Pokémon: Shadow & Light/Coex Adventures

32: Relief

Drayko hops over the fence and runs to Violet while Dahlia just stands there in shock.

"Is she dead?!" Dahlia asked. She tried her best not to cry.

Drayko slowly walks to the bushes that Violet is behind. The Beautimare just eats grass, not caring about anything strangely. As Drayko slowly crept up, he shivers, not knowing how badly injured Violet is. Drayko is thinking Violet had her head squished. Or worse, Beautimare's strong legs smashed through her chest, rupturing the heart.

"Ok, Drayko. You just gotta accept whatever happened to her," Drayko thought to himself. Each step he took, he counted down from 3.

"Three." Drayko's legs wiggled from fear.

"Two." Drayko prepared to get the full glimpse.

"ONE!" Drayko jumped to the other side. Violet was laying there...completely unharmed and on her phone. Violet was surprised by Drayko's sudden appearance, and jumped.

"Eep!" Violet exclaimed. "What was all that for?"

"You're not dead?"

"No, Drayko. I died and this is my ghost talking to you. Of course I'm not dead!"

"B-But what about Beautimare's fee-" Drayko looks down at Beautimare's front hooves and sees a bunch of squished red berries. The juice from them matched the stuff on Beautimare's hooves.

Violet looked like she was about to laugh. "You really thought I died?"

Dahlia walks to Violet after hearing the conversation. "Yeah!", Dahlia said.

Violet looks at Beautimare. "Beautimare made a little mess with the berries I gave her. Don't worry. I got this." Violet gets a bucket, fills it with water, and cleans Beautimare with a scrubber.

Drayko and Dahlia look at Violet, amazed.

"What?" Violet asked, not realizing what she's doing.

"You're touching Beautimare without a problem!" Drayko said.

Violet looks at her hand right on the mare Pokémon's leg. She smiles and hugs Beautimare tightly.

"I'm sorry for being scared of you after all these years."

Beautimare neighs lightly and nuzzles Violet. Violet pets Beautimare's soft pink mane.

"I remember this feeling. I never knew I would miss this so much. My fear always masked it."

Dahlia looks into her shit pocket to see Nomey. "Do you wanna say hello to Violet?" Nomey nods and gets in Dahlia's hand. Dahlia brings Nomey to eye level with Violet. Unfortunately, when Violet sees Nomey face to face, she gets startled and falls right into the bucket she used to clean Beautimare.

"Dahlia, I don't think I'm ready for Nomey yet. I just need more time. I'm sorry."

Dahlia sighs and puts Nomey back in her shirt pocket. "I understand."

"Well, since we are in Mediokris City, I guess this is where we go our paths, huh?" Drayko asked Dahlia, looking upset.

Dahlia smiles and nods her head no.

"Huh?" Violet said, struggling to get out of the bucket.

"I think I could develop a stronger bond with Nomey if I went on a journey. I want to travel with you guys because you 3 give me great company. I know me and Violet had some trouble a while ago, but I feel like one day, things will change. Nomey takes a liking of you too."

Violet finally gets out of the bucket. "I think a journey could get us all closer together. Maybe one day, my fear could be cured!"

Dahlia smiles. "I think we should get this journey on the road then! We can take Route 6 to get to Crystalli Plateau."

"What's so special about that?" Drayko asked.

"Pugnatum Town sits right on top. It's where you can get your 6th badge."

"Awesome! Let's head to Route 6. Jake is probably waiting there for us there."

Dahlia, Drayko, and Violet wave to Beautiful as they walk away and head to route 6. As they walk through the route, they call for Jake.

"Jake!"

"Where are you?"

Suddenly, there is some rustling in the bushes.

"Stay alert," Drayko said.

"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!" Jake hops out of the bushes with 2 steel blades. "O-Oh. It's just you guys."

Violet slaps Jake across the face as hard as she can. "What is wrong with you? You're a psychopath!"

"What, my dad always says to bring sharp steel blades covered in poison to eliminate any traces of the enemy."

"Oh the wonderful region of Coex," Drayko said sarcastically.

"So where are we going now?"

"We're going to Pugnatum Town!", Drayko said.

Jake starts running happily and the others start running too, laughing and having a good time.

"I wonder what Pugnatum has in store for us," Drayko thought to himself.