightened painfully.
Meowscarada entered first. Burns marked her fur, and bandages wrapped her paws.
Right behind her came Lopunny. She moved carefully, a slight limp affecting her steps. A cast supported her leg, reinforced with light braces. She leaned on her good leg, yet she didn't slow down.
And then I saw her.
It was her.
Gardevoir.
She stood quietly by the door, taller now, moving with a quiet grace. Her presence felt calm, almost overwhelming, yet there was something different about her… something I couldn't quite place.
Her shoulders drooped slightly, her head lowered, as if a quiet guilt weighed on her. It was subtle, but I could see it in the way she looked at me.
I couldn't look away.
All of them looked worn down. Exhausted. Not just injured… it felt like they hadn't rested at all.
And I knew why.
That realization made my chest tighten even more.
"I'm sorry…" I whispered, my voice trembling. "I made you all worry, didn't I?"
-><-
This week I'll be starting a challenge. If this story reaches 500 Power Stones, I'll upload 1 chapter (or a chapter part) daily for 7 days.