The return of a legend

The other side of the coin

Greninja wasn't really sure how he ended up here. After being told that waiting on a plane or a boat for just him traveling alone would take at least a week, he'd decided to just swim it. He was a Water Type, after all, and even if he wasn't designed to constantly swim, many of the ones who were helped out a lot of Pokèmon in his situation. But he'd either underestimated the distance or the conditions, because the last thing he remembers in being in the middle of a violent storm. He'd been so close to Alola, so desperate to finally see Ash again, that he must've done something drastic. He was completely bone-dead exhausted, and he's really not sure how he managed to find enough strength to try to fight back against the people who found him. 

That was how Greninja had been for the last...two? Three days? Completely exhausted. Despite Nurse Joy's attempts to get him to relax and sleep, Greninja couldn't find it in himself to do it. Ash was nearby, and he knew it. He could sense it. He'd felt both Ash and Pikachu, although he doubted they could sense him. His energy was so muddled, and he didn't have enough strength in him to reach out to Ash. He barely had enough to keep his eyes open, but it was impossible to sleep when Ash was right there. Greninja hadn't worked his ass off for a whole year just to be kept a few feet away from his trainer. In fact, he'd tried several times to get up and go to them, but Nurse Joy had translated that into Greninja trying to escape. He really wished she herself could understand Pokèmon. His attempts to leave had further weakened him, which had left him stranded on the gurney with the familiar healing lights shining down on him. He had to hope that he could get strong enough for Ash to know he was there, and come for him.

The door to his room opened up, revealing Nurse Joy and her Comfey flying next to her. "Hello, Greninja. How are you feeling today?" She asked softly, setting a few berries down on the gurney next to him.

All Greninja could do was grunt, lazily looking at the very unappetizing berries. Chesto berries, not one of Greninja's favorites. They were supposed to help when a Pokèmon was inflicted with a move that made them sleep, but Greninja wasn't afflicted with anything. He wasn't going to eat those berries for no good reason.

"Still tired? Why don't you go to sleep? I promise you're safe here. Nothing will hurt you." Nurse Joy began petting Greninja's head, presumably trying to get him to relax.

Greninja was tired. So very, very tired. In fact, were he still in Kalos or with Ash, he'd probably be sleeping the next few days away. But he couldn't do that yet. He still had a job to do. Ash needed to know that Greninja was here, searching for him. He needed to know that Greninja hadn't forgotten about him, that he still remembered everything they went through and that he was trying with all of his might to reunite them once more. They had a bond, one that transcended space and time and every known rule of the Pokèmon world, and Ash needed to know that Greninja still felt that bond. Besides, he didn't have the energy to reach out to Ash, and he hadn't received anything from the boy over their bond in the last three days. He needed to make sure Ash didn't think he'd been abandoned.

"You're still worried about your trainer, aren't you? We're working on finding them right now. Officer Jenny is one of our best, so you'll be reunited with them soon. I just know it." Nurse Joy chirped happily as she walked around the room, jotting a few things down on the clipboard that remained in Greninja's room day in and day out.

Yes, Greninja was worried about his trainer. Worried that Ash didn't know where he was. Worried that Ash thought Greninja had forgotten all about him, especially with the lack of communication. But that could never happen. Greninja remembered everything about Ash, everything that had drawn him in and made him choose Ash as his One Trainer when everyone else had failed. He remembered Ash's fighting spirit, the way he never backed down from a battle until it was over. He remembered his compassionate heart, sometimes with more room for others than he did himself. The way he never hesitated to help a Pokèmon, even if it usually meant sustaining damage to himself. He remembered what it was like to be connected to Ash heart and soul, of feeling everything Ash felt and seeing everything he saw. It was an incredible phenomenon, and it was all theirs. They didn't have to share it with anyone else, didn't have to compete with others for Mega Stones, didn't have to force it. Once it was theirs, it was theirs forever.

"Well, we know you're a pretty common Kalos Pokèmon, so I've got an old friend of mine coming over to look at you soon. He's a professor there in the Kalos region, and he known a lot of new trainers. If anyone can figure out who your trainer is, it will be him and Officer Jenny working together." Greninja nodded in response. Maybe it was Professor Sycamore. The man seemed to know a lot of people in every region around the world, and he often dealt with the new trainers since he was positioned in Lumiose City of all places. The man had always been kind to Greninja, and knew him very well. Even when he'd been nothing more than a strange and frustrating Froakie, Sycamore had always been there for him. 

Nurse Joy pulled a blanket out from the cabinet on the edge of the room, laying it over Greninja's legs. Comfey flew down, grabbing a blue and yellow berry from where it had been placed next to Greninja. "Thank you, Comfey. Greninja, you should eat this. It's a Chesto berry. It'll help you get your strength back." Comfey put the berry in one of Greninja's hands. Greninja looked between the berry and Nurse Joy for a few seconds, trying to figure out where she's gotten her degree.

"I know it seems strange, but that berry is what's used when a Pokèmon is falling asleep. While it doesn't appear to be what's causing your exhaustion, it can still help you regain your strength. They'll help you. I promise." Nurse Joy smiled, pushing him to eat it again. 

Well, she was the Nurse. Greninja took a small bite of the berry, wincing at the taste. Nope, Alolan Chesto berries weren't much better than Kalos Chesto berries. But if it would encourage Nurse Joy that Greninja was cooperating, maybe he'd finally be able to slip out. 

Comfey trilled, landing on Greninja's stomach. "Greninja, you know Comfey, right? It's my helper here in the Alola region. Comfey's here to help you feel better too." 

Greninja nodded at the little Pokèmon. He always did have a certain respect for Pokèmon healers, human or not. They constantly saw battle bruised Pokèmon, sick Pokèmon, and everything in between, and yet they always stayed strong. They weren't bothered by blood and gore like others were. 

The Comfey waved at Greninja. "How do you feel? Any better, not what you're eating?"

"I feel fine. When can I leave? I need to find my trainer." Greninja asked in return. Nurse Joy couldn't understand the conversation, but she still looked at the two with a soft smile. It was always strange to Greninja, how so many different species could understand each other, but just one was left out. 

"I'm afraid we can't let you leave yet. You're not strong enough. You need to rest some more."

"But my trainer is here. I need to find him. It's no use letting Officer Jenny search when I know where they are."

"Believe me, it's not the first time and it most definitely won't be the last time that Officer Jenny has to search for a trainer. I promise we'll find yours. But you just need to relax and let us do the work. I know some of you dark types like to take the loner approach, but you have to let us help you this time."

"I can't. I need to find him." Greninja tried to push himself off the gurney.

Nurse Joy immediately put a hand on his chest, keeping him pinned down on the gurney. "You can't get up yet. We need more time with you. I promise, once you're ready, we'll let you walk around more."

Greninja begrudgingly stopped fighting, closing his eyes for a few seconds. This was about to be a long day.