[PKMN FULL] Unific: The Challengers' Journey [M][IC]

Carmen Sylvia
Chapter 4 - Part 3: Rescue​

"Ugh… she really did hit herself very hard there." a voice said in the middle of the rain.

"Is she alive?" another one asked.

"She breathes. Lucky…! I think so… This wound could've kill her."

"The rain probably washed the blood away." the other one added "I'll call the rest of the team to help with transportation and first aids."

"No,no, no! I'll do it! I was the one that carried the last corpse, so it's your- Ouch! Okay, okay! No more jokes like that! You're still going to carry her."

---

Carmen wasn't in the same place as before by the time she woke up. Was that a dream? Sadly, no. The battle and the explosion were as real as her headache and the unbearable sound coming out from the videogame of the young woman sitting by her side.

"Can you turn that thing off?" Carmen asked, raising her voice as much as she could to the other woman who didn't seem to realize she had gotten up.

"Goddammit, you're alive!" she exclaimed just as she saw her.

"Pardon?" she asked indignantly, but tried to pay no mind at that offensive and poor choice of words. "I- W-what happened?"

The other woman mumbled something about losing the last of her money before accommodating her glasses and clearing her throat. "Sorry… uh… I didn't think you were going to wake up yet -I didn't even think you were waking up, to begin with. A Gigalith exploded on your back. You hit your head with a tree. You should've died there. What are you even made out of? Well it doesn't matter, because Fabio and I found you and saved your life. I would expect some kind of payment for that, but I can't because it's my job and that's against the rules. Of course, it wouldn't hurt me if you gave me something for that, y'know?"

Carmen didn't answer, she just stared at her with the same look she had on Bruna during her speech. Just after the woman stopped talking, a man, with the same orange uniform as her, entered the room. He looked less dumb than his workmate and also like a man of a few words. Carmen was right about that.

"Nora, leave her alone." he said just as he entered, holding a clipboard which seemed to be important. "And please stop playing video games while you are at work. I shouldn't be telling you that at this point."

"Fabio!" she exclaimed surprised, putting her console down. "I wasn't playing, I swear!" Fabio simply stared at her, clearly listening to the music coming out from her console. Nora got up and rushed to the door. "What's more. I was just about to leave! I have to hand over P100 to Laura because…" she pointed at Carmen "... I lost my bet."

"Sure." Fabio sighed and walked to the same chair Nora was in. "You are… Carmen Sylvia, right?" he asked, looking at his clipboard. "How are you feeling?"

"My head and my legs hurt." she said.

"Good. At least you are feeling something." Fabio sat down and sighed a second time.

"What's with that weirdo?" Carmen asked looking at the door.

"I'd be a more respectful if I were you." he reproached. "Nora may not look like the brightest soul, but in the end she was the one who rescued you."

Carmen rolled her eyes and looked around the small room she was in right now. Fabio was quick to change the topic of conversation, though. "In case you're wondering, we are Pokémon Rangers. You're in the Fugue Swamp and Tower Mountains Rescue Center right now. Your bag, Rotom Phone and two Pokémon are safe with us, too."

He took a look at his clipboard and started reading. "You don't seem to have any broken bones, as rare as it may sound, considering your situation. You do have many injuries, though. One on your forehead, another one on your back and a few ones on your legs. Your arms seem to be intact. Now about your Pokémon…"

"What about my Pokémon?! Did something happen to them?" Carmen exclaimed, quickly turning her glance to the Ranger. She asked for both of them, but she was more preoccupied about Presto who got a good beating by that Gigalith.

"Calm down. I'm getting there." Fabio said pushing his hand forward. "Your Karrablast is fine, it just needs some rest. I can't say the same about your Noibat, though…"

"No! What happened to Presto?!"

"Its right ear was wounded. It won't be able to listen properly for a while, very problematic for a Noibat, as I guess you may know."

Carmen grimaced and looked away. She took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. "Will he recover someday?"

"If you take proper care of it, it could recover in a week or two." he said, taking another look at his clipboard. "I'd recommend you not to put it in many battles. If possible, any. Sadly, we don't have medication for its ear here, but if you're lucky you could find some herbs in Fugue, where I suppose you're going right now. In short: Be more careful from now on."

There were some seconds of silence between both of them, which Carmen took to feel remorse for the situation she put her Pokémon in, constantly trying to blame Echo for being the one who chose the path, but eventually blaming herself for everything, until Fabio finally got up and walked to the door. "Since you're going to Fugue now, I think it's better for you to stay here for the night and leave tomorrow morning. The swamp isn't that far away from here, and the weather is very bad right now."

---

Carmen had trouble sleeping that night, but eventually it was morning already. At her side, there was Nora… again, with her eyes stuck to her console and furiously pressing its buttons. Just as the other day, she didn't seem to realize Carmen had woken up, until she lost.

"Fucking hell! Not again!" Nora starting swearing quietly but her words progressively grew louder and louder until Carmen cleared her throat. "Oh…! you're finally awake! S-sorry for that… Please, don't tell Fabio. How was your sleep?" Carmen just stared blankly at her, too tired to answer, and hoping her expression answered the question. "It doesn't matter. All of your stuff is right here, by the way! Get ready, so we can get going soon!"

Carmen nodded and Nora left the room. She washed her face calmly and then she realized. "We?"

---

Carmen Sylvia
Chapter 4 - Part 4: To The Swamp​

Nora walked by Carmen's side, video game in hand and with her Zebstrika behind. According to Fabio, she was meant to accompany Carmen to Fugue, by his own words, 'to make sure she doesn't come back again.' After he said that, he shook his head and just said 'Never mind that.', and went back to his own work. After seeing how Nora clumsily tripped many times for looking at her video game, Carmen knew what Fabio meant by that and that made her headache return to her.

"Y'know? I'm so glad I have the chance of traveling with you!" Nora cheered shifting her attention from the video game to Carmen and from Carmen to the steep paths of the mountains. Carmen didn't answer and just limited herself to stare at her and hope they got to Fugue soon, so she can finally be on her own again, there was the option of running away, but her legs didn't like that idea too much. "Not because I like you or anything. I don't even know you. But it's nice being free from Fabio's rules."

"Why are you still in this job, then?"

"It's not as if you can find a lot of jobs around here, y'know." She answered "And... I like the adrenaline in this job."

Carmen nodded. She started noticing just now how the Pokémon Ranger had the habit of massaging her neck after she was done playing.

"You like adrenaline too, don't you?" she asked. "If not, why else would you pick a fight with a Gigalith with only a Bug and a Flying type Pokémon? It's either that you love adrenaline or you're very dumb."

"I don't like adrenaline." Carmen answered. "I wanted to get through quick."

"So you're just dumb. Got it!" Carmen shot a fierce glare at her, but the Ranger paid no mind since she had her eyes locked on her console. "Speaking of adrenaline. Do you want to know something fun to do here?"

"No."

"Riding Zebi!" she ignored. Carmen took a deep breath and as much as she tried not to hear the rest, she was unable to. "Specially during thunderstorms! She runs faster for each thunder that lands over her. I suppose you can die if one hits you instead, but other than that it's perfectly safe, I've done it many times! You can even get across Tower Mountains in less than one day if you-!"

"Nora, was it?" Carmen interrupted, feeling how her stress went to higher levels and her headache suddenly getting worse for each word that came out of her mouth. Nora nodded. "You know what? I was thinking about what you said yesterday."

"I said a lot of things." Nora added.

"Yeah, you're right." the other woman answered. "I was talking more specifically about what you said about paying you somehow. Fabio told me. You saved my life out there, didn't you? I suppose this job must be very stressing too, am I right? I mean, going outside, saving lost people and Pokémon; it should be a hard chore."

"Where are you trying to get with that?" the Pokémon Ranger asked with a more concerned look and walking backwards. "When I said that I was joking, y'know?"

"It doesn't matter." Carmen replied with a forced smile. She walked behind her and placed her hands between her neck and shoulders and pressed hard. It wasn't until now that she realized how short Nora was compared to her. "Take this as some kind of payment for what you are doing right now." she added in a double take "Is ₱500 enough for you?"

"Ouch! Don't do that!" she exclaimed, shrugging as an initial reaction "I-I guess it's fine for- I-I mean, it's against the rules! I can't accept any kind of gift from other people, specially money. If Fabio finds out, he will fire me."

Carmen tsked and shook her head, massaging even harder. "Fabio has no reason to find out. It'll be a secret between us. Of course, I'll need something else from you. I hope you understand."

"Ugh… sure?" she said, shaking herself attempting to get Carmen off her shoulders. The Trainer just pressed harder in response. "What do you-?"

"I don't feel comfortable with people following me, so I'd like it if you leave me alone!" Carmen interrupted pressing even harder and letting her loose. In that moment, she felt how all of the stress she had accumulated since yesterday faded away. "Will you?"

Nora walked away from her, touching her neck with a painful expression. "... How sincere."

"You're one to talk!"

"I can't do that." she continued, massaging her neck with her right hand. "I am responsible of making sure you get to Fugue alive. Y'know, that's my job."

"I'll be fine! I have a Rotom Phone to guide me and I still have another Pokémon with me, you don't have to worry at all." And honestly I don't feel safe walking with a weirdo playing some video game as she walks. she wanted to add, but she thought that her massage was enough of being rude. "Say, what about ₱700. Is that a better offer?"

To Carmen's surprise, Nora was actually considering it. She honestly didn't think persuading her would be that easy, but that was for the better. However, as interested as Nora was on the money, she still took a lot of pride on her job… or at least enough to hold on until Carmen raised the offer to ₱1000.

Nora smirked, regaining the same colorful expression from before. "Deal! Uh… only if you let me take you to the swamp at least. Y'know, it would be really bad for me if you die here."

Carmen sighed. She would prefer to take her out of the way, but she couldn't win all the time. The swamp was still very close by now so it wasn't really much of a difference.

"To the swamp it is. But since you'll still be with me for another while, I'll ask you for another favor: Can you keep quiet?" Carmen said. "You know, I've had this… annoying headache since the morning, and what I need the least right now is… listening to your neverending chatter. No offense, of course. I hope you understand."

"Yessir! No more talking, got it!" Nora yelled which caused Carmen to grimace at her. "By the way, you don't mind if I'm playing while walking, right? It's not dangerous, I swear. I have the way to the swamp memorized, so I can assure you there's nothing to fear."

"Uh… I'd prefer it if you don't. But I think I could bear with it if you don't take me to a bottomless pit." she answered, putting a finger over her lips to tell her to stop talking when Nora tried to answer.

---

Nora was right, it wasn't dangerous walking with her while she was playing. The few times she tripped, she didn't hit herself very hard. About twenty minutes after Carmen made her offer, the air started getting more humid and the ground got each step more muddy. That signaled for both women that they made it to their destination.

"Well, here we are!" the Pokémon Ranger confirmed. "This is where we part ways. You know what that means, right?"

"Yeah." Carmen said as she took out her wallet. She was used to bring only ₱3000 with her in case she ran into a no credit card situation, but most of her money was in the cards her aunt gave her. After defeating Bruna, she had to transfer all of that money into one because she hadn't spent anything at Crescendo, so she still had those ₱3000 with her. "Here you go; the ₱1000 I promised. Now if you excuse me-"

"Wait!" Nora called, holding Carmen's arm as she walked away into the swamp. She was holding a small paper between her fingers and quickly put it in Carmen's hand.

"What's this?" she asked.

"Instructions from Fabio." she answered "I was supposed to buy what was in there for you, but since you're paying me to go away, you gotta do it yourself." she started walking away, but she suddenly turned back. "Thanks for... the neck thing, by the way. It feels better now for some reason."

"That's what massages do." she said "I'm good at that. Take it as a small favor. Did it hurt?"

"Yes, a lot. Don't do it again."

Good. She thought, but only nodded and turned away and started walking into the swamp. Suddenly, Nora rushed towards Carmen and pressed her shoulders, clearly not with the intention of returning the favor, forcing Carmen to bend down, letting out a mild ow. Before the Trainer could react, Nora left.

Carmen wiped her shoulders (although they were totally clean) and took a look at that paper. It only said, with an excelent handwriting: Buy Heal Powder medicine from Fugue's local Herb Shop. Follow explanations from the herbalist. Carmen shrugged and put the paper inside her pocket and started walking her way across the swamp now with Gareth and Echo by her side.

---

Carmen Sylvia
Chapter 4 - Part 5: Evening​

Fugue Swamp - Evening

Echo was able to find a safe spot for Carmen's new tent under some trees. The ground was muddy enough for Carmen not to be entirely grossed out for staying the night there, maybe they could find a better spot, but it was already dark and Carmen didn't want to take another risk, specially with Presto on his current state.

The swamp was totally silent, except for the music coming from the wild Kricketot and the wild Palpitoad croaks. The sound itself was very tranquilizing for her, specifically Kricketot's, almost making her forget that that music came from gross swamp creatures.

Gareth stood firmly at the entrance of the tent, guarding it in case a wild Pokémon or a thief tried to do something, but eventually fell asleep on his post. Presto, on the other hand, was resting on Carmen's lap. He didn't like being inside his PokéBall much, and Carmen didn't like to keep him inside either; at this point, both were used being around each other, but both would have to get used to it at least for a week. Everything because of a dumb decision Carmen took.

Presto used to sleep all the way from night to morning, being awake mostly during the afternoon, however, he was having trouble sleeping now. The Pokémon wouldn't stop touching his ear, and growl a high pitched cry, complaining for not being unable to hear. Carmen couldn't imagine all the pain he must be feeling now and that only added to all the guilt she felt at the moment.

"You'll hurt your ear more, don't touch it!" she had said multiple times now, retiring his little hand from his ear, and petting his head to try to tranquilize him. She repeated the same process until Presto finally fell asleep.

Carmen was tired too. She had been walking non-stop since the morning and still had to walk a bit more before reaching Fugue. Maybe riding that Zebstrika wasn't a bad idea after all.

As tired as she was, she couldn't bring herself to sleep, though. As soon as she closed her eyes, she saw that Gigalith and she heard Fabio telling her that Presto won't be able to hear well.

"I should have taken the route back to Octave." she muttered, now holding her gym badge on her hands and threw it outside the tent. She didn't see where it fell, nor did she care, she just heard it hit something not to far from her.

---

Carmen laid on her tent for only a few minutes but it felt as if it was a longer time. She totally lost the desire to sleep now and the Kricketot that she found tranquilizing at first were starting to get annoying. She had trouble focusing on her own thoughts, or focusing in anything at all. She needed some air.

She just stood in front of the path of mud that laid in front of her. Thinking about nothing. The idea was to take a breath of fresh air and stay there until she was bored enough to be able to sleep again, but the air in the swamp wasn't very fresh, to begin with.

"Karr!" she suddenly heard. Gareth was walking from the tent to her. She didn't realize it until now, but his steps were very firm even for the sloppy ground of the swamp. He didn't stumble even a bit.

Gareth stopped to pick up the badge from the ground, and handed it to Carmen once he reached her, but she didn't take it back. She kept staring at that muddy path instead.

"Do you like this place, Gareth?" she asked. "You don't seem to have a lot of trouble being here."

Gareth looked at her, still holding on the girl's badge.

"Maybe I was a bit harsh with you when we first met. Were it not because of you, Presto and I probably would… I think you've done more than enough for me already. You can leave any time now if you want to."

Gareth shook his head and tried to give the badge to Carmen again. "Karr! Karr!"

"I must be going crazy, discussing with my own Pokémon." she said, ignoring the badge. "I can't even understand a thing of what you're saying."

'He says he has no intention of leaving.' Echo suddenly answered, coming outside from the tent. 'He wants to see Sir Presto recover and he wants to follow you wherever you go.'

"Karr! Karrablast!" he shouted, showing her the badge again.

'He also says that he thinks you have what it takes to be a good leader.' Echo added. 'Were it not because of your leadership, that badge wouldn't be here.'

Carmen sighed and shook her head. "How ridiculous." She said as she started walking back to her tent. She couldn't believe that she was getting some sort of motivational speech from her Pokémon. She appreciated it, but at the same time it felt insulting for some reason.

'Mrs. Carmen.' Echo called. 'I can't understand how you feel. But something I can tell is that none of your Pokémon think badly about you.'

"It's not about any of you."

---

Fugue Swamp - Morning
It was a quiet, cold morning. After having a small breakfast, Carmen packed up her tent and was ready to go to Fugue.

"To your ball." Carmen said, holding Presto's PokéBall in front of him. Presto shook his head and backed off for each step the trainer walked forward. "Presto! I'm not in the mood for this now. Go inside your ball, now!"

Presto squeaked and shook his head in negation.1
"At least stay there until we reach Fugue! I don't want to take another risk with you!" Presto squeaked annoyed. He didn't want to be inside his PokéBall, but he knew Carmen for his whole life, it was hard making her desist on something, he was only able to do that once. In the end, he went inside his PokéBall.

Echo updated the coordinates to Fugue and started moving, while Carmen followed behind, but she stopped when something poked on her leg. It was Gareth. He was holding the badge again, and gave it to his trainer. Carmen forgot about it, but this time she took it, putting it inside her bag. Carmen nodded and started walking again just to be stopped by another poke on her leg.

"Karr?" the Bug-Type asked.

"I'm fine!" she answered. She didn't know exactly what he was asking her, but she subconsciously gave that answer. Deep inside, she knew that he was asking her if she was feeling okay. "I'm fine. Let's go. We have some medicine to buy."

---