Let's go Pikachu! Part 2

I have defeated Team Rocket!

Lance, Agatha, Bruno, and Lorelei turned from the little discussion they were having with most of the Kanto Region Gun leaders.... And Blue and Leaf

I blinked at my twin. " Did everyon
e really want to look for me? Do I really matter that much?"

" Of course, Mia!" Lillie exclaimed. " Everyone was looking for the Kanto Champion!"

I blinked

Then I remembered.

" Oh yeah. I forgot I became Champion." I laughed a little, though no one else laughed.

" Oh. Well, it's best I get going, since y'all are just gonna stand there. Come on Pikachu."

" Pikachupi!"

" Oh yeah."

I handed Pikachu all five of my Pokeballs. " Here. Give these to Nurse Joy and tell her you need to be healed too, okay? Imma go sleep. Hasta La Vista people!

Everyone stood frozen, staring at me like I had grown a second head. Ash looked horrified, Red frowned deeply, and even Lance's stoic face showed disbelief.

"Mia," Blue said, stepping forward, "you can't just walk off after saying that."

I waved dismissively. "Why not? I just want to sleep."

Leaf crossed her arms. "Maybe because you look like you were dragged through Victory Road by a Machamp and tossed off Mt. Silver?"

"That's oddly specific," I muttered.

Lance cleared his throat. "Mia, you’re the Champion of Kanto. You don’t just forget that. And you definitely don’t treat yourself like you're disposable."

I rolled my eyes. "Look, guys, I beat Team Rocket and got a little banged up. I'm fine. This is literally my job as Champion, right? Beat bad guys, win battles, yada yada. Now, if you'll excuse me—"

" Mia?!"

I turned to see my Gary standing at the Pokemon Center door, staring at me.

I grinned. " Oh. Hiya Gary! How are you?"

" How am I?! Mia, of all people to ask if they're okay, you're asking me?!"

" Uhhh... Yeah? I haven't seen you for a long time."

" Jolteon!"

I knelt down and pet the Jolteon that ran and nuzzled me. " Hiya Jolty. How ya doin'?*

" Jolteon!"

" Pikachu!"

Jolteon sniffed my leg and walked around me, sniffing.

" Hm? What happened, Jolty?" I asked, confused.

Jolteon pointed to my bloody leg. " Jolt!"

" Pika pi!"

Gary crossed his arms. " What's with the cuts?"

I rolled my eyes. " I just defeated some bad guys, okay? Now let me sleep!"

" Jolteon! Jolt!"

Jolteon protectively stayed by my side as I.... Hobbled.... To my room.

" Come on, Jolty. Wanna sleep with me?" I asked, opening the door.

Jolteon immediately ran in, and I grinned and shut the door, then cuddled onto the bed with the Pokemon.

It wasn’t even five minutes after I plopped onto the bed that the door burst open.

“Mia!” Gary shouted, storming in. Behind him, Ash, Red, and the others were trying to follow, but Gary blocked the doorway. “You’re not going to sleep off injuries like these and pretend nothing happened!”

Jolteon, now curled up beside me, raised his head and growled softly at Gary. Pikachu, who had jumped onto the bed to join us, mirrored Jolteon’s protective stance.

“Gary, relax,” I muttered, pulling the blanket over my head. “I’ll heal overnight. Sleep is the best medicine.”

Gary yanked the blanket off me, his glare sharp. “You’re bleeding through your clothes, Mia. Sleep isn’t going to magically fix that.”

“Jolteon!” Jolteon barked in agreement, nudging my injured leg with his nose.

I sighed, sitting up. “Why is everyone so dramatic? You all act like I’m dying.”

“You might as well be!” Ash exclaimed from the doorway. “Mia, this isn’t okay. You need to take care of yourself.”

Red, who had been silently observing, walked in and sat on the edge of the bed. His intense gaze met mine, and he pointed firmly to the door. I knew exactly what he meant without him having to speak.

“Fine,” I grumbled, swinging my legs off the bed. “I’ll go see Nurse Joy. Happy now?”

The room collectively let out a sigh of relief, but Gary wasn’t done. “I’m walking you there,” he declared, grabbing my arm. “You’re not sneaking off or making excuses this time.”

“I wasn’t going to—” I started, but his glare silenced me. “Fine. Let’s go.”

Jolteon and Pikachu followed closely as Gary practically dragged me to the Pokémon Center lobby. Nurse Joy took one look at me and gasped. “Oh, my goodness, Mia! What happened?”

“Team Rocket,” I said flatly, sitting on the examination table as Gary crossed his arms beside me like a bodyguard. “It’s fine. Just patch me up so I can sleep.”

Nurse Joy frowned. “You’ve got deep cuts and bruises, and you’re running a fever. You’ll need to rest here overnight.”

Gary smirked triumphantly. “Told you.”

“Great,” I muttered, flopping back onto the table as Nurse Joy got to work. Jolteon and Pikachu sat at my feet, watching intently.

As Nurse Joy cleaned my wounds, the door swung open again, and in came the whole group—Ash, Red, Lillie, Misty, Erika, Leaf, Blue, Lance, and Cynthia.

“Why is this a spectator sport now?” I groaned, covering my face with my arm.

“Because you worry us,” Misty said, crossing her arms. “You can’t just run off, get injured, and act like it’s nothing.”

“She’s reckless,” Blue added with a smirk. “But I guess that’s part of her charm.”

“Not funny, Blue,” Leaf said, elbowing him.

Red walked to the side of the table and gently placed his hand on my shoulder. His silence spoke volumes. He didn’t need to say a word for me to know he was upset—and worried.

I sighed. “Okay, okay, I get it. I’ll be more careful next time.”

“There better not be a next time,” Gary muttered.

I smirked. “Can’t make any promises.”

Everyone groaned, but I could see the relief in their faces. As frustrating as I could be, I knew they cared—and deep down, I cared about them just as much.