Pokearth, Chapter 4
#4 of Pokearth
Chapter 4
I heard Officer Jenny curse behind me. "I'm sorry, I looked away for a second and she threw the dagger." She walked forward as if to retrieve the blade, but I held up my hand.
"This knife will be my reward for capturing a wanted criminal. Now I must insist, farewell." I closed the door and stepped down the hall. As I walked, Rose awoke from a nap.
'Hi Alex.' She said sleepily. I gently stroked her head, looking for my room, until I heard a muffled scream. I turned to the door I was next to and slowly opened it. Tied up on the bed was the real Nurse Joy! As I walked in the room, some strange wind blew my white cloak around me. Joy seemed scared when I drew my dagger, but she was fine after I cut her bonds and removed her gag.
"Thank you, I've been trapped here for so long!" She said, fixing her cap and hair.
"Don't worry about it. But you are the real Nurse Joy, right?" I responded, not wanting to be tricked again.
"Nurses' honor. How can I help you?" She said.
"Well, first, I need a room for the night, if the one Julia gave me isn't real. Second, Rose here still needs a checkup after her battle, but it's not going to happen unless I'm in the room with her. Is that okay?" I held up the room key.
"That is a real key, and although you normally wouldn't be allowed in the room, we'll make an exception because of the women. By the way, where is she?"
'By now, she's in chains at the Police Department.' Rose input.
Looking confused, Nurse Joy asked, "Who said that?"
I decided to resolve this conversation, "It was my Rose here. Psychic talk. Now, can you lead us to the checkup room?" She still appeared a little confused, but she led us back to the room where Julia was. Of course, Rose was right and Julia was gone.
"Rose, would you mind hopping up on that table for me?" The real Joy said. Rose happily obliged, after I nodded my head. "Now, let's see here." She ran her fingers through Rose's fur. "Her fur is matted, not to bad though. A couple of minor bruises. Nothing a little grooming and some love won't cure. Just take this comb and oil and comb her after she has a bath, and the matting will be gone. The bruises should heal in about a week, depending on whether she battles or not. Now off you go!" She waved us out of the room before I could even get in another word.
"So, Rose, we've got a little time before we have to retire. What would you like to do?" I said. Suddenly, I heard a small growling noise. I looked around, wondering what it might be.
'Um, Alex? That was me.' Rose said. My stomach growled too. I laughed as I realized how hungry I was. I began to laugh and Rose joined in.
"I guess that answers my question. We're going to get some dinner." I began running, and quickly got out of the building.
As I walked down the hall, I said, "Well Rose, what would you like to do tomorrow?"
'Well, first we need to register you as a trainer. It's not safe to have a Pokémon and not be registered. Then, I don't really know what to do.'
I tried to talk to her some more, but her eyes were glazed over as she was thinking. Little did I know what was really going on in her head.
----Flashback; Rose PoV----
I was terrified and very weak. The Pokémon were relentlessly attacking me. After I refused to give up the Charizard's scale, she attacked, along with her friends.
After being mercilelessly beaten for what seemed like hours, a massive aura surge burst from a spot about a mile away. I directed my energy towards discovering what being could own such an aura. How surprised I was to find a sleeping human! I knew I was going to die, so I did what all Riolu are forbidden to do since the dawn of time. I spoke to him. 'Help!' I yelled psychically. He jolted awake, looking confused. I yelled again, and then he seemed to focus. He hopped up off the ground and searched around. Finnaly, after I received a rather painful punch, he ran towards me.
All the time he was coming, I was beaten back and for. One moment, I was being bitten by Terry, one of the meaner Torterra. Next, clawed at by a Charizard. My life was a living hell. Finally, the humen boy had arrived.
When he burst into the grove, I thought I had met Arceus in human form. His golden hair swirled back, his silver eyes glinting. He wore a white cloak that flowed around him like water, with a trainer's pocketed belt. His sword was glowing in the sun. He walked around as if to get a better view of me, and when he saw me, his eyes filled with anger. He ran forward and sliced off the nearest Torterra's tree. Before I knew what happened, a Charizard was unconscious on the ground.
The rest ran off, terrified. One yelled at him, "Monster!" He ran over and gracefully lifted me off of what would have been my deathbed. With what little psychic energy I had left, I made him look over towards a Citrus Berry bush. He gently carried me over and helped me eat. Before I dropped into sleep's waiting arms, I drew a name from his mind, and quietly said, 'Thank you.'
----Flash-forward; Alex PoV----
When I opened the door to our room, Rose's eyes snapped back into focus. 'Is this our room, Alex?' She asked.
"Yes, Rosie. And it's about time you had a bath." I told her.
'I'm not the only one who needs a bath.' She responded. As I walked into the bathroom, I laughed at how right she was. My face was coated with dirt. Luckily, the rare fabric of my cloak repelled soil so that it was clean. I started to run a bath and walked back out into the main room to remove my boots and cloak.
As I returned to the bathroom, I picked up the oil and brush Nurse Joy gave us. I was surprised to find Rose already in the water, scrubbing at her fur. I pulled a bottle of Pokéshampoo off of a shelf and helped her. She had a particularly bad spot under her chin, which took a while to get out, but eventually, her fur was unmated and she was thoroughly drenched. I shut off the water and pulled the drain. As the water swirled downward, I set her down on the counter. I applied a little oil to the brush and set to work on her fur.
'Oooh, that feels good.' She commented. With all the matting gone, it was fairly easy to clean her. I soon finished up with her tail, and I couldn't help but marvel at how different she looked. Fur unblemished with blood, she seemed to glow with health. I patted her head and she hopped off the table and ran across the floor to a mirror. She stared with wonder at herself. 'I don't think my fur has ever been this shiny!' she said.
"You think I did a good job?" I asked, unbeknownst to me why I wanted her approval.
'You did wonderful!' she responded with obvious enthusiasm. With a grin, she ran back over to me and took a flying leap into my arms. I caught her and was surprised to find that not only did the oil did make her coat shiny; it also made her very soft. I stroked her head and carried her over to the bed. I laid down without pulling out the sheets, and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Goodnight, Rosemarie." I said.
She snuggled up close and said, "Goodnight, Silverstone."
As I slept, however, a golden glow lit the room.