A/N: I'm really, really sorry I'm late, everyone! My life had been busy lately. Thank you for Butterfly Meadow for reviewing! Was my writing really that bad, or was the summary not interesting?

Anyways, please enjoy the newest chapter of Oxygen.


Oxygen

By: AriciaBetelguese

Chapter 2: Home


"Deanna."

"Mmm?"

"We're here."

Deanna opened her eyes. The world was a fuzzy blur. Slowly she straightened up, and blinked several times.

"Where…" she asked, her brain still not working properly.

"We're in Petalburg, Deanna."

"Petalburg?"

"You came with me after the league meeting and slept on the way here."

Now she looked at Dad. And then she remembered what happened.

"Oh…" Deanna said, still sleepy. "Then…"

Deanna fumbled with the pokéballs on her belt and pulled out Altaria's pokéball. A moment later, it was back in its pokéball. She trotted groggily after Dad into the Petalburg Gym.

She yawned when Dad closed the door. She felt so sleepy.

"Deanna, I need you to deliver this letter to Mr. Stone."

"Mr. Stone?" Deanna inquired as she received the letter.

"Yes, Mr. Stone from Devon Corporation. As all league members know now, Team Ozone always confiscates anything going to Devon Corporation… and I trust you, my daughter."

"Uh…" Deanna nodded. "Yeah… well, then, I think I'm going home to Littleroot—"

"Good idea. Your mother misses you, I can tell. Do be careful and use your Altaria, though… it's already dark. And don't fall asleep."

"Mmm." she nodded. "Thanks dad."

"Take care, Deanna."

Deanna walked out of Petalburg Gym and pulled out Altaria's pokéball. It cooed at her inquiringly, but she just yawned.

"I feel sleepy Altaria. Can you bring me home to Littleroot?"

It nodded, and Deanna climbed onto its back. It took off to the night sky at once, and immediately flew to Littleroot.

The journey was a short one. In no time at all, Altaria landed in front of Deanna's home in Littleroot.

"Thanks Altaria." she said sleepily. It cooed, and she brought it back to its pokéball.

Deanna knocked on the door, half-afraid that mom would be asleep, but she opened it immediately. Deanna smiled wearily at her.

"I'm home."

"Oh Deanna, you haven't been home for months!" Mom cried out and hugged her. "You just came home the day after you became league champion and you haven't been home since!"

"I'm sorry mom." Deanna closed her eyes. "I've been roaming Hoenn, visiting the gym leaders and getting to know them. I feel awkward leading them, really."

"You're my daughter, Deanna." Mom said confidently. "And you're your father's daughter. I know you'll do fine. Now come in. You look tired… have you even had dinner yet?"

"Mmm?" Now Deanna realized how hungry she was. "No, not yet…"

"Then have a seat and wait. I'll cook something up." Mom said, and she disappeared into the kitchen.

Deanna sat on one of the dining room's chair, and sighed, feeling weary. A few moments later, mom returned with a plate full of delicious spaghetti.

"Mmm!" Deanna said excitedly, the scent bringing her awake fully. Spaghetti is, after all, her favorite food. "Delicious!"

Mom laughed as Deanna gulped down her spaghetti. No words were exchanged between them until she finished her dinner.

"So," Mom said conversationally as Deanna reached for her glass of water. "Are you going to leave tomorrow morning?"

Deanna choked on her drink in surprise—mom laughed.

"How did you—know—" she sputtered. Mom laughed even more.

"Like I said before, Deanna," said mom, "You are your father's daughter."

"Am I really that predictable?" Deanna asked her. She was aware that she sounded like a sulking child, but.

"You wouldn't be my daughter otherwise." Mom responded, and Deanna sighed.

"Well—Dad asked me to deliver this letter to Mr. Stone of the Devon Corporation, then Altaria's gonna fly me to Lavaridge, because I promised Flannery—Lavaridge Gym's leader—that I'd inspect Jagged Pass with her. She suspects that something is going on there, and she's worried that it might have something to do with Team Ozone."

"Be careful, Deanna." Mom said. "I know, I know." She said when Deanna opened her mouth to protest. "I know that you're the champion and you can take care of yourself, but you're still my daughter, sheesh…"

Deanna smiled.

"And by the way, your Vulpix is going to be fully healthy soon. You should come and pick it up. Maybe your Mightyena can stay here, I'd love to have company."

Deanna's Vulpix had been accidentally thrown off a cliff during a battle with a wild pokémon. Granted, it was not a tall cliff, but one of its legs is broken and Deanna had sent Vulpix home so that mom could take care of it. In the meantime, she had caught a Mightyena, who took Vulpix's place until it could come back into her team.

"Yes, mom." Deanna smiled. "And mom—I feel really sleepy—"

"Then good night, Deanna." Mom said. "Sweet dreams."

"Thanks, mom." Deanna turned away and made her way to the bed that she hadn't slept in for weeks.


It was still dark outside.

Deanna had woken up early in the morning. It had always been a habit of hers—she could never wake up late. So she had crept downstairs and peeked into the kitchen, only to see a plate of rice with omelet on the table. Evidently, Mom had woken up early to cook some breakfast for her. She had seen her mother asleep on her way down; she must've slept again after cooking Deanna's breakfast.

So Deanna finished her breakfast quickly, then she snuck into mom's room. She was still asleep.

"Thanks, mom." Deanna said quietly. Then, she left the house.

She inhaled; the scent of fresh air entered her nostrils and filled her lungs. Deanna felt fresh. Her right hand reached for Raichu's pokéball and she released Raichu.

"Walk with me to Rustboro, okay, Raichu?" Deanna asked the mouse pokémon. With a soft sound of "Raichu!" and a nod, Deanna walked north towards Route 101.

"The air feels so fresh…" Deanna mused as she set off on a brisk face through the grass, heading towards the small Oldale Town. Raichu showed her agreement with a nod. Deanna watched the sky slowly turn brighter as dawn came. She felt so peaceful.

In almost no time at all, they reached Oldale Town. It was brighter outside, but the little town was quiet and the streets were empty. Deanna and her pokémon walked quicker; she wanted to reach Rustboro quickly so she could fly to Lavaridge Town and check out Jagged Pass with Flannery. Finally they reached Route 102. Before they left Oldale, Deanna glanced back and saw some people starting their activities in town.

Not long after they reached Petalburg City, where her father's gym is. The sky was a bright blue now, and the city bustled with activity—however, every face that she saw seemed anxious and worried.

And as she neared Petalburg's Gym, she noticed dad standing in front of the gym.

"Dad?" she asked him.

"Deanna." He replied. Like everybody else, he looks worried. "Last night, after you had gone home, someone came out of Petalburg Woods. He was alright, but he said that his pokémon had been attacked so badly. Nurse Joy told me that the pokémon was on the brink of death."

"What level is the pokémon?"

"It's a level 25 Castform. And the man said that the person who attacked him was wearing blue and silver. The man was supposed to deliver tools to make a portable pokémon healing device but when he was attacked the item was stolen."

Deanna could feel herself getting angry. Who was this Team Ozone? How dare they attack pokémon so terribly like that? She clenched her teeth.

"When I reach Petalburg Woods," she hissed, "I'm going to find those—those people and make them pay."

"Deanna," Dad said, "Listen to me. You are going to fly on your Altaria to Rustboro. Let out Raichu out of his pokéball, just in case you are attacked. Flying types are weak to electric attacks."

"No." said Deanna stubbornly. "I'm going through Petalburg Woods and—"

"Deanna." Dad said, sternly this time. "You are flying to Rustboro. I do know how strong you are, I'm not underestimating you or the fact that you are the champion of Hoenn, but you are my daughter, I am your father, and you have to obey me."

Deanna stayed silent for a moment. She knew her dad was right, but those Ozone people—

She sighed. Whether she liked it or not, he was her father and she still has to obey him.

"Yes, dad." Said Deanna reluctantly.

"Good." Said Dad. "Now let out your Altaria."

Deanna reached for Altaria's pokéball and did as she was told.

"Come, Altaria." She said, climbing onto Altaria's back. "Bring me to Rustboro City."

"Be careful, Deanna." Said Dad. Deanna only smiled.

"Don't worry dad. I'll be fine." She reached out a hand towards Raichu, who stood on the ground beside Altaria. "Come, Raichu. On my back."

The tiny mouse pokémon jumped with surprising agility and strength onto Deanna's back. Then Altaria flapped its wings and took off to the blue, blue sky.


I watched quietly as the girl and her beloved Altaria took off to the sky. I know that she is the champion, but I didn't know how strong she was. After all, I have never seen her battle.

Well, I'll just have to find out, do I?

"Skarmory," I whispered. "Follow the Altaria, but don't let them see you."


A/N: Hmm, what is this guy and his Skarmory planning? Is he with Team Ozone?

Oh, and please review. I usually use your reviews to measure how good my latest writing is. I don't mind critics, honest! I am all too aware that my writing—especially my grammar—is far from perfect. Thank you for reading!