The Search for a Home- A Jolteon Fanfic

Chapter 9 : Let Down

Chapter 9

Chapter 9- Let Down

Jolt yawned and stretched, but immediately was stopped by a sharp pain in his side. He cringed, holding back a yelp. Once the shock had worn off and the pain subsided, he took a moment to look around. He was still in Suns room from where he had been, when he... died. Or at least, he thought he had died. Apparently not. He couldn't get up with the pain in his side, so he waited for Sun to come get him. She sensed his awakening and noticed his pain spike, and it wasn't long before she entered the room. "Morning Jolty," she greeted him. "You've been out for two days, welcome back." Two whole days? How could he have been out for so long He turned around and asked, "Is she okay?" Sun lowered her head for a moment, and sighed. "I don't think you'll like the reason why she didn't come back..." Jolt began to worry that something bad had happened to her, and he prayed to Arceus that she was okay. "What happened to her?" he asked, nervously. Now was her chance. She didn't want to do it, but maybe it would be better if she got Jolt and Ripple got Shadow. "To be frank, Jolt, she forgot about you." Sun was telling the absolute truth, but her straightforwardness stopped Jolt cold. "She met an Umbreon while she was out, and she forgot about you to hang out with him. You would've died, and she wouldn't have even known until hours later."

It couldn't be true. It just couldn't be. He had protected her, been with her, gave up his old family for her, and even died for her, but she didn't care? Jolt looked down at the bedding underneath him, and felt his eyes become wet. He didn't want to break down in front of Sun, but he couldn't help it. He had given Ripple so much already, but she didn't care. Jolteon's as a species were a lot more prone to anger and sadness, which only amplified Jolt's hurt. Sun, who was watching him, picked up on his hurt feelings. The immensity of them brought her down, and she had to block the signals from reaching her. Slowly and gently, she got up and sat by him, and put a paw on his shoulder comfortingly. They made not a sound, save the light tap of Jolt's tears hitting the bed. "It's alright, c'mon," she whispered softly, trying to calm him down. "It will be alright, don't you worry." Jolt, surprising the both of them, turned around and hugged her tight, crying into her shoulder. She held him there for as long as he needed, comforting him and being there for him as best as she could.

Jolt eyed Shadow darkly. He hadn't liked him from the get-go, which was to be expected, but what pissed Jolt off was the fact that he just didn't get it. It didn't take a genius to figure out why Jolt didn't like him, but Shadow just didn't get why. What was worse was that Ripple wouldn't speak to him at all now. She would literally run away from him when he tried. All she ever wanted to do was hang out with Shadow, and with every passing day the wedge between them got bigger and bigger. Jolt couldn't figure out what he was doing wrong, and was frustrated by his failing efforts to at least talk to her. Why wouldn't she even listen to him? Why wouldn't she give him a chance? Jolt came to the conclusion that it was all Shadow's fault, and that he was the wedge between them. He was half of the wedge, and the other half was Ripple's guilt at letting him down when he needed her most.

Icy seemed oblivious to the situation, or, if she did know, she didn't care. Sun was Jolt's one comfort. He could go to her with his problems, for advice or just to blow off some steam after another day of failed efforts. She was his source of comfort without him even realizing it. Sun picked up on his budding feelings for her before even Jolt did, which exited her. On one hand, she felt bad for him, knowing that he really was hurting over Ripple, but on the other hand, she wanted him too. She felt herself begin to develop her own feelings towards him every time he came to her for comfort, which was a daily thing now. They spent the evenings together, Sun to be with Jolt, and Jolt to try and ease the hurt. He hated seeing Ripple and Shadow together with every fiber of his being, and his distaste of Shadow grew more and more each day. It didn't take long before he had had enough.

The next morning, Jolt got up early. This time, there would be no running away for Ripple. She had to confront him now. Silently, he crept into her room, relived that Shadow had elected to sleep outside instead of in her room. If Jolt ever saw the two of them sleeping together, he was genuinely afraid he'd lose it. Ripple was still sleeping when Jolt entered, but right now he really wasn't in the mood to wait. He sat in front of the entrance, blocking any route of escape she might have had. "Ripple," he said, loud enough to wake her up but soft enough to let the others slumber on. "Wake up." She woke up at once and sat up, confused. It took her a few seconds to realize where the voice was coming from, but when she did, her heart skipped a beat. Oh shit.

"Look Ripple," Jolt began, his tone serious, but not hard. "Things between us have been different ever since what happened with the Muk. I just came to say that I really don't like how were drifting apart. I want the old Ripple back. If I'm doing something wrong, please tell me, I'm sorry. I swear if I'm offending you I didn't mean it." She looked at him, confused. She was sure that he would be angry, and yell at her, but here was apologizing for something he hadn't even done. She felt guilty about giving him the idea that he was doing something wrong, and opened up to him right away. "No Jolt, I'm the one who's sorry. I've been feeling really guilty about what I did, and I didn't want to face you. I'm sorry I was a coward." Hearing her admit that made Jolt feel a lot better, letting him finally know for sure that she wasn't mad at him. Jolt felt so relived and happy, that he got a little bold.

"Look," he began, nervous but hopeful. "Being apart from you really tore me up, and I don't want that to happen again." She stopped and looked at him, nervous, both of them already knowing where it was going but too late to stop it. Jolt went and sat next to her, looking her in the eyes with the most sincere look he had ever given her. "I love you, Ripple, and I want to be with you." Finally, he had brought himself to say it. He looked at her hopefully, awaiting her response. She was silent for a long time, torn between Jolt and Shadow. Jolt had done so much for her, and hearing him openly confess his feelings for her made her want to be his. But Shadow was new, adventurous and exiting, and Jolt was regular to her by now. It would be a shame to end something she might have some time with Shadow. She didn't want to tell Jolt no, but she was still so unsure. By now, Jolt was scared of the answer he knew was coming. Silently, her eyes becoming moist, she shook her head no. "Not yet, Jolt. I'm so sorry, but I'm just... I'm just not sure." Jolt nodded, slowly and sadly, his eyes full of hurt. Silently, he got up. He needed to talk with Sun, right then and there. He ran out of Ripple's room and into hers, not wanting to let Ripple see his tears. She watched him go, wondering if she had made the right call.