There was an explosion

Or rather…

The world tried to end itself.

A serious of explosions, caused by an assortment of poorly aimed Hyper Beams, was causing the cliff sides overlooking the bay below to crumble and shatter. In the midst of this, a very unfortunate series of events had caused a person to go from standing on the top of the cliff, watching the action below, to hanging onto dear life. Partially gloved bleeding fingers tightly clutching the edge of the cliff, blood trickling down the pale limb, dripping towards the ground so far down below. Grunting, as anyone would when faced with a nasty fall to a sea of churning water filled with the chaos of battle. Clenching her teeth together, she painstakingly pulled herself up onto the ridge. Catching her breath, she pushed back the stray dark green strands of hair from her eyes, firmly tucking them behind her ear. A few moments later, when the pressure in her chest had finally subsided to a tolerable level, she lifted herself up on still shaking legs and began to brush off the blood and dirt from her black tank top and now badly torn acid wash jeans. Cracking her neck, she checked herself over for any serious injuries, slipping her hands out of her gloves.

Her palms were bleeding, her arms and knees, where they peaked out from the tears in her jeans, were covered in bruises and a fine layer of filth but nothing was broken. Sighing, she slipped her raw hands back into the gloves, hissing lightly through clenched teeth at the pull it had on her skin, ripping it further as the leather settled into place. Bending over, she tied the laces tighter on her metal-toed boots and straightening up, wandered to the edge, the wind catching her hair and blowing it into her eyes.

It wasn't a pleasant site. A good forty feet below, on the water's edge and on the nearly vanquished coastline, it was almost too hard for anyone, let alone her, to look at. Dozens of silver-clad humans were enveloped in a fight with an assorted number and color of trainers, pitting their Pokémon against one another with no regard to the storm billowing up around them. It was coming from the tip of the other mountain on the island, the source of that storm, and it wasn't dying down anytime soon. Battle cries and the deafening thuds of blows connecting with flesh, fur, skin, metal… it brought the girl to her knees, tears slipping from her amber eyes and falling onto the ground her hands trembling as she brought them to her eyes, mashing the leather into her face.

She didn't even notice his hand on her shoulder.

Turning sharply, surprise and hostility coming through her expression regardless of the tears still streaming down her cheeks, she relaxed when she noticed the two men both nearly twice her slim 154cm height, one in a black shirt-less suit adorned with a silver ankh like buckle with a blue bandana covering his brown hair and the other, a redhead, in a maroon and grey long sleeved tunic, reaching to just below his knees and a small red mountain emblem just above his heart. Her guard visibly dropping, she staggered back up to her feet, licking her parched lips once before speaking, her voice quiet, almost timid, a sharp contrast to her normal demeanor, "It's as bad as it looks like, isn't it."

The red haired man nodded, crossing his arms across his chest, "Yes, I'm afraid so… Cyrus has gone mad with the power of that stone. He's determined to gain control of the ancient Pokémon slumbering here."

The other man chuckled weakly, pointing over at the mountain, "At this rate, tha seal won't hold, you know? Den we're going to have some preeeetty major flooding on our hands, da?"

"When… when?" she lifted her hands to stare at them, her eyes blurring over as she focused on her cracked and bloodied fingertips, "I should've done something, I should've acted sooner…"

Maxie let out a sharp harrumph, letting an arm fall to his side as one hand cupped his , "Mika this isn't your fault. You couldn't risk exposing yourself; Giovanni couldn't allow Cyrus to know that the Black Emerald was in Sinnoh, there wasn't anything you could've done or can do… If you reveal yourself now, well…"

Her shoulders sagged, her head lowering in defeat and as her knees gave out and she slipped to the edge of the cliff, her hands wrapped around the rocky edge, half her body leaning out over the waters as her eyes scanned the area below, "I know… I know but…" her eyes lifted, staring intently into the waters below at a young boy with light brown hair who was in the midst of the fray, a pikachu firmly attached to his head, watching as he struggled to stay upright, "But…He's-" She leaned further and further out to keep her eyes on him, not realizing how close she was coming to slipping off the edge.

Maxie pulled the girl up by the arm, jerking her harshly back, ignoring the painful yelp that exploded from her mouth as he all but threw the weightless girl back against the ground, grunting as she lay there, the wind completely knocked out of her, for moment before she struggled to sit up, groaning heavily, "Maxie? What on earth was that for?!"

"Fine. Next time you want to dive off a cliff I'll let you." He walked over, offering the girl his hand, pulling her up when her hand fit softly into his, "Come with me to the camp alright? You need to get some attention drawn to your hands…" The older man sighed, gently brushing a lock of hair that had fallen messily in the girl's eyes, "Overall you're a mess Mysterica."

Sighing, she shook the man off, rubbing her forehead softly, "Fine. I get what you're saying…" Relaxing slightly, she adjusted the black satchel on her shoulder, "Let's go then?" Her entire body felt like lead. Maxie had a point. She was in no condition to do any saving and it looked like him, that boy, he'd be okay for the meanwhile. There was defiantly trouble happening down there… but it wasn't the end of the world. Not yet anyways.

"Good, let's go ahead and head-"

"Uh, Maxie, you gunna need to wait ya?"

The man turned on his heels, wondering why, on earth, the man who was oh so strangely in love with the ocean was demanding that they wait. The moment he reopened his eyes, after swallowing his frustration, he understood. Draped over the muscular arm of the sea-fearing captain was the very much so unconscious body of the head executive of Team Rocket, her face flushed with a fever. Sighing, he simply lowered his head into his hands and groaned, "Will that child ever learn? Honestly, will that child EVER learn?"

"Uh… What do we do wit her then Maxie? Carry her to camp, da?"

"Yes… Yes we can't just leave her here." Sighing, he crossed his arms across his chest and walked towards the crudely beaten path towards the campsite, the smoke billowing up in the distance, as Archie gently lifted the girl into his arms, cradling her like an infant almost as he followed along behind, genuine worry crossing over his face.

"Maxie?"

"…what?"

"…It's funny, da?"

"…what, praytell, is funny?"

"Before this girl, my little Mi-Mi-chan before we met her, we were fighting, da? Little Mi-Mi-chan… da… it's… hard to believe just how much this girl has done, da? She's a little gal…"

"…." He let out a heavy sigh, turning towards the man, "It's hard to believe, isn't it. That a girl so young has changed so much and yet… and yet inside that girl is a trapped little child who was locked away, never allowed to be one… Such things… such things appal me." Sighing, he graced his hand along his chin, pondering for a moment such thoughts before he shook his head, "Enough chatter. We're almost to the campsite."

As they arrived, the mixed banners of Aqua and Magma filled the cramped campground, positioned outside various tents but unlike previous encounters, there was no obvious division between the two groups. Fetching a pair of grunts, one blue, one red, Archie handed the girl over to the male of the group before barking out orders, "Take her to the leader's tent, send Amber or Tabitha to go and find a doctor for her and tell them, under my authority, that if they, both the executives and doctor I'm sending them to fetch, don't do it immediately, I'll fry them like a Magikarp"

Sighing, he stomped after the red haired man, heading towards the largest of tents, the mobile headquarters of the Hoenn Magmqua Alliance, his worry turning into frustration and quickly into rage. Whoever was responsible for this madness was going to get slapped like a golden and stir fried like a krabby. Or worse. They could be… they could be a detestable ground type pokemon in which case he'd simply plunk them into the ocean. Flopping into his chair, he growled, waiting for everyone to show and for news of his little mermaid, his precious little Mi-mi-chan.

Mama, Mama tell me the story again!

Mysterica, love, it's so late, little girls should be resting in bed now, your father already tucked you in snug…

But Mama, I wanted to hear it, hear you say goodnight to me, from you!

Well alright… but only if you promise to go right to sleep after this!

I will Mama I will! Now please, please tell me a story!

Which one my darling?

The one about the trees Mama! With the guardians and the magical forests.. That's my very favorite. That's my very very very favorite!

Haha… my precious little one, here, snuggle into your futon, snuggle and listen to Mama, she'll tell you a story, she'll tell you the story of the great mystical tree.

Once upon a time, in the very distant past before the islands were separated...

There was a great and beautiful tree on top of Mt Silver.

The tree was so big, nobody had ever climbed to the top of the tree

it was said that this tree gave life to the entire world of Pokémon

Humans and Pokémon alive lived in Harmony with the tree and with each other

But over time, humans became resentful of the tree

They rose up, forming a giant army, and marched towards Mt Silver

They were going to take and use the tree's power for their own desires

Fearing for the safety of the tree, the Eight Guardians gathered at Mt. Silver

They hid the tree away and separated the lands into islands

On each island, they placed a series of seals, protecting the sacred realm of the tree

On each island also resides a mythical forest

The children of the forest are granted special gifts

They are taught to take care of their homeland and are granted powers like those of the guardians

They guard the Sacred Secret of the forest and its inhabitants

In exchange, the children are able to communicate with Pokémon as humanity past

Together they live in harmony, just like before

Silently watching and waiting for the day.

When the Tree will return reuniting the islands at last

And just like before, humans and Pokémon will exist together, in harmony.

And the world will be united into one, with no wars or anything bad

And every, humans and Pokemon alike, will live happily ever after.

The end.

Are you happy my pet? Did you enjoy that story?

Mama?

Yes pet?

Do you think it'll happen maybe? Will they break the seals someday?

I don't know…but I know that here in Blackthorn, here you will be safe always

Are you sure Mama?

I'm sure love…

Do you think we'll ever find the tree?

I hope so. I hope we get to see the tree…

Mama?

Yes?

Will the tree be pretty?

The prettiest tree you've ever seen

Mama…?

Yes Mysterica?

Do you love me?

Of course I do.

How much do you love me Mama?

As far as the eye can see

What about beyond that, do you still love me?

Mysterica, there is not a thing that can tear me from you.

Mama?

Yes my beloved?

I love you that much too.

I love you too my pet

She woke up in a cold sweat, sitting straight upright in bed, the covers that had been thrown over her now muddled on the floor. Groaning, the pressure from sitting up too soon swelled up suddenly behind her eyes and she laid back with a thud, attempting not to vomit. Staring at her hands, she realized she hadn't been attended to yet, they must've just arrived at camp, and after a moment more of sitting, struggled to stand, groggily stuffing her feet back into her boots.

"And just what the hell do you think you're doing, eh? My patients shouldn't move."

Twitching at the sound of the voice, she lifted her head, glaring up at the sound. Oh dear god no. Please, please, please no… Looking up, her eyes caught sight of her deepest dread, a man almost twice her height that was walking past the tent flap towards her. Dressed in a pair of black dress slacks and a white dress shirt w/ a blue tie, the black haired man whose hair itself reached down to his chin, a flap of hair in his bright golden eyes. Sighing, he shook his head, the tan and black doctor's bag in his hand slipping to a light swing, "Mysterica what have you done to yourself this time?"

She scoffed, standing up weakly, "I'm fine. Go away Kain."

"Well you're obviously not fine. Bleeding all over the floor," he motioned to the floor where, indeed, there was quite a bit of blood spattered on the earthen ground next to the cot Mika had just pulled herself off of, "is not what constitutes fine or any version of fine or any possible conception of fine. If you were fine, m'dear, I wouldn't have had three admins running into my office screaming at me to come over here before Archie practiced his fish gutting skills on one of them in the most painful of fashions. Now, if you were fine, would they have been that pale looking when they barged in? Does Archie simply tear people apart for the fun of it? You yourself know the answer to this m'dear so sit down and shut up." His eyes narrowed, "Or perhaps you need me to fetch Archie and have him translate to me as to why you're refusing treatment…? I'd be happy to do so, just a moment, I'll go now and-"

"Eghn… Enough Kain." She closed her eyes, masking the pain as best she could and sat down on the bed, unable to withhold a deep groan.

Sighing, he dropped his bag at the side of her cot and gently lifted her legs up onto the bed, slipping off her boots as gently as he could, giving her a visual once over before he sighed, a bit heavier this time, leaning up to feel her forehead with the back of his hand, withdrawing when he felt the heat of her fever. Lowering his hand to his side, he took his bag and set it on his lap, looking the girl, whose eyes were still very tightly closed shut and while it was obvious she was trying to hide it, there was pain evident in just how tightly her body was rigged up. Pulling out his stethoscope and fitting it into his ears, he softly moved the blankets to her stomach, his hand placed on her chest, listening to her uneven breathing, "Mika? How bad is it, really? No bullshitting to look bad. How bad is it? Your lungs sound wretched, the worst than I've seen them in a long time."

Biting down on her lip, she opened her eyes, blushing form both the fever and her mortification of being seen like this, "…I've been…ill… for about a month now."

Sighing, he grasped onto the girl's arm and as gently as he could, turned her on her side and pressed the cool metal onto her back, becoming even more annoyed with what he heard, "Mika, you're not-"

"I…ran out."

"You didn't think to call me and get more?"

"I was feeling alright, I didn't think I-"

"Mysterica Lunesca Blackthorn, you know the last time you did this I had to infuse you directly for over three hours-"

"I-"

"…I'm not angry…" he sighed, rolling the girl onto her back, gently probing around her abdomen, shaking his head when the girl let out a muffled yelp into her bitten lip, "Lip out of mouth." Pressing once more, he wasn't surprised when the girl let out a non-muffled yelp that caused those outside to peer in curiously, worry written on their faces. Kain turned, shooing them away with the back of his hand, "You've got some swelling here, I'm putting you on a strain of medications and moving you to the infirmary."

"N-no, I've got to get to the meeting…"

"Is it absolutely necessary? You've broken three ribs, it's got to hurt to move... I'm not sure I approve of this…"

She scoffed, her arm flailing at him lightly, "Just wrap me. I'll go to the meeting then I'll come rest like you want."

"I'm going to inform Archie of this…"

"Go right ahead."

Sighing, he helped the girl sit up and gently wrapped a roll of bandages around her middle before he firmly but gently laid her back down and took a hand, slipping it out of her glove to clean up the wound, "What happened, on the cliff?"

"…"

"You tore four layers of skin off your hands. I'm putting on a bandage but I'll need to do minor surgery on it later to avoid nerve damage."

"…I fell."

"Mmm?"

"I used Tina."

"….child…"

"I have to go to the meeting. We'll talk later?"

"…I don't like this."

"Promise."

"…Alright." Tying off the bandage, he gingerly helped the girl sit up, "You're free to go. But the minute the meeting's over…"

"I understand. Trust me, I get it."

"Then you can go."

Wincing, she shoved her feet into her boots and slowly started to walk towards the Alliance Tent, her pace picking up to her normal pace, her brain shutting off all pain indicators of just how bad she was hurting. Slinging her arms into her jacket, which was indeed a mistake seeing as just how badly her body was screaming right now to have her never move again, she pushed open the flap of the Alliance Tent and took a seat as per directed by Maxie, "So. What do you need from me?"

"What started all this?" Maxie crossed his legs, leaning back in his chair, "How did you go from the G-Men Institution a year ago to..well..now?"

She sighed, closing her eyes, half to remember, half to placate the throbbings in her head, "It all started about a year ago... I had just gotten out of the G-Men facility, I was leaving in the morning on a journey to Sinnoh, to see if Team Galaxy was truly stupid enough to be breaking the Indigo Treaty. I woke up in the morning, and before I left… I went to say goodbye to an old treasured friend…"