I open my eyes to the glow of Chansey's heal pulse surrounding me. I can hear Arrow's worried mumbles and I attempt to sit up and sink back down in pain.
"Chans!" Pouts Chansey, signaling for me to stay laying down.
Arrow brings his muzzle in close to my ear and I hug him, sobbing. He lets out a soft grunt and lays his head over my shoulder. As if to say 'I'm sorry.'
I take in my surroundings, dimly lit and cold with stone underneath me. Inside a cave, hopefully far away from Viridian city. I fall into a disturbed sleep as Chansey continues to heal me.
The first crack of light and I hear Dodrio shrieking in the distance. I slowly sit up, groaning and stiff. Arrow is preening opposite from me, running his maw over his great leathery wings.
I stand, shakily and his head snaps towards me. I grasp another pokèball from my belt, "I choose you!" A hot beam of light releases Kangaskhan, who I lean against for support. I tickle the baby in her pouch and grin, "we did it."
Chansey poked it's head into the cave and let out a little wiggle of joy. Pleased to have helped me in my time of need. Arrow chuffs and brushes his face against her in a message of thanks.
"Where are we?" I wondered aloud, unsure of how far we had flown or truly how long it had been. A pang of hunger struck me and I couldn't remember the last time I'd eaten.
Where should I go from here? I wanted to get away from my father, somewhere Team Rocket didn't have a base. Somewhere populated, so I didn't have to live completely in the wild. A different region? That seemed the only logical thought. But where?
Alola seemed like a decent idea, it was close enough I could fly there on Arrow without worry. Team Rocket didn't have a base there and I should be able to blend in with the tourists easily.
Fuck it, I'll try it.
"Arrow!" I shout, he scuttles towards me with a serious look on his face. "You up to fly to Alola?"
"Rrrroowwww!" He cries, cracking his massive wings open. I smile up at him, ready to start anew.
"Return!" I point the blazing light at Kangaskhan and hoist myself onto Arrow's back, clenching my teeth. Chansey had mended the broken rib but I was left behind in ample pain.
"Our new adventure begins now," I breathe as we break into the skies.