Secrets Without Shame (A Pokémon Fanfiction)

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

(Note: This flashback takes place after Archy's last flashback in Spite Without Shame, which was the flashback about the forest fire.)

"Will she be alright?"

"I told you it will take time, Mister Ray. She is doing fine right now."

"But it's been four days!"

"You must be patient. We are doing all we can for her."

Whitney frowned as she listened to the conversation. She recognized Ray's voice, but the other was unrecognizable. It sounded like a female, and she was positive it was a pokemon.

She opened her eyes a little to see only blurs. The space around her was all white. Two blurs stood out against the white walls. One was dark blue and black while the other was light pink and tan.

"She breathed in so much smoke," said the pink pokemon. "Its a miracle she's survived this long."

"Do the doctors know why the fire affected her more than anyone else yet?" Ray's voice asked, sounding desperate.

The other pokemon sighed sadly.

"They believe she has Asthma, but it seems more complex than yet. They think it might be a very rare disease."

Whitney couldn't take it anymore. She sat up and winced. Ray turned around and beamed at her.

"Whitney, you're awake!" The Lucario cried, wasting no time in giving her a big hug.

She ignored the pain piercing her sides and hugged him back, smiling broadly. Ray released her a minute later. He was rubbing his eyes with his paws, probably to hide his tears of relief.

"This means everyone survived the fire!" He told her happily. "We were worried you wouldn't wake up!"

"Where is Rapi, Di-Di, and Pichu anyway?" Whitney interrupted, desperate to hear about the three other pokemon.

Ray's smile had turned into a frown after this.

"Rapi is in the Pokemon Center next door," he told her sadly. "Her jaw is broken, as well as her legs, but she'll be alright. Apparently the damage could've been a whole lot worse, but I can't see how it can. Thankfully, her bones weren't as badly damaged as the doctors thought."

The Lucario's words hit Whitney with the force of a car, even though his tone was gentle. She could remember flashes of the forest fire. She remembered Rapi trapped under the fallen tree, the leader of the Arcanine tribe giving his son the option of killing her or to be killed himself, and then the same Arcanine killing the leader and helping Whitney escape the forest. The Arcanine's image seemed to be permanently stuck in her memory.

"Where's the Arcanine?" She asked Ray.

"What Arcanine?"

"The one who saved me."

"You mean Archy?"

Ray's frown deepened.

"I don't know," he admitted. "He disappeared after he took you out of the forest."

There was a small cough behind Ray. Whitney had forgotten that the other pokemon was there. She looked over Ray's shoulder to see a light pink pokemon. The pokemon's lower face and stomach was cream colored, and it's eyes were light blue. It had oddly shaped ears and wore a nurse hat on its head. It looked a bit like a rabbit.