Pokemon World Disaster

Coma

Three and a half agonizingly slow hours later, they finally arrived back in Lumiose City. Serena, Lillie, and Bonnie were all waiting outside for them when they landed, which was just as well because Ash's breathing had all but ceased. As soon as she saw what was going on, Serena gasped and took Ash's limp body from Greninja and dragged him inside the Pokemon Center with Lillie and Bonnie's help. Clemont, Iris, and Burgundy stayed outside to keep the Pokemon company.
"What happened? What's wrong with Ash?" Hawlucha demanded.
"Y-Yveltal," Greninja muttered shakily. "He-he did something-I don't know what-"
"What?" Talonflame persisted. "What happened?"
"During the battle with Yveltal, Ash activated the bond phenomenon even though he had been hurt," Pikachu answered. "But it took too much out of him, and now he's like....well, you saw."
"Is he going to be okay?" Staraptor asked anxiously.
"I don't know," Greninja whispered sadly. "I just don't know."
Six hours later, Serena, Lillie, and Bonnie finally reemerged from the Pokemon Center, along with Nurse Joy. Clemont jumped to his feet as soon as the Lumiose City nurse appeared and ran up to her.
"How's Ash?" he asked worriedly. "Is he going to be all right? Can we see him?"
Nurse Joy just looked at him sadly. "All I can say is that it's very lucky you got here when you did," she replied, making Greninja's chest tighten with fear. "Yes, you can see him, but I have to warn you, you won't like what you see."
"W-what do you mean?" Iris stammered, her eyes filled with terror.
"It seems that Ash has been fighting an infection for a few days now," Nurse Joy answered. "That, combined with the injuries he sustained during the battle, was just more than his body could take. I'm sorry, but he's in a coma. There's about an eighty percent chance that he won't survive."
Greninja's head spun as he heard this. He was vaguely aware of Serena and Bonnie crying, but couldn't think of anything to do to comfort them. In his mind, the words, "He's in a coma. There's about an eighty percent chance that he won't survive," kept playing over and over like a broken record.
"No...." he whispered. "Please...."

Ash was lying on a bed in the Pokemon Center, his eyes closed and a peaceful expression on his face. Greninja stared at his trainer in morbid fascination. If he hadn't known any better, he would have thought that Ash was simply asleep. Well, he supposed in a way he was-it was just that this sleep was a bit more, well, lasting.
"I'm doing everything I can for him, but there's only so much I can do in a situation like this," Nurse Joy said gently. Greninja just nodded, still staring at Ash's prone figure.
Why? Why did you activate our bond?" he asked silently.
Then he remembered something Nurse Joy had said earlier. According to her, Ash had been fighting an infection for a few days. That meant he had been sick ever since he had been attacked by the Shadow Beast back in Pewter City!
"I should have known," the frog-ninja Pokemon groaned.
"Known what?" Pikachu asked.
"Ash has been sick since he was attacked in Pewter City," Greninja said grimly. "I should have known there would be side effects...."
The electric mouse gasped. "You're right! But how come he seemed perfectly fine until today?"
"Maybe it takes a while for the sickness to take its toll," Greninja mused, trying to appear calm. Inside, however, he was panicking. If Yveltal's attack had lasting side effects as well, who knew how bad they would be?
Greninja felt someone place a hand on his shoulder. He looked up and saw Delphox standing beside him, a concerned look in her gentle eyes.
"You should get your injuries looked at," the fox Pokemon said gently. When Greninja opened his mouth to protest, she added, "Pikachu and I will look after Ash."
Recognizing defeat, Greninja nodded and left to go find Nurse Joy. Just before he closed the door, he glanced back at Ash. The raven-haired boy seemed small and vulnerable, lying on the bed completely unresponsive to his surroundings.
I'm sorry, Ash, he thought miserably. I'm sorry.