"Where's Rudi?" I asked Rena once I got back to the hideout.

It was seven at night when I got back, meaning I had spent nine hours in the city. While in the city, something caught my eye that made me think of Rudi. It wasn't much, so I got it, figuring he would appreciate it.

As I walked around, I couldn't find him. I sent Swanna to look, but she couldn't find him either. With all that in mind, I decided to do the next best thing. I found Rena inside a room of techie stuff. Her head hung low to observe a blueprint of a Poké Ball.

My question made her head snap up in surprise. "I could ask you the same question."

"Look, Rena—" I started.

"That's Ms. Rhea to you," Rena snapped, her head looking back down to the blueprint.

I took a step closer, but that's when I heard a warning growl. My head turned to see a three headed dragon and dark type Pokémon. He must've evolved since the last time I've seen him. Last time, he was a two headed Zweillous, but now, this Pokémon stood on his hind legs, with two heads as arms and a fearsome head in the middle.

This Pokémon had evolved into a Hydreigon when I wasn't around.

Taking a step back, I noticed Cottonee and Lilligant curled up beside Hydreigon, both of them were taking a nice, peaceful nap. Maybe I got too close to them. Either way, getting dangerously close to a dragon type Pokémon wasn't a smart idea.

"When did Zwellious evolve into a Hydreigon?" I asked.

Rena looked up at her Pokémon, shrugged, and looked back down at her blueprint.

She wasn't giving answers. I cautiously made my way behind the table to see the blueprint of the Poké Ball more closely. It was a Heal Ball, with the mechanisms and technology behind it. Rena might have been mad at me for no reason, but I was the only person with a Heal Ball in this place.

Why would she be looking at a blueprint for a Heal Ball?

"I needed some fresh air," I explained. "I had Audino and Swanna with me, so I was fine."

"Fine?" Rena asked accusingly. "What if Team Miasma would've attacked there instead of Opelucid City?"

My eyes widened. "Wait! Did they attack Opelucid?"

Rena tore the blueprints from the table and rolled it up before jabbing it into my chest. "Yes, and because of you, Rudi barely made it out of there alive!"

I took the end of the blueprint and lowers it. "What happened? Where is Rudi?"

"Why do you care?" Rena asked, turning around. "You weren't there when he needed you the most."

Tears filled my eyes, but I refused to let them go. This was all my fault. If I would've stayed indoors instead following a stupid tradition Nurse Joy had me follow, I could've helped him.

"Please," I begged, "is Rudi okay?"

A sigh escaped Rena's lips. "Why do you care? You're just like her. He trusts you, and all you're going to do is break his heart."

"Who?" I asked. "Who are you always comparing me too? I have no inten—"

Rena cut me off by doing something very unexpected. She swung around and slapped me across the face. Maybe it was because she was older than me—by how many years, I'm not sure—or maybe it was because of how angry she was, but either way, it hurt.

My hand touched the cheek she slapped, feeling the stinging sensation on my face. It wasn't the worst thing I've endured, but to say tears didn't escape would be a lie. I took a step back, seeing her eyes filled with loathing and hatred.

This girl wasn't going to listen to a word I said. With that in mind, I turned around and ran out of the room with Swanna flying close by. I was surprised she didn't retaliate during the attack, but remained calm. Then again, Rena slapping me was the last thing I had ever expected to happen.

Rena just seemed too much of a nice person to do that. When we met, and she ran into me, spilling my coffee, she offered me another one. I get it, right now, she was just trying to be a protective sister, but this was just out of control for her. It didn't make any sense.

Swanna yelled a warning, but I was too late, running into someone and falling back. I looked up, wiping my tears away as I saw Mr. Rhea standing there. He looked shocked at first, but he quickly offered his hand to help me up.

"Don't be sad," he told me, as he helped me up.

"Sorry, Mr. Rhea, I didn't mean to bother you," I apologized. "It's just I heard what happened to Rudi. Is he alright?"

"You've been living with us too long to call me Mr. Rhea," Mr. Rhea told me. "Please, call me Landon. As for Rudi, well, your nursing skills are better than my wife's, so why don't you take a look."

I gulped. I could heal Pokémon. I told them that. Everyone around here seemed to think that was some sort of qualification to heal people as well. People and Pokémon weren't different. We might share some of the same structures—like we do have a tailbone like some Pokémon have, and walk on two legs like a Sawk—but that doesn't mean I can stitch up someone.

Especially Rudi.

Hopefully everything's okay.

What got me was that I couldn't perform any surgeries on Pokémon. Nurse Joy would take care of that. In the meantime, before I'd head off to a nursing school to learn that stuff, I did the simple things, such as wrap gauze around a foot or put a bandage on.

Yes, I was preparing myself for the worse possible scenario that could happen. This was Rudi we were talking about. He tends to jump into danger all too quickly. If he broke his hand out of anger, I couldn't imagine what he did when Team Miasma returned.

Then there was Rena's face. She said it all. Her anger against me not being there for him was all that needed to be said for him not to do well.

Mr—I mean, Landon—lead me to an area of this place I didn't ever go into. I didn't do much exploring. Then again, I always thought it best to stay in the same areas I knew, so I wouldn't get lost. Those areas included the battle field, my room, the kitchen, and a small meeting room that was down the hall. Any room that was near those rooms, connecting to those hallways and all, I knew about.

Beyond that, I didn't know.

We turned into a room, one that resembled a hospital room in every way. There was a heart monitor keeping a slow steady beat with a table of various tools I either knew or had no clue. Three chairs crammed against the wall that was perpendicular to the one that the hospital bed was in.

In that bed laid a boy with blond hair in a t-shirt and gym shorts. Out of everything I was expecting, I could feel a wave of relief. He wasn't in good shape, but by the looks of things, Rudi was going to be back on his feet in less than a week. Well, in reality he shouldn't, but he'd want to get back on his feet to save Unova.

The only thing that scared me was the bandage around his head. Blood was still seeping out of it, which wasn't good. There were scrapes and bruises all up and down his arms. Other than that, whoever patched him up did a good job.

His mom, Mrs. Rhea (though I guess I should be calling her Wendy) stood by his side, holding a bowl to his mouth to force him to drink something. I looked carefully at the drink, seeing the dark pink liquid that could only be produced by Pecha Berries. Somehow, Rudi had gotten poisoned in Opelucid.

"What happened?" I asked, standing on the opposite side of Wendy.

Wendy took the bowl from his mouth, and smiled slightly. "He's going to be alright, Sylvia. He was a lot worse earlier, but he should be up and running here a few days."

"What happened?" I asked, looking down at Rudi, who's eyes were still shut. A small smile crept on his face.

"What do you think?" he asked painfully, before opening his navy blue eyes and looking directly at me. "I was saving Unova."

"Don't you dare give me an answer like that," I scolded. "What happened?"

My sudden change in demeanor scared his parents. I could see their eyes widening, but as for Rudi, he just laughed as much as he could while he was still hurt.

"Why? It's only the truth," he commented before looking at his parents that stood on the other side of the bed, "If you think I look bad, you should've see the other guys."

"Rudi!" Wendy rebuked.

"What? It's true!" Rudi defended. "Braviary and I only did what we had to do. If I'd known they would've sent their attacks on me, I wouldn't be so banged up. Arceus, I wish I Braviary knew protect."

"Language, young man," Landon warned his son.

Funny, I've heard Landon say a lot worse before. Why he was scolding his son for just using Arceus's name when I've heard him actually curse before, well, it was shocking to say the least. It just shocked me that Rudi say it being that I've never heard him actually curse before, or use Arceus's name like that.

Team Miasma sent their attacks on Rudi. That wasn't good. I knew they wanted to people to run away from Unova, but that didn't mean they needed to attack people. It was unbelievable. This wasn't even the first time they attacked a person. When I first came in contact with them, they had their Pokémon attack me, but it was never that bad.

Why were they attacking like this now?

"Well, it's true," Rudi muttered. "We just can't get the move down."

That wasn't what bothered me.

"Rudi, do you know why they attacked?" I asked.

The blond haired boy turned to look at me. "Guess they didn't want anyone to come back," He guessed, before he looked at his parents. "The Gym Leader's alive. Gym will be opened as soon as her gym passes inspection."

Wendy shook her head. "She's a lively one. I'm going to make supper. Why don't you help me Landon."

Landon looked at his wife confused. "We just had supper a couple hours ago?"

I smiled, figuring what was going on. Wendy grabbed her husband's wrist, pulling him in close to whisper something in his ear. His eyes widened at whatever she was saying and quickly nodded his head.

Rudi and I watched as they left the room. Once gone, I pulled a small gift wrapped in white tissue paper that I had gotten for Rudi from Castelia. I gently pressed it into his hand, which caused him to look from the door and right at it.

"How'd you know?" He ask.

"Know what?" I asked. "It's just a thank you for putting up with me. Apparently, I'm not good enough to help out as much as I should, but I don't care anymore. If I go and help—"

"No," Rudi snapped, sitting up and holding the wrapped present in his hand. "I'm not having you go out there to hurt yourself. For whatever reason Team Miasma wants you, it's not good."

"You can't make me do anything," I told him. "My number one priority as a future Pokémon Nurse is to make sure Pokémon and their Trainers stay safe," as if hearing me, Swanna rubbed her head on my leg. "I can't have these people tear up more cities just because I'm playing cowardly Pyroar. You're injured, and as much as I hate to admit it, Unova needs a superhero."

Rudi shook his head. "You can't. Give me a few days, at least, to get better. Then we can go together."

"That isn't happening, not when they want me dead," I argued.

"Which is why I need to be there with you," Rudi pointed out.

"I don't need a babysitter! I'm seventeen," I argued. "There are Trainers who start at the age of ten."

"And as of today, I'm eighteen, so that gives me seniority," Rudi tried.

"That doesn't matter. You worry about getting better," I told him. "I'm going to stop Team Miasma once and for all."

On that note, I turned out of the room with Swanna walking behind me. I wanted to see his face when he opened the small gift I got him. When in Castelia, I passed the Castelia Cone stand way too many times. Rudi's love for that treat made me sorry I ever made him stand to that side of the bargain, so I paid for a Cone in advance, receiving a card for a "free" Castelia Cone.

That wasn't all. Castelia Cones were very reasonably priced, and the stand sold more than just Cones and free Castelia Cone cards. While I was there, they had things like t-shirts, hats, and even jewelry with a Castelia Cone on it. I didn't think Rudi would like any of those things, but I found a silver keychain that said Castelia Cones on the Castelia Cone shaped keychain. It was flat, and could easily go on a backpack, keys, anywhere really.

I wanted to see Rudi open the gift, but right now, I had more important things to do. Right now, I needed to be the superhero Unova needed.

I needed to be Swanna Girl more than ever.