After the Rain (Part B) by Michael Keens/ Exodus Danielle was floating in darkness, everything around her was dark, how hard had she been hit?... Was she... dead?... A flickering light appeared in front of her, and she had to readjust to it, but she wasn’t sure whether to go towards it, or stay away. “Either I’m unconscious, and I should go towards that light, or I’m dead, and that light will take me to the other side... Oh dear... I’m not sure which light is right...” “Danielle...” “Huh?” “Come into the light, and then we’ll be together...” The image of Tetsubo reaching out for her appeared in Danielle’s mind, from the light, trying to get her into it. “Yes... We’ll be together, and since you’re alive, that would mean I’m not dead. This makes me so happy...” Upon touching the dream state of Tetsubo, the light overwhelmed her senses... “I think she’s waking up...” sighed Tetsubo. Danielle’s eyes ever so slowly twitched, and then opened. She felt weak, and her head was sore, but it didn’t really matter once she saw Tetsubo watching over her like the knight she’d made him out to be. She was in the Pokémon Centre, in a large room full of people that had come to get shelter, or because they’d been hurt in the storm, Danielle was in a hospital bed, with a tight bandage around her head. “I’m... okay... We Are together now...” Tetsubo was surprised that Danielle suddenly reached out and pulled him closer to her, he tried to slowly break free without hurting her, but her grip was remarkably tight. Abby sat in the corner of the room, looking at the two a little bitterly. “Um, Danielle?... What are you talking about?...” questioned Tetsubo. “I saw you, I saw you and you pulled me out of the darkness... For that, I’ll never leave your side.” said Danielle happily. “Oh, great...” sighed Tetsubo sarcastically. “You’d better let go of him.” said Abby. This brought Danielle out of her loving state and filled her with anger, but Danielle didn’t tend to let anything get her down, and so she knew how to set aside her anger and see the nicer side of things. “Why?...” she questioned, letting go of Tetsubo none the less. “Because Nurse Joy said to.” added Abby. “Yes Danielle, you received quite a nasty blow to your head, now, you’ll be okay, but you have to take it easy until you feel up to walking again. That means no stress and no overexcitement.” explained the nurse. “Um... Yeah, sure...” she answered, “Will you wait for me Tetsubo?...” she asked sensibly, with her eyes in the puppy dog pleading stare. “I... Yes Danielle, I’ll wait.” sighed Tetsubo. Abby swiftly walked away, while Tetsubo sat back down at Danielle’s side. He couldn’t just leave her here, not when the Rockets could still be in the area, and not while she was stuck here, she needed someone to be there for her, and as much as it could risk her growing attachment to him, he had no choice. Danielle could see the genuine concern in his eyes, and because she had to take it easy, she had no choice but to mellow out, quiet down, and act sensible for a while, a side to her personality that she usually repressed, she was still an immature young lady after all. “Tetsubo... What happened after I went out?...” “Out? Oh of course, when you were hurt, well, I shouted an awful lot, but you wouldn’t wake up, so I pretty much carried you all the way here, and I waited...” “How long was I out?...” “The whole night...” “And you... waited here all that time?... Oh Tetsubo, you’re so sweet.” “So tired more like it, but... I had to, and its not like I’ve never missed out on sleep before...” Danielle let out a happy giggle, here she was with the guy she’d fantasised so much about, and now, they were actually having a conversation together, getting to know one other, and, if she wasn’t mistaken, she could see in his eyes, the emotion that she’d felt for him for a long time. “We never did get properly acquainted when we first met, I don’t know much about you, apart from the kind of person you are...” “About that... I wasn’t totally honest with you back there, I lied to you, because I didn’t want to hurt you, I was involved with someone else back then, but I’m not now...” “The girl with the green hair, and she’s not with you anymore...” “Danielle, I’m not perfect, I need to ask your forgiveness now before lies come back to haunt me.” “Tetsubo, no one’s perfect, but you’re still at the top of my list for what I look for in a guy.” Tetsubo laughed nervously and turned to the side. “Please... Tell me about her...” requested Danielle. “She... was my best friend, I hadn’t seen her for a while, but we were soon travelling together... And then, a lie I was forced into, grew and grew, until my friend was hurt by it, I did everything I could to make amends, but she never forgave me.” “And that girl you’re with, what about her?” “We’re just friends.” “Are you sure?” “Of course.” “Okay then, do you wanna hear about me?” “Uh... sure, go ahead.” “You know, I’m not usually like this.” “I’ve noticed.” “Yeah well, I prefer not to be this way, cos I usually get this way when something’s wrong.” “You mean Bug Pokémon, and danger.” “And fierce Pokémon too. Yeah. I’m normally the overactive happy girl you know and love, I don’t like to see the bad side of things, but when I’m in danger, or one of my fears show up, I get really panicky, and though I seem like I’m okay, I’m really suffering.” “So, if you’re not scared, then why are you acting so sensibly now?” “Cos I have to be. I can be sensible when I need to be, but to act that way all the time, its just not me.” “Hmmmm...” said Tetsubo in deep thought, changing his views about Danielle. Primarily, he was put off by Danielle’s immaturity, that and the way she came onto him from the first sight, but now he had seen another side of Danielle... and he kind of liked it. “This all happened when I was young... Me and my folks were up in the mountains, and I kind of wondered off. I tripped, I fell, and I got caught on a tree branch, but all that was below was a huge drop, and a lot of fierce and dangerous Pokémon, the tree was partly buried in a flat vertical layer of rocks so climbing would do no good... My parents found me, but couldn’t do anything to help me. So I had to be calm, and still, until my dad went and got help.” “Uh huh...” said Tetsubo, listening and taking all of it in, the mystery behind Danielle’s actions coming together. “I was up there for hours, not able to move, or speak. My mother did her best to comfort me, but it didn’t really work. Well, as you can tell, help eventually came, but the experience left me with a deep emotional scar, one that has affected who I am today. I block out the bad parts of life as much as I can, and the only times I’m calm and collected, is when its absolutely necessary, or when I’m in danger. Its something you’ll just have to live with.” “How do Bug Pokémon come into this though?” “I don’t like them, simple as that, its nothing to do with the experience, but I still act the same around them.” “Don’t worry Danielle, and thanks, I understand you so much better now that I know this...” “You’re not turned away?” “I was turned away before, when you were all over me without me really knowing you, now, things will be different.” “Oh Tetsubo...” “But I’d still recommend you see someone about this, maybe a psychiatrist, or just your local doctor, they may be able to do something to help you manage your fear...” “You think so?” “I know so.” “Oh Tetsubo, I trust you with all my heart, I’ll do that...” Suddenly some glass windows of the Pokémon Centre were shattered, and Ben and Becky were there. “We want what’s ours!” shouted Becky. “Danielle, do you know what they’re talking about? They were after you before.” questioned Tetsubo. “No... I don’t.” “Then I have no choice but to battle.” “Stand aside boy! We just want-” “What you want isn’t available to you, Twinkill...” said Tetsubo, interrupting Ben. “Star!” shouted the Staryu as it was released from its Pokéball. “Go, Hitmonlee!” yelled Ben. “Go, Ivysaur.” called Becky. “Hitmon-Lee!” “Ivy-Saur!!!” “Twinkill, do your best.” As the Staryu slammed into the Hitmonlee, it was wrapped up in the Ivysaur’s vines and thrown towards the Hitmonlee who dealt a heavy kick. “If they can use two Pokémon, then so will I. Go-” “Aw no you don’t!” shouted Ben, throwing a strange metal device that snapped shut around Tetsubo, which shocked him and prevented him from moving his arms. “We want what that girl has for our magnificent machine, its the only way to power it.” growled Becky. “You need her Pokémon to power a machine?!” inquired a confused Tetsubo. “Tetsubo...” said Danielle with worry, even though she wasn’t meant to. “Tw... Twinkill, we have to win. Use your Ice Beam...” “Star!” The Ivysaur was thrown back, but the Hitmonlee performed a double kicking attack. “Psychic.” The Hitmonlee was thrown off course, but the Ivysaur wrapped up the Staryu, and drained it of its energy, it couldn’t break free. “No stress allowed.” said Danielle, “Aria can deal with this.” “Cle... Clefable?...” said Aria, immediately running to her trainer. “No Aria, I need you to battle, beat that Ivysaur and save Tetsubo...” “Fable.” With that, the little Clefable marched forward and sent a Metronome powered Razor Wind into the Ivysaur, before blasting the Hitmonlee with a Fire Blast attack. Twinkill was freed, and spun towards Tetsubo to snap the lock in two, while the Rockets were forced to recall their Pokémon. Meanwhile, Danielle had noticed something in her bag, the coin-shaped microchip, somehow it must have ended up in her possession, and that must have been what the Rockets were after now, and why Tetsubo was risking his life for her. “Aria.” called Danielle, before throwing the coin. “There!” shouted Ben, reaching to grab it. “Use your Psychic attack.” “Cle-Fable!!!” A blue cloud surrounded the coin, before bending it, and snapping it in half. “No!” shouted Becky, “We can’t just leave because our weapon is now useless, we’ll just have to bring back a hoard of Pokémon, or the Boss’ll have us cleaning toilets again.” By now, a selection of trainers had overheard the ruckus and gathered in the large room, all holding a Pokéball and prepared to use the monster inside. “Oh... darn it.” cursed Becky. Water, electricity, sharp leaves, flames, gunk, and psychic spells were all directed on the Rockets, causing a massive explosion, and throwing the Rockets through another window, and sky high. Later on, when order had been restored, Joy trod carefully around the glass and bricks, and reached Danielle and Tetsubo. “I have a couple of things to tell you, one is from that girl you came in with, she said for you to go it alone, that she’d only be in the way of you two. The second thing is, its okay if you want to leave, Danielle, just be sure to take it easy for a couple of days.” “Thank you Nurse Joy... Um Tetsubo, after everything that’s happened...” “You’d like to travel around with me? I’d be honoured Danielle, your Pokémon really came through when I needed help most.” “Tetsubo, I’m sorry about that girl, obviously she’s-” “Don’t worry about it, Abby’s a big girl, she can take care of herself... And its her decision to go it alone.” said Tetsubo rather calmly. “Tetsubo, after all you’ve done for me, my feelings for you have only grown, do you think...” “Danielle, I’d love to go out with you, I didn’t see it before, but you have a lot of qualities that I like. I know there’s an age difference, but I don’t care about that, I care about you.” “Oh... Tetsubo... I’m so happy!...” cried Danielle, before leaping into Tetsubo’s arms, and kissing him lovingly on the lips. “Danielle...” “Tetsubo...” “Danielle...” “Tetsubo...” “Danielle?... Danielle?...” “Yes my love?...” said Danielle, waking up from a long sleep. Tetsubo was giving Danielle an odd stare, and upon opening her eyes, Danielle practically leapt up to kiss him. “Whoa, whoa, whoa! A simple yes or no would have been fine!” spluttered Tetsubo, backing away. “To what?” asked Danielle. “Are you feeling better? It looks like you are.” said Nurse Joy gently. “What?...” said Danielle, feeling her head, there were no bandages, just a tiny plaster covering a small cut. “Okay Danielle, that long warm rest seems to have got rid of that sneezing.” smiled Joy. “But what about my head?...” asked Danielle. “That’ll be fine, its just a small cut.” added Nurse Joy. “I’m glad you’re okay Danielle, but I really have to be going.” smiled Tetsubo, picking up his bag and turning away. “But... aren’t you concerned about me?...” pleaded Danielle. “Why should I be? You’re fine.” said Tetsubo gently. “Tetsubo, if we depart now, we can be at the Pokémon Ranch by tonight.” noted Abby. “I guess I’ll... see you in the League.” said Tetsubo, a little hurriedly, before the realisation of the whole experience being a perfect dream made itself known to Danielle. “Wait!... Don’t you wanna hear my life story?... Don’t you wanna talk with me?...” “Not really, sorry Danielle, but I really have to go.” apologised Tetsubo. “Wait!” shouted Danielle, picking up her bag quickly and clambering out of the bed. The coin-shaped microchip fell out, and was stepped on by Danielle. “You’re not leaving me behind!... Not until I make that dream a reality!...” Without the precise reasons for Tetsubo to talk to Danielle about her past, the conversation that happened in Danielle’s dream would never come to pass. Danielle didn’t have a precise memory, so half the conversation had been lost to her, still, she had been reunited with Tetsubo, and she’d try and make him like her through sheer pestering. The Failure Rockets had been spying on the group, and seen that their device was destroyed. “No... We’ve failed.” groaned Ben. “Well, let’s steal that girls’ Pokémon.” suggested Becky. “No, I don’t feel like it, we’d probably fail like we did on the boat. Let’s just face the Boss, clean the toilets, and prepare for another scheme that’ll probably go wrong.” “That’s why I like being your partner, you’re so positive...” End of Part B Back to Part A Back to the Side Stories Back to the Pokézone