*Beep Beep Beep*

It’s the next morning and Ari wakes up all groggy. “Ugh… I feel like crap, what time is it?”

“Eevee!” Eve taps the alarm clock sitting on the night stand.

“12:00 PM!? How!? I thought I set it for 8! I’ve practically slept the day away!” Ari sighs. “Guess better late than never…”

Ari jumps out of bed, pulls her clothes off and she hits the showers.

—

After a long, long, shower, Ari steps out, dries off, and gets dressed. She puts on her usual black dress, white stockings and black tennis shoes. Ari is just about to dry her long red hair when she hears a loud “BOOM!” coming from outside the Pokemon Center.

“W-what was that!?” Ari drops the hair dryer and quickly unplugs it from the wall.

“Eevee!” Eve runs to the balcony window.

Ari follows and slides the door window open. She and Eve step outside and they are met with a huge red Pokemon they’ve never seen before causing chaos in the streets.

“What’s that Pokemon?” Ari asks in shock.

Ari’s eyes lock onto the Pokemon and they follow to where it is going. She sees the Pokemon charging up a Solar Beam and unleashing it upon a building.

“It’s gone rouge!”

Suddenly, Ari sees the Pokemon approach a small boy. The boy freezes in fear.

“Crap!” Ari instinctively jumps off the balcony, rolling her ankle in the process. “Ouch!” Trying not to waste time, Ari pushes through the pain and runs to the boy's side. “Don’t worry, I’ve got you!”

The giant red Pokemon starts to charge up another Solar Beam and Ari tries to pick up the boy to carry him away from danger, but her ankle gives out. “Damn!” She curses

Without having any other option, Ari decides to shield the boy instead. ~If I can’t get him out of danger, maybe I can protect him instead!~

Ari waits for impact but it doesn’t come. Looking back towards the red Pokemon, Ari sees a white furry pokemon standing in front of her, shooting another beam against the red Pokemons.

“W-what; where did…”

“Are you okay!?” A familiar voice is heard from behind Ari. She turns her head around and she sees…

“Dulse!?” Ari shouts. ~No way!~

“Take the boy and run!” Dulse shouts. He gets between them and the rogue Pokemon.

“I-I can’t… my ankle” Ari gestures to her swollen ankle.

Dulse looks at Ari and grunts, thinking about what to do. “Furfrou, distract it!”

“Fur!” Furfrou charges at the red Pokemon, changing its attention from the group.

“Okay, boy, can you walk?” Dulse looks at the boy with a serious expression.

“Y-yeah.” The boy responds.

“Good, run alongside me.”

All of a sudden Dulse scoops up Ari in his arms and starts running in the opposite direction of the chaos.

“D-Dulse!” Ari says embarrassed. 

“Sorry, I don't have much of a choice.” Dulse speaks between breaths. 

“R-right, thank you…” Ari looks up at Dulse, noticing the dark circles under his eyes. ~He looks exhausted.~ Ari starts to feel bad. ~I’m just causing problems for him…~

Suddenly the boy speaks. “Look sir, an alley way! The Miss and I should be safe there!”

“Right!” Dulse, Eve, and the boy run to the alley. “You two stay here, I’ll be back.” Dulse sets Ari down and turns to run back to the red Pokemon.

“Dulse, wait!” Ari grabs his hand and he turns around. Ari hesitates but says, “Be careful.”

Dulse gives her a nod and starts running back. 

“Is he going to be okay?” The little boy asks.

Ari, unsure, decides to console the boy. “Yeah, he’ll be fine.”

—

After what felt like forever, Ari sees Dulse running back to them, Furfrou at his side.

“Dulse!” Ari shouts. She instinctively tries to stand up but her ankle throbs, causing her to fall back down.

“Miss, are you okay?” The boy asks.

“I’m fine.” Ari lies with a half smile on her face. She turns to look at Dulse again and he’s finally approaching them. 

“Hey, are you alright!?” Ari asks Dulse all worried.

“I’m fine, got it taken care of.” Dusle shows Ari an odd looking Pokeball.

“You caught it!?”

“Yeah, it’s the only way to make sure it won't cause problems again.”

“Makes sense…” Ari hesitantly agrees. “So what now?” Ari looks up at Dulse and sees him staring at her. “W-what?” She asks nervously. 

“Now…” Dulse starts, “... now we get that taken care of.” He points at Ari’s ankle. 

“Oh this? Don’t worry about it.” Ari lets out a harsh laugh.

“Nope.” Dulse says as he picks up Ari princess style. “I’m taking you to the Pokemon Center.”

Ari looks at Dulse puzzled. “I-I’m not a Pokemon…”

Dulse stares at Ari and blankly says, “I never said you were.”

Forgetting the boy was with them, they hear him whimper. “Mommy…” The boys eyes start to water.

“We need to help him first!” Ari states.

“You’re not going to help much with your ankle the way it is.” Dulse looks at her with a blank expression.

“Then drop me off over there!” Ari points towards a bench in the plaza.

Dulse looks in the direction Ari is pointing and sighs. “Fine.” Dulse, holding Ari, guides the boy over to the bench and Dulse sets Ari down gently. Eve sits on the bench next to Ari putting her paw on Ari’s leg.

“Okay, I’ll be back soon.” Dulse signs for the boy to follow him and they make their way to find his mom.

—

Some time passes and Ari is patiently waiting on the bench for Dulse to get back. ~ I hope they find the boys mother…~

“Eevee!” Eve shouts. Eve starts running away from Ari. 

“Eve, where are you-” Ari sees Dulse and Furfrou in the distance. “Dulse, you’re back!”

“Yeah, we found the boy's mother, though it was a challenge…” Dulse sighs. 

Ari smiles. “What a relief! Good job!”

“Yeah…” Dulse looks away and then down at Ari. “How does your ankle feel?”

“It’s feeling much better. I can probably walk-” Ari tries to step down on her foot but is met with a shooting pain. “God damn it!”

Ari blushes from using foul language. “I’m sorry!” She looks at the ground, afraid to meet Dulse’s eyes.

Suddenly, Ari hears someone laughing. She looks up and sees that it’s Dulse. “H-hey! Don’t laugh!” Ari blushes even more.

“Sorry.” Dulse chuckles. “That was just so unexpected.” 

“Ahhhhh! Just please forget it happened!” Ari clenches her chest. “I usually don’t speak like that!”

Dulse lets out a deep sigh. “Don’t worry, I believe you.” He lets out a small laugh. “Now,” Dulse starts, “now let's get you to Nurse Joy.”

Ari lets out a deep breath. “Sure.” Ari tries to smile through the embarrassment. 

Dulse starts to get closer to Ari, aiming to pick her up again.

Ari backs up on the bench. “N-no need for that! J-just lend me your shoulder!”

Dulse, confused, says “Sure.” And kneels down a bit so Ari can place her hand on his shoulder.

The duo stand up with Eve and Furfrou by their side, and they head to the Pokemon Center.