Autumn, it’s a season of change. The leaves go from green to all different shades of red, kids who were celebrating the freeness of summer return to the monotony of school, and the weather begins to grow colder. One such place experiencing a ton of change is The Kennedy-Jenksin Medical Center, a hospital amid the bustling streets of Starlight City. While the outside of it looks antiquated with a black fence around the building and brick walls, the inside of the place is nothing but the best medical technology in the city.

And walking to the hospital is none other than Ronnie Everst. He’s wearing a black denim jacket over a white t-shirt, blue jeans, and red Converse shoes. As he looks at it he can’t help but recall the last time he was here; after being hit by a car he stayed here. That’s when he found the former leader of the MSA and creator of the fighting tapes he watched; James Lewis. And now he’s back to visit that very same man.

The reason?

When he tried to watch the 6th fighting tape, he realized it was broken. So what better way to learn about what the fighting tape was about than the main man who was in them?

As Ronnie makes his way to the entrance of the hospital, he spots a familiar face. One that begins to fill him with a sense of deja vu.

“X?” Ronnie asks.

Standing in the hospital’s main entryway talking to a nurse is none other than Ronnie’s upperclassmen and student council president; X Locke. He has white skin, messy blonde hair that covers his eyes, some facial hair growing, and his nails have black nail polish on them. X is wearing a light brown cardigan over a black turtleneck, some washed black cargo pants, and a pair of red Adidas shoes. X spots Ronnie and the two stare at each other.

“Ronnie?” X says as Ronnie walks over to him.

“What are you even doing here?” Ronnie questions.

“I’m here on a secret mission,” X answers.

“That doesn’t answer anything,’ Ronnie groans.

“But it does help build up a mystery for the readers,” X says.

“What readers?”

“....Anywho, what brings you here Ronnie?”

“I was trying to see if I could talk to James Lewis about something,” Ronnie remarks.

“Oh, Mister Lewis?” The nurse who was standing there questions, “I can take you to him, he seemed to enjoy your presence.”

Ronnie looks and sees that the nurse there is in pink scrubs and she’s a Hispanic lady with long wavy black hair and a mole on her right cheek. As Ronnie looks at her, she realizes that she’s the nurse that she saw the night he woke up. Though for some reason, there’s something else about her that seems familiar.

“Thanks, Miss,” Ronnie says.

“Just call me Camila,” The nurse says.

That’s when the pieces click in Ronnie’s mind, “You wouldn’t happen to have a nephew named Alex Smith?”

“Yes, how did you know?” Camila Sanchez asks as the three walk to Lewis’ hospital room.

“We’re actually friends,” Ronnie laughs.

“Really?” Camila says, “Guess it really is a small world, huh?”

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“Well that’s one way of putting it,” X adds as they reach James’ hospital room.

After knocking on the door three times, Ronnie opens it and steps inside. In there is James Lewis. Somehow he looks even worse for wear than the first time he saw him; he’s got a white hospital gown on, short yet disheveled black hair, white dried and wrinkly skin, tired gray eyes, a purple ‘MSA’ ring, and both of his legs have been amputated. Though when James sees Ronnie his eyes light up.

‘REAGAN! Good to see you pal!” James says, “It’s felt like forever since I saw you!”

Still taken aback at him being referred to as his dad, Ronnie feels a bit uncomfortable before deciding to play along, “Hey James, how have you been?”

“Good good,” James remarks, “Though the food here is just the worse y’know. If you thought Terry was bad at searing a steak just wait and see what they got going on here!”

“Haha yeah, I bet,” Ronnie sighs, “Hey- uh, James. You remember when we did those training tapes?”

“How could I not?” James laughs, “I’m still not over the tree incident.”

Ronnie is silent but James laughs and says, “I’m kidding! I’m kidding!”

“Well uh- the sixth tape seems to be wrecked, so I was wondering if you knew what that tape is about?” Ronnie questions.

As those words come out of his mouth, Ronnie can see James’ face get serious.

“You sure you want to know?” James asks.

Ronnie is hesitant but he nods.

“Alright then,” James exhales, “I’m only going to say this once so you better pay attention.”

________________

Out in the hallway, X is munching on a banana while Camila is talking to her husband, Doctor Jose Sanchez. As they’re chatting the door to Lewis’ hospital room opens and Ronnie walks out.

“Nice talking to you!” Ronnie says.

“Yeah, you too!” James says, “See you around Reagan.”

As Ronnie closes the door he lets out a loud sigh he didn’t know he was holding. X, finishing his banana, glances at Ronnie.

“All good chum?” X asks.

“Yeah, just, he’s very… unusual,” Ronnie admits.

“Yeah,’ X says.

Seeing X, Doctor Jose walks over to X and hands him some papers, “Oh kid, before I forget here’s the results of Eleanor’s last scan. There seems to be some slight improvement from the previous one but levels are still not where we’d want them to be.”

“Thanks, Doc,” X says as he checks the papers.

However, when X remembers Ronnie is standing right there, his face begins to get nervous.

“Who’s Eleanor?” Ronnie asks.

Trying to think of a way to change the topic, X just sighs, “Lemme just show you, she doesn’t get many visitors anyway.”

Ronnie follows X to another long-term patient’s room, one where the name on the room is ‘E. Locke’.

The doors open and Ronnie sees that sitting in a hospital bed is a young frail girl who seems no older than 13. She has pale white skin, an IV in her arm, a dark gray beanie hiding her bald head, a gray hospital gown, and pink pupils. Sitting by her lap is a notebook with some drawings in it of a garden.

When Eleanor sees X entering her eyes lighten up and a smile grows on her face.

“Hey Eleanor,” X says as he motions to Ronnie, “This is Ronnie, a friend of mine. Ronnie this is Eleanor, my sister.”

“Woah I don’t believe it,” Eleanor says as she takes a look at Ronnie, “You actually have friends?!”

Hearing that Ronnie laughs while X tries to recover his bruised ego by saying, “I told you I have a lot of friends, they’re just really busy!”

“I see your sister shares the same sense of humor,” Ronnie remarks.

“No we don't,’ X & Eleanor say in unison.

“Sure,” Ronnie sighs before saying, “Nice to meet you, Ellie,”

“Nice to meet you too,” Eleanor says.

The two stay there and chat with Eleanor for a while, about their hobbies, interests, and the such. Eventually when the sun is setting both X & Ronnie leave, telling Eleanor goodbye. As the two walk down the streets of Starlight City, Ronnie looks over at X.

“She’s been in there for a few years now,” X sighs, “Y’know cause of the chemo she hasn’t been able to grow out her hair or do much stuff, so that’s fallen onto me.”

“X I didn’t,” Ronnie begins to say but X interrupts him.

“Don’t give me any of your pity,” X says, “Instead just treat me like you’d usually do.”

Hearing that, Ronnie sighs and says, “Sure thing X, and maybe in the future the others can come visit Eleanor? That is if she'd like that of course.”

X stands there for a moment as tears begin to pour down his face.

Autumn, it's the season of change. The leaves go from green to all different shades of red, kids who were celebrating the freeness of summer return to the monotony of school, and the weather begins to grow colder. Though those aren't the only things that change, the relationships and friendships you've made change too. With a better understanding of one another comes a deeper friendship, one that X is finally getting the chance to experience.

"I'm sure she'd love that," X smiles.

The Miracle Clinic will be on hiatus. The series will return on September 19th, 2024 with weekly releases.

See You Next Chapter!~