Act 1 - Chapter 7

"Yuki, what are you saying?" Trey asked, clearly startled by the outburst.

"Who the hell is Yuki? Isn't that a Japanese name?" Yuki asked.

Trey was flabbergasted, his mouth left hanging as he tried to gather himself.

"They said you might be having a psychotic episode but…" Trey mumbled.

Yuki had apparently overheard him and shouted again.

"I'm not insane you dum- wait you're kinda cute… Wait, no! Answer me where the hell am I-" she continued to rant before she saw the curtain move and Sasha with Rose in his arms poked through.

"Yuki…?" Sasha said apprehensively, his voice quivering as his face looked like it was on the brink of sobbing again.

"Geh…" Yuki said recoiling on her bed, noticing she was hooked up to machines.

But her eyes were more focused on Rose than anything.

"That… that can't be a Ralts?" she mumbled, turning back to Trey in confusion, "What is going on?! Is that a Pokemon?!"

Trey was again taken aback by the question. Of course, it was.

"That's Rose. You've seen Pokemon before though Yuki. Don't you remember Miss Urah's Oddish…?" Trey asked back.

Yuki took a long drawn-out minute looking back and forth between Trey, Rose, and Sasha. Her face twisted and changed from confusion to pensive thinking eventually to what looked like grief, settling finally on understanding.

Through the process, Trey just watched making sure to be ready to step in if she had another outburst. Sasha had just sat and watched as well, his nose dribbling ever so slightly as he sniffled, waiting for his sister to say something.

Eventually, Trey heard a knock on the doorframe of the room, several white-capped heads poking in. One of them, becoming more and more familiar.

"Trey? Is everything alright in here? We heard shouting again," Jenna asked, her fellow nurses nodding curiously.

"Ah," Trey stammered, waving his hands, "Yeah we're fine in here. Yuki was just a little confused coming out of the sedative… She's feeling much better though. Right, Yuuks?" Trey said moving his focus to the redheaded girl on the bed, her face still in thought.

"Huh..?" Yuki said, bringing her head back up, turning it to the nurses, then back to Trey, " Yeah… I mean… Yes, I'm feeling much better thank you," she replied.

Am I imagining it or did she just completely change tone…? Trey thought.

Jenna and the other nurses asked a few more rudimentary questions before they were interrupted by Trey's phone ringing once more.

He excused himself and moved to the hallway, before taking the call.

"Hello…?" Trey greeted pensively.

"Ah hello? Is this a Mr. Trey…? No last name," the male voice asked.

"Um, yes..? This is Trey. Might I ask who is calling and how you obtained my number?" Trey asked.

"Ah, yes. First I apologize for contacting you so late. Today has been a busy day for us here at the hall. My name is Harold, and I'm with Saffron City Hall. We are contacting you about the unfortunate event that transpired yesterday. My sincere condolences," Harold explained.

The sudden mention of the fire triggered the emotions that Trey had buried somewhat down in his mind during the day, the flashes of the blaze that consumed his late homecoming to the forefront of his mind in a heated blaze of regret and grief.

"T-thank you…" Trey managed to eke out through gritted teeth, his free hand gripping at his shirt, "What is this call about, I would be rather irritated if it was simply to give the city's condolences," Trey spat, his frustration bleeding through.

"Yes, I can see you are still in mourning, the city just wante-" Harold began saying but Trey cut him off, unable to hold back his complaint when told he was still mourning.

"The fuck did you just say? Still mourning?! Of course, I'm still mourning!" he shouted at the phone, "The entirety of my family just died less than two days ago! Do you think it would be all Sunflora and Florabe?! How dare you-" Trey screamed into the phone about to continue his tirade but was stopped by a hand grabbing at his shoulder.

Trey turned around to see Jenna looking at him concerned, forcing him to cease his rant giving Harold time to respond in the lull.

"I understand your frustration and apologize if I have come off as insensitive. But this call is regarding the funeral arrangements of the Orphanage. Miss Cerina Urah had no next of kin according to our records and had been a resident of the Orphanage for quite some time. You being one of the occupants of the Orphanage the City Hall was told to make arrangements through you. There will be no charge of course and it will be covered by the acting Mayor," Harold explained.

My.. Arceus… I forgot about the funeral… Damn it I'm still unhinged… I thought I had a handle on it. Trey cursed, breathing a sigh.

"No, I'm sorry. I was being emotional… Thank you for contacting me. Who exactly is the acting Mayor of Saffron?" Trey asked honestly, unsure who it was as he had never heard of Saffron even having a Mayor.

"Why, the Saffron's very own Gym Leader, Sabrina," Harold said matter-a-factly.

Trey's hand that held the phone began shivering slightly at the mention of one of the most powerful psychics ever to walk the world.

"O-oh… That's great… Be sure to tell her my thanks…" Trey stammered.

"It is no problem Mr. Trey, in fact, Lady Sabrina would like to speak with you directly about the situation if you would be so kind as to meet her at the Saffron Gym in a timely manner."

"I-i don't think I would be able to meet her anytime soon… I'm currently very busy with everything and work two jobs so I have very little time off right now," Trey said, trying to convey his unwillingness to meet someone who had a reputation for making Trainers get lost in her gym.

"It is no problem. Lady Sabrina is very whimsical so I suspect you will see her very soon regardless. If there is nothing you are currently concerned with I will be hanging up, it has been a very long day," Harold said, hanging up before Trey could even respond.

Trey sighed looking at the time on his phone before flipping it closed.

[9:13 PM]

"Wow, he wasn't kidding… it's already this late?" Trey said, putting his phone away.

He then turned to Jenna who was still standing close by.

"Is everything fine Trey? We all heard you start screaming…" she asked.

"Yeah… I just- I lost my temper when the City Hall called me. I'm alright now. But I'm not sure what I should do about having to meet the Saffron City Gym Leader…." Trey said, exacerbated.

"S-S-Sabrina?! Trey, how in the world did you get a meeting with her outside of a gym match?!" Jenna stuttered.

Trey gave a wry smile trying to choke down his frustration at the situation.

"It's not something I'm very happy about… Sorry, Jenna, it's about the Orphanage Funeral arrangements.." Trey said solemnly.

"O-oh, Trey.. I'm sorry I didn't know… I hope everything works out. I-if you need anything you have my number… Please let me know when it is, I'd like to pay my respects," Jenna said trying her best to convey her sympathy.

Trey wanted to thank her, he really did, but he was growing tired of hearing 'my condolences', 'I'm sorry to hear that'. They may have been the first time they said those words to him, but he had heard them so many times it began inciting the opposite emotion in him. Those words wouldn't bring back the kids, wouldn't bring back Miss Urah.

He did manage to nod his head and keep his mouth shut, refraining from saying something he may regret.

Trey walked back into the hospital room, seeing Rose playing with Sasha on his bed, Yuki surprisingly watching with a smile on her face on the edge of her own bed.

Instantly Trey felt some of the anger and worry melt away at the scene.

Thank Arceus I have them at least. I need to get through this, I don't want it to bleed over into them…. What would Miss Urah say if it affected the children that survived…

Trey looked again at the scene, his heart-warming but quickly felt a tinge of frigid cold pierce the warm veil.

I still have to tell them all that happened… And that I'm their guardian for now. Trey sighed, walking back into the room his heart growing heavier with every step.

"I'm glad you guys are getting along so well with Rose, that's a relief…" Trey said.

"So what was the doom and gloom call about?" Yuki asked her tone shifting back to the haughty attitude she had shown when waking up.

"...? What?" Trey responded, confused.

"Right, I forgot.." Yuki said turning to Sasha, "You probably don't want to say, but I can take a few guesses.. You're going to have to tell us eventually," Yuki said turning back to him.

Is this girl really 10? I don't remember ever being this concise or observant… What exactly in Arceus happened during that fire?

"Yuki…?" Trey asked.

"Hmmm..?" she answered nonchalantly.

"Do you remember what happened?" he asked concern in his eyes, glancing at Sasha briefly as he played with Rose still, apparently too preoccupied to notice the conversation they were having.

Yuki rubbed her head, the bandages ruffling slightly from the motion. She then twirled some of her crimson-red hair around her finger as she hummed, "Bits and pieces… I do remember when the place caught flames though. There was a man in black and he was using a Quilava," Yuki grunted, grasping at her head and wincing for a moment before sighing.

Giving a wry smile she looked up to Trey, her eyes clear and not that of a traumatized 10-year-old girl he would have expected, there was confusion there but somehow Trey could tell it was from something entirely different.

"I can't believe I'm saying that like Pokemon are real…" she said, both her and Trey's eyes wandering to Rose, "But it's hard to say they aren't when one is right in front of me and I can even hold… her?" Yuki asked pensively.

Trey just nodded his mind in shock at how Yuki was talking.

"I don't really know what's going on but.." she looked at Sasha, "If I know one thing is I'm sorry for what happened… To him and this body… The whole Orphanage.." Yuki said as if it didn't involve her, but her face twisted into a frown all the same, her eyes watering as tears began falling.

"Yuki… there's nothing for you to be sorry for…" Trey said moving closer to her, "If anything it's my fault for not being there… Maybe I could have help-helped.. Maybe I could have done, saved some of them…" Trey said biting his bottom lip.

"No… Don't beat yourself up about it, you're just a kid.." Yuki said.

Trey raised a brow at the statement.

Something is definitely wrong here.

"Yuki, do you know where you are? How old are you?" Trey asked, his curiosity breaking the steel-like tension in his head.

"Huh..? Um.. Saffron… I'm thirt-....ten. I'm ten," she responded.

"Why ar-" Trey tried to say but suddenly there was a tapping on the glass of the room from the outside.

Everyone snapped their head to the window.

There, tapping on the window with its beak was the Murkrow from this morning.

"Wow, what a mood killer…" Yuki said, slightly chuckling despite the previous exchange.

"Yeah… I swear bird Pokemon just move at their own pace…" Trey sighed walking to the window, cracking it slightly as he shooed the crow-like Mon away.

"Go on, I don't have anything for you bud. Maybe If I get rich I'll throw you a berry," he smirked, the Murkrow scoffing and turning his head as he jumped back to perch on a nearby tree branch.

"Back to what we were saying," Trey said trying to continue the conversation but he had already lost Yuki's attention.

She had somehow moved over to the other bed, patting Sasha gently on the head and looking dotingly down at Rose.

Yeah, that's no 10 year old… What is going on? Trey thought incredulously.

Sighing, Trey started to feel himself relax, his shoulders easing and the strain of the day beginning to take effect on his body.

A yawn escaped his mouth before Rose pushed him slightly through their connection, the feeling she pressed him with, hunger.

Her eyes peeked out from under her green cap turning to half moons as she looked at him, obviously wondering where her food was.

Trey sighed with a smile on his face. But walked over to where he had put down his groceries, as well as the pamphlet he picked up at the Mart.

Opening the bag he pulled the container that held the berries and put it in front of Rose.

"Here princess," Trey smiled, opening up the pamphlet to quickly check the berries that were good and not good for her.

Rose glowed as she saw the container open, the smell of the berries causing her to drool slightly as her hand embedded itself into the berries, pulling one after another from it.

"Ah! Wait you can't have that one, this thing says it's bad for young Mon's stomachs," Trey said, grabbing the berry.

Rose puffed her cheeks and groaned, but quickly recovered going to the next.

"Ah! Not that one either! Or that one! Why is everything not good for young Pokemon?" Trey sighed holding half the container of berries in his hand.

Rose was not pleased, looking back at him with her eyes slits as she puffed her cheeks. Holding up an Oran Berry.

"Yeah, you can have that one…I think," Trey said scanning the pamphlet, but Rose had already popped the berry into her cheek.

Trey heard giggling coming from Yuki and Sasha, and could only smile in response.

"Are you guys hungry too? I'm in charge now so Anything you want I'll do my best to get."

"Food sounds nice," Yuki replied, "I'll have whatever. Sasha?"

"I want Ice Cream!" he shouted proudly.

Yuki scoffed, flicking the back of his ear gently, "You can't have dessert for dinner silly."

Trey chuckled, "Ok then, I'll see what the cafe here has. Does the Hospital have a cafe..? Well, there's a small shop nearby that I passed on the way… Ah, let me put these down," Trey said, going to the windowsill, the window still open.

He quickly put down the bag still filled with a closed bag of Pokefood, placing the loose berries inside with them. Looking back at Rose he remembered his Pokeball belt, unfastening it and placing it down on the windowsill as well, it holding Rose's ball and the empty one she had gotten him to purchase.

Turning away to walk out of the room he heard the flapping of wings just as he was about to leave.

Quickly snapping back around he saw the Murkrow snatching up the berries he had left there.

"Damn it! Hey, that's not yours!" Trey shouted running for the bird.

"Krow! Mur-murkrow!!" laughed the Pokemon, but it quickly panicked as it saw Trey sprinting closer.

Its feet and wings began flapping wildly.

Just as it was about to leave the window, its foot smacked right into Trey's belt.

Murkrow suddenly disappeared in a flash of red light, the Pokeball falling off the belt as it began rocking back and forth.

"No…" Trey said exacerbated.

The ball shifted and rocked once.

"Please I don't have the credits for another one right now!!!" Trey pleaded.

As if hearing him, the ball rocked once more, the sound of a click ringing out in the room.

Trey slumped to his knees. Behind him, Sasha pointed and giggled. Yuki's face a look of confusion.

"Why are you being so dramatic about it?" she asked, then added, "Congrats on catching a Murkrow."

Trey didn't answer, just a soft groan coming from him as he looked down at the ground where the new Pokemon's ball had fallen.