Aftermath

"Ian, Ian wake up!" Nuzleaf ordered. The mudfish Pokemon groaned, struggling to get out from bed.

"Can someone just turn off the sun?" He weakly said. "I want to go back to sleep."

"It's almost noon! Did you not get a wink of sleep or something?"

"Something like that..."

It had only been a few hours since Ian and the others solved the mystery of the ghosts hauntings in Serene Village. The memories of what had happened were still fresh in his mind.

"Oh thank Lord almighty! Fresh air!" Farfetch'd exclaimed, squatting and kissing the ground.

Ian exited Ancient Barrow to be greeted with a gust of wind blowing into his face. He noticed a faint of blue looming over the horizon. It was almost dawn.

Gadget, who was carrying both Pancham and Shelmet came out next, immediately placing the two Pokemon on the ground and left, not even saying a goodbye.

I guess she was still upset over Patience's decision. Ian thought.

The rest of the children came out shortly after. Patience lagging behind.

"You all right?" Ian asked.

"Not sure how I'm going to explain to my Pops about all the bandages, but yeah." She said.

"One step at a time."

Everyone gathered around Pancham and Shelmet and tried to wake them up, they couldn't exactly leave them right next to the entrance of a forbidden place. After multiple attempts of the group shaking them awake, Ian got fed up and decided to launch a Water Gun on their faces, waking them up instantly. Pancham and Shelmet coughed and gasped for air, and immediately looked at the only water type among them.

"What the heck Ian?!" He exclaimed. "Are you trying to kill me?"

"That was a possibility, but I'm a good kid." He said sarcastically.

"W-where are we...?" Shelmet asked. ""What happened? I remembered being snatched by someone and then blacking out."

"And I remembered blocking an attack that was coming for... Deerling." Pancham said, looking at the deer Pokemon, who was surprised. She recalled closing her eyes when one of the "dark shadows" launched something at her, and Pancham's voice. He had jump in to take the blow for her. Although no harm is technically done now that they know who the ghosts were but she digressed.

"That's... very nice of you, Pancham." She said, half sincere and half humoring the panda Pokemon.

Pancham said nothing and looked away, Deerling could've sworn she saw his face turn slightly red.

The group explained to Pancham and Shelmet about what had happened, Patience's injury, the journey into Ancient Barrow, a battle with the ghosts and their true identity.

"Wow, what a disappointment." Shelmet said. "It was nothing more than a bunch of kids that took a prank too far."

"There's always rational explanation to everything." Patience said.

Wait, wasn't I the one who said that? Ian thought.

"Anyway, I think all of you should get back home." Farfetch'd said. "The sun's almost up."

"What about you Mr Farfetch'd?" Espurr asked. "Wouldn't it be a surprise for you to just come back like nothing had happened?"

"Ah, I'll find a way to explain it to the villagers." He said. "This whole thing will stay between us, alright?"

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Good, then off you go then, you must all be really tired."

With that, everyone went their separate ways, going back to their homes to crash into their beds after a long night. Ian and Patience went back together back to their homes. They went around to the back of Ian's house, where he had left from.

"So, see you "tomorrow" then." Ian said.

"Yeah, that's if we don't get caught shortly afterwards." Patience said, slightly scoffing.

"Listen, after what happened to you today, I think we should really look out for each other more often."

"Aw, the calm and collected Ian is getting soft?" Patience teased.

As much as he hate to admit, but she was right. Ever since meeting Patience, he noticed that he cares more of those around him. Even when they bring extra teammates on expeditions, their well being was just as important. He assumed it was because of Patience, who treated him with kindness when he first arrived here. Now he was returning the favor, by looking out for her, protecting her.

Caring for her.

"I guess I am." He finally said, playfully nudging the fire fox Pokemon. "There has to be someone who has to stop you when you get ahead of yourself right?"

Patiecne let out a slight chuckle. "I hear ya." She said. "We should get some rest now. I'm bushed."

Patience turned around and started making her way back to her house, not before turning back at Ian and waved him goodbye, which Ian happily retuned the gesture. When the fire fox disappeared from sight, Ian climbed back into the house through the open window and into his room, he picked up the window grill and placed it back as best he could hoping Nuzleaf wouldn't notice it. He placed his bag down and crash right into his bed, immediately falling asleep.

Sleep had never felt this amazing.

Entry #7

What a night, solving a mystery, patching up Patience and a whole lot of shenanigans in between.

I stand by Patience decision in forgiving the Litwicks and Solosis, they were not doing it with evil intentions, it's just how their made to be.

Doesn't change the fact that I'm bloody tired, I can't write for five seconds without my handwriting getting sloppy. Oh well, maybe a good brunch and some exploration should do the trick.

Ian closed his journal and placed it in his bag. He got up and went into the next room to have brunch, Nuzleaf sitting there, having already eaten long ago.

"Are you sure you're alright?" He asked. "You look really tired."

He was right, but he might as well deal with it and start the day.

"Yeah." He said. "I'm alright."

"If you say so."

After finishing his meal, he got his bag and waved Nuzleaf goodbye. He exited to be greeted with a bright, sunny noon. He noticed the grass that he was stepping on was still wet from last night's rain.

I wonder how's Patience doing.

The mudfish Pokemon went to Patience's house, it was then he voices coming from the house.

"Not clean enough!" Carracosta yelled.

"But I scrubbed it like a million times now!" Patience said.

"Then why do I see dirty spots here, here and here?!"

Patience grunted loudly, to the annoyance of Carracosta.

"That doesn't sound good." Ian said. Just then, he noticed a piece of paper and an apple lying on the ground, placed by a window. Ian grabbed the piece of paper and began reading it. It was from Patience.

"Hey Ian, I hate to say this but I got caught. Pops saw me just as I was climbing back into my room. Let's just say things did not go well."

"Well that explains it." Ian said, even though he was disappointed Patience would probably not be joining up with him for expeditions. He was going to have to find someone else. He continued reading.

"I left a piece of apple along with this paper. I'm sure you must still be exhausted, I know I am. "An apple a day keeps the Audino away"!

Patience."

Ian couldn't help but smile at that Pokemon idiom. It just seemed funny that she used Audino instead of doctor. He placed the note and apple into the bag, and decide to head out, expeditions aren't going to be done by themselves after all.

"So Patience was the only one who got caught huh?" Deerling said.

Everyone had gathered at top of the hill with the big tree, wanting to discuss the aftermath of last night.

"I'm surprised all of us managed to sneak back into our homes no problem." Pancham said.

"I thought I was going to be a goner!" Goomy exclaimed, I always seem to make the loudest of noises when walking despite not having legs."

"So uh, what now?" Shelmet asked.

"Since Patience is not available, I guess Ian might want us to go with him on his expeditions." Espurr said.

Everyone turned to look at the mudfish Pokemon. He looked at everyone in silence for a few seconds, before reaching into his bag and taking out his Expedition Gadget, he turned it on and a large holographic image of the connected Pokemon appeared.

"Alright, who's up for a little dungeon exploring?" He said.