Encouragement (Dungeon Aftermath of FD and DL

“Standing there anxiously isn’t helping anyone,” the Natu reminded the Meowth in dull tone. The duo stood in front of the Explorer’s infirmary, other Explorers around them clamoring excited about the trip.

The feline was frozen in place, unsure what to do. What can he do? He was the one who caused this to happen. He bit down on his lip, scruntizing the door even harder. “I should… go back. I-”

“Casper. Do not go on a rant about how this was your fault,” the bird reprimanded sharply. “One could not have taken into account of the tunnel caving in.”

“But still! I dragged him into the dungeon!” Casper shouted angrily at his feathered friend, a paw on his chest.

The Natu flinched at his intense emotions. She never seen the feline so outspoken about something let alone someone. “You are causing a scene,” her tone not once rising to match her companion’s. Getting angered over the situation helped nothing and she learned that ages ago.

The Meowth glanced warily at a nosy few who paused and stared at his outburst. He flushed, hanging his head low. When they dispersed, he gave the Natu an apologetic look.

“It’s not necessary. So are we not going to Geoda?” She pushed on this subject several times before, never receiving a straight answer. It

Casper gave ahold of his arm tightly. “I’m n-not sure… When we finish checking on him, I’ll see…”

“By all means continue.”

The Flaaffy became aware of several things around him. A staccato heartbeat, his own. Why…? He cracked over his eyes, shielding them from the sun rays. Where… He winced at the sudden pain he felt from rising his arms.

“Wa…” He stared down surprised at the bandages wrapped tightly around his arms. Then everything came flooding back full force. The scent of dust and a sudden choking sense overwhelming him, sending him into a cough fit as sprang up, gasping for air.

“Theo!”

His now tear filled eyes focused wildly on the Meowth near his bedside. Casper…? He could only think unable to say the feline’s name between coughs. When the nurse, a Meganium, anxiously began coming this way, he shook his rapidly at her. The presence of the stranger would only make it all the more worse for him.

She stopped, giving him a concerned look not before giving the feline a stern look as she tended to another patient. He could only imagine what she longed to say.

When the fit was finally over, he skimmed over the now anxious feline. He didn’t appear hurt which made the sheep relieved.

“C-Casper.. I’m g-glad you’re okay…,” Theo croaked out with a wry smile.

“You… you…,” the feline struggled to say more, tears in his eyes. “I told you not to do that! Ashy had us! B-But why did you try to be a hero?! You have an egg to take off!”

Theo stared at him in stunned silence. Someone was crying over…him. Something he would have never dreamed of seeing. It brought even more tears in his eyes. “I-I…” He couldn’t bring himself to say. The real reason why he did something so foolish. But the feline reminded him of something. The egg!

“Oh!” He jumped out of the bed without a thought but he had taken into account the state of his legs. His legs went out underneath him and he would have fallen if Casper hadn’t caught him in time.

“You’re suppose to be in bed!” Casper rebuked, assisting the Flaaffy back to bed but the electric didn’t not want to remain still.

“The egg!” Did I fail?!

“It is fine,” the Natu finally spoke from her perch on the feline’s shoulder.

Theo gave the bird a quick glance. He had forgotten the psychic bird was even here. The firmness of her words left no way to doubt her. With a resigned sigh, he quietly complied with the feline’s wish, his eyes planted on a nearby window. His first dungeon was a failure. He thought he was ready but it went all wrong…

Noticing the Flaaffy’s sudden withdrawl, Casper coughed into his paw gaining the sheep’s attention. “Um we’re going to Geoda.”

Theo’s ears perked up with surprise before drooping even further than before. “A-Ah… I don’t t-think I will be g-going… I will o-only mess up again…”

“What?!” Casper exclaimed. “You have to go! The guild’s counting on us! On all of us!”

“I w-would rather not s-screw it up for the rest of you g-guys… J-Just go on without me,” Theo muttered, facing away from them.

“There’s no I in team!”

“C-Course there’s no-”

“That’s beside the point, Theo! You gained the courage to enter the dungeon meeting without me! I was the one who asked you to travel with me but you knew where every single trap was and disarmed them like a pro! You’re important like anyone else here!” Casper encouraged, breathless at the end.

The feline’s speech hit home for the sheep, unable to keep the surprise off his face. I’m important…? Me… He stared down at his hands, opening and closing him. “Me…”

“Yes you buddy,” Casper placed a paw firmly on the Flaaffy’s shoulder.

The word brought electric type to tears once again. But these were one of tears. The feline tried to console him but he merely shook it off. “I’m going….” He said softly, his voice a threading whisper.

“What?” Casper was unsure he heard the Flaaffy right.

“I’m going too!”