Everyone was sitting at one of the booths in the Pokémon Center. I was worried about Lucario. Don't get me wrong, I'm worried about Pikachu and Ash, too! But I can't believe what happened during that battle...Lucario wouldn't listen to a word I said. It was scary.

While the silence between us hung in the air, Nurse Joy came over to us with Wigglytuff pushing Pikachu on a cart.

"Pikachu is much better now!"
Nurse Joy said.

Pikachu leaped off the little cart. "Pika!" He said with a smile. When he noticed our worried expressions, his smile fell. "Pika pi..."

"How's Lucario?" I asked breaking the silence.

"He's very exhausted. But don't worry! Lucario will be better soon." Nurse Joy said.

"Wigglytuff!" Wigglytuff said with a smile. But then again...she always smiles. At least every time I see her she does.

Serena and Bonnie blurted out suddenly, "How's Ash?"

Nurse Joy and Wigglytuff expressions darkened. That's a first. I'm afraid to see the damage. Then Lucario ran out to us. He growled happily. He saw the looks on our faces and a worried expression appeared. "Carrrr..." He said.

"Follow us, everyone." We all got up and followed Nurse Joy and Wigglytuff. We rode up the escalator and followed them down the white hall that followed. Red doors dotted the hall, each with a number. We stopped in front of room #707. Nurse Joy turned to us and asked, "Are you ready to see Ash?" We nodded slowly. She turned around and faced the door. It opened rapidly. She gestured her hand to Ash laying there on the bed.

Serena and Bonnie ran to him, then rest of us did. What we saw was SHOCKING...No, more than shocking almost HORRIFIC.

Ash's chest was covered in bandages with red stains dotting them, and there was a couple of bumps. My stomach dropped. Bone. Lucario broke his ribcage. My eyes progressed to his left arm. His upper arm was in a cast. From his shoulder down to his elbow. My heart jumped to my throat, his upper arm is broken.

Clement finally asked Nurse Joy, "Tell us...will he survive?" We all looked at her.

"It's impossible to know, yet. But so far...he has. He has fought very well so far, he has a strong will. The damage is very severe, unfortunately." She replied solemnly.

Serena gasped and covered her mouth. Bonnie leaned against Clement, her eyes twinkling with tears. Clement wrapped an arm around her shoulder, his expression serious. Lucario looked at me, his eyes guilty and apologetic, they seemed to say,"I did this to Ash." I'd never seen him so upset in my life.

I turn to Nurse Joy, voice breaking, "Tell us the extent of the damage...please..."

"Of course. Two parts of his ribcage are broken and the rest of it is fractured very badly. Four of the vertebrae in his spine is damaged severely. His upper left arm is broken in half and his elbow is fractured. So far, Ash is very slowly losing the battle for his life."

Pikachu leapt up onto the bed and started to shake him. "Pika! Pika! Pika pi!" Tears started forming in his eyes. "Pika! Pika pi! Pi! Pikaaaaa!" Pikachu broke down in tears and cried. Never have I seen a pokémon THAT devastated. Tears rushed down Serena's face, with a look of horrified disbelief spread across it. "No...no way!" She whispered. Bonnie buried her face in Clement's jacket and cried. Clement looked down at the floor, small tears slid off his face. Me and Lucario looked down, Lucario's paws clenched into fists.

"But...There is some good news." Nurse Joy said.

We all looked up at Nurse Joy. "What is it?" Bonnie said, speaking for the first time in a while.

"Ash...can be saved. We may be able to bring reinforcements to his battle for his life." She replied.

Clement went pale. "You're not suggesting..."

"Yes, we have to perform an operation to save him."

I stood there in shock. "So...it's the ONLY way?" She nodded. "Ok...how soon?"

"This evening." She replied.

荒廃 希望
Kōhai Kibō
"devastation" "hope"