Logan's Revenge: Survival is the Best Medicine

Just as Logan accepted the engulf of death and pain- he felt a swoosh go by him, and the bright light seemed to cut in half. As his eyes adjusted to the brightness, he saw the Pumpkaboo floating between himself and the attacking Breloom; But the poor dragon couldn’t take the attack for long, and falling from the defensive position, the Ice Beam crashed into Logan.

Sending him flying back, he just barely made out the little bat’s struggle up- and using an attack he was pretty sure was shadow sneak, it landed a powerful strike against the Breloom, finally startling it away.

As Logan’s vision blurred into darkness he saw the little fluff bat fly over to him, gently nuzzling him. Logan gasped for air- he knew it was only a matter of time before he lost his hold on consciousness, he held out a shaky hand towards Pumpkaboo, wanting to pat its head, but he didn’t have the strength, and his arm collapsed back on the ground limp. The final shot of pain was enough to send him unconscious. In his final moments he heard the Pumpkaboo begin to wail, and cold shots of liquid fell on his body-

And then everything buzzed and went dark.

-.-.-.-

For the following while, how long he was unsure, he faded in and out of reality. In moments, he’d feel soft fur against his body, or a weird taste in his mouth, before everything would go dark again. At some point he heard Rotom’s voice, but he wasn’t sure he’d really heard it, and not imagined it.

In the moments between the dark and the light he felt his whole body, no pain, he would see the old mansion, his rotom before it had taken up residence in the phone. He could hear Haunter’s laughter. Feel the warm sun of the mid day. Then suddenly, the smell of cooking apricot would flood his nostrils and he could hear Kurt, but couldn’t tell what he was saying. As he’d strain to make out the old man’s words, the wise man’s voice was replaced by Ginger’s laughter, and the welcoming sounds of the friendly spars. But just as he’d move to call out an attack, his whole body was pulled into the nauseating feeling of the portal, the feeling of time itself leaving his body- and Giovani’s cruel laughter- suddenly the warmth of his childhood was replaced by the skin crawling feeling of other people’s hands, being pulled and pushed, gagged and thrown, he cried out for home, tried to keep hold of his pokeballs, suddenly his whole body shook, he couldn’t feel where he was, only that he wasn’t in his body, or at least he didn’t want to be. Then the sound of Rotom’s voice would come from somewhere too far away- and he’d try to chase it. The silhouettes of his friends all too far for him to reach, and he’d chase them- forever- chase them until a light engulfed him, and the silhouette of a small pumpkin dragon broke up the painful light.

Then suddenly he’d feel the softness again, something too gentle against his agonized skin. And seem to come to for less than a moment before falling back into his restless unconscious.

-.-.-.-

Suddenly a sharp breath flooded his lungs and he jolted awake before being slammed by the presence of nothing but pain, gasping for air, slowly his vision came back into focus where he saw Rotom floating, and the Dragon Pumpkaboo from before.

“…Rotom?” Logan asked, “how… how am I still…?”

“Alive?” Rotom finished with a sharp tone, “I ask myself that every day with the amount of stupid shit you do- you idiot, you’re constantly throwing yourself into danger and then are shocked when you suddenly wind up nearly dead. I swear, one of these days you’re going to-“

“nice to see you too you little cry baby,” Logan said with a pained tone.

Finally, he looked over to the Pumpkaboo, “hey little guy” Logan said softly, “what’re you still doing here?” the pumpkaboo met Logan’s gaze, his eyes growing wide and then watery, dodging over to Logan and snuggling into his chest crying and shaking. “what’s with you” Logan asked, his tone somewhere between annoyed and confused.

Rotom floated gently over to Logan, “I think the little guy feels bad for getting you injured.”

Logan looked at Rotom shocked, “why would he feel bad about something as stupid as that?”

Rotom buzzed in disappointment, “because Logan, and this might be insane for you to understand, some people, worry about you-“ then he looked back at the Pumpkaboo, “He’s been up all week taking care of you-“

“oh-“ Logan whispered softly, hugging the little pumpkin, “so you were worried huh?” Stroking the little guys fluffy head he whispered, “it’s okay little guy, I’m alright. All thanks to you-“

 

He held the pokemon a short while, and then noticed it squirming, looking down he saw it playing with the top pokeball across his chest. Crowbat’s pokeball…

“Hey little guy,” Logan said, holding up the Pumpkaboo slightly, “you want to come with me?”
He needed no words, the big smile on the still crying pokemon’s face told him all he needed to know, picking up the pokeball, he held it out to the pumpkaboo, who immediately, pressed the ball and happily went into the pokeball with a flash of red energy. No wiggles just click. It was his.

“I’ll call you… Phantom” Logan said with a smile, and then clicked the ball open, allowing Phantom to reappear. But when he did, he was curled up on Logan’s lap completely asleep.

Logan smiled, “Guess taking care of me all that time was really tiresome… get some rest now…” He gently scooped up Phantom into a hug, and fell asleep as well.

“Goodnight,” Rotom buzzed softly, returning himself into Logan’s bag.