Redemption

Chapter 13

        She didn't get any sleep that night. It wasn't unusual, but it didn't occur often. It was only when she was worrying for others like this that she lost the rest she needed. If it weren't for the fact that she had spent most of the previous day unconcious, she might have actually felt the affects of being sleep deprived. Instead, she just felt a nauseating fury taking root in her heart.

        How could anyone have allowed this boy to suffer for this long? No one had ever extended a hand to him. The one person he hoped would save him ended up deepening his wounds. Then he had to leave someone that he might have been able to finally trust. If anyone else had been in Silver's situation, they would have probably turned their back on the world by now, yet here Silver was still trying to fight.

        "Um, pardon me," the nurse on duty stood at the door. "I need to do a quick check-up to make sure that you're ready to be discharged. It won't take long."

        "Yes, of course. Come in." (Y/n) looked down at Silver who hadn't let her go. She had managed to get him to lay his head on the bed, but one of his hands still clung to the bottom of her shirt. The nurse seemed to notice this as well.

        "You won't have to move or anything. I just need to check your cognitive ability."

        "I-" (y/n) was going to try offering an explaintion, but she decided it would be best to keep quiet and let the nurse think whatever she wanted to. The woman had been truthful and kept the check-up quick, and (y/n) was given permission to sign the dismissal paperwork on her way out. Now all she needed to do was wake Silver up, but she dreaded the very idea of it. She had seen him have nightmares before, so seeing him sleep without so much as a peep made it nearly impossible to wake him without feeling bad about it.

        Just when she made up her mind that she didn't have a choice anymore, his grip on her shirt loosened and he began to rise from the bed. His eyes were still red and slightly swollen from all the crying he had done, but he didn't seem to be focused on that. "Huh? Is it morning?" The window behind him was letting in weak rays of sunlight.

        "Yes, are you ready to go? I just got cleared to leave." Silver made a sound halfway between a hum and a yes. Although he was clearly still half asleep, he walked her to the checkout counter so she could sign her release forms. Just as they were about to leave, Hau caught them at the door.

        "(Y/n)," he spoke in relief and hugged the girl.

        "Good to see you too Hau." She returned his hug, patting his back to calm his nerves. When he let her go, he promptly hugged Silver as well, startling the boy fully awake. "Do you mind walking us home? I know you're probably busy, but it would make me feel better to have both of you here."

        "Of course I will. Nothing's going to keep me from looking after my friends." Hau then grinned at Silver. "Thanks buddy, I owe you one. I'll talk things over with Gladion for you, so you don't have to worry about that either."

        "Gladion? What happened with him?" (y/n) wondered.

        Hau was quick to wave his hands in dismissal. "Nothing serious. Just him being himself, I guess," he said with a laugh. "Come on, I'll go ahead and take you guys back." Silver didn't give her any details either which left her a bit worried. She was well aware that Gladion was sensitive about her getting into any sort of danger without him being around, especially after what took place in Alola seven years ago with Necrozma. Rather than lingering on the matter, (y/n) pushed the thought aside and followed after Hau.

        They were almost about to reach Iki Town when (y/n) suddenly stopped. "Oh, I forgot," she mumbled as she turned around to face Silver. He and Hau were clueless until (y/n) reached up to tuck Silver's hair behind his shoulders.

        "Oh," he realized what she was doing. "It's not that bad right now," he quietly said as if he were afraid to speak.

        She smiled at him before going behind him to pull his hair up again anyway. "I know." Hau watched intently while trying to make sense of the situation. Although he said nothing, (y/n) was sure that he had questions. If anything, he would probably end up asking Lillie instead of her directly. That's just the way he was. "It's going to get hotter today. I want to take you shopping later. Only if you want to go. I just don't want you overheating or anything. Kanto's springs are pretty mild compared to late fall over here, and summer isn't too far behind."

        Silver glanced back at her although she couldn't tell what he was thinking. "Okay," he simply agreed.

        "Can I go too?" Hau asked. (Y/n) didn't see any harm in it.

        "Sure, if your schedule is free." Hau gave a nervous laugh at that answer.

        "It better be free or I'm going to really have to reconsider my time management."

        They continued onwards, quickly arriving at (y/n)'s home on the outskirts of Iki Town. She went to get Silver's bag and watched as he and Hau left to head to Silver's temporary home. Only once they were out of sight did she pull out Tapu Koko's pokéball.

        The electric fairy type immediately began checking her for wounds the moment he was released. "I'm fine, Koko," she laughed, but then she became serious. "I know you just got back, but I need to ask you for a favor." Tapu Koko noticed her mood change and blinked at her. "The international police are involved, so that means they could send someone here. I want you to ask the other Tapus if they could keep an eye out for anyone new and suspicious that comes to any of the islands. I don't have any pictures, but please listen out for the names Crystal, Gold, and Looker. If any of them show up here, let me know."

        She wasn't sure exactly what she'd do if any of them did show up in Alola, but she did at least want a warning just in case she would have to prepare for the worst. Tapu Koko curtly nodded and disappeared to the skies. Now all that was left for (y/n) to finish the rest of her unspoken plan.

        She finally went inside her home and released her pokémon. After making sure they were all in peak condition and giving each of them a rainbow pokébean, she pulled out her phone and began to make some very important phone calls.

        "Hello, I was calling to see if you had any openings avaliable for work. Oh...you're not hiring? My apologies." Well, she couldn't just give up after the first try. "Yes, hello. I'm calling to see if you were hiring. The manager isn't there? Um, can I leave a call back number? Oh, I'm sorry." (Y/n) deadpanned at her phone after hanging up. "If you aren't hiring, just say that from the beginning," she grumbled at the phone. "This might take a while."

        After thirteen fails from three different islands, (y/n) decided to call it a day and wait until it reached mid afternoon so that she could take Silver and Hau to Hau'oli City's mall. After a refreshing shower, a change of clothes, and a quick snack, she was ready to head to the city. Her Pikachu decided to accompany her outside of his pokéball while the rest of her pokémon continued to rest.

        Hau's home was closer to the center of Iki Town. The local residents were likely still wary of the mysterious pokémon that had been taking out the power. There weren't any children playing in the streets with their own pokémon, and fewer adults were roaming about to do their daily errands. It was concerning, but there wasn't much that (y/n) could do about it. Her job was to help Tapu Koko protect these people. They saw her as an envoy of their guardian deity, and she had to live up to the title now that she had it.

        "Wahine Uila!" A small child called for her. She turned to the little girl, unphased by the familiar title. "Mother and I picked some flowers for you as thanks. You brought the lights back again," the girl happily exclaimed. The flowers were weaved together in a crown. (Y/n) kneeled down and allowed the girl to place the gift on her head.

        "Thank you. Your kindness is appreciated." (Y/n) could see the girl's mother waving from the front of their home. "You should be careful. I'll do my best to keep everyone here safe. Then we call all go to the Tapu Festival together." The girl giggled in delight before returning to her mother's side. (Y/n) waved at the woman before going on her way.

        "Right...the Tapu Festival is soon. We need to stop these attacks quickly."
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Wahine Uila means electric lady, and I could be wrong so please correct me if I am. Until next time you amazing readers!