A/N: Um… hi?
I'm new to the pokemon fandom here… though I am not that new to fanfiction. Most of my knowledge regarding pokemon came from the games (especially emerald and firered) so if there is any mistakes please tell me. I'm also aware that my grammar is far far away from perfect, so please, please tell me if you spot any mistakes.
This story takes place after my OC, Deanna, became champion. It is kinda based on Pokemon Emerald…
Oh, and by the way, please review. Criticism is approved but flames will be put out by my Swampert's surf. Please enjoy…
Oxygen
By: AriciaBetelguese
Chapter 1: Missing
"So," Deanna said. "Team Ozone."
Each and every league member sitting in the Pokémon League's meeting room scowled.
It's no wonder why they were pissed off. A new team had formed in Hoenn sometime during these past weeks, and this team had proved themselves more dangerous and more elusive than either Team Aqua or Team Magma.
More elusive to league members only, anyways.
"People in Rustboro are scared." Roxanne said. Deanna nodded, signaling for her to go on. Roxanne continued, "There has been suspicious activities in Petalburg Woods , Route 115, and Route 116. Most of those—scratch that—all of those are related to Devon Corporation."
Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Steven's eyes narrow, but just a little bit.
"The rumors say that the culprit is groups of people with blue and silver clothes," Roxanne ploughed on, "And they always go after anyone trying to pass information, send packages or letters, or bringing goods for Devon Corporation. Most of them don't have pokémons, so naturally those packages, letters, and goods are stolen easily. Those who have pokémons, though—their pokémons were attacked so brutally—even those whose pokémons are on a rather high level—and most of them were at the brink of death when their trainers reaches Rustboro's Pokémon Center."
"Actually," Norman cut Roxanne off, "since Rustboro is so close to Petalburg, we in Petalburg have been dealing with the same situation. Nurse Joy was ticked off." he said. "She said that if she ever finds anyone who did those she's going to—let's just say, make them regret it."
"Yes," Roxanne said. "That's all I can tell you at the moment, though."
Roxanne sat back down, dislike written all over her face. After a moment, Deanna nodded.
"Anyone else?"
"Yes." Flannery immediately said. She stood up.
"Well, I thought—it was just a hunch, really, but I noticed that no one has been coming to Lavaridge from the Jagged Pass lately." She said really quickly. "But I haven't checked it out yet so I wasn't sure so—"
She gulped and nodded.
"Well…" Deanna said thoughtfully. "What about… I'll pay a visit to Lavaridge tomorrow, then—we can check Jagged Pass together."
At this, Flannery nodded again and sat back down.
"Uh—anyone?"
"Me." said Brawly's voice. Everyone turned towards the Dewford gym leader.
"Dewford's Pokémon Center has been crowded lately," Brawly said. "It's suspicious—these people are not from Dewford so why would they be in Dewford? So I asked them—they said they were training in the Abandoned Ship when some trainers came in and forced them out—but when I asked if they're wearing blue and silver clothes, they said these trainers aren't wearing anything of the sort. I figured it might be worth mentioning."
"Right." Deanna said. "Anything else?"
"I have something you might want to notice, dear." Phoebe said airily. "Mount Pyre has been crowded with trainers lately. They seem to be paying their respects to dead pokémons…"
"Thanks Phoebe." Deanna nodded at Phoebe. "Any more suspicious activities?"
"Well," Steven said, "There has been no suspicious activities that I know of, however, pokémon's presence in Meteor Falls is abnormally low."
Deanna frowned. "Well… that certainly is intriguing." she muttered. "For now, though—anybody else?"
The room was silent.
"Okay." Deanna said when she received no answer. "So this is what we know—one, this Team Ozone seems to hate Devon Corporation."
"True," said Wallace, "But it might be possible that Team Ozone only wants to stop Devon Corporation's research."
"Point." Deanna nodded. "Either they hate Devon Corp. or they hate Devon's research. Next—their uniform is blue-silver."
"Blue sky." Winona added.
"Yes. And then… there's a possibility that they're doing something in the Abandoned Ship."
"It was still unconfirmed though." said Brawly.
"That's why it's only a possibility. Now then… they might be doing something in the Jagged Pass, too, but that is also unconfirmed. As about the crowded Mount Pyre, I think… Mount Pyre is the place where dead pokémons are honored, is it not?"
"Yes. However dear, please keep note that trainers buries their dead pokémons there, too, dear."
Deanna paused, then turned towards Phoebe. "Their dead pokémons?"
"True, dear."
"Then…" Deanna said, a feeling of horror engulfing her. "Could it be… more pokémons are dead?"
"That's…" Norman trailed off. "That's a cruel possibility."
There was silence. The thick, engulfing one that presses against your eardrums, that makes you feel pressured.
Deanna shook her head.
"I…what is the goal of Team Ozone exactly?" she asked, trying to avert the league members' attention. "It can't be to expand the air—I mean, air can be expanded and compressed easily… it seems like a rather foolish goal."
"No, it can't be their goal." Wallace said. "For now, though—it's unimportant. I suggest we go back to our routine, but still keep alert about unusual activities. For now." Wallace added. Deanna smiled, agreeing.
"Okay, then—we'll end the meeting now. Be careful and keep alert. And—I know that they try to avoid us league members, but try to track them down." Deanna sighed. "Good afternoon."
There was a scuffle as everyone stood back up. Deanna sank into the chair that she hadn't occupied since the beginning of the meeting, because she always stood up, for she doesn't like being in lower height than the other league members, especially when she is the one leading them.
Being a young champion is annoying. Especially if you're the youngest in the league. Deanna closed her eyes and leant back.
"So how's it going, champ?" Wallace's voice rang out cheerily in her ears. She groaned before opening her eyes.
"Awesome." She said sarcastically. "It's going great. You have a lot of responsibilities, and you get to lead your very own father, and you also lead people older than you. Makes you feel incompetent, really. It's wonderful."
Steven, who had been standing beside Wallace, laughed lightly. He approached Deanna's side and patted her shoulder.
"You're doing fine." He said reassuringly. "Now let's get you out of here before you melt into that chair."
Deanna smiled and she let Steven pull her out of the chair. Wallace smiled at the both of them, but as they exited the League's meeting room, he turned to Steven and Deanna.
"I'm going to go and meet Brawly." He said. "You two go ahead."
He waved and left.
"What do you think he's going to do?" Steven asked conversationally. "He's going to see Brawly—maybe he wants to check out the Abandoned Ship? It's near Dewford, after all."
"Hmm, maybe." Deanna responded. "What do you plan on doing tomorrow, Steven?"
"Well," he said, "I think I'm going to check out Granite Cave. See if Granite Cave's pokémons have disappeared mysteriously, too." He explained. "What about you?"
"Um…"
"Deanna?" Said Dad's voice. Deanna jumped.
"Ah—umm…—N—Dad?" I asked, turning around. "Uh—what's wrong?"
Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Steven's eyes twinkle with laughter. Jerk.
"Can you come with Petalburg with me, Deanna? There's something I'd like to discuss."
"Um… alright?"
"Then I suppose I should get going." Steven said easily, smiling. "See you around, Norman."
"You too, Steven."
Deanna looked at her dad, who smiled and motioned at her pokéballs. Deanna nodded and pulled out Altaria's pokéball.
Altaria hummed and turned its head at Deanna questioningly. She smiled. "Take us to Petalburg, okay, Altaria? Be quick."
Altaria hummed in assent and she let her dad climb onto Altaria first before she followed him.
"So." Dad said, "How's it going, Pokémon League Champion?"
"Dad!" Deanna said. She could feel her face getting hot. "It's horrible. It's really annoying being a champion—what with the fans and all."
She could hear her dad laughing and frowned at herself.
"You have some loyal fans, you know." She told him, remembering her last visit to the Pokémon Trainer Fan Club in Lilycove. "Norman battled with more power, charisma, and showmanship than you!" she quoted, enjoying the way her Dad smile embarrassedly. "Even though you're strong, you've still got a long way to go!"
"Are you jealous?"
"What, jealous? No way! Besides, you're my dad." Deanna laughed. Dad also laughed. Altaria's wings sped up, and she looked up at the sky.
The sun had begun to set. She and her dad watched in silence as the sky slowly turned blood-red as the sun slowly inched closer to the horizon. She could feel herself becoming sleepy. Dad wrapped his arm around her and she leant back, closed her eyes, and slept.
I flew on my Skarmory towards Route 130. I had watched the pokémon league meeting that day end; I also had seen the three champions—Deanna, Steven Stone, and Wallace—exit. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but I will find out soon how to sneak a listening device to them. Soon.
I myself don't know if what I am working for is right, but it's not like I have a choice…
As though as sensing my distress, Skarmory let out a cry that echoed in the afternoon sky. I smiled. At least I have someone I can share my load with… my pokémons.
A/N: So how was it? I'm sorry if the characters are kinda OOC… Once again, please review, and criticism is encouraged but flames will be snuffed out. I will try to update at least once a week… so… see you next week?