Mushroom Virus (pokepasta)

Chapter 4: stage 1

   Blue woke up, still completely sore from head to toe. Every part of him screamed at him to not get up. However, he needed to get out of his mud stained clothes. He dragged himself out of the bed slowly and dug through what was once his dresser. He shivered, feeling the cool air, no longer protected by the warm blankets of his bed. He pulled out a long sleeve turtleneck, that was a nice warm Blue with black stripes. He pulled it over himself, but still felt freezing. He dug deeper in and found a large black t-shirt, and put it on over the turtleneck. He replaced his jeans with clean ones and found another pair of boots that were exactly the same as the ones soaked with mud. He pulled his necklace from under his shirts so that it was visible again.

   He looked at himself in the mirror after he was done changing, and observed how he currently looked. His eyes were red and puffy, and he had slight bags under his eyes. He teased at his hair a bit to make it look less messy and more purposeful.

   He felt a wave of nausea flood through him, and he held his hand to his mouth in order to not vomit everywhere.

    This was humiliating, beaten by a simple sickness! He couldn't stand being sick. When the nausea finally went away he punched at the wall in frustration. He made no dent in the wall however, he felt as if his muscles were being eaten away. Leaving him weak and pathetic. He clenched his jaw. Arceus, this couldn't get any worse... his head was killing him. He decided that this was enough walking around for now. He layed back down in his bed and pulled the covers over him.

    Professor Oak knocked on the door to Blue's room. "Hello? Are you awake? I made some soup, it's nice and warm would you like some?" The sound of Oak's voice muffled through the door.

     Blue could only muster a groan of pain and annoyance. Very much like him.

    "I'll take that as a yes." Oak stated in amusement, as he opened the door with a small bowl of soup on a tray. He placed it on Blue's bedside. "Please enjoy Blue, and do feel better." He calmly walked out of the room. Leaving Blue alone once again.

    Blue rubbed at his eyes, so itchy... he needed a distraction. He decided he'd suck it up and eat some of the soup his Grandfather brought in despite not being hungry at all. He took a couple sips, and was too full to eat anymore. He blinked a few times, his eyes were bothering him so badly.

     Lost in thought, he suddenly broke into another coughing fit. He covered his mouth with his hand as he coughed. Gross. He looked down at his hand, but there was no blood. Which should have been a great sign... but instead it was a thick Blue liquid. It clung to his hand annoyingly. He quickly rubbed it off, as his grandfather came into the room again.

   "I heard you coughing Blue, are you alright?" He asked with concern in his tone.

   "I'm... okay gramps. Don't worry about it." Blue tried to muster a smile. But he failed to convince his grandfather.

    "I'll come back with some nice tea for you, alright?" Professor Oak rushed out of the room.

   Blue sighed. He decided that while he waited he'd get some more sleep he was exhausted after all. He couldn't understand what it was that his body was trying to fight off. But it certainly felt like he was losing.

    Dreaming, Blue was met with himself. Another him but in a ghostly blue manner. It stood in front of him unwavering.

    Blue looked down to see that he himself was a ghostly Green. He looked back up, and the copy of him looked back. The face of the dark blue him was deadpan, and emotionless.

   "Give up, give in, we will get you all your desires. Stop fighting. There is no use. We are already here." It spoke short and coldly. Straight to the point, no beating around the bush.

    Blue took a step back, fearful. "Get the hell away from me!" He yelled out. "GET OUT OF MY HEAD!"

   It smirked at him. "You'll come around. You'll see. I'll be waiting." It finally disappeared.

   Blue felt even more exhausted than before. Maybe this was what was causing his bodily pain? Or maybe he's just gone mad. He couldn't answer his own question. He sighed, he just wanted what ever this was to be over and done with. He'd have to ask Gramps about the progress on his Radicate. Seeing his buddy would surely make him feel better.

   The area around him turned a bright Blue, and washed over him like a big tide. He tried to breathe for air but was stuck. All he got was inhaling the liquid that flowed over him dangerously.

   He jolted awake, and started coughing again. This time Professor Oak was already in the room.

   Oak frowned, upset that his grandson was not doing very well. He handed a cup of Tea to Blue. "Here, this should help with your cough.."

   "Uh, thanks." Blue replied still a little shaken from his dream. He drank up the tea rather quickly, ignoring the burn from the heat of the drink. He handed the cup back to his grandfather.

     "Hmmmm..." Professor Oak studied the cup carefully.

    "Is there something wrong?" He asked anxiously.

   "No- it's fine. You don't have to worry. I just really like this cup!" He smiled.

   Something was off. Blue couldn't put his finger on it, but he definitely saw something. He felt a little paranoid. "Hey uh, how is my Radicate?"

   "Don't worry about it Blue, I'm working on it. I'm doing my best to nurse him back to health." He patted the top of Blue's head. "I'll be back in a moment, so don't do anything too crazy while I'm gone alright?" He stood back up, and took the cup with him and walked out of the room. He closed it behind him.

   Blue tensed up, he didn't understand what it was that shook up his Grandfather. He hoped it was nothing, and that he was just overthinking this.

  He couldn't push his doubts away though.

What did he see?