Iris popped out of a bush, startling Cilan. "Nothing here that can help."
Cilan thought for a moment. "In order to cure this mysterious illness, we're going to need to find the cause first."
Iris took a bite out of an apple. "You're right. We need to find out who did this and how."
"Who?" Cilan asked. "What makes you think this is a person?"
"It can't possibly be natural. Someone caused the illness. We just don't know who and how." Iris responded, taking another bite of her apple.
"You may be right, Iris." Cilan said. "We need to think back to before this started. When did Ash start feeling sick?"
"It was a few weeks after that Pokemon Trainers Convention." Iris said.
"The Pokemon Trainers Convention! Do you think it started there?" Cilan gasped.
"Maybe. It was the last time he was alone before the illness hit." Iris pointed out. "He said something about going to see a fortune teller."
Cilan nodded. "He also said she painted some sort of magic symbol for good fortune on his forehead that was gone when he found us."
"We need to find that fortune teller! Surely she'll have answers for us!" Iris shouted.
"Iris, quiet down! We don't want everyone to know our business!" Cilan hissed. "How are we going to find this fortune teller anyway?"
Iris smirked. "Simple. We ask the guy who was in charge of the convention."
An hour later…
"Yes, we're calling about the Pokemon Trainers Convention that took place in your town a few months ago." Iris said into the phone. "We heard you were in charge of it." She listened for a moment. "There was a fortune teller at that convention. We need to talk to her." She listened some more. "Thank you, sir." She hung up.
"Well?" Cilan asked.
"The fortune teller left for Kanto a week ago. If she really is the cause for the illness, Kanto will be hit next." Iris told him.
"How are we supposed to find her? We can't leave Unova." Cilan said.
"We can't, but there's someone who can find her for us." Iris crossed her arms. "The doctor gave us Professor Oak's number in case we needed to get in touch with Ash's mother. Professor Oak and Ash's mother can help."
Cilan took out the slip of paper and dialed the number.
A boy answered the phone. "Hello? Professor Oak's Lab. How may I help you?"
"Hello, may I talk to Professor Oak, please?" Cilan asked.
The boy shook his head. "He's out of town right now. He won't be back for a while. May I take a message?"
Cilan turned to Iris and put his hand over the phone. "He's out of town."
"Ask if we can talk to Ash's mom." Iris suggested.
Cilan nodded. "Is Mrs. Ketchum there?"
"Yes. Please hold for a moment." The boy said.
Ash's mother came on the phone. "How may I help you?" She looked as if she hadn't slept in weeks.
Cilan explained about the fortune teller. "Try not to make it clear why you're asking, but we need to know." He suggested a couple questions to ask. "Please help."
"Anything for Ash." Mrs. Ketchum replied. "I'll see what I can do. Call back in a week and I'll tell you if I found anything." She hung up the phone.
So did Cilan. "She's going to help."
"That's great! We have to look into other theories as well, though. It might not have been the fortune teller." Iris pointed out.
Cilan nodded. "Good idea. What else happened before Ash caught the illness?"
"Well, the last time he was separated from us before the fortune teller was when he was hunting a new pokemon." Iris said after a moment's thought.
"You think this could have been a pokemon?" Cilan questioned.
"Probably not, but it's worth looking into every possibility." Iris shrugged.
Cilan agreed. "Then, let's check it out."
