This is the fourth story in this series. Please read "The Honeymoon's Over", "New Beginnings", and "Tough Love" before reading this one.


Mira had her hands in her lap; she was quietly waiting, though her surroundings weren't necessarily quiet. Despite the rather small size of the plane, it still had a powerful engine that roared.

At least I'm on the inside and not on the outside... thought Mira to herself.

Julia was sitting next to her, quietly waiting as well. They were both deep in thought.

Mira still was not totally accepting of the fact that the Kanto Region's Official Champion was sitting right next to her...but was she really still the Champion? Mira had a great and long journey filled with friendship and excitement, but also many emotions too complicated to be explained. Mira started off her journey as a simple trainer...well, not really a simple trainer. Her father was Ash Ketchum, former Champion of the Kanto Region as well as the current Viridian City Gym Leader, and a Jolteon hybrid. Mira adopted this ability and is actually a Flareon hybrid.

She had begun her journey with just one of her Pokemon sisters, and they soon met Mark and eventually Ryan as well. Due to Team Rocket's experiments, Mark became an Arcanaine hybrid, and Ryan a Dragonite hybrid. Together, they travelled around Kanto, collecting the 8 gym badges, and joined the tournament for a chance to face the Elite Four. However, even though along the way Mira killed Giovanni before he could hurt any more Pokemon, Shadow, second in command of Team Rocket, used Mew's power to brainwash Sarah and had her join the tournament as well. Sarah was a friend of Ryan, as well as the Shinnoh Region's Champion, and Shadow turned her into an Articuno hybrid. Together, they saved Sarah, sent Shadow on the run, and Mira won the tournament and eventually conquered the Elite Four too.

Despite of these accomplishments, she is still faced with more problems. Shadow is planning to corrupt the world's and its gentle balance, and according to Arceus's prophecy, only she has the power to stop him. Also, her friends are off looking for Shadow, and Mira needs to find them before they are truly in danger.

However, something in particular was on Mira's mind. Her battle against Julia was a win, but because Julia surrendered it. The Champion accidentally put Mira and her family in a very emotional situation, far too complicated to be fully understood. Whether that was official is uncertain.

"Julia?"

"Yes, Mira?"

"We never talked about that topic since the day I challenged the Elite Four..."

"What is it?"

"Who's Champion?"

They were both silent.

"We both are Champion, and at the same time neither of us are Champion," explained Julia, "With everything including the future of the world at stake because of some crazy Mighteyana hybrid, titles no longer matter, do they?"

"I guess you're right..."

"However, Mira, in my mind," Julia whispered in her ear, "You're the true Champion. You deserve the title after everything you've gone through."

"I'm not really sure if you want to be Champion..."

"Is it because of the sacrifices you need to make."

Mira nodded. "My friends...my family...which is more important? Them or the title of "Kanto Region Champion"? I'd rather travel with my friends; there are still so many regions to visit...Julia...do you agree with me?"

"Mira...you're right...I sacrificed any future journeys that I could have had in exchange for being Champion...but I was still much older than you when I made that choice...you need to decide if you want to do that so early, earlier than even me."

"...I need time."

"Then you can have it."

They were both silent again...when suddenly the PA went on. "We are approaching Mount Ember, and shall be landing at it's peak. Please fasten your seat belts."

Mark...Ryan...I'm coming... However, Mira tried not to think about it, but something felt terribly wrong...

When the landed, Mira and Julia walked out, but their friends could not be seen. Also, for some reason, it looked as if the ground had a few cracks in it.

"Mark!!!! Ryan!!!!" However, all they heard were echoes.

"I don't think that they're here..." said Julia.

"This is where they said that they were heading..."

Suddenly, Mira saw something move in the corner of her eye, but when she turned she saw nothing...

That's strange...

It happened again, but Mira missed it again.

"Julia..."

"Yes?"

"Something's here..." Mira felt her legs shaking.

"Hold my hand," said Julia.

She did, but as soon as she touched it, something black lunged at them.

"UMBREOOOON!!!!"

Mira and Julia both shrieked, and the thing knocked Mira onto the ground.

"SPARRKKKKY!!!"

"Hey sis!"

Mira slapped her brother in the face.

"Oww...what was that for?"

"For getting me dirty!"

"Sorry sis, but that was hilarious!"

"Who's that?" asked Julia.

"Oh, this is my brother, Sparky. Feel free to slap him."

She held him up, and Julia hit him as well.

"Why did you have to scare us like that?"

"Couldn't resist!"

"Wait...where's Mark!?"

"...I don't know..."

"What do you mean YOU DON'T KNOW!?"

"I was released from my Pokeball, probably accidentally, but Mark must have been some place high, because I fell and landed over there." He was signalling to a spot near the rocks. "When I looked around, he wasn't there, so I've been hiding in the shadows ever since."

Everyone was silent...Mark...Ryan...where are you...

Suddenly, Mira felt a sensation shoot through her body, and she felt almost a pleasant feeling.

Probably just a Flareon instinct, she thought, but then she heard something repeat in her head. Her Flareon half detected something; something that made it happy, but definitely not Mira's human half.

One word...

Eruption...Eruption...Eruption...

"EVERYONE!!! GET OUT OF HERE!!! THE VOLCANO'S GOING TO ERUPT!!!!!"

"What are you talking about?" asked Sparky.

"If I could have you listen to one thing I saw and truly believe it, this would be it."

"Are you sure?" asked Julia.

"My instincts told me so..."

However, nothing was happening...

"I don't think this volcano is active..." replied Julia.

"But..."

Suddenly, Mira felt another sensation shoot up her body, and it nearly threw her off balance. Suddenly, the cracks in the ground started growing bigger, and the ground started shaking.

"RUNNNNN!!!!"

They all got on the plane, and it flew into the air. Suddenly, smoke started creeping through the cracks. A few seconds later, magma started bursting from the volcano and debris flew through the air.

"Where are we going?" Julia questioned the pilot.

"I don't know! I'm just trying to dodge all of this debris and get as far away from the smoke as possible! This plane won't be able to take too many hits!"

Suddenly, the lights went out on the plane, but at least the navigation was still on.

Sparky was sitting in his sister's lap, and the rings on his body were glowing.

"Will we make it?"

"I-I don't know..."


I hope you liked that chapter. It was a bit short, but I ended the previous story and started this one on the same day, so I'm tired now. Anyways, I don't know when my next update will be, but NEVER THINK THAT I FORGOT ABOUT WRITING THIS STORY!!!