The next morning:

Rays of sunlight pierced through the blue curtains, which the nurse had shut yesterday evening, and lightened up the room. Alan slowly opened his eyes and blinked a few times to get used to the brightness. He tried to sit up carefully, but yet he felt the pain of his injuries through this movement. Where am I? The last thing I remember is, that I fell from Lizardon's back. How did I get here? Alan looked around, but stopped when he saw Manon, who still slept. At this sight he smiled slightly.

After he had watched her for a while, she opened her eyes half and sat up. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, stretched herself and yawned. Through this movements Hari-san woke up too and climbed up her right shoulder.

''Good morning''

''Morning'' Manon said drowsy.

When she recognized the voice she was wide awake. She looked at him surprised.

''Alan! You're awake! Thank goodness!'' Manon said relieved and cheerful while she stood up and hugged him.

He winced by that. When Manon noticed that, she immediately disbanded the hug and sat down on the chair again.

''I'm sorry. I didn't want to hurt you'' Manon said apologizing.

''It's ok'' Alan said trying to cheer her up.

''No, it's not! You're hurt! And don't act like you have no pain! You have already broken your promise! You said, that nothing would happen to you, but when I found you yesterday, you were hurt and unconscious! Do you can imagine how scared I was about you when I saw that explosion? I really thought I lose you'' Manon said starting angry, but getting desperately at the end.

Alan was shocked by that. He never had seen her that angry before. Alan sighed.

''I'm sorry. You're right I have pain, but it really isn't bad. I was just surprised by the sudden body contact, that's all'' he explained honestly.

''Honto-ni?'' Manon asked.

Alan nodded.

''That's good'' Manon said smiling.

''Oh, before I forget it'' she began, got Lizardon's Pokéball out of her trouser pocket and stood up.

''Here!'' Manon said while holding the ball to Alan.

''Lizardon!'' Alan called worried while he took the Pokéball and put it in one of his trouser pockets.

''Don't worry! He's fine. I brought him yesterday to the Pokémon Center'' Manon said calming him down.

''You did?'' Alan asked surprised.

''Of course! He means a lot to you, right?'' Manon said smiling.

''Yeah. Arigato na'' Alan said while he put his left hand on Manon's cap.

Her eyes widened. Just like back then. When Alan saw her reaction he realized it, too. He had said and done the same after Fleur-de-lis had disappeared with the megalith. But this time it was different.

Alan pulled his hand back and hugged Manon. She was really surprised by that, because she hadn't expected it and it was the first time, that he took the initiative. Manon returned the hug carefully. She didn't want to hurt him again.

They rested like that for a few moments, before they disbanded the hug. Manon smiled brightly and even Alan did.

The door opened and the nurse from yesterday evening came in. She walked across the room and parted the curtains. Then she turned her attention to Alan.

''How are you feeling?'' she asked politely.

''I'm fi...'' Alan started, but stopped when he saw Manon's angry look.

He sighed.

''My injuries hurt a bit if I move, but other than this I'm fine'' Alan answered honestly and looked at Manon, who was smiling again now.

''I see. I will inform the doctor. He will visit you and tell you more about your injuries and if you can leave the hospital, but I'm sure he allows you that.'' the nurse said friendly and left the room.

''What do you want to do if you can leave the hospital?'' Manon asked.

''There's an old friend who lives here in Lumiose City and whom I want to visit'' Alan answered slightly smiling. Hakase.

''Good, we do that, but can we eat something before? I'm starving!'' Manon said while she put her hands on her stomach. Hari-san copied her actions.

''Sure'' Alan said.

''Great!'' Manon said while she smiled brightly.

After a while the doctor entered the room. He told Alan the details about his injuries and what he should do to support the healing process. That meant, that Alan was allowed to leave the hospital.

Alan, Manon and Hari-san exited the hospital and went to one of many cafés of Lumiose City. There they ate their breakfast. Since Manon hadn't eaten much the day before she tucked in.

With a full stomach they left the café and walked to the house of Alan's old friend. When they arrived it Manon said irritated:

''But that's the house of professor Platane. Is he the friend you mentioned?''

''Yes, he is. I used to be his assistant, remember?'' Alan answered.

''Oh yeah, that's right. I had almost forgotten that!'' Manon said slightly embarrassed.

They stepped through the door and got to the entrance hall. While they waited for someone to welcome them, Alan thought back to his childhood.

He had lived with his parents in Lumiose City and had known professor Platane ever since he could remember. The professor is an old friend of Alan's family, so Alan had visited him many times. He had played with the Pokémon, who live with Platane and had tried to understand what the adults were talking about, but was unable to do so.

When Alan was older he had helped the professor by taking care of the Pokémon. He loves them, so it had been fun to do that. After Alan had reached ten years, the age when you could start your journey and get your first Pokémon, he had decided to stay in Lumiose City to help professor Platane.

He had been allowed to do many different tasks and soon he was one of Platane's assistants. Because of that Alan had spent much time with the professor and had adopted the one or other habit. For example, he puts one of his hands to the head of the Pokémon to show them how much they mean to him.

Alan had been fascinated of the work of professor Platane and had been excited about everything, that had to do with Pokémon. This behavior had been similar to Manon's. Then Alan realized something. She's just like me, when I had worked for the professor. Maybe that's the reason why she could break through the wall I had built in front of me.

Sophie, one of the assistants of Platane came from the right hallway to greet the visitors. When she recognized Alan she dropped her documents and asked surprised:

''Alan? Is that really you?''

''Yes, it's me, Sophie. Could you get the professor?'' Alan asked.

Sophie nodded still taken aback and ran to the professor, who was in the garden. The garden was inside the house and there lived many Pokémon.

Professor Platane stroked Gablias's head when Sophie ran upset to him.

''Sophie, what's wrong?'' Platane asked concerned.

''You won't believe who visit us. It's Alan!'' Sophie said bewildered.

When he heard Alan's name he was shocked and ran to the foyer. He ran as fast as he could, arrived it and stopped in front of Alan and Manon.

''Alan!'' professor Platane called breathless.

''Hakase!'' Alan greeted him.

Professor Platane smiled hearing that. It brought memories back.

''It's been so long, Alan. You must tell me everything that happened since you broke off the contact with me'' the professor said smiling.

Alan nodded in agreement.

''Then me and Hari-san will leave you two alone'' Manon said cheerful.

''If you want you can go to the garden. There are Pokémon'' professor Platane suggested.

''Of course I want! How do I get there?'' Manon asked with sparkling eyes.

''Just take the right hallway. It leads straight to the garden'' the professor explained.

''Thanks! Come Hari-san let's go!'' Manon said cheerful as always and ran with Hari-san in the direction of the garden.

Her behavior brought a slight smile on Alan's face.

Together with the professor, Alan entered a small room, where they could talk without interruption.

In the center of the room stood a squared table. On the left and on the right side of it was one sofa each.

They sat down on the sofas face-to-face. Alan began to tell professor Platane everything that he went through since he had broke off the contact and why he did it.

When he had finished professor Platane demanded:

''So you did all that to protect me?''

''Yes. Fleur-de-lis believed, that bad people would come and sully your reputation, if you would publish your results of your research about Mega Evolution. But maybe he had made that up, so that I would work for him. It would suit him. He also used Manon to get me back, so it wouldn't surprise me'' Alan answered thoughtful.

''To switch the topic. What would you say to work as my assistant again'' professor Platane suggested.

''I would love to'' Alan answered instinctively.

A/N: This story is drawing to an end, only one more chapter. I hope you enjoyed this one and I would really love to hear your feedback :)