EPISODE 104: Standing Firm in the Midst of Death!

"Riolu! Hang in there..." I uttered to his ears while grieving in worry and fear.

It was a life or death situation. Riolu's lungs were bleeding, and my only hope is the Pokemon Center in route twenty-eight.

My heart thumped harder than any before, it was unclear to me... If Riolu could even survive. Riolu's breath was decaying quietly. I need to surge faster or Riolu won't make it.

The Pokemon Center was smaller than the others, but hey? Gotta work with what we have.

"Excuse me! Excuse me!" I tried to push the people in front of me due to my panic and worry for my buddy.

"Hey! Fall in line douche bag!" A rude trainer infuriated after pushing him.

"Fall in line!? Look at my Pokemon, he's dying! You want me to fall in line!?" I infuriated back at the rude trainer and bumped his shoulder again.

"Nurse Joy! Nurse Joy! I need help." I uttered with worry and panic as I rushed towards the counter of the Pokemon Center.

"How can I help you?" Nurse Joy and Audino gave me a pleasant smile. Doesn't she see my Riolu?

"Nurse Joy, my Riolu is suffering from internal bleeding! Is there anything you can do to help him?" I queried with a brooding face.

"Oh dear, what happened to your Riolu?" Nurse Joy queried with a pitying face, as she grabbed Riolu from my hand. Riolu was filled with dozens of wounds and scars, especially in his chest.

"I don't know... just please help my Riolu." I faced down my cap while sorrows trickled down my eyes.

"Alright, Audino... we have an emergency!" Nurse Joy beamed with worry as she rushed through the emergency room with her Audino while holding my Riolu in her bare hands.

We were asked to sit down for a moment while Riolu was in the emergency room. All I can do is to wait, sit, and hope. Surviving is uncertain for Riolu, this brought pain to my heart and sorrows to my eyes.

"Kalem, Riolu's going to be alright." Camellia sat down and comfort me. I ignored her sentence, and even the sentences of my other friends. I continued to weep and moan for Riolu, my buddy.

"Audino, check if Riolu is still breathing, I'll get the oxygen tank!" Nurse Joy uttered with rushing words.

<Audino!>The Pokemon smiled and placed her hand on Riolu's chest. Audino can still sense Riolu's breathing, but it was getting weaker and more feeble than before.

Nurse Joy rushed to the supply room and dragged one oxygen tank to the emergency room. A long transparent nebulizer was placed in Riolu's nose. A transparent cord connected the nebulizer and the oxygen tank.

The heart rate monitor was turned on, it began to show Riolu's heart rate. Base from the monitor, Riolu's higher rate is getting lower and lower. Riolu gambled against death while staying firm.

The nebulizer was also boothed on, and oxygen began to enter Riolu's nose. This would act as a support for Riolu's failing lungs.

Riolu's shallow wounds were sprayed with potions and were sealed with bandages. For the deep ones? They require sewing, but first... They needed to fix Riolu's internal bleeding.

Nurse Joy and Audino went to the dressing room and wore a dark green surgeon outfit. They also wore masks and gloves for Riolu's surgery.

The windows were sealed completely so that no one could see or interrupt the surgery. Nurse Joy also noticed that Riolu had a high temperature, which may lead to a grave fever after the surgery.

"Alright Audino, hand me the anesthesia" Nurse Joy instructed while rubbing Riolu's chest with a plain cotton ball soaked in wet water.

"Audino!" The Pokemon smiled and gave nurse Joy the two types of anesthesia.

"We'll have to apply both types for this surgery!" Nurse Joy uttered to herself while opening the bottle cap.

The first anesthesia was a capsule, and the second one needed to rub on Riolu's chest.

"Riolu... I need you to open your mouth widely." Nurse Joy instructed.

Riolu wasn't responding to Nurse Joy, Riolu was unconscious, and couldn't hear anything or anyone.

"Audino, Riolu isn't responding. He's in a critical condition. I need you to open his mouth." Nurse Joy instructed with a worried feeling.

<Audino! Aud! Audino!>The Pokemon opened Riolu's mouth widely.

Nurse Joy dropped the capsule in Riolu's mouth and bended his neck forwards, so that the pill would fall down his throught.

Nurse Joy rubbed Riolu's chest with anesthesia so that he would feel numb inside and outside his body. Riolu's heart rate was getting lower, Nurse Joy and Audino had to rush the surgery before Riolu's heart rate stops! Once a heart rate stops in the middle of a surgery, CPRs are no use.

"Audino, hand me the scalpel." Nurse Joy instructed while covering a dark green blanket at Riolu's torso.

Nurse Joy sliced through Riolu's chest skin in a vertical technique. Riolu's chest was opened, wherein Nurse Joy saw the problem.

<Audino!>The Pokemon pointed at the heart rate monitor!

"We have to hurry Audino, Riolu... hang in there!" Nurse Joy uttered with worry while trying to stich Riolu's lungs.

Nurse Joy had to rush the operation which led to a grave mistake. The wound in Riolu's lung, got bigger! Making it a harder time for Nurse Joy to stitch.

Audino hoped, Riolu's consciousness wouldn't go back right away, they forgot to add sleeping pills, since they were trying to rush the operation.

Riolu's blood pressure was on 38bm, and is gradually decreasing every ten minutes.

Nurse Joy and Audino had to be patient, if not? Riolu's wound would enlargen like what happened awhile ago.

"Audino, hand me another roll of black thread!" Audino instructed.

"Riolu's condition will worsen if this operation doesn't finish quickly." Nurse Joy uttered to herself.

Audino handed nurse Joy another roll of black thread. Riolu's wound in his lungs was finally stitched up! All they have to do is to sew Riolu's chest skin.

Riolu's eyes began to shiver. Riolu was gaining consciousness again, if Riolu suddenly woke up... he'll feel a deep and horrific pain. Even if he has anesthesia, Riolu would still feel 20% of the pain.

"23bm!? Keep fighting Riolu!" Nurse Joy got shocked when she looked at the heart rate monitor.

Riolu's chest was finally stitched up in a nick of time. Riolu didn't wake up during the process, which made Nurse Joy and Audino very glad! Or is that gladness going to last forever?

<Audino! Audino!>The Pokemon called the four of us to enter the emergency room! Riolu's operation is complete.

"Riolu!" I rushed inside the room and hugged Riolu's unconscious body. Nurse Joy and Audino restored hope unto my heart, Riolu has a higher chance to live! Or does he?

"Just keep fighting Riolu! I'm here with you." I whispered at his ears while hugging his body. Riolu was filled with bandages and stitches.

[12bm]

Audino looked at the heart rate monitor and got shocked! She quickly pulled Nurse Joy's skirt and pointed at the monitor.

"Oh my! Riolu's blood pressure is declining rapidly!" Nurse Joy uttered with worry and shock.

[10bm]

"Riolu! Keep fighting!" I whispered to his ears as tears fell off my eyes. My friends went closer to me and comforted my crying soul.

[10bm.....3bm...12bm...0.....]

The heart rate monitor began to beep! All of a sudden, Riolu's heart stopped beating!

"Out of the way!" Nurse Joy rushed towards Riolu with the CPR!

"Audino, place it on 10 volts!" Nurse Joy instructed.

<Audino!>

Nurse Joy placed the CPR on Riolu's chest, but his heart wasn't beating anymore.

"Come on Riolu... please, please!" I begged while my heart pounded harder than before.

20 volts, 30 volts, 60 volts, they didn't work! Riolu's heart was still not beating!

"Riolu please don't leave me!" I begged while crying deeply. My friends were worried about Riolu as well. "My parents aren't here with me, and I can't allow you to leave my side as well." I uttered solemnly.

"Audino! Full power now!" Nurse Joy instructed. Audino placed the meter on its highest level. If Riolu still doesn't wake up, he's confirmed deceased.

Nurse Joy pressed the CPR on Riolu's chest...and the room was silent for a few seconds. We stared at the heart rate monitor, hoping Riolu's heart begins to beat once more.

...................................

"Kalem... I'm sorry to say, but Riolu has passed away." Nurse Joy uttered with tears flowing from her eyes.

"What!? No, it can't be! Riolu!" I shouted out loud and rushed to his body.

"Rio... Riolu's dead, after all this time with Kalem. Riolu's dead." Camellia was speechless with the event as tears flowed down his eyes as well.

"Riolu, wake up please! Riolu!" I begged as tears fell to Riolu's body.

"Kalem, I'm sorry there's nothing we can do about Riolu... except to burry him in the nearest Pokemon cemetery." Nurse Joy uttered with grieve.

"No! Riolu can still live! Please... Riolu! Wake up. Don't... Don't leave me!" I grieved and begged. My tears damped Riolu's body. He was still not waking up.

"Man... I don't know why, but I'm starting to cry." Glade uttered slowly while stopping his tears.

"You were my first Pokemon... You were my first buddy. We still have a lot of memories to make together. Don't give up on me now. I'm not ready to live without you yet." I grieved.

Riolu's eyes started to open, but not in this world, but in an unfamiliar white and golden place.

The world was filled with gold, emeralds, diamonds, and sparkling jewelry. Riolu looked at himself and saw all of his wounds disappeared. All of his wounds faded.

"Where am I?" Riolu uttered to himself while exploring the vast golden world.

"Welcome to Nevaeh, Riolu." A superior voice spoke out of nowhere.

"Nevaeh? Am I dead?" Riolu uttered with shock and worry.

"Your body is... but your soul is still alive." The superior voice spoke.

"My soul? Where is my soul?"

"You're the soul. The body stays on the earth once it dies but the soul ascends back to me. I am Arceus, you may not see me, but I'm here."

"Arceus... is Kalem alright?"

"Your trainer, is grieving for you..." Arceus spoke as a vision appeared in front of Riolu. It was me, trying to wake up the poor and deceased Riolu.

"Kalem's crying for me..."

"Yes, you've traveled with him for a long time and you're just going to leave him without saying goodbye?"

"Can you please return me to my body! Please Arceus. I still want to be with my trainer." Riolu begged.

"You cannot bargain with death, besides... we have a spa here, plus... we have a buffet!" Arceus teased.

"No, I don't want a spa, I don't want a buffet. I want to be with my trainer!"

"We have gold? Diamonds? Or even emeralds!"

"I don't need riches, I'm already rich as long as I'm with my buddy Kalem."

"You sure you want to return to that Earthly ground? We have a large swimming pool in here."

"No need, Kalem is my buddy. I want to travel with him. Please Arceus! Please." Riolu knelt and begged.

"Hmm, we have a house here. Especially made for you! That's if you stay with me of course."

"No Arceus, even if I can't see you, I want to return to Kalem. Please, I'll do anything to return back to Earth."

"And why is that Riolu?"

"I love my trainer! He's the best person in the world. Nothing can separate us, not even death! I don't need wealth because Kalem's love is my wealth. I don't need any house because Kalem and I have a tent. I don't need a buffet, because Kalem feeds me. I don't need a swimming pool, I need my buddy!" Riolu begged and cried.

"Never have I heard those words before..."

"What do you mean Arceus?"

"I usually test, the souls of deceased Pokemons. I usually tempt them with the riches found in this world. All of them failed, but only you succeeded. You proved to me, how important Kalem is to you, you showed me, that you could withstand temptation. You stood firm in the midst of death."

"You have a big heart Riolu... A special one too, you are lucky to have a trainer like Kalem. Like I said, you cannot bargain with death IF, you don't have a true heart for your trainer. Without sincerity, there is no truth. Tell me Riolu, do you wish to come back?"

"Yes I do Arceus!"

"Then that will only work if you bargain with death."

"What kind of bargain? I'll be willing to do it, just to see my trainer again!"

"Your trainer has 90 years left in his deathwatch. I can donate to you some of his years for you to live. I can give you 40 years, but your trainer will have 50 years left to live. Option two, you could return to Earth with your trainer but once your trainer dies... you die with him. The last option, I'll allow you to live again, but if you die... you'll stay here forever. Think of a wise choice Riolu. Make no regrets once the decision is done." Arceus explained.

"I'll choose option two! When my trainer dies, I'll die! At least we'll be together here in this world. We'll cherish each other here, we'll love each other here." Riolu uttered and decided.

"You really have a true heart. Your wish shall be granted all you'll come back to Earth. Oh by the way, me and your trainer we'll meet soon, once the prophecy takes place."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Oops... Um, never mind! Just go back to Earth." Arceus uttered as Riolu's eyes were forced to shut.

"Riolu! Please wake up!" I begged when all of a sudden, Riolu's heart rate began to rise. All of us were shocked as Riolu's body floated upwards. Riolu glowed with a golden veil surrounding him.

After a while, the veil disappeared and Riolu fell into my hands.

"Kalem! Kalem!" Riolu giggled and hugged me very tightly.

"Riolu! You're alive!" I hugged my buddy back as tears of sorrows turned into joy.

"A trainer's love and a Pokemon's love can withstand anything. Even death itself can't destroy their bond. Their connection with each other will deepen." Nurse Joy smiled and quoted.

"Oh buddy, I thought you were going to leave me!"

"Of course not. Arceus resurrected me, so I can live with you." Riolu hugged me tighter.

"Riolu!? Your gem? It's gone?" I started to notice Riolu's Poketrans gem disappeared. It was replaced with a different jewel. A golden ring with thorny spikes.

"I know, my wounds are gone as well. I can talk to you and you can talk to me with the use of our auras! I love you Kalem!" Tears fell off Riolu's eyes as we hugged each other again.

A trainer and his Pokemon may start feeble at first. Once their bond strengthens, their connection deepens. The bond between a trainer and Pokemon is inseparable, and unbreakable. No one can cut through, no one can knock it down. Not even death itself.