Second Chances (Sequel to Hearts of Gold)

Fight To The Finish

Rune wakes me up by thwacking me over the head with his wand-stick. "We have a problem." he announces.

"Oh, and what would that be?" I mutter sleepily.

"Pich and Chrona are both missing!" he says, genuine fear in his voice.

"How awful," I mutter sarcastically, "Go organize a search party or something, please just let me sleep..."

I finally get up for real about five minutes later and Rune, Crypt, and Mimsy are all hovering over me at this point, ready to go and in Crypt's words, "Save Chrona, and also Pich."

"Guys, I already know where they are. I was being sarcastic earlier, it's just... you guys had no idea. Argh. Sorry, I'm so tired, I only got six hours of sleep..."

"Well, you'd better wake up, because once we have Chrona and Pich we're challenging the gym." Rune says, teeth bared in a savage grin.

"What?! You're kidding me. I wasn't consulted about..." I sputter.

Mimsy interrupts. "It was my idea. I just think we need to keep moving onwards. I am tired of feeling useless to the team, so with your permission, I would like to go and challenge this gym."

"I..." I pause for a bit, unable to come up with any reason not to go, and close my mouth, giving her a swift nod. Her vague and emotionless expression stays constant, but somehow I feel as if a weight has been lifted from both of us.

I turn to the others. "Rune? Crypt? Are you two okay with this?"

"I'm a Psychic type." Rune says. "I think I'll be just fine. Just make sure I don't get my robes too dirty." He brushes them carefully with a paw, nose up in the air. I can still see the smirk on his face.

"Yeah, that would be such a shame, wouldn't it?" I say mischievously.

"Crypt, are you good?" I ask.

"I-" He starts.

"Yes?"

"I..." He's shaking his head furiously, like he's trying to tear something apart.

"Are you okay?"

"I don't want to fight in this one." Crypt finally snaps, then tears well up in his eyes. "Please don't make me."

"That's fine." I say. "I know you're still upset. I am too. We just have to trust it will be okay. You want to help me go get Chrona and Pich?"

He nods, hugging my leg. I reach down to stroke his head gently, a softer smile on my face.

An hour later, Dill is waving goodbye from the porch as I return to the heart of the city with my sleepy four foot bird and giant plant monster. Chrona, especially, is quite irritable at having to leave. "We were going to have pancakes," she protests sleepily.

"We can have victory pancakes after we crush the gym. Right, Mimsy?"

"I can't eat." Mimsy says dully. "However, you are welcome to enjoy the trivialities of pancakes while you are still able on your brief stay on the planet."

We change the conversation. "So, you get a good night's sleep?" I ask Chrona.

She grunts. "More or less."

"Nice... to know."

There's silence for a while before we enter the gym, and to my surprise, it's a giant roller skating rink.

"How are we supposed to have Pokemon battles while skating, exactly?" Rune asks.

"How are you supposed to skate with your tiny baby feet?" Chrona asks him. She's grinning.