Pokemon fan comic: 'A Change of Heart' Part 2 Inspired by a Fanfiction by zorkbork
Characters: Lucario (Luke), Zoroark (June), Aidan (Part-timer at a cafe next to the pokemon center and a pokemon trainer), Cinderace (Ace), Greninja (Kunoichi), Nurse, Wigglytuff
Cover: Lucario (Luke) and Zoroark (June) hold each other's paws while romantically touching each other's foreheads. The background is daytime in a beautiful field.
Page 1: 5 panels
Panel 1: Morning comes as daylight enters the same cave we left off last time.
Panel 2: Luke wakes up from his sleep, slouching against the wall of the cave. Luke: 'Mmm... uh...'
Panel 3: Luke looks outside of the cave while still slouching to see morning daytime in the forest. Luke (in thought): 'Wow, morning already? Time sure passes while you sleep, huh.'
Panel 4: Luke notices June behind the extinguished fire she set up last night. She is still sleeping in her curled-up position. Luke (in thought): 'Oh! June is there too. And she's still sleeping.' June: 'Zzz... Zzz...'
Panel 5: Luke smiles as he watches the Zoroark resting, her chest rising and falling a little as she breathes softly. Luke (in thought): 'Goodness, she sure is cute when she's sleeping like that.'
Page 2: 5 panels
Panel 1: Luke shakes his head in confusion. Luke (in thought): 'What am I saying? She tried to kill me yesterday. Why did I have the right to call her cute?'
Panel 2: Luke facepalms himself as he sighs in sadness, remembering what June said last night. Luke (in thought): 'But then again, she has a traumatising past back when she was a Zorua. Guess her backstory made me sorry for her.' Luke: '*sigh*'
Panel 3: Luke gets up gingerly and makes his way out of the cave. June is still resting on the other side of the cave. Luke (in thought): 'I should go out and clean myself. There has to be a lake somewhere.'
Panel 4: June starts to wake up as Luke's shadow was cast over her. Luke turns to her in surprise. June: 'Mmm... *groan*' Luke: 'Ah!'
Panel 5: June looks up and smiles at Luke, greeting him. Luke smiles back at her, blushing in embarrassment. June: 'Mmm... Oh. Good morning, Luke.' Luke: 'Oh hey. G-good morning.'
Page 3: 5 panels:
Panel 1: June gets up and sits beside the cave wall, still smiling at Luke. The Lucario looks down as he tries to speak, still blushing. June: 'Now what's a furball like you doing up so early?' Luke: 'Well, um...'
Panel 2: Luke explains where he's going, expecting June to tell him not to go by himself in this condition. June has a tempting expression, thinking of how to respond to Luke's explanation. Luke: 'Well, I was just heading out to find a lake to wash myself. I mean, there has to be a lake or river nearby somewhere, right?' June: 'Hmm...'
Panel 3: June smiles and nods at Luke, permitting him to go out to look for a river. Luke looks surprised by her behaviour. June: 'Well go ahead then. It's not like I'm stopping you and it's pretty obvious you want to go. Just be careful'
Panel 4: Luke smiles at her for the last time as he leaves the cave. June still smiles at Luke as she watches him leave. Luke: 'Oh, o-okay. Thanks.' June: 'No problem.'
Panel 5: As soon as Luke left the cave, June still smiles for a while. June: '...'
Page 4: 4 panels
Panel 1: June hangs her head down, sighing in sadness. She still slouches against the wall. June: '*sigh* Don't let regret get to you June. It was his choice. Clearly, he wants nothing to do with you. So there is no reason to hold him back.'
Panel 2: June has a tempting expression as she ponders about Luke and his kindness and handsomeness. June: 'But he was so kind to me. He listened to my story and calmed me down when I was in despair. He's a handsome one too. Not to mention that he's only single.'
Panel 3: June closes her eyes to imagine two dream clouds. One has her being together with June, while the other has her carrying two eggs. June: 'He could be a perfect mate for me. We would be together forever. We would even have a kid or two if we're lucky...'
Panel 4: June snaps back into reality, blushing with a shocked expression on her face. June: 'Wait, WHAT?!'
Page 5: 5 panels
Panel 1: June shakes her head furiously, trying to push the thoughts away. June: 'No, no, no! Why am I thinking that?! There's no way I would be his mate! Not after what I did to him yesterday. I mean, he may be handsome, but there is no way he would be with a violent pokemon like me...!'
Panel 2: June lies down on her back, feeling frustrated about what she is thinking. June: 'UUUGH!'
Panel 3: June lays on the floor of the cave, staring up at the ceiling in silent thought. June: '...'
Panel 4: June sighs heavily with her eyes closed, still lying on the floor. June: '*sigh*'
Panel 5: June gets up and leaves the cave to find Luke, a serious expression on her face. June: 'I should go look for him. He won't survive with a broken leg I caused...'
Page 6: 4 panels
Panel 1: Luke slowly trudges through the forest to look for a place to wash. Luke (in thought): 'There must be a lake or a river somewhere. I can't keep walking with a broken leg for longer.'
Panel 2: Luke stumbles upon a creek, a happy expression on his face. Luke: 'Aha! A creek! It may not be a lake or river, but it'll do.'
Panel 3: Luke drinks the water from the creek with his cupped hands, sitting on a rock beside it.
Panel 4: Luke looks refreshed and delighted at the taste of the water. Luke: 'It's so good~!'
Page 7: 5 panels
Panel 1: Luke washes himself with the water from the creek. He looks very delighted as he hums a tune to himself. Luke: '#song note#'
Panel 2: Luke feels refuelled with energy and he stretches his arms happily. Luke: 'Ah~! I feel like I'm back to being energetic.'
Panel 3: Luke walks back into the forest and looks around for some berry trees. He is still smiling as he kept hanging on to tree trunks for support to his broken leg. Luke: 'I think I should look for some berries to show that Zoroark some appreciation for the hospitality. Now let's see...'
Panel 4: Luke spots a small berry tree in a nearby valley. He looks excited as he found it. Luke: 'Bingo!'
Panel 5: Luke slowly descends carefully down a hill near the valley. Luke: 'I hope she would be pleased to have these as thanks when I get back.'
Page: 8: 4 panels
Panel 1: Luke hears some rustling in the trees behind him. The Lucario stops in panic. SFX: 'Rustle, Rustle' Luke: '!!'
Panel 2: Luke has a look of fear in his eyes as he looks in the direction of the noise, remembering the event from last night. Luke: 'No, please. Don't let it repeat itself...!'
Panel 3: Luke quickly takes a step down, but he has the wrong leg as it made him trip. He looks more panicked. Luke: 'Ah!'
Panel 4: Luke tumbles down the hill, collecting some dirt on his damp fur. He closes his eyes in pain as he does so.
Page 9: 5 panels
Panel 1: Luke keeps tumbling down until he stops as he sprawls on his back at the base of the hill. He pants hard as he has a pained expression on his face. Luke: '*Pant* *Pant*'
Panel 2: Luke looks at the tree that made him panic from the top of the hill. It was only a pidgey who is taking off. Luke (in thought): 'Oh great. It was a pidgey. Can't believe I got scared for nothing.'
Panel 3: Luke groans in pain through gritted teeth as he felt the injury of his leg once more. Luke: '*Groan*' Luke (in thought): 'Damn it...! The pain's going through me again...!'
Panel 4: Luke grabs hold of the ground trying to fight the pain going through his body as his broken leg shakes. Luke (in thought): This pain is unbearable... I won't last for long...!'
Panel 5: Luke's eyes started forming tears as he tries to figure out what to do. Luke (in thought): 'If only June came with me... She would have helped me out in case something like this happens...'
Page 10: 5 panels
Panel 1: Luke suddenly senses a presence nearby with his aura detection ability. His expression is surprised. Luke: '!' Luke (In thought): 'Someone is nearby... But who is it?'
Panel 2: June wanders around the forest on all fours, looking for Luke. She has a red aura around her body. Luke (in thought, off-panel): 'This aura... it must be the presence of a Zoroark. Maybe that's June looking for me...'
Panel 3: June stops near the top of the hill at the valley, looking around for any sight of Luke. June (in thought): 'Where is he? He couldn't have gone too far...'
Panel 4: June notices a Lucario lying down near the valley beside the berry tree. Her expression is a surprised one. June: '!'
Panel 5: Split panel: Top half: Luke looks at June off-panel with a weakened expression, trying to call her. Bottom half: June looks horrified as she notices Luke's condition off-panel. Luke: 'J-June...!' June: 'Luke!!'
Page 11: 5 panels
Panel 1: Luke's head turns to the side as it slams into the dirt below. June rushes down toward Luke with extreme worry.
Panel 2: June holds Luke in her arms as he mumbles in his unconsciousness. June: 'Luke? Luke! Speak to me! Please!' Luke: '*Mumble*'
Panel 3: June has a flashback in her mind about the time her Zorua friend Jette was taken by the mouth of the mysterious Zoroark. June (in thought): 'No. No! It can't happen again! Not like that time...!'
Panel 4: June starts to cry, tears forming in her eyes as she holds the Lucario in an embrace. June: 'Please no...! Please...! Don't die on me...!'
Panel 5: Luke places a paw on June's head and rubs it gently. June's eyes widened at the Lucario's petting. Luke (off-panel): 'It's okay...'
Page 12: 5 panels
Panel 1: June looks at Luke with worry, still holding him in her arms. Luke smiles at June weakly, trying to assure her not to worry. June: 'Luke! But you're-' Luke: 'It's not your fault. Don't worry...'
Panel 2: Luke falls unconscious again in June's arms. The Zoroark looks more worried as she calls for him. Luke: 'Uuhhh...' June: 'LUKE!!'
Panel 3: June looks beyond the valley and notices a town nearby. June: '!'
Panel 4: June looks at the unconscious Luke, with a serious expression on her face.
Panel 5: June carries Luke to the town with her agility speed, determined to save him. June (in thought): 'Don't worry, Luke. I will save you. I promise...'
Page 13: 5 panels:
Panel 1: The scene shifts to the sight of a beautiful town. Within it resides a pokemon center next to a cafe. Text box: Meanwhile...
Panel 2: A new character, Aidan, gives a wide yawn on his way back from a delivery. He is in the uniform of the cafe he works at. Aidan: '*Yawn*'
Panel 3: Aidan is with a male Cinderace named 'Ace' and a female Greninja named 'Kunoichi'. Aidan has a tired expression on his face as he rubs the back of his head. Ace has a cheerful expression, trying to cheer him up. Kunoichi is silent for the whole trip. Aidan: 'Man, part-time jobs are quite exhausting as full-time ones...' Ace: 'Come on, Aidan. You can't be in a bad mood while you just have one more delivery left.' Aidan: 'I can't help it. I've been keeping this up for weeks with no breaks.' Textbox 1: 'Aidan: Part-timer at the cafe and a grown-up pokemon trainer.' Textbox 2: 'Ace: Pokemon: Cinderace, Gender: Male Textbox 3: 'Kunoichi: Pokemon: Greninja, Gender: Female
Panel 4: Ace pats Aidan on the back, still trying to cheer him up. Aidan sighs heavily as his head droops down. Kunoichi notices something behind her. Ace: 'Still, you have to be grateful. Besides, you won't be able to have a place for yourself to stay if you don't work hard. That's the motto~!' Aidan: '*Sigh* Yeah, you're right.' Kunoichi: '!'
Panel 5: Kunoichi has a serious expression as she turns to where the presence is detected from. Aidan and Ace turn to Kunoichi, with surprised expressions on their faces. Kunoichi: 'Master. Something is coming our way.' Aidan and Ace: 'Huh?'
Page 14: 5 panels
Panel 1: Aidan notices a Zoroark (June) carrying an injured Lucario (Luke) with a shocked expression. Ace covers his mouth in shock while Kunoichi still has a serious expression on her face. The Zoroark is looking around for help while the Lucario is still unconscious. Aidan: 'It's a... Zoroark. And its carrying a... *gasp*'
Panel 2: Aidan rushes towards June, with Ace and Kunoichi tailing behind him. June notices Aidan coming towards her, still carrying Luke in her arms. Aidan: 'Excuse me! You over there!' June: '!'
Panel 3: Aidan asks June what happened with a panicked expression. Ace and Kunoichi check on Luke's injuries while June looks at Aidan with sadness. Aidan: 'What happened to that Lucario? Is he alright?' June: 'N-no. It's just...'
Panel 4: June felt tears in her eyes as she begs Aidan to help Luke. Aidan is surprised at the Zoroark's request. June: '...he had taken a fall, making his bad leg worse from last night. You've got to help him...!'
Panel 5: split panel: Top panel: June looks up at Aidan off-panel, tears streaming from her eyes. Bottom panel: Aidan looks at the Zoroark with a pitiful look in his eyes. June: 'Please...!' Aidan: '...'
Page 15: 4 panels
Panel 1: Aidan hands over his delivery bag to Ace, instructing him and Kunoichi to go on without him. Ace has a surprised expression while Kunoichi nods in understanding. Aidan: 'Ace. Kunoichi. You two take care of the last delivery without me.' Kunoichi: 'Yes master.' Ace: 'What?! But what about you?'
Panel 2: Aidan takes Luke in his arms with a serious expression. June is surprised to see him help. Aidan: 'This Lucario needs medical care. I'll take him to the pokemon center first, then explain to my manager later. Care to come?' June: 'S-sure.'
Panel 3: Aidan carries Luke as he rushes to the pokemon center, with June following him. Ace calls for Aidan while holding the delivery bag. Kunoichi puts a webbed hand on his shoulder to assure him. Aidan: 'Meet me at the Pokemon center once you're done!' Ace: 'Aidan, wait!' Kunoichi: 'Do not worry. Master knows what he is doing.'
Panel 4: Ace sighs in annoyance, putting Aidan's delivery bag on him. Kunoichi watches him with a serious expression. Ace: '*sigh* Why do I have to do the last of the hard work? ... Oh great, now I'm sounding like Aidan.'
Page 16: 4 panels
Panel 1: At the pokemon centre, the nurse is doing her checklist for the medicines. Textbox: At the Pokemon Center...
Panel 2: The nurse hears a loud bang as the door opens off-panel. She turns to look at the entrance with a shocked expression. SFX: BANG!! Nurse: '?!'
Panel 3: Aidan calls for the nurse to get a stretcher, still carrying the Lucario in his arms. June is right behind him with a worried expression for Luke. Aidan: 'Nurse! Get a stretcher! Hurry! This Lucario needs medical care!'
Panel 4: The nurse calls for Wigglytuff to get the stretcher and it arrives with it. Aidan places Luke carefully on the stretcher while June holds his paw. Nurse: 'Wigglytuff, get the stretcher!' Wigglytuff: 'Wigglytuff!' Aidan: 'There you go. Nice and easy.'
Page 17: 4 panels
Panel 1: The nurse and Jigglypuff carry Luke to the medical room, with the nurse calling out to Aidan. Aidan calls back while June is beside him, feeling more worried for the Lucario. Nurse: 'I'll get the others to treat it in the medical room!' Aidan: 'Please do!'
Panel 2: June tries to rush after Luke, but Aidan stops her. June: 'Luke!' Aidan: 'Wait! You can't go with him.'
Panel 3: June looks at Aidan with sadness while he assures her that the Lucario is going to be okay in a calm manner. June: 'But-!' Aidan: 'I understand that you don't want to leave him, but the nurses will do everything they can to help your Lucario friend. He'll be alright. Trust me.'
Panel 4: June looks down with guilt for having him go through all the pain again, but takes Aidan's advice for Luke. June: '... Okay...'
Page 18: 5 panels
Panel 1: Aidan and June sit in the pokemon center waiting room, waiting to hear about Lucario's condition.
Panel 2: Aidan and June hear Ace off-panel and turn to face him. Ace: 'Hey! Aidan!' Aidan and June: '!'
Panel 3: Ace arrives with Kunoichi after their last delivery. Ace looks annoyed with Aidan off-panel while he still carries his delivery bag. Kunoichi's expression is calm and collected. Ace: 'Jeez! Why did you have to rush off like that? You could have made the last delivery a quick one before taking him to the medics!'
Panel 4: Aidan calmly explains to Ace his reasons with a smile on his face. Ace sighs in defeat, not understanding Aidan's motives. Aidan: 'Sorry, Ace. If I were to do the delivery earlier that would mean more time is wasted for the injured Lucario. His injury could've reached a critical level by then.' Ace: '*Sigh* Honestly, I don't know what truly goes on in your mind.'
Panel 5: Kunoichi kneels beside June comforting her. June looks surprised but accepts Kunoichi's comfort. Kunoichi: 'Are you alright miss?' June: 'Huh? Oh, fine I guess...'
Page 19: 5 panels
Panel 1: Wigglytuff appears before June, Aidan and the others, telling them about Luke's condition. Aidan has a happy expression while the others look surprised. Wigglytuff: 'Wiggly~! Wigglytuff!' Aidan: 'Oh! You're back. And I assume that Lucario's okay?'
Panel 2: Wigglytuff gives Aidan a happy wink to confirm it. Aidan looks happier to hear that, thanking the Wigglytuff. June's eyes widen as she covers her mouth in surprise. Wigglytuff: 'Tuff~!' Aidan: 'I'll take that as a yes! Thank you so much.' June: '!'
Panel 3: June feels a sense of relief as her eyes form happy tears. June: 'Luke...'
Panel 4: The scene changes to a patient room with a sunset outside the window. Its curtain is swaying with the wind. Textbox: Later...
Panel 5: Luke wakes up after a long state of unconsciousness, feeling a bit lightheaded. He is in a hospital bed in the patient room. Luke: 'U-Uhh... Huh?'
Page 20: 3 panels
Panel 1: Luke looks around the room, surrounded by medical equipment of all sorts. He lies in his hospital bed as his fractured leg is suspended by a sling from above the bed with a brace engulfing his leg from his waist down. Luke's expression is confused as he wonders why he's here. Luke: 'Where am I? How did I get here?'
Panel 2: A nurse pulls away a hospital curtain to meet Luke with a happy expression. Luke looks at the nurse with confusion, asking where he is. Nurse: 'Oh good! You're finally awake. Seems like you took quite the tumble, didn't you?' Luke: 'U-uh... Where am I, miss?'
Panel 3: Luke looks down in relief as the nurse tells him off-panel about what happened. Nurse: 'Well, you're very lucky to be alive right now, because a visitor claimed that your Zoroark friend brought you to this town to get help. And that's how he encountered it and brought you to this Pokemon Center.' Luke: 'I see.' Luke (in thought): 'Dear June. I hope she's still here...'
Page 21: 4 panels
Panel 1: The nurse heads for the doorway, informing Luke of a visitor and asking if he would let them in. Luke nods, allowing the nurse to let the said visitor in. Nurse: 'By the way, that Zoroark is waiting for you outside. Is it alright if it sees you for a bit?' Luke: 'Sure, go right ahead.'
Panel 2: The nurse leaves the doorway, calling for the Zoroark outside that it can come in. Nurse: 'Zoroark. The Lucario would like to see you now. But please make it quick. It'll need rest soon.'
Panel 3: June pokes her head around the doorway to see if Luke is alright.
Panel 4: June smiles nervously as she enters the room to greet Luke. Luke smiles happily to see June again. June: 'H-how are you doing Luke?' Luke: 'I'm fine, thank you. I heard that you brought me here to save me.'
Page 22: 4 panels
Panel 1: June sits on a chair beside Luke's bed, still smiling nervously. Luke has a happy expression as he gives her his gratitude. June: 'Y-yeah. You were in very bad shape when I brought you here in this town.' Luke: 'Well, you sure helped me out more. Thanks a lot. It's a shame that I didn't have time to pick up the berries from that tree in the valley.'
Panel 2: June looks surprised to hear that Luke was trying to repay her for her hospitality. Luke chuckles as he continues explaining how he wants to repay her but should have known better than to go out alone. June: 'You were trying to collect berries?' Luke: 'Yeah. I wanted to repay you for everything you did. But It was kind of reckless of me to go out alone with a bad leg, huh? *chuckle*'
Panel 3: June looks down with guilt as she started crying, tears forming in her eyes. June: 'Oh... *sniffle* *sniffle*'
Panel 4: Luke looks at June with worry while she slumps on the bed and buries her head in her crossed arms, still crying. Luke: 'June? What's the matter?' June: ''*sniffle* *sob*'
Page 23: 5 panels
Panel 1: A shot of June's sad face can be seen as she is still crying while burying her head in her arms. June: '*sob* I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... I didn't want this to ever happen to someone so kind and handsome like you.'
Panel 2: Luke blushes red at what June said about him, looking surprised as he does so. June doesn't see it as she still cries in her arms. Luke: 'H-handsome?!' June: '*sniffle* I should have known better than to let you go alone. I would have taken you somewhere to get your leg mended quickly.'
Panel 3: June raises her head from her arms slightly, still crying about what she is and what she does. June: 'But what's the point. I'm a selfish Zoroark that causes pain to those around me. I shouldn't be around anyone. Heck, I wouldn't even want to be around me. Not if someone caused this much pain for me...'
Panel 4: Luke feels sympathetic towards June while she keeps on crying, still not able to turn towards him. June: '*Hic* *Hic*' Luke: Oh, June...'
Panel 5: Luke rubs June's head, calming her down. She turns to face him, with tears in her eyes. Luke: 'Please don't be sorry. It's alright.' June: '*Sniffle* But I-' Luke: 'You have done so much for me. You acted out of your instinct, and that's out of your control. There is no reason to be upset over me.'
Page 24: 5 panels
Panel 1: June rises to meet Luke's height, tears still in her eyes. Luke smiles at her warmly, trying to cheer her up. June: 'Are... Are you sure?' Luke: 'I'm positive. And also, you're welcome to stay with me for as long as you like. I'll convince the nurses to let you stay if you wish'
Panel 2: June started to cry again but with tears of joy this time. June: 'Oh Luke...'
Panel 3: June embraces Luke from his side, smiling as she rested her head on his shoulder. Her eyes are closed as she cries in a stream of happy tears. Luke still smiles warmly as he places his hand on June's shoulder. June: '*sniffle* Thank you so much. I'm sorry I overreacted about being a horrible pokemon.'
Panel 4: June and Luke lock themselves in eye contact, smiling warmly at each other as they confess their feelings. June: 'I... I love you.' Luke: 'I love you too.'
Panel 5: Luke and June nuzzle together, sharing a romantic moment.
Page 25: 5 panels
Panel 1: Wigglytuff calls for June that it's time to go. June sighs in annoyance as she calls back to Wigglytuff, still embracing Luke, who still smiles warmly. Wigglytiff: 'Wiggly! Wigglytuff!' June: '*sigh* Alright, I'll be out!'
Panel 2: June holds hands with Luke while they smile at each other. June: 'Sorry. I was told that I have to leave.' Luke: 'It's okay. I'll see you again soon enough.' June: 'Do you mean that?' Luke: 'Yeah.'
Panel 3: June gets up and walks to the doorway as she waves goodbye to Luke. Luke waves goodbye too as he lays on his bed. June: 'Okay then. Well...goodbye for now.' Luke: 'Yeah. See you soon.'
Panel 4: Luke looks at June off-panel as he smiles warmly.
Panel 5: June looks over her shoulder at Luke off-panel one more time, closing the door behind her. Textbox: To be concluded...
