POKEMON Golden Sun Series Two: A Heart of Gold
Aspendragon
Part Thirty-Three
WANTED: Nyaasu Without An Alibi
"Is he going to be all right?"
"How did he get hit if it was aiming at that girl?"
"I saw it, he shoved her out of the way and it hit him instead!"
"Do you think they’re related?"
"There is some similar characteristics like their eyes and hair…"
Everyone has been talking about Errol since the Team Shadow ambush. Errol was rushed to Saffron's Hospital along with Coco, Squall, and Bayline. Alex, Norica, Jack, and Harry waved good-bye to them and gave them their best regards as they watched the ambulance drive off.
Peppermint was asleep on Coco’s lap as they pulled into the emergency drive-in to the hospital. Paramedics rushed him inside before the Trainer Triad could even move. They climbed out and hurried in after them, but only to be shooed into the waiting room.
"Maybe you should call your parents, they’re going to want to know what happened." Squall told Coco as they sat down. It was dark, but Bayline didn’t complain, no matter how far her eyes drooped.
"You two should go to the Pokemon Center, I’ll be there first thing in the morning." Coco said.
"No, we’re staying here with you," Bayline said sleepily as she grabbed a magazine labeled Tips on Breeding, Interview With One of the Greatest! Squall released Torch and he went outside to go buy something to eat, saying Torch could use the exercise.
"Pika," Squall’s right, Peppermint said to Coco, she sighed and walked over to the videophones and dialed her number.
"Ring! Ring! Ring! Ring! Ring! Ring! Telephone! Telephone! Ring-" the video phone rang as Caroline answered it.
"Hello?" Caroline said groggily as she sat down in front of it.
"Hi Mom!" Coco greeted back cheerfully.
"COCO! Do you have any idea what time it is young lady?" Caroline asked quite loudly.
"Sshh! We’re in a hospital!" Coco said in a hushed tone.
"Oh sorry…you’re where!?!" Caroline yelped. Coco could see Dawn come out of his room and approach the phone; probably wanting to know what all the racket was about.
"Hiya Dad," Coco said.
"Hi yourself, it is twelve o’ clock at night," Dawn growled.
"Be quiet Dawn, she was about to explain why she’s at the hospital." Caroline said, Dawn’s eyes widened.
"We were traveling to Saffron, which we are at now. We ran into this trainer-" she explained to them what happened for the last four hours. When she mentioned Errol, that’s when she regretted using the videophones.
"You mean OUR Errol! What happened? Why isn’t he speaking on the phone with you? How is he? Has he been that team’s leader all these years?" Caroline blurted out. Nurses behind the counter began to peer around them to see what was going on. Bayline leaned further into her magazine; her nose was barely touching the paper.
"Yes Mom, it was Errol. He’s not talking to you because that’s why I’m calling you." Coco said.
"What…happened?" Caroline asked dangerously.
"He…er…how do I put this…got shot-"
"Huh! Is he all right?" Caroline said. Dawn was silent.
"I don’t know, we just got here. He was shot by a poisoned shuriken from Team Shadow." Coco explained.
"Who’s Team Shadow?" Caroline asked.
"An evil organization similar to Team Rocket, but it’s full of ninjas and of course, Poison pokemon." Dawn explained, "But I thought I put an end to them eleven years ago…" he trailed off, Coco never heard the last sentence.
"Yeah, I already encountered them twice,"
"Twice!?!"
"Uh, they kidnapped me before, but I escaped without a scratch," Coco said, full of regret.
"I’m flying over to there on Charcoal to retrieve Errol, I have a feeling they’re not done with him yet." Dawn said. Caroline suddenly fainted. "Oh dear, give me a minute…" he lifted his wife up and put her in bed and walked back over to the phone.
"Now Coco, I want to know exactly what happened when they kidnapped you."
"Well, they didn’t only want me, they wanted Versett Divestein from Cinnabar Island too." Coco added.
"She was nice, a good trainer for that squirtle," Dawn said, as if he was trying to remember her.
"Yeah, we met her on the way here, she was going to Vermilion." Coco said.
"Yes, and that boy named Asher Cauttssom from Lavender is somewhere, who knows where. He was really intelligent," Dawn said.
"Well, this is what happened…" she explained what happened after she was knocked out and returned to the group.
"Hmm, I better get going now, I’m only bringing Charcoal so the others can stay here and keep an eye on Pallet." Dawn said.
"Why?"
"If Team Shadow finds out he’s going to be here, then there has to be someone here to fight against them." He was scribbling a note to Caroline and stuck it on the fridge. "I’ll be there in the morning Coco," the video screen went blank, she hung up.
"Well, wasn’t expecting Mom to faint, but it went better then I planned…"
"Pikachu," Peppermint looked behind her, before she turned her head, everyone went back to doing what they were doing.
"Miss Coco Tradet!" A nurse asked, Coco looked up and at Bayline. Bayline had fallen asleep against the armchair.
"Keep an eye on Bayline," Coco told Peppermint. Peppermint’s ears drooped, but she hopped over to Bayline anyway. Coco walked over to the nurse.
"I’m Coco Tradet Miss," Coco said.
"All right, Young Errol here is really ill and we don’t have the medicine for the poison that was inserted to him." The nurse said.
"What!?!" Coco gasped.
"It’s true, but Celadon’s Gym Leader, Erika should have the antidote because she has been using her pokemon to create medicines. If someone can go over there with this," she showed her a vile with the poison within Errol in it. "Then she can make the antidote and they can bring it back and Errol would only have to be in bed for two more days after he’s taken it."
"That’s all?" Coco asked, she nodded. "I’ll do it,"
"Oh, but you’re much too young,"
"No, I’m his younger sister and he saved me, now it’s my turn to return the favor." Coco said. The nurse looked eager to tell her off, but she accepted and went to the back to ask permission from the doctor.
"Pika?" So, what happened? Peppermint asked.
"Take a good nap, in the morning we’re going on to Celadon City," Coco said. Peppermint didn’t ask, but curled up into a ball and fell asleep on the chair next to Bayline. Squall walked into the room with a bag from The Slowpoke’s Café.
"That was the only place that was open," Squall said as he handed her the bag. "I ate my meal on the way here, so did any news come back yet?"
"Yeah, it seems the only antidote is in Celadon," Coco answered.
"Wow, really?" Torch laid in front of Peppermint’s chair and fell asleep.
"Yep, it seems that Erika, the gym leader there can make antidotes if she has a sample," Coco explained.
"Well, we can go now if you want. So Bayline won’t slow us down." Squall teased Bayline as she slept.
"Now, really." Coco sighed. Squall chuckled.
"All right, we can leave in the morning," Squall said.
"Let’s wait till my dad arrives, he’s coming here to get Errol, but he’s going to have to stay here till we return." Coco explained.
"All right, in that case, we better get some sleep, like at the Pokemon Center." Squall said seriously. His eyes narrowed down on Coco.
"I’m not tired, besides, I’m staying here-hey!" Squall grabbed her wrist. Peppermint awoke from her yelp and used Thundershock in alarm.
"You either stop doing that or I’ll stick you into a blender," A charred Squall hissed, Coco sweat-dropped as Bayline jumped up in surprise, Torch did the same.
"Come on, we’ve got to go to the Pokemon Center," Squall told the three. Peppermint leaped onto Torch’s back as they walked out, this time, Bayline complained.
"Your room is number two, have a good night." Nurse Joy said sleepily as she handed them a key and Squall continued to hold onto Coco’s wrist as if thinking she would run away as soon as he let go.
"Here we go, pick a bed and fall asleep," Squall said, Bayline ran and kicked her shoes off and went under the covers of a bottom bunk. Squall let go of Coco so he could lock the door and put the key in his pocket. Coco kicked off her shoes as Squall returned Torch to his ball, but since Peppermint was on top of him, she fell to the floor with a small thump and started to spark again.
"Don’t even think about it Pepper!" Squall warned, she stopped and leaped into bed with Coco and curled up into a ball.
"Night Squall," Coco said as she closed her eyes, Squall stayed awake as long as his eyes would allow making sure she wouldn’t sneak out.
"Morning everyone! It’s time to go to Celadon!" Coco shouted cheerfully. "Bayline, hurry up and take a shower, I already took mine and I healed all your pokemon and cleaned all our clothes. I even went to the Pokemon Market to stock up on supplies. I went to the hospital right after that and got that vile for Erika, now all we have to do is leave!" She sweat-dropped as she saw Bayline and Squall stare at her with their bottom jaws hanging loosely from their hinges.
"Have you lost it?" Bayline asked as she got her supplies for a shower.
"Not entirely!" Coco said cheerfully.
"We better get going before she does lose it!" Squall warned Bayline, she surprisingly listened and hurried into the bathroom. Peppermint slept on.
"Thanks again Nurse Joy," Squall said as he gave Nurse Joy the key to their room.
"Your welcome, hope to see you again soon." She said back as they walked out the door.
"I met my dad at the hospital so we didn’t have to stop there before we left, so let’s hurry onto Celadon, it’s just four miles away, we’ll be there tonight." Coco said.
"Gee, wonder where I heard that before?" Bayline said sarcastically. Squall sweat-dropped and reddened.
Coco hummed the Pokemon League theme song (Hint: The one she was singing in the beginning of the first volume) as they walked. The trail was clear out of the grass unlike the others they traveled on. Beyond her brother seriously ill in the hospital, Coco was the one that was worrying Squall, Bayline, and Peppermint.
"Hey Coco," Squall said, "We would like to know why you’re so cheerful?" Coco stopped humming and just stared ahead of them. The trees around them swaying with the light breeze passing them.
"Oh well, I just thought in this time, a little optimism would be necessary." Coco answered.
"Pika!" Peppermint cried, they looked ahead of them. As far as they could tell, it was a blood-red bundle, but when they were closer, they found out it was an injured meowth.
"The poor thing!" Coco yelped as she hurried a Super Potion from her inner vest pocket and sprayed its wounds. The meowth was unconscious and gave a slight moan whenever she sprayed a cut. Bayline began to clean its fur afterward.
"I wonder what injured it," Coco wondered aloud.
"Let’s worry about that later, let’s hurry onto the Pokemon Center so the nurse there can heal this meowth." Bayline said as she picked up the pokemon. It slept silently in her arms. Peppermint stared at it from her perch on Coco’s right shoulder.
"Hey you!" a man shouted, he was holding a rather large bag with a rifle in his hands. Bayline quickly went behind Squall and Coco.
"Yeah?" Squall said back.
"Have you seen any meowth around here, a bunch of them has been causin’ trouble in Celadon," he answered.
"Why? What kind of trouble?" Coco asked.
"These walkin’ fleabags have been stealing food from all over Celadon and they once attacked students from Celadon’s University." The man answered.
"Do you have any proof?" Squall asked.
"Scratch marks that can only be made by a meowth, and tan fur all over their arms where they’ve been attacked," the man explained.
"A pokemon wouldn’t do that!" Coco growled.
"Think what you wish gal, but anyhow, did ya see any of them?" he asked again.
"No," Squall and Coco answered together.
"Fine, I’ll be seein’ ya then," he growled as he hiked into the forest outside the trail.
"Oh dear, they really must think the pokemon are behind this if they’re four miles away from the city." Coco said.
"Yeah, he was probably the one who hurt this guy," Bayline added, looking at the meowth.
"No way, he had a gun. And there isn’t any bullet wounds," Coco said.
"I just wonder who really was the culprit if it wasn’t the meowths," Squall wondered aloud. They sighed, but continued on their walk. Soon, the meowth’s bleeding got out of hand and they had to wrap handkerchiefs tightly around every wound and they had to start running down the trail.
"How long should it take to get to Celadon?" Coco asked Squall.
"A day at this rate," he answered.
"But! The meowth might not make it by then!" Bayline whined.
"Hey you! You found my Mimi!" a girl cried, she was fourteen with purple hair in a single braid and green eyes. She wore tan Jeans and a black shirt with a white paw print on it. "What happened to her?" she cried as Bayline handed her the meowth.
"She was injured, we were on our way to Celadon," Coco answered.
"Well, my place is over there, follow me!" she said as she ran into the forest, they followed. "Here it is!" a two-story house stood out from the wooded area and meowths were crawling all over it.
"Wow!" Bayline said loudly. The girl ran into the house as the three trainers looked at the meowths. Most of them noticed them and came over to greet them.
"They’re so cute!" Coco and Bayline kept on repeating. Squall seemed to be the main event as the meowths jumped and meowed happily at him.
"Pi!" Peppermint sparked as some threatened her from the ground.
"Oh dear, rodents and felines don’t get along well do they?" Coco figured. Peppermint went on with her sparking as the girl came out without the meowth.
"She’s being stitched up by my mom now, she said she would be fine. Anyway thanks, and I’m Leslie," she said, holding out her hand.
"My name is Coco Tradet, and they are Bayline Silverson, Squall Togoroti, and this is Peppermint." Coco said back as she shook Leslie’s hand. "Anyway, why do you have so many meowths?"
"Well, this place is like a sanctuary for them, my family had this fondness for them since 1921." Leslie answered.
"Meowth, the Scratch Cat Pokemon," Dexter beeped, Coco body-faulted. "This pokemon loves circular objects and would give anything for a new charm to place upon its head."
"You’re late Dexter," Coco growled. Squall and Bayline looked at one another.
"So, why does your family like meowths so much for so long?" Coco asked. They were urged into Leslie’s house and they were at the table, Mimi the meowth was resting on the sofa across from the table.
"Let’s see, I think its because my family originated from the Holy Meowth Burial Ground. A place located in the Orange islands." Leslie answered.
"Orange Islands?" Coco said.
"Yep! It’s a small league located off of Kanto, it’s a good stop to strengthen your pokemon before you go on to any other leagues." Leslie said. Squall dodged another feline greeting and looked around.
"So, what’s with this Holy Meowth Burial Ground thing?" Bayline asked Leslie. Leslie cocked her head a little then began to speak.
"This place awaits for a great meowth to bring them wealth and glory, but I don’t think such a cat came just yet." Leslie answered.
"What kind of meowth brings luck?" Squall asked sarcastically, Claudia’s meowth bounced around in their heads.
"What? Do you not like meowths?" Leslie asked.
"Oh no! We love them!" Coco and Bayline said in unison, while Squall coughed, which sounded much like ‘says who?’
"We just had a bad first encounter with a meowth not too long ago," Coco stated.
"Oh good! Because many people who pass by scream or shoo at the meowths that inhabit these forests." Leslie said back.
"Well, there was a hunter earlier saying he was searching for meowths because there have been attacks in Celadon people believe were by meowths." Coco added.
"Oh! There has to be some explanation, meowths are one of the most sweetest and most adorable creatures there are, and they certainly wouldn’t go around harming humans!" Leslie asserted.
"Yes, we are quite aware of that fact," Squall said out of sarcasm as another meowth landed on his head playfully. A smaller one was pawing at shoelace, Bayline picked that one up and put it on Squall’s lap. "Enough with the cats!" he shouted at her, Coco sweat-dropped.
"But if there was hunters hunting out here for meowths, then I’m afraid these meowths are in danger," Leslie cried, that’s when a woman with purple hair like Leslie’s back in a braid with brown eyes, wearing a maroon dress with a white apron came into the room.
"Oh my, you’re the trainers who found Mimi right?" she asked. Coco nodded. "Thank you so much young lady, my name is Annya."
"My name is Coco Tradet, and these are my friends, Bayline Silverson, Squall Togoroti, and this is Peppermint." Coco introduced them again, Annya nodded.
"Mom, there are meowth hunters here in the woods," Leslie said, Annya gasped.
"One so far," Coco corrected.
"But it doesn’t matter, as long as there’s someone out there willing to kill these precious pokemon then there’s bound to be a killing at some point if its not stopped." Annya stated.
"Yes, we are on our way to Celadon City for something, when we arrive there we’ll see what we can do, just keep all the meowths undercover when we leave." Coco added. Bayline and Squall saw their cue and stood up with Coco. "We’ll do the best we can, but to do so, we need to leave. Take care of Mimi," Mimi’s ears perked up. The Trainer Triad waved good-bye and walked out the door.
"Good luck trainers! And thank you so much!" Leslie shouted as she followed them out the door and stopped as they continued walking on the trail. Mimi watched them leave through the window.
To be continued…
Sorry it took so long for an update, I just moved to a new school that gives you no slack whatsoever! But anyway, I’ll start writing about Blue Shadow & Red Inferno! ‘Kay?