Love in the Time of Turbulence

Chapter 5: A Decision

A very quick note before we begin. For one thing, I find it very funny how almost everyone guessed the same exact reasons for Ash's capture last chapter. I'm not sure if it means I'm doing my job very well or failing miserably. I'd like to think the former. Another thing, for the early part of this chapter and the character interactions, I want to note the intensity and circumstances of the situation. You know I try very hard to keep my characters in-character, and I hope you think it's just a natural evolution. My worries now expelled, let's read Chapter 5!

Chapter 5

A Decision

Serena's hands continued to fold amongst themselves and then come apart, like they wanted to twist themselves, but couldn't quite do it. She wasn't the only one feeling that way in the waiting room of the Pokémon Center. Clemont and Bonnie were sitting by silently as well, the younger of the two hanging her head as Dedenne rolled back and forth in worry. The red light over the door to the emergency room hadn't gone off even once during the whole time they'd been here. Beyond the lobby, in the hallways beyond, numerous people were shuffling back and forth, waiting to be treated alongside their Pokémon. It left their area surprisingly empty.

"He'll be okay, Serena," Clemont had voiced more than once during the wait. At the time, she wasn't sure if he was talking about Ash, Pikachu or anyone else they knew that had been caught up in the attack. He started to clear it up about two hours into the wait. "They'll all be okay."

She wanted to believe him, but from the way that red light stared at her in the now darkening waiting room of the Center she wasn't in the best mood to believe it. Diantha seemed to be of the same opinion. The Champion had gone silent since they had found Rocky, and was now pacing up a storm. She appeared far too agitated, like she really wanted to say something, but knew that this was clearly not the best time.

The doors to the exterior of the Pokémon Center opened at this moment, and the blonde trainer that had been slumped over the Absol came charging in and up to the empty desk where Nurse Joy usually sat. Only Wigglytuff was manning it now.

"Is my Absol okay?" the trainer demanded tersely.

"Wiggily! Wigglytuff!" the Balloon Pokémon tried to say, but the blonde was having none of it.

"I've been gone for two hours! Are you saying that my Absol is...?" The blonde clearly had no desire to finish the sentence, the possibility of what it could mean settling on her. She adjusted the purple clip in her hair and turned around, finally looking straight at Serena and the others. Serena, for her part, stared right back at her, if only until her eyes could flit over to where Pikachu was being treated alongside the town's population of Pokémon. "I know you."

"Huh?" Serena said. The blonde's inquiry happened to draw Clemont and Bonnie's attentions as well. While they looked at her, she happened to approach Serena.

"Yeah...a few months back. You were with a boy and his Pikachu, Froakie and Hawlucha. I thought your hair was longer, though..." Now, Serena was really confused. They had met this girl before, yet she couldn't, for the life of her, remember where. Nevertheless, the girl held out her hand. "I'm Astrid. I don't think I got your name when we last met."

"Er...Serena," she said, taking the hand and shaking it. Bonnie and Clemont continued to watch them until Bonnie clapped her hands together, presumably in recognition.

"You're the Mega Absol trainer!" she exclaimed. This drew Astrid's attention, the older girl facing Bonnie with an amused, yet sad, smile. "I remember now! You were a keeper! Have you thought about my offer?"

"Bonnie, stop that!" Clemont said hastily, not even bothering with his Aipom Arm to grab his sister back in order to silence her. "I've told you a million times that I don't need your help in getting a girlfriend."