Chapter 47 - 47 - Pass through the Storm

Later, as the other residents are cooperating during snack break, Rosario went to Rico's spot with a bowl of hot porridge with corn and potatoes, only to be surprised that her son was gone. This almost drops Rico's bowl, and then ran back to her husband and informed him frantically, "Honey, Rico's gone!"

"What?" Lucas responded back in alert. Lucas then went to Rico's spot and tried to find him everywhere in the evacuation center, even to the second floor. Then, failed to find his son, Lucas went to the evacuation center staff member and asked them to allow him to go out and find Rico. But the 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," Lucas retorted in desperate, "I have to. Look, I lost my elder son, then I don't want to lose another."

"But the storm is too stronger, " 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 two youngsters coming towards the center with a birdcage in hand. Lucas and the staff member then looked at the entrance as they two youngsters come out of the storm. It was Rico and Jacob, who had just finished their mission.

"Rico!" Lucas called him. He then ran to them and hugged his son in relief.

"Where had you been?" Lucas asked him. "I was worried about you! Me and your mom thought you just disappeared without a trace." He then discharged from hugging. Shedding tears of sadness and relief, Rico apologized to him, "I'm sorry for making you and mom worry. I just rescued some bunch of Starlys because they were trapped in fear, unable to get out. But, we're okay now, bȧrėly 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. "Thank you for helping him. I was grateful for your support."

"You're welcome, sir," Jacob gratefully replied. They then all went back inside. Inside upon seeing his mother with some staff members, Rico quickly apologized to them for his disappearance without any permission. In relief, Rosario and a few staff members with her forgave him and told him to get some rest and eat some porridge. And so, as Jacob went back to his spot, Rico put the birdcage next to his Pokébelt and sat down next to it while eating his 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 delight the special food and eat steadily as Rico smiled in caring.

Hours had passed and as the storm reached at 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, mostly in safer areas; 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 people's houses 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 occuring in the 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 shelters and evacuation centers are holding on against the sounds of the wind, rain, and thunder. It was pitch black in the outside, but in the inside, it's bȧrėly provided with lighting, due to hours of light 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 and belongings in a safer spot.

"It's okay, I'm here for you," Rico said to them in concern and protective state. "We can pass this." The Starlys then responded with fear and terror as they hold on each other in a cage. Later on, everyone in the building are having a hot dinner with hot drinks as well. Everyone and their Pokémon are cooperating with one another. Some slurped their food really fast, while others are slowly and humbly in slurping as blankets and coats protect them from the cold of the storm. The Pokémon are now eating their special food in food bowls and the elderly and the sick are being fed by their relatives and close 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 slept peacefully in their mats, mattresses, bedsheets, flattened carton boxes, and sleeping bags, tuck in blankets and other heat-giving objects, Rico fell asleep while leaning towards the wall and still holding the birdcage in his hands. Piplup, however, was out of its Poké Ball and slept on Rico's side as it was clothed with a thick towel. It was a lovely time in the night as the storm kept raging out.