Betty sits beside Zach as he lies back in one of the beds of the clinic. They wait patiently as one of the audino nurses come by with a clipboard in their paws.
“Ah, Zach the Riolu,” says the audino. “I see you’re here again…”
Zach rolls his head to look at her. “Oh, hey, Miss Audrey…”
“To what do I owe the pleasure? What kind of injury did you sustain this time?”
“No injury, Nurse,” adds Betty. “He got sick and threw up. Ringmaster said to take him here.”
Audrey takes notice of the brionne “Ah! Betty the Brionne… Forgive me, I had not known you’d be here.”
“Wasn’t supposed to be. Just accompanying my coworker.”
“You said he was sick? What happened?”
“Downed more shots than he could handle. Threw up all over the mess hall floor.”
“I see… Normally, there’s really nothing we could do except tell you rest and drink water.”
“That’s what I thought.” Betty motions to the riolu. “Come on, Sick and Drunk. We’re out of here.”
“However,” interrupts Audrey. “There’s another way.” Betty stops and asks what. The audino motions her to lean closer, to which she does.
Betty then jumps at what the nurse whispers. “You want me to do what?!”
“You’re a water pokemon, and you’d be hydrating Zach enough to rid him of his hangover.”
Betty crosses her arms. “What kind of pokemon do you take me for?! I won’t do it!”
“Well, we’re not keeping him here because of a ‘little hangover.’ Besides, what would your boss think? He would force you to do it anyway, wouldn’t he?” The brionne grunts. She turns to Zach, grabs his face and pulls him close. That’s when she uses her water gun move after connecting her lips with his. Think of it almost like a kiss except she’s pumping water into him. She then pushes Zach away, who freezes and blushes. “See, was that so difficult?”
Betty points to the riolu. “Not a word about this to anyone, you hear?!” He nods. She then turns and points to the audino. “That goes for you, too!” She starts for the exit. “Come on, Zach. Let’s go, now!”
Zach pushes himself off the bed. “Sorry for the inconvenience, Miss Audrey.”
“No, no,” Audrey says sarcastically. “Why would there be any inconvenience? After all, I see you all the time…” The riolu struggles to catch up to Betty.
***
The two make it back to the circus with Ringmaster Raichu turning to them. “Ah, welcome back,” he says. “Feeling better, Zach?”
“Yeah,” Zach tells him. “I guess so…”
“Thought you were sick.”
“Doing a bit better, physically, now.”
“Well, what was wrong with you?”
Betty moves in front of the riolu. “Nurse said he had some poisoned brew. She gave him a pecha berry and all was good.”
“That’s not what we saw,” comments a female voice. The circus pokemon turn to see Jay and Cindy approach with their kids, as well as with the rest of the team. “I was expecting the runt riolu to be with a crappy girl next, but to have it be you? Now, that’s something.”
Ezie points at her. “Why were you two kissing? Are you both together now or something?”
“Shut up!” Betty spurts. “That’s not what happened! Zach is not my type!”
“Now, now, Brionne,” Ezma utters. “Keep your temper in check.”
Zach turns his head. “Why were you even there to begin with…?”
“That’s none of your business, Riolu,” Cindy tells him. “I could easily ask you why you were there. However, it doesn’t surprise me you’d be in the clinic as usual. Considering you always screw up and end up in bandages.”
“I didn’t screw up… I was moving on fine until you came along to ruin everything…”
Jay steps up to him. “Don’t you dare talk to my mate like that!”
Zach turns to him. “I could’ve easily been in another guild, while having a nice, beautiful pokemon by my side!”
“You in another guild, as well as being with a beautiful pokemon like Cindy? Ha, that’s rich! You’re nothing but a pipsqueak!” He and all of the other pokemon laugh.
Zach marches up to the buizel. “Oh yeah?! I bet I can prove to you that I am worthy, and don’t need a school or other pokemon to tell me otherwise! I’ll take you on in one of the toughest challenges you know; right here, right now!” Everyone falls silent with surprise.
“Oh no,” utters Miffy. She walks up to Ezma’s side. “He doesn’t mean the… the…”
“Great Guildsmon Challenge?” asks Jay. All the pokemon gasp and become shocked with surprise.
“Holy Arceus!” shouts Casey. “No pokemon has won that challenge in over a hundred years!”
“Many pokemon have tried passing this challenge to prove themselves worthy,” Ezma says. “But many have died in the process…”
Jay faces his friends. “You’d have to be resilient, hard-working, and tough to handle the challenges…”
“If this means I can show you all I am more than some clown, then I’m all for it,” claims Zach. “I will prove that I am a rescuer and adventurer just like you guys!”
Jay then turns back to the riolu. “You want to prove yourself, huh? Very well… I’ll take joy seeing you cry for mercy.” He looks back to his friends. “Come on, guys! Let’s get going!” The guild head for the exit and leave.
“You cannot be serious, Riolu!” Manny utters. “You really think you can go up against a tough pokemon like Jay the Buizel?”
“You’ll be pulverized to a pulp!” Richie cries. “You won’t last!”
“Jay will beat you!” adds the Chimchar. “You don’t stand a chance!”
“I have to try, at least!” Zach tells them. “I’m fed up with pokemon looking at me like I’m nothing more than a klutz and a clown! I want to prove to everyone I’m more than that! And if I’m lucky, I’ll win back Elle, maybe even get my mom to accept me, too!” The other circus pokemon all weigh in on their opinions, mostly that Zach is out of his mind.
“Pokemon, please!” Ringmaster interrupts. “Settle down! Now, we all know this is big news, yes. However, we must respect Zach for his decision to push for success. Now, all of you, get back to work.” The pokemon break apart and head back to their positions before Team Rescuers had appeared. The raichu faces Zach. “Zach, can I speak to you privately?” The riolu follows him outside the tent. “Are you out of your mind?!”
“What?”
“You’ll get yourself killed out there! And I don’t really want to lose my best performer to some deadly challenge!”
“Ringmaster, I-”
“Let him go, Ringmaster!” interrupts Betty, who had been beside the two pokemon. “It’s Zach’s choice to compete. You’ve said it yourself. The best we can do is support him.” Ringmaster sighs and leaves. Betty then goes over to Zach. “That was really stupid, Zach… So far, Jay surpasses you in every category. He’d pretty much beat you before you have a chance to act!”
“You think I don’t know that? I have to try, Betty! I’ll show them once and for all that anything is possible!”
