{"sf1_id":228400,"sf2_id":"zeRy7ZA1","title":"A Trainer's Tale - Chapter 4","author":"FoxStriker25","words":6854,"posted_at":"2011-03-07T10:18:00.000Z","tags":["Clean","Human","Non-Anthro","Pokemon"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/228400-a-trainer-s-tale-chapter-4","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/zeRy7ZA1","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/fc/9d/fc9dcee5-bc71-4a88-9865-ae8ca31e8aea","description":"#4 of A Trainer's Tale","content":"Disclaimer: Pokémon is copyright of Nintendo, Game Freak, etc.\u0026nbsp; Individual characters are my own imaginening, and are not intended to be any part of main cannon / plotline.\u0026nbsp; Individual characters like Aaron, Song, Zin, etc, are my own creations, so please ask before using.\u0026nbsp; Thank you.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nAuthor's Notes:\u0026nbsp; This was done... last Wednesday, non-stop written from like 9 PM to 3 AM.\u0026nbsp; Sent to my friends, and we spent most of the afternoon yesterday (technically, since it's now 2:20AM as of posting) debugging any grammar / spelling erros, etc.\u0026nbsp; I hope that everything turns out alright.\u0026nbsp; I don't want to say that I want to release these on a weekly basis, because inspiration is rather fickle, but I would like to.\u0026nbsp; I think we can all relate to this plight to some degree.\u0026nbsp; Hopefully, I can get the next one more hammered out more efficiently.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nOther than that, I hope that everyone has enjoyed this story so far.\u0026nbsp; With that, I leave you to Chapter 4.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThis tag business is going to be my bane, I swear.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n---- Chapter 4: Reality\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI woke slowly, the smell of burning lingering nearby.\u0026nbsp; My eyes snapped open, but when I tried to move, I couldn't. Looking around I noticed that not only was Zin still on my chest, but Zola was also curled up next to me.\u0026nbsp; I was no longer resting on Song's lap, and I grew slightly worried to where she would be.\u0026nbsp; The fire had either burned itself out, or put out by someone.\u0026nbsp; I tried to sit up, only to hear a growl come from my chest.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"It's too early,\" Zin said, whimpering.\u0026nbsp; \"Go back to sleep.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI smiled, but I didn't press the matter.\u0026nbsp; I brought my hands to her head, and began to gently scratch behind her horns.\u0026nbsp; A smile played across her muzzle as I lay on the sleeping bag.\u0026nbsp; Xola's body moved, her face swam into view.\u0026nbsp; Xola let out a happy sigh as she gently rubbed her cheek against my face.\u0026nbsp; I chuckled softly, if only to keep Zin complacent with the situation.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Good morning, Xola,\" I said.\u0026nbsp; \"Have you seen the others?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nXola nodded, her eyes narrowing for a moment, before turning to her left.\u0026nbsp; Her tail curled around, as if to point behind me.\u0026nbsp; I turned my head, to see that she's pointing towards the tent.\u0026nbsp; I nodded, smiling at her.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"She's in the tent.\u0026nbsp; Thanks, Xola,\" I said\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe smiled, taking great pleasure in hearing my words.\u0026nbsp; I began to sit up, but Zin growled again.\u0026nbsp; I ignored the sounds, placing my hands on top of her head again.\u0026nbsp; I sighed. \u0026nbsp;I didn't want to disturb her, but if I wanted to get anywhere today, I had to get up and that meant getting Zin off my chest.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Zin, I want to get to Celestic Town today,\" I said sternly.\u0026nbsp; \"I can't really move with you on my chest.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Really now?\" she responded, her voice tinged with the sound of a yawn.\u0026nbsp; \"It wasn't like that the other day.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI clamped my mouth, as I thought of another way to approach the situation.\u0026nbsp; Xola began to speak to Zin in low tones, bringing her face to be on eye level with the Houndoom.\u0026nbsp; Though I couldn't understand specifics, the tone in which Xola was speaking made it plain to me that she wasn't tolerating her attitude.\u0026nbsp; Zin barked a reply, before speaking in human again.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I'm sorry, Master,\" she said, her tone sounding submissive.\u0026nbsp; I was startled at the change, and I wondered what Xola told her.\u0026nbsp; I wasn't about to argue, but I intended to rectify the situation.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Are you really that exhausted, Zin?\" I asked, genuinely worried about her.\u0026nbsp; Being tired is one thing, but we didn't go to sleep that late, I think.\u0026nbsp; I don't remember checking the time on my Pokédex, so I might be wrong.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe giggled, her tone returning to normal.\u0026nbsp; \"No, I'm fine.\u0026nbsp; Xola told me to begin obeying you better, or she'd constrict me.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Well, maybe after yesterday's fight, you'll listen to her now,\" I said, grinning\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe flinched severely, bringing her leg up and her eyes widening for a moment.\u0026nbsp; She shook her head, looking at me with a subdued look.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I won't forget it, Master,\" she said softly\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Please, for the love of Crescelia, stop calling me that,\" I said, feeling exasperated.\u0026nbsp; \"I told all of you to not call me that.\u0026nbsp; It makes me feel... egocentric?\u0026nbsp; I know all of you pretty well.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I'll remember that, Master,\" Zin said, sticking her tongue out at me.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI sighed and shook my head, expressing my sincere dislike of being called 'Master' by my team.\u0026nbsp; It made me feel as if this was all a joke.\u0026nbsp; Zin tilted her head to the side, her eyes narrowed at me, but she didn't voice her thoughts.\u0026nbsp; I looked at her curiously, but she shook her head.\u0026nbsp; I shrugged, as a yawn escaped out of me, making my jaw pop loudly in my ears.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Better get everything ready,\" I said out loud.\u0026nbsp; \"Xola, do you know where everyone else is?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe nodded, pointing at the tent again.\u0026nbsp; I walked towards the tent, kneeling to get a grip on the zipper.\u0026nbsp; But as soon as I was about to move, Mist poked her head through the material.\u0026nbsp; I jumped back, startled at seeing the Mismagius without even a hint of a warning, but I managed to restrain myself from yelling.\u0026nbsp; The grin on her face told me that she knew exactly what was running through my mind at the moment.\u0026nbsp; She floated through the material effortlessly, leaving no evidence of her passing.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Good morning, Master Aaron,\" she said, her voice calm.\u0026nbsp; \"I hope that everything is well?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nCatching my breath and holding in my surprise, I responded.\u0026nbsp; \"Yeah, everything is fine,\" I said, smiling.\u0026nbsp; \"Is Spirit and Song inside of the tent, too?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nMist smile widened at my question.\u0026nbsp; \"Yes, they are,\" she said.\u0026nbsp; \"They talked well into the night, a bit after you fell asleep with Zin.\u0026nbsp; Xola wanted to make sure you stayed safe, so she insisted to stay outside.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI nodded, things making sense now.\u0026nbsp; \"Well, could you tell those two that I want to get moving soon, please?\u0026nbsp; Don't want to waste the daylight.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe nodded at my request, and floated back through the walls of the tent.\u0026nbsp; I busied myself with cleaning the campsite that may have been left out last night.\u0026nbsp; Either I didn't make that much of a mess, or someone took the time to help, because I barely found any trash.\u0026nbsp; I shook my head, last night's battle playing in my mind's eye again.\u0026nbsp; I shivered a bit, as I stood from kneeling against the ground to pick what looked like a soda can.\u0026nbsp; Not mine, but whatever, right?\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nJust knowing that Zin was powerful enough to learn those attacks on her own is amazing.\u0026nbsp; I didn't think it was possible for a wild Pokémon to learn Fire Blast without the aid of technology.\u0026nbsp; It's possible that she saw it used, or was the victim of that attack, and she practiced enough to learn it.\u0026nbsp; Is that possible?\u0026nbsp; It sure seemed that way, at the very least.\u0026nbsp; Song claims that she's wild, and honestly I don't doubt it.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThinking about the battle, I moved my hand over to my pocket, feeling a Pokéball against my palm.\u0026nbsp; I was concerned about Akalia's well-being, and I berated myself for not taking care of it last night.\u0026nbsp; I quickly fetched the device and opened it, letting the Luxray fully materialize in front of me.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Lux!\u0026nbsp; Luxray!\" she said, quickly pouncing on top of me\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI managed to stay balanced while Akalia stood on her hind legs, forelegs on my shoulders as I received a face full of licks.\u0026nbsp; I laughed, feeling happy just by knowing that she had recovered fully, but I still wanted to have a good look at her to make sure she was completely fine.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI patted her head, and she stopped licking me.\u0026nbsp; I smiled at her, as her eyes seemed to question my actions.\u0026nbsp; \"I want to take a good look at you,\" I explained.\u0026nbsp; \"I should have taken care of you last night.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe shook her head, purring loudly.\u0026nbsp; \"You're not hurt, are you?\" I asked, trying again to keep her affectionate side under control.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nAgain, Akalia shook her head.\u0026nbsp; I dropped the subject, but I wasn't going to get an answer when she gets like this.\u0026nbsp; Sometimes I really wish I could understand their language.\u0026nbsp; Would probably make things a lot easier.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_Indeed it would, so I don't have to translate for everyone!_\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nStill with a Luxray's paws on my shoulders, I turned my head as best I could, to see Mist, Song and Spirit making their way towards me.\u0026nbsp; A soft chuckling sound made me turn my head towards Akalia, only to receive a mischievous look.\u0026nbsp; I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being set up again.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"OK, everyone, now that we're all accounted for,\" I said, breaking the possible silent conversation going on, \"we should get a move on.\u0026nbsp; No need to spend another night out in the mountains, especially with the chance of fog rolling in.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_Spoilsport!_\" Song said, her voice echoing in my mind again.\u0026nbsp; \"_It was fun to sleep outside, though.\u0026nbsp; The stars are so beautiful!_\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I agree with you there,\" I said, grinning, \"though I would have liked to sleep inside the tent instead of outside.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe shook her head, eyes glowing gently with a gentle shake of her head.\u0026nbsp; \"_It isn't my fault you used Xola to combat Zin,_\" she reminded me.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"It wasn't my fault that Zin passed out on top of me, either,\" I countered.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_You could have always returned her to the Pokéball,_\" she said, with a sing-song voice.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"And have an angry Houndoom in the morning?\" I asked.\u0026nbsp; \"No thank you.\u0026nbsp; It was warm enough with her on my chest.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I'm happy for you too, Master!\" Zin spoke up, as I felt her horns scratch against my legs.\u0026nbsp; \"It was nice to be close to you again, at the very least.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI felt my cheeks flush, as everyone laughed around me.\u0026nbsp; I shook my head, raising my hands up to get everyone's attention.\u0026nbsp; As soon as all the laughter tapered off, I spoke.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Alright, we should be getting ready to hike out, so if I could get a volunteer or two to make sure we don't leave any trash, that'd be great.\u0026nbsp; Also, if someone can be our lookout, just in case there's any wild Pokémon or trainers' incoming, so we aren't caught by surprise.\u0026nbsp; Other than that, you can sit tight, or go back inside your Pokéball.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nZin, Akalia, and Spirit quickly volunteered to be lookouts.\u0026nbsp; Spirit took to the sky quickly, the soft humming of her wings and gentle swirl of dust marking her ascent.\u0026nbsp; Zin and Akalia dashed in opposite directions, running about, inspecting things they found interesting.\u0026nbsp; I shrugged, nodding at the remaining three.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Alright, time to pack up and head out.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n===============\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; ================\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; ==============\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nWalking across narrow bridges was a scary proposition already.\u0026nbsp; It didn't help matters that the old bridge was made out of rope and wooden steps.\u0026nbsp; The wood creaked as I put my weight on every single one.\u0026nbsp; I held onto the rope with a death grip, not wanting to be caught unawares.\u0026nbsp; It didn't help things that Mist was floating by, completely unconcerned with my state of panic.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Do not worry, Master,\" she said for the umpteenth time.\u0026nbsp; \"I am quite confident that the bridge will hold your weight.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Tell that to the rapids underneath me,\" I muttered, sighing.\u0026nbsp; My heart pounded in my chest.\u0026nbsp; I could feel my chest constricting because of the panic I was experiencing.\u0026nbsp; I closed my eyes for a moment, listening to the roar of the rapids underneath me.\u0026nbsp; Slowly opening my eyes, any progress I had to calm myself was lost when I still couldn't see anything farther than a hands length in front of me.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe creaking seemed to intensify.\u0026nbsp; I heard something snap behind me, and my feet were pedaling in thin air a split second later.\u0026nbsp; I held on, the rope now acting as my life line, as the bridge slammed against the side of the mountain.\u0026nbsp; Whatever wind I had in me escaped through my mouth in a loud grunt. \u0026nbsp;I had to bite back a scream of pain, as I felt myself being slammed into the side of the mountain.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Master!\" Mist yelled, her voice barely heard over the roar of the rapids\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI tried to open my mouth to respond, but my grip began to slip.\u0026nbsp; I groaned, barely being able to hold on.\u0026nbsp; I tried to climb up, but quickly found that rope burn hurts, as I slid a few precious inches downwards. \u0026nbsp;I needed to do something, because that kind of wet and tired isn't on my to-do list.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nMist appeared through the white fog, shock clearly visible on her face.\u0026nbsp; She shook her head, frowning in concentration, as I struggled to find Spirit's Pokéball in my pocket.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Here, let me aid you, Master,\" Mist said, with unnerving calm.\u0026nbsp; Her body began to glow gently, feeling the contents in my pockets move, but only one Pokéball came out of them.\u0026nbsp; I quickly grabbed it, nodding at the ghost.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Spirit!\" I yelled, quickly opening the device in my hands, to release my Flygon from its confines.\u0026nbsp; Her startled squeak was heard as she found herself without ground under her feet, but quickly adapted when she saw me.\u0026nbsp; Her arms quickly grabbed me, holding me against her body possessively, as her wings hummed around me.\u0026nbsp; I wrapped my hands around the Flygon as we flew upwards, the river's roar barely heard over the soft singing of Spirit's wings.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nTime seemed to slow down, as I had no landmarks to tell where we were.\u0026nbsp; I could see the white fog all around us, as Spirit flew through the open air.\u0026nbsp; Mist was flying next to us, her purple glow surrounding her body, as her gentle voice barely heard over the wind.\u0026nbsp; It seemed that Mist was guiding Spirit through the fog.\u0026nbsp; I couldn't tell, as everything in sight was just covered in muted grey and white.\u0026nbsp; I shivered, feeling my body grow cold, and Spirit gave a sharp cry.\u0026nbsp; The humming grew in intensity, as we picked up speed.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI brought a hand to my mouth, trying to bring back feeling to my numb fingers by exhaling on them.\u0026nbsp; Spirit's scales were beginning to grow cold under my touch, so I tried to alternate warming my hands as best I could.\u0026nbsp; Her face would turn to look at me, worry clear in her expression, as I tried to shake my head.\u0026nbsp; The humming seemed to double; as it felt that we were speeding up, trying to get to secure land as fast as possible.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe wind rushing across my exposed skin cut like a Slash attack on a target dummy.\u0026nbsp; I shivered, trying to focus on not falling asleep in my Pokémon's arms.\u0026nbsp; The gentle thrum of Spirit's wings, the howling wind, and the biting cold dulled my senses.\u0026nbsp; Try as I might, it was becoming increasingly harder to stay awake.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Master,\" Mist said, startling me into awareness.\u0026nbsp; \"We're almost to the town.\u0026nbsp; Do you wish to land?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Yes, please,\" I said, as loud as I could.\u0026nbsp; Mist nodded, and with a gentle cry, she began to descend into the mist.\u0026nbsp; Spirit quickly followed the disappearing Ghost type into the yawning mist.\u0026nbsp; I shivered once more as my body was bombarded by water, in a vain attempt to stay warm.\u0026nbsp; Teeth chattering like mad Combee's, I held on tightly to Spirit's body.\u0026nbsp; Her arms held me tightly against her body, her voice echoing above me through the humming of her wings.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nSooner than I thought, the mist began to clear.\u0026nbsp; Though it was still prevalent higher up, it was obvious now that we were out of it.\u0026nbsp; Spirit flew straight towards the familiar orange roof and white building, with an obvious reference to a Pokéball in the motif at the front of the building.\u0026nbsp; A Pokémon Center right now felt like the best thing to see after what just happened.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nSpirit didn't waste any time after landing gently on the ground.\u0026nbsp; The doors opened instantly, letting her inside, carrying me.\u0026nbsp; The Nurse Joy of the Pokémon Center turned around, and was about to give us a cheery greeting, but soon was raising her voice in a commanding fashion.\u0026nbsp; An army of Chansey showed up, bringing all kinds of medical equipment.\u0026nbsp; I was placed on a stretcher bed, and was hurried over to emergency.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nNurse Joy's face entered my vision, and she shook her head.\u0026nbsp; I couldn't hear what she said, though it was obvious that she was talking.\u0026nbsp; I shivered again, as I prayed that I didn't become deaf or suffered any permanent damage.\u0026nbsp; A sharp pain in my shoulder told me my sense of touch was still working, however, as the stretcher kept moving.\u0026nbsp; Lights began to blur as I was hurried off somewhere, and my eyes close against my will.\u0026nbsp; A yawn breaks through my lips, and I know no more.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n================\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; ==========================\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; ===============\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nTalking.\u0026nbsp; That was the first thing I heard as my senses slowly awakened from the dead sleep I was in.\u0026nbsp; Vague memories floated across my conscious.\u0026nbsp; I attempted to focus, trying to remember the morning, or what exactly happened.\u0026nbsp; My mind decided that it wasn't the time or place for that, as all I see clearly in my mind's eye is feeling cold.\u0026nbsp; I groaned, bringing my hands to my face, rubbing my eyes softly.\u0026nbsp; I almost yelled out when I felt a sudden pressure on my chest.\u0026nbsp; I moved my hands away to see what was attacking me, to see Zin and Akalia on my sides.\u0026nbsp; I could recognize their blurry features, if just because Zin has black fur and horns, and Akalia has blue fur and a star on her gently waving tail.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Master!\" Zin's voice said loudly.\u0026nbsp; Too loud for my taste, but I was suddenly glad I could hear her voice.\u0026nbsp; \"By Arceus, don't you DARE do that again!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI groaned, shaking my head.\u0026nbsp; My throat was dry as parched earth, but I swallowed some spit in my mouth to be able to talk again.\u0026nbsp; I tried, this time with moderate success.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I'll remember that,\" I croaked out, my vision spinning for a moment.\u0026nbsp; I closed my eyes again, feeling my stomach churn in nausea.\u0026nbsp; This is definitely not my best morning so far.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe swish of a door opening, and hands were against my cheeks.\u0026nbsp; Human hands.\u0026nbsp; Must be Nurse Joy, checking up on me.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Can you hear me?\" Nurse Joy asked, confirming my suspicions.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Yes,\" I said, wincing at my own voice.\u0026nbsp; Pain shot through my head from just talking.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Well, it's a good thing you have such loyal Pokémon,\" Nurse Joy said, her voice soft.\u0026nbsp; \"They haven't left your side since you've been here.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI nodded, trying my best not to aggravate the pain.\u0026nbsp; I was taking deep breaths, trying to keep myself as level headed as I could.\u0026nbsp; The pain I was feeling was the worst I've ever felt.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"You broke a few ribs, too,\" Nurse Joy continued.\u0026nbsp; \"If it wasn't for your Gardevoir, I wouldn't have known.\u0026nbsp; I'm just grateful that we're fully stocked for such emergencies.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI nodded again, making a note to thank Song when I could.\u0026nbsp; A question formed in my mind, and I dared ask, even if I knew I was going to regret the backlash of pain that was going to happen after I opened my mouth.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"How long have I been here?\" I asked.\u0026nbsp; I grimaced, pain flooding me instantly, but I refused to cry in pain.\u0026nbsp; Damn, this hurt.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"About three days now.\u0026nbsp; This would be day four for you.\u0026nbsp; You just rest, and we'll get you out of here soon enough.\u0026nbsp; Modern medicine will work its wonders soon.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI opened my eyes, seeing for the first time a different Nurse Joy, though I hear they all look the same.\u0026nbsp; The familiar smile, hair, and dress put me at ease.\u0026nbsp; I smiled, feeling her hand ruffle through my hair.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"You'll want to take a shower later, too,\" she advised.\u0026nbsp; \"You need it.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI laughed, even through the pain I was feeling because of it.\u0026nbsp; I nodded, chuckling at her comment.\u0026nbsp; I probably reeked, but I couldn't bring myself to care at the moment.\u0026nbsp; I survived, and everyone else was safe.\u0026nbsp; That's what mattered.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI saw that everyone was present, except Xola.\u0026nbsp; A mixture of dread and fear sat at the pit of my stomach.\u0026nbsp; I've already grown accustomed to seeing everyone, and not having Xola present stood out.\u0026nbsp; Not that it was hard to miss a seventeen foot leviathan.\u0026nbsp; That alone put me on edge.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Nurse Joy, where's my Milotic?\" I asked, as she was making her way out of the room\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"You only appeared with five Pokémon,\" she answered, her head tilted to the side\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThings just couldn't get better right now, could they?\u0026nbsp; I pushed myself off the bed, sitting upwards, deliberately ignoring all the pain and instinct to stop what I was doing.\u0026nbsp; I didn't care at the moment.\u0026nbsp; I had to find Xola!\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"What are you doing, young man?\" Nurse Joy demanded, as I got off the bed on shaky legs. \u0026nbsp;I nearly lost my balance, if it wasn't for Spirit who grabbed me by the shoulders to steady me.\u0026nbsp; I smiled at the Flygon and nodded, patting her on the back.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I'm going to find my lost Pokémon, that's what I'm doing,\" I answered, as I began to walk past her.\u0026nbsp; A step later, I fell to the ground, my nose hitting tiled floor.\u0026nbsp; I groaned, but I pushed myself upward.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_Nurse Joy is right, you can't go out there like this,_\" Song said, her voice full of worry.\u0026nbsp; \"_You would get yourself killed if you tried!_\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"So what?\" I retorted, annoyed by her statement.\u0026nbsp; \"You think I'm going to just forget about Xola like that?!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_No, but I suggest you send Spirit, myself and Mist to find her,_\" she said, her voice calming my raging thoughts.\u0026nbsp; \"_I'll do what I can to support them, as they both know where you flew by._\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"The area was covered in fog,\" I said, shaking my head.\u0026nbsp; \"We were too high up to see land.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI stayed quiet, making a vain attempt to stand up by myself.\u0026nbsp; Spirit aided me again, her strong arms helping me off the ground.\u0026nbsp; This time, she put my arms over her neck and shoulders, as her arms lifted me up from the ground.\u0026nbsp; I couldn't help but worry about the situation.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI shook my head, berating myself for thinking so negatively.\u0026nbsp; Here was my team, just as worried as I was, or more so, about Xola and myself.\u0026nbsp; I forced a smile, attempting to rid of the thoughts from my head.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Alright,\" I said, closing my eyes in thought.\u0026nbsp; \"Spirit, Mist, and Song, if you go out to look for Xola, but be safe out there.\u0026nbsp; I don't know what I'd do if you three got hurt, too.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nSpirit laid me on the bed, nodding her head.\u0026nbsp; I gently patted her cheeks, smiling.\u0026nbsp; She took my hand in her claws, gently squeezing and smiling, tilting her head to the side.\u0026nbsp; When she let me go, she nodded to Mist and Song, and all three walked out in unison.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Are you going to stay put?\" Nurse Joy asked, her voice annoyed\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"There's no way I'd feel at ease now,\" I said, shaking my head.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n=====================\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; =====================\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; =============\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nTwo days passed by before Nurse Joy pronounced me fit enough not to mess myself up again.\u0026nbsp; I immediately left with both Zin and Akalia at my side, forcing myself to walk and not run to the fog entrenched mountains east of Celestic Town.\u0026nbsp; It was hard to believe that this section was always covered in mist.\u0026nbsp; Ever since Song, Mist, and Spirit have returned without a hint of finding Xola's Pokéball, I knew I had to take a direct approach.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nFinding the broken bridge wasn't hard.\u0026nbsp; Zin's growled next to me, nodding.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"She's here,\" Zin declared.\u0026nbsp; I looked at her, bewildered by her statement.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"How do you know?\" I asked\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I can smell her scent coming from down there,\" she said.\u0026nbsp; \"Don't argue and trust me.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI nodded, pulling out Spirit's Pokéball.\u0026nbsp; The Flygon appeared next to me, and smiled gently.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Spirit, we need to get down to the bottom of this chasm,\" I said, pointing downwards.\u0026nbsp; \"Zin says that she can smell Xola's Pokéball down there.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nSpirit nodded, as I pulled out two Pokéballs to return Akalia and Zin to safety.\u0026nbsp; As both of them returned successfully to their safe devices, I shoved them deep in my pockets.\u0026nbsp; I didn't want a repeat of last time, even if it was an accident.\u0026nbsp; I pulled another Pokéball, examining it before expanding and releasing its ghostly inhabitant.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nAs Mist materialized, she gave me a curious look.\u0026nbsp; \"Is my assistance required, Master?\" she asked gently\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI nodded.\u0026nbsp; \"Another pair of eyes would work marvelously at this moment.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe nodded, as Spirit walked next to me.\u0026nbsp; I patted her on the shoulder, as she easily lifted me in her arms, much to my surprise.\u0026nbsp; Her wings hummed loudly in my ears, as she gently lifted us from the ground.\u0026nbsp; We floated downwards slowly, the mist filling my vision, turning everything into vague shapes.\u0026nbsp; Only Spirit's neck and colors of her scales were bright to my eyes, and I could barely make out my Mismagius body floating through the ocean of fog.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nWe reached the turbulent waters, and I shook my head.\u0026nbsp; \"Follow the flow of water, Spirit,\" I said, holding tight to her arms.\u0026nbsp; She mimicked my action, pressing my body closer to hers as she flew towards where I pointed.\u0026nbsp; The rapids ended in a waterfall that fell a rather large distance down.\u0026nbsp; I looked downwards, to see more fog and hear the water cascade into the natural pool at the bottom.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Mist!\" I called, hoping that she could hear me easily\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Yes, Master?\" she asked, appearing next to me.\u0026nbsp; I looked at her, startled for a moment, but quickly focusing on my objective.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I heard that it's possible for some Ghost types to sense energy,\" I said.\u0026nbsp; \"Is that possible?\u0026nbsp; And if so, could you sense Xola's energy?\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I can try,\" she said, eyes closed.\u0026nbsp; \"I have never attempted to do so over a large area.\u0026nbsp; I may not get an accurate reading.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Getting a reading is more important than accuracy,\" I said.\u0026nbsp; \"We need to know if she's here in the first place.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nMist nodded, as her gems and body began to glow with a calming purple glow.\u0026nbsp; Consciously or not, she began to hover lower, and I directed Spirit to follow her as best she could.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Follow her, girl,\" I said, patting Spirit's neck.\u0026nbsp; \"I don't want to lose anyone else.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nSpirit nodded, making a cooing sound.\u0026nbsp; We followed Mist down to the bottom of the waterfall, the sound deafening out almost everything else.\u0026nbsp; The only things I could hear was the humming coming from Spirit's wings, and my own heart beat in my ears.\u0026nbsp; When we floated towards Mist, she was still, her body still surrounded by a purple glow.\u0026nbsp; Not daring to interrupt, we stayed silent, as panic slowly began to build in my throat.\u0026nbsp; I wanted to yell out for Xola, in the random chance that her Pokéball had opened, or it had broken, but I didn't want to break Mist's concentration.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nWe stayed there for a time, all I could focus on was the purple glowing in front of me, and Spirit's continued breath.\u0026nbsp; I didn't want her to become exhausted, so I pointed to the shoreline, so we could sit and rest, while Mist did her reading.\u0026nbsp; We landed easily, and Spirit let me go, but not enough to walk on my own.\u0026nbsp; She held onto my arms possessively, shaking her head when I turned to face her.\u0026nbsp; Curious, I let her, and she pressed my head against her body, as her heartbeat isolated me from the rest of the world.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI stayed in her embrace, but I looked over my shoulder, wanting to see if Mist had made any progress.\u0026nbsp; I smiled at Spirit, patting her shoulders, and she seemed to visually calm down.\u0026nbsp; I, however, was still a nervous wreck on the inside.\u0026nbsp; I looked at the water, to see Mist still hovering there.\u0026nbsp; I didn't want to interrupt her, so I fished out another Pokéball and released its inhabitant next to me.\u0026nbsp; Song materialized, her eyes narrowed instantly when she saw me.\u0026nbsp; No words were spoken between us, as if she knew exactly why I had called her out for.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nSong closed her eyes, and her body was enveloped in a faint green glow.\u0026nbsp; She opened her eyes soon after, her eyes glowing red in distinct contrast to her body.\u0026nbsp; I shivered, but she didn't stay looking in my direction for long.\u0026nbsp; She turned around, and Song pointed in the direction she was facing, into the forest.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_She's hurt_,\" she said simply.\u0026nbsp; I didn't wait for anything else, and I ran towards where she pointed.\u0026nbsp; Song didn't voice any argument, following right next to me.\u0026nbsp; Spirit cried out loud, and her wings hummed as she caught up with us.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Call Mist,\" I said to Song.\u0026nbsp; \"Let her know where we are!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I am already at your side, Master,\" Mist said, her purple body floating next to me.\u0026nbsp; I nodded, as I pushed my body harder to get to where Xola could be.\u0026nbsp; And I had to leave my backpack behind, too!\u0026nbsp; Out of all the times that I had to be an idiot, now was not the time!\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe tree line wasn't thick like it was back home, and we passed by them with ease.\u0026nbsp; Though it was still daylight, the sun could barely pierce the fog, and it made running part of the risk.\u0026nbsp; I didn't care at the moment, needing to find Xola as soon as possible.\u0026nbsp; My chest burned, and I could feel myself running short of breath.\u0026nbsp; Luckily, we found an opening.\u0026nbsp; My pants turned to sobs as I saw what was waiting for me.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nXola was there, her scales soaked in blood.\u0026nbsp; Her head was laying on the grass, cuts and bruises marring her body.\u0026nbsp; I shook my head, as I hurried to her side.\u0026nbsp; I slipped on the wet grass, but I made it to her side.\u0026nbsp; I hesitated for a brief moment, but I then placed my hands against her scales, trying to feel if she was even alive.\u0026nbsp; When she didn't stir, my heart clenched, as I was struck with grief.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI couldn't speak.\u0026nbsp; I wanted to swear and curse whatever just happened, that this didn't need to happen.\u0026nbsp; Words died in my mouth before they could be formed into anything more coherent than sobs and cries.\u0026nbsp; Tears began to flow from my eyes, as I threw my body against the prone Milotic.\u0026nbsp; I could feel a light touch on my shoulders, but I didn't acknowledge it, just wanting to mourn for the loss I just suffered, blaming myself for my ignorance.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"This wasn't your fault, human,\" a soft voice said above me.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI threw my head up, following the blue paw on my shoulder.\u0026nbsp; The leg, covered in deep blue fur, with white markings underneath its legs and the entire belly, as twin tails blew in the nonexistent wind.\u0026nbsp; A large billowing purple mane flowed like water; a slim face stared at me with its eyes.\u0026nbsp; A large crest adorned its forehead, almost like an incomplete crystal.\u0026nbsp; It dawned on me who exactly this Pokémon was.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Suicune,\" I whispered, my body shivering instantly.\u0026nbsp; My heart raced, feeling overwhelmed by the fact that, not only was my partner and friend dying or dead, a Sacred Beast stood on top of me, as well.\u0026nbsp; My mind refused to comprehend anything more than what I was seeing at the moment.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"All Water Pokémon are under my care,\" it whispered softly.\u0026nbsp; I could swear that the voice sounded feminine, but I couldn't be sure. \u0026nbsp;It sounded as if the ocean depths purred in my ears.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"It is my responsibility to see that they are taken care of,\" Suicune continued.\u0026nbsp; \"Why are you here, human?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"She's my partner,\" I said, my chest aching.\u0026nbsp; \"I failed her, as her trainer and friend.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Mistakes can have grave consequences,\" Suicune said.\u0026nbsp; \"But, they can be corrected, with time.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI looked on as the Sacred Beast placed one of those whipping tails on top of Xola's head.\u0026nbsp; Suicune's body began to glow a bright blue, my vision being blinded as everything around me was swallowed by the light.\u0026nbsp; My hands were still on top of Xola's body, and I refused to move away from her, legendary beast be damned.\u0026nbsp; The glow continued, slowly encompassing anything I saw.\u0026nbsp; Xola's body was the first thing to disappear from my vision, though I could still feel her underneath my fingers.\u0026nbsp; My hands were slowly consumed by the encroaching light, slowly making its way upwards towards my body.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nWind began to blow, and a howl could be heard, as if belonged to it, though coming from a different source.\u0026nbsp; I closed my eyes, as everything becoming a uniform color, trying not to clamp my fingers tightly against Xola's body.\u0026nbsp; Something pressed against my skin, through my shirt, and straight into my chest.\u0026nbsp; I gasped, opening my eyes against my will, finding Suicune's tail against my skin.\u0026nbsp; I shivered, my body growing cold, my heart thundering in my chest.\u0026nbsp; Surprise was still prevalent in my mind, as I felt a large dose of energy run through me, like sticking your finger in a power outlet.\u0026nbsp; Except, your finger wasn't your own, and it was hooked up to your chest.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI yelled out, pain flaring through my mind instantly.\u0026nbsp; My eyes began to water, as my body shook.\u0026nbsp; I fought against the encroaching feeling of darkness with all my might, but I could feel my breathing becoming more labored as time went on.\u0026nbsp; I barely recognized the act of breathing, much less anything else except this sensation of pure pain in my mind.\u0026nbsp; My eyes shut, as I felt myself fall sideways towards where I last saw Suicune.\u0026nbsp; Landing against the ground, I tried to grasp at the offending appendage that felt stuck to my chest, but as I reached towards my chest, a gentle touch made me stop.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"You've done well, human,\" the soft voice of Suicune said.\u0026nbsp; \"More than I had ever hoped.\u0026nbsp; You are... quite unique.\u0026nbsp; It gives me some hope for your kind.\u0026nbsp; I must remember that not all of you humans are the same.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Rest now,\" the voice continued, the paw moving from my hands to my forehead.\u0026nbsp; It tapped me twice, and my thoughts ceased.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n=================\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; ==========================\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; ===============\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Master!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI awoke to my chest being pounced on, by someone that was too heavy for me.\u0026nbsp; I groaned, still eyes closed, though whoever it was didn't agree with my train of thought.\u0026nbsp; Gentle nuzzles against my neck made me open my eyes, to see Xola's body lying on top of me.\u0026nbsp; I gasped, sitting up instantly, bringing my hands to her face, gently lifting it so that I could inspect it easier at my eye level.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Is something wrong, Master?\" a voice said.\u0026nbsp; A voice in front of me.\u0026nbsp; Xola was talking.\u0026nbsp; How in Arceus's name could I understand her?\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Nothing's wrong, Xola,\" I said, patting her head gently.\u0026nbsp; \"I'm just glad we found you.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Wait, you can understand me?\" she asked, her head tilting back in surprise.\u0026nbsp; Her body coiled upon itself, as her eyes narrowed.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"It looks like it, though how, I have no idea,\" I said, shaking my head.\u0026nbsp; \"This feels like either a very good dream, or a seriously messed up nightmare.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I woke up underwater,\" Xola said, bringing her head down to eye level again.\u0026nbsp; \"You weren't there.\u0026nbsp; I was about to ask where you were when a sharp pain on my head made me black out.\u0026nbsp; I woke up on the sand, not far from here.\u0026nbsp; I made my way here, so I wouldn't be spotted by something that was looking for an easy meal.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI shivered as she recounted her tale.\u0026nbsp; I frowned, as I didn't want to hear any more details.\u0026nbsp; I just wanted to know if this was real or not!\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nXola pressed her head against mine, her scales rubbing against my skin.\u0026nbsp; It felt real enough.\u0026nbsp; My hands encircled her body, as I pressed myself tighter against her soft scales.\u0026nbsp; My head hurt from the possibility, but I didn't care.\u0026nbsp; I was just glad to have Xola safe and sound.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"You saw Suicune, didn't you,\" Xola said, a smile forming on her lips.\u0026nbsp; She shook her head before continuing.\u0026nbsp; \"I don't know what happened, and I don't care.\u0026nbsp; As long as you're here, that's what matters, Master.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I thought I told you to stop calling me that,\" I said, frowning.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Spoilsport!\" she said, as she began to laugh.\u0026nbsp; I chuckled, as I looked around to see my surroundings.\u0026nbsp; My backpack was resting on the ground; the tent was propped up and secured.\u0026nbsp; A small fire was alight; gently glowing as fog swirled around the area.\u0026nbsp; I sighed, feeling worried for the others.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"The others are around,\" she said, nodding.\u0026nbsp; \"I'm betting they're trying to find some berries to bring back.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nI turned around out of sheer instinct, only to have both Akalia and Zin tackle me down to the ground.\u0026nbsp; My head met the grass quickly, my neck and face being licked in earnest by both of them.\u0026nbsp; I laughed, my limbs useless in pushing them away, but I didn't give in without a fight.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Xola, help me!\" I said, trying not to laugh as a tongue snuck its way up my nose.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nXola's tail curled around Zin, removing her weight from me.\u0026nbsp; That allowed my hands to get underneath Akalia, and I proceeded to scratch her belly, successfully distracting the Luxray that was on top of me.\u0026nbsp; I managed to stand up, but my feet failed me, though Xola's body met me halfway through the fall, so I would be safe.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Thank you, Xola,\" I said sincerely\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"You're getting one of those Pokéball belts, and nothing you can say is going to persuade me otherwise from making you get one!\" Xola declared.\u0026nbsp; \"Are we clear?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Yes, ma'am!\" I replied, before chuckling at her commanding voice.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nSpirit, Mist and Song returned shortly, carrying a great number of different berries in some of my shirts.\u0026nbsp; I shook my head, but I indulged anyway, grabbing an Oran berry and stripping the skin.\u0026nbsp; As I threw the berry skin into the fire, I looked around me, seeing everyone safe.\u0026nbsp; I don't know exactly what happened, but something did.\u0026nbsp; It's been seven days, and I've already come out of a near death experience, almost lost a companion, met a Sacred Beast, and apparently brought Xola from the brink of death.\u0026nbsp; I'm just glad, that for now, things are back to normal. \u0026nbsp;Whatever normal means, I have no idea anymore.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nAs I ate the berry in my hands, I contemplated of how things are different.\u0026nbsp; Losing Xola would have been devastating.\u0026nbsp; Losing _anyone_ would have been devastating.\u0026nbsp; I closed my eyes, trying to remember what Suicune said, but failing.\u0026nbsp; Something about how I was special?\u0026nbsp; I shook my head, trying to jar thoughts from my subconscious, but failing miserably.\u0026nbsp; Maybe I should just be grateful that everything worked out for the best.\u0026nbsp; I'm definitely not taking the little things for granted.\u0026nbsp; Not anymore.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nAnd that belt?\u0026nbsp; Going to buy one as soon as I see one, too.\n\n  \n  \n\n","series":{"name":"A Trainer\\'s Tale","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/224994-a-trainer-s-tale-chapter-3.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/233136-a-trainer-s-tale-chapter-5.json"}}