Chapter 29: Chapter 29 - Pass Through the Storm
Later, as the other residents are cooperating during a snack break, Rosario went to Rico's and Ben's spots with two bowls of hot porridge with corn and potato bits, only to see be surprised that her son and Ben are gone. Their Pokémon are luckily in their Poké Balls stored in bags. This almost cause her to drop their bowls, and then ran back to her husband and informed him frantically, "Honey, Rico and Ben are gone!"
"What?" Lucas responded back in alert. He then went to Rico's and Ben's spots and tried to search for them everywhere in the evacuation center, even to the second floor. Then, failing to search for his son and Ben, Lucas went to the evacuation center staff and asked them to allow him to go out into the storm and search for Rico and Ben.
But, the staff member one staff member told him, "I'm sorry, sir, but you have to stay here. The storm's too strong out there."
"Come on, ma'am," retorted Lucas in despair, "I have to. Look, I lost my elder son. I don't want to lose another."
"But the storm is too strong," the staff member insisted back.
"Please! I need to go!" Lucas begged her. "He's my only-" His sentence was cut off when another staff member saw three youngsters coming towards the building with a birdcage in hand. Lucas and the staff member then looked at the entrance as the three youngsters come out of the storm. It was Rico, Ben, and Jacob, who had just finished their mission.
"Rico!" Lucas called his name. The then ran to them and gave Rico a quick hug in relief.
"Where had you been?" Lucas asked him. "I was worried about you! Me and your mom thought you and Ben just disappeared without a trace."
Shedding s a few tears of sadness and relief, Rico apologized to him, "I'm sorry for making you and mom worry. I just rescued a bunch of Starlys because they were trapped in fear, unable to het get out. But, we're okay now, barely got injured." Rico then wiped his tears off his face, and Jacob asked Lucas if Rico was his son.
"Yes, he is," Lucas answered him back calmly. "Thanks for being with him. I was gratefully for your support."
"You're welcome, sir," Jacob gratefully replied back.
They then all went back inside. Inside, upon seeing his mother with some staff members, Rico quickly apologized to them for his and Ben's disappearances without any permission. In relief, Rosario and a few staff members with her forgave him and Ben and told them to get some rest and eat some porridge. And so, Jacob went back to his spot while Rico put the birdcage next to his Pokébelt, before he and Ben sat down next to it. They then eat their hot snack. Later on, he decided to give the Starlys Pokémon food in order to give them strength and energy. The Starlys are seem to be delighted by the special food and eat steadily as Rico smiled in caring.
Hours had passed, and as the storm reaches its peak, everything in the city and its outskirts are severely affected. Most residents and tourists are trapped in their apartments, guest houses, boarding houses, inns, and hotels. The streets and alleyways are deserted and empty; the trees in the city are being obliterated and blown away by the winds; the floods are now submerging most streets and alleyways and either they entered into buildings and homes due to lack of defenses, or got blocked thanks to defenses. For the Cruz home, it was protected by the gate and some sacks of sand, preventing any damage from occurring in the sin inside. But still, the winds are blowing away most of the weak and vulnerable parts of the roofs, wood, metal, and ceramic, exposing the inner part of the roof to the rain. The floods will last until the storm have passed and it will be drained away thanks to clean and unclogged drainage system and strict laws against littering in the streets. And still, the storm is affecting everyone in its territory, including the smallest villages, towns, and farms.
Later as afternoon slowly fading into twilight and night time, everyone and their Pokémon in their evacuation centers and shelters are holding on against the sounds of the wind, rain, and thunder. It was pitch black in the outside, but in the inside, it was barely provided with lighting, due to hours of power consumption. At his evacuation center, Rico hold tight the birdcage with two hands while being clothed by a thick blanket. His Pokémon are still in their Poké Balls inside in his shoulder bag. Ben, meanwhile, was asleep alongside Jacob.
"It's okay, I'm here for you," Rico said to the Starlys in concern and protective state. "We can pass this."
The Starlys then responded with fear and terror as they hold on to each other in the cage.
Later on, everyone in the building are having a hot dinner with hot drinks as the building was protected by windows. Everyone and their Pokémon are cooperating with one another. Some slurped their food really fast, while others are slow and humble in slurping as well as blankets and coasts protected them from the cold of the storm. The Pokémon are eating their special food in food bowls and the elderly and the sick are being fed by their relatives, friends, and strangers. It was a scene of cooperation and friendship in this kind of situation.
By nighttime, as the other evacuees and their Pokémon are asleep peacefully on their mats, mattresses, bedsheets, flattened carton boxes, and sleeping bags, tuck in blankets and other heat-giving objects, Rico asleep while leaning towards the wall and still holding the birdcage in his hands. Ben and Jacob, however are also fast still asleep after eating dinner. It was a lovely time in the night as the storm kept raging on throughout the night.