Pokemon Indigo League Stories Part 2

Blood test

Richie’s scream echoed through the room, his panicked voice getting louder by the second. "Take it out, take it out!" he wailed, desperately trying to pull away.

"Easy, Richie, easy," Ash whispered, tightening his hold on him as Richie continued to thrash around.

Gary, gripping Richie’s arm firmly but carefully, muttered, "Hold still, Richie, just a few more seconds." He worked as quickly as he could, but Richie’s constant attempts to yank his arm free were making it difficult to draw the blood smoothly.

"Pika pi!" Sparky cried from nearby, ears twitching as he watched Richie squirm.

Ash’s Pikachu was on edge too, squeaking, "Pika Pika pi!" and nervously pacing back and forth, clearly upset at seeing Richie so distressed.

Gary kept his voice calm, even as the chaos around him built. "Richie, I need you to stay as still as possible. I know it’s scary, but I promise I’m almost done. Just a few more seconds."

"NO! Take it out!" Richie shrieked again, his voice full of terror. His eyes were wide, darting frantically between Gary’s hand and the needle in his arm. He tried to pull away, but Ash tightened his grip even more, his own voice soft and steady.

"Richie, buddy, just think of something happy, okay? Think of… uh… all your Pokémon waiting outside! Or the snack we’ll get after this, okay?" Ash said, his tone both comforting and desperate.

Richie, however, was beyond reason, thrashing wildly against Ash's hold. "I’m gonna lose all my blood! I’ll be a shriveled-up grape! Gary, take it out!" He tried to twist away again, his voice cracking.

"Almost there, Richie," Gary murmured, trying to keep focused. But Richie’s panicked movements weren’t making it easy, and he was forced to hold Richie’s arm more firmly. Ash struggled to keep him steady, all while whispering words of comfort that barely seemed to make a dent in Richie’s panic.

"Okay, Richie, I’m done," Gary finally said, sliding the needle out and quickly applying a small bandage to stop any bleeding.

But Richie’s breathing had become shallow and quick, and his face was as white as a sheet. His eyes fluttered for a moment before he finally slumped against Ash, his body going limp.

"Richie? Richie!" Ash called, nudging him gently, worry creeping into his voice as he looked up at Gary. "Uh… that’s not good, is it?"

Gary sighed, rubbing his forehead as he sat back on his heels. "Well… not ideal. But he’ll be okay. It was just a lot for him. He just fainted."

Ash kept holding onto Richie, gently shifting him so he was lying on the exam table. "Think he’ll be mad when he wakes up?"

Gary chuckled, shaking his head. "Probably. But hey, he made it through, and that’s what counts." He grabbed the glass of orange juice he’d brought and set it nearby. "When he wakes up, this should help him feel a bit better."

Sparky hopped up on the table, sniffing Richie’s face worriedly. "Pika pi?"

"Don’t worry, Sparky," Gary assured him. "Your trainer’s going to be just fine. Just needs a few minutes."

Ash glanced at Richie, patting his shoulder. "He was so scared of that needle, but I know he’s braver than he thinks. He got through it in the end, even if he doesn’t realize it."

Gary nodded in agreement, giving Richie a reassuring look, even though he was still out cold. "Yeah, he did. And when he wakes up, we’ll be here to tell him all about it."