31. Volume 1 Finale: Promise

                                    

                                          

                            
                              
                                
                                
                              
                            
                            
                          
                          
Axel woke up, his whole body feeling sore. 
                          
What just happened? 
                          
Ah. Zeraora! 
                          
He sat up right away and looked around, rubbing his head.
                          
In that case, why am I in a room... wait... the Pokemon center? Then, Zeraora— 
                          
"Ah, you're awake," he heard Luna say with a displeased look on her face, glaring at him from across the room, "geez, how childish can you get? Running out into a storm like that. You're crazy! You hear me? You! Stupid! Idiot!" 
                          
"Sorry," he apologized, "why am I here?" 
                          
"Leave your sorry for Llade. I found you sleeping in a garden of Pecha Berries. And I even bothered to head out to find you while you were happily enjoying yourself in a paradise like that! You jerk!" 
                          
"Sorry," he repeated, "did you find Llade?" 
                          
Luna looked back at him with a sigh, "You wouldn't like this, but no, I asked around, no one has seen it in this area." 
                          
"Ah, I see..." Axel mumbled, avoiding her gaze, "sorry for snapping at you yesterday..." 
                          
"Figured you were in a bad mood last evening, so don't worry about it," she waved it off dismissively, "Now, everyone was worried about you." 
                          
Axel smiled slightly as they pounced on him in a pile. 
                          
"That reminds me, you didn't see anything else when you found me, did you?" He asked. 
                          
"Seriously, that's what you care about? No, you idiot, you were alone," she scrunched her nose at him, "don't you dare do that again, you hear that, you moron? I helped you wash your clothes, they're really dirty. What did you do, roll in the mud?" 
                          
"Eh???!!! That means— Luna— you!!!" He yelped, his face red with embarrassment. 
                          
"What, I'm not a pervert, your Pokemon did that part," she answered as they nodded proudly, "breakfast's downstairs, come down when you're ready, your new set of clothes is hanging behind the door." 
                          
"I'm so sorry," Axel told his Pokemon softly, "I shouldn't have—" 
                          
Skiddo licked his hand, nuzzling its collar against his leg. Froxel and Pika leaped into his arms as Yako wrapped its wings around his head. 
                          
"Thanks. I— I promise— I'll grow stronger. And I'll definitely find Llade, then beat Korrina."
                          
—
                          
"I'm going out for a bit," Axel told Luna as he flung on his backpack, "help me take care of Pika and the others for now." 
                          
"Huh, again? Where're you going?" she asked, worried. 
                          
"For a quick walk, I'll be back soon," he answered. 
                          
Luna sighed, "alright alright. Don't get into trouble, 'kay?" 
                          
Sorry Luna, I can't tell you about Zeraora yet. But maybe... one day... 
                          
—
                          
Axel raced through the forest as he tried to find his way back to the Pecha Berry garden. He stopped and panted, gritting his teeth. I have to find Zeraora!  I want to tell it about my final decision! I need to meet it! Just one more time!
                          
He rushed round a corner, manoeuvring through the maze of trees. Finally, he arrived at the garden. 
                          
"Zeraora!" He called, "Zeraora!"