Save 2- Silas

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"I have given each of you a Pokemon," Professor Flora began, "So that you may help me with my research. As I said, my field of study is Delta Transition. These three Pokemon each have been specially raised to have a base Friendship of Zero."

"From our understanding and tests, we have determined that these three specially raised Pokemon should respond specifically to your attention. What I ask is simple: travel Altes and raise your Pokemon's level and Friendship as you do so. Gather as much information as possible. Perhaps you'll find someone who knows something about Delta Transition."

"So you want us to go on a journey?" asked Storm.

"Yes," said Flora, "Journey out, catch Pokemon, and help me with my research. Will you do this? Storm? Shade? Can I trust you to aid in my research?"

"Yes, Professor." said Storm.

I was silent. I passed the Pokeball back in forth between my hands. A journey. A chance to see Altes, and maybe the World. Was this something I could do?

Once again I found myself questioning the fact that I had to think. Yes. I would go on this journey and help with the Professor's research. I told the Professor I would and she smiled happily.

"Then I have something for you. One moment, please."

We stood silently and awkwardly. I clipped the Pokeball to my belt and waited for the Professor's return.

She came back with her hands held behind her back. Then she held out a glass case with a crushed purple velvet lining. Sitting cushioned on it were- one, two, three… ten Pokeballs. More Pokemon?

"These Pokeballs are used to catch and train wild Pokemon. Here are five for you." She gave Storm her Pokeballs, "And five for you."

I slipped the empty Pokeballs quietly into my pocket.

Professor Flora reached into the depths of her lab coat pockets and pulled out two small electronic devices. I'd read about them before. A Pokedex. She gave Storm and I the 'Dex and I slipped it into my back pocket.

"Your Pokedex," said Flora, "It's a sort of encyclopedia. When you catch a Pokemon, the Pokedex automatically receives information on the captured species. You can use it to gather information on Pokemon as you journey. There are other features on it as well, such as a communication program, as well as a system that sends captured Pokemon to the PC storage system when you have catch more than six Pokemon. Also, I think one of my assistants got bored and added Tetris to it." She smiled again.

"You may leave now." said Flora, "Also, Shade, don't forget to tell your mother you're leaving."

I nodded and followed Storm outside of the Center.

"Wow," she said, "A journey! I'm so ready for this! Shade, I'd like to ask you something."

I gulped. "Yes?" I said, frightened.

"We just got Pokemon," she said, "I was wondering if you'd like to battle. You know, try them out."

A Pokemon battle? Really?

Excited, I unclipped the ball from my belt and eagerly accepted.

"Okay, then." said Storm, "Don't go easy on me, okay?"

We backed up several steps and each held out are Pokeballs high. We threw them at the same time and they burst open into the sky, light spilling out and morphing into two Pokemon.

From mine, came the blue jackal-like Pokemon, Riolu, and from Storm's came the small fox-like being, Zorua.

"Ri!" came Riolu's cry.

"Ru, rua!" came Zorua's.

"Don't hold back!" I shouted.

"Riolu, Quick Attack!" I cried and at my command, the little Pokemon charged forward and tackled Zorua with blinding speed.

"Leer!" said Storm. Zorua planted its feet firmly into the ground and stared harshly at Riolu, its eyes glowing slightly with a green light.

Riolu shuddered.

"Pursuit!" Storm cried.

"Endure!" said I.

Zorua charged at Riolu headfirst, fur gleaming with purple rage. Riolu planted his feet down in a defensive stance and took the full force of the impact.

"Quick Attack!"

"Tackle!"

Our Pokemon ran at each other full force and I knew that whoever landed their hit would be victorious. It was something that I saw internally, something I felt certain of, as if I could see the vitality of the two opposing Pokemon. Zorua was fast, but Riolu was faster.

"Zor… ru… rua…" Zorua fell to the ground and seemed to not move for a moment, before twitching its tail. I let out a sigh of relief, afraid for a moment that I had seriously injured the little fox.

Zorua started to glow with a bright red and dematerialized into Storm's Pokeball.

"You fought well, Zorua," she said, "Thank you."

I ran over to Riolu and hugged the small Pokemon, joyfull of our victory. "Thank you, thank you, Riolu. You can come back, now."

I pressed the button on the face of the Pokeball and Riolu flew inside in a flash of luminous red light.

"Thank you," said Storm, "Although I lost, I feel glad knowing that I had fun."

"Same here," I smiled.

"I'll be seeing you later." she said, "I think I'll catch the ferry and make my way to the mainland."

"Ferry?" I asked.

"Yeah, every few hours, a ferry comes to the island to take passengers to Draco City. I think there's a Gym there."

"Really?" I said, "When does the ferry come?"

"It should be here in a half hour or so. Enough time for me to gather some things. Besides, you should probably check with your mother." she added, "She'll want to know you're leaving."

"Thanks," I said, then, "What about you? Don't you have someone you should be saying 'bye' to?"

"Did you forget?" she asked, "I'm staying with Professor Flora, for now. My father's a scientist in Phenac City-" Ahh! Orre! "-studying desert weather conditions in relations to Birch's Theory of Pokemon Regional Diversity. I came here because Dad very... adamantly requested that I help Professor in any way I can. If this is what the Professor asks of us, then this is what'll I'll do. Well, I'll be seeing you. Bye!"

She gave me a cheery wave and headed out to the Center. I made my way home.

I might have considered- at length, on the way home- how I was gonna tell Mom about Professor Flora's job. As it turned out, I didn't have to.

Apparently, the Professor had called to make sure I'd checked in with Mom about leaving out. Why? I have no idea. Long story, short: while I was battling Storm, Flora and Mom had had quite a discussion about this. General conclusion: I was allowed to go, but on three conditions. Apparently, I was not allowed to keep the money I won in battle because I was quote "Irresponsible" and would have to send Mom a cut every time I received money, in case I "went crazy and bought out the whole store." Numero dos: If I did anything crazy or stupid and got injured- anything at all- I was to come straight home and never leave the island unless accompanied by an adult. Right, that was gonna happen.

And finally, the most dreadful condition of all: I was not good capable of looking out for myself, so I was to... take... Espurr with me...

Right, time to check out the PC Storage System! Except, somehow Mom would find out and I would be grounded for life. Yay... Two Pokemon on my team, one of which I figured I would probably NEVER use. Goodnight, Espurr. I hope your nice and cozy in your Pokeball!

I left the house with my bag on my shoulders, mostly empty, save for a few Potions I inexplicably found stored on my PC, the Pokeballs the Professor had given me, a Town Map for Altes, and the one possession it would kill me to leave behind: Selenei's Shiny Mew doll.

I looked out to the beach; no sign of the Ferry to Draco City. I considered waiting here, then decided against it. I decided then that I should go to the Research Center and wait alongside Storm. We were both going to the same place, after all. With that decision made, I made my way toward Sirius Town. Without paying to much attention, I accidentally ran straight into someone.

We tumbled to the ground. I stood up and dusted my jeans off. The person I'd knocked over was a boy about my age, from the look of him. He wore a black leather jacket, with a small, strangely ornate, 'S' emblazoned over his breast. He wore a pair of black, rectangular glasses over his startlingly blue eyes. He looked somewhat scholarly, like someone I'd see in the world famous Canalave Library. He looked terrified.

I held out my hand to help him to his feet. "I'm sorry," I said, "I should've been paying more attention to where I was going."

"No problem," he said, voice shaking, as he dusted himself off. He had a strange look on his face. One that clearly said that he did not want to be there and that he wanted to get away from me as quickly as physically possible. Quicker, if he had his way about it.

As he tried to make his leave, I stopped him. "What's your name?" I asked.

"Silas," he said, and ran before I could say anything else.

Peculiar.

Continuing on my way to the Center, I saw Storm walking in the opposite direction. I caught up with her quickly.

"Hello," she said.

"Salutations," I said.

"Formal now, are we?"

"Of course, should one not be formal before they leave their homeland and start on an epic journey?" I asked, then laughed trying to keep a straight face.

"Forgive me if I'm wrong, but haven't you already left your homeland? Didn't you just get here today?" she asked.

"Details, details." I said dismissively, "So, where're you going?"

"The Ferry. It should be here any time now. Actually," she said, looking out to the distance, "I think it's here now."

"Really?" I couldn't see anything.

"Yeah. We might want to hurry up." she said, quickening her pace.

Having ridden the Orion, and having sat through the incredibly long line leading up to it, one would think that lines wouldn't bother me. Wrong. Waiting for the twenty-something passengers ahead of me took forever. A major desire to cut in line was broken, simply by some magical force of willpower and Storm staring at me with the eyes of Swellow. Up ahead, I saw the boy I'd ran into, Silas.

Maybe I could talk to him. I didn't exactly get the chance to apologize properly.

I paid for my Ferry Ticket and got aboard, taking a bench seat next to the railing. The Ferry lurched forward and I felt the spray of water against my face. Within minutes beside the roaring cascade of the sea, I was drenched. Completely and utterly drenched. I moved away from the edge, inward, with Storm laughing quietly.

"Oh, go ahead, laugh." I mumbled, wringing water out of my hat.

She obliged by laughing even harder.

I sat for the rest of the ride, sulking.

We docked at Draco City Port a half hour later.

The city was very reminiscent of Slateport, back home. Hoenn.

Everything seemed to be very well planned out. There was a nice park in the center of the city, with children playing around with their parents' Pokemon. I saw people walking around the market tents, with Poochyena and Lilipups with little bows on their heads or around their necks. There was a red-roofed building I recognized as a Pokemon Center. A blue-roofed building next to it that was a Poke Mart. No Gym.

Oh well, I decided. Riolu and I weren't ready for competitive battling, anytime soon. We had to train before we were anywhere near ready to fight any Leaders today.

Storm and I separated. She apparently was going to do some shopping at the market. I decided I was going to look around.

I came across a large building that I at first took to be an office of some form. Instead it was a museum. Great, I could live with that.

I paid my 50P admission fee and was breathless.

I'd been to all of the great museums of the world: Slateport, Lilycove, the Pewter City Museum of Science. None of them prepared me for what awaited me in the Draco City Museum of World History. Now, with that name, I expected something a little overrated. But the end result was anything but.

The Museum had several levels, going up about seven or eight stories. A large structure made of transparent red stone dominated the center of the ground level and rose all the way to the top. It depicted Pokemon throughout various stages of evolution. At the base was a carving of Mews in different poses, all looking upward at the figures that proceeded it. Hundreds upon hundreds of Pokemon. Extinct fossil Pokemon like Anorith and Tyrunt, and dozens of ancestral Pokemon I didn't know the name of. I saw Pokemon ancestors I recognized, like a primitive creature resembling a Pikachu, hiding in the foliage of a primitive Sawsbuck's horns. Rising higher on this massive statue, I began seeing living Pokemon represented: Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Altaria, Sharpedo, Lucario, Eevee, and Liligent. It appeared as if every Pokemon in existence were represented here. At the very top was a Pokemon that was described in Sinnoh mythology as the Creator of the Unierse, Arceus. Beneath him, other rare, mythological figures like Kyogre and Reshiram.

I marveled at this statue for several minutes before I walked closer to it. At the base was a small plaque that read:

"The Ascent of Species, Artist Unknown. This statue dates back to the early 1700's, during the time of the Great War of Kalos. It was found by Mythologist, Cynthia no Celestic, at the depths of the previously unexplored Marble Cavern, on Altair Island. Little is known of this statue's meanings or origins, though it is generally believed to be of the same substance as the Anistar Sundial in Kalos."

"Marvelous, isn't it?" said a woman, who had walked up beside me, unnoticed.

She looked to be in her mid twenties. Her hair was long and blonde. She wore a long black gown, with onyx ornaments in her hair.

"It's amazing!" I exclaimed, unable to hide my awe.

"It is quite lovely." she agreed. "It simply astonishes the mind that something like this has been hidden away from humanity for so long. It's breathtaking."

"It feels..." I began, unsure of what to say. There was something about this statue, the Ascent, that simply refused to allow me to look away. It pulled at me like some unknown presence. "Important," I finally finished.

"I couldn't agree more." said the woman. "Unfortunately, I don't think we'll ever know of the people who built it, or their reasoning behind it."

"I don't think we need to know. I think if we understood art, we wouldn''t be able to appreciate it."

"Alas, that is the biggest truth I know as a historian: by knowing the way things work and the reason things happen, it simply destroys the magic of the unknown."

I wasn't sure how to respond to this. I didn't have to. A moment later, I heard footsteps approaching. I looked back and saw Silas walking to me. Or properly, he was walking to the woman beside me. His expression was amazing: it was the same one I'd worn when I saw Champion Red on a trip to Johto. Shock, astonishment, twenty other feelings wrapped into one.

"Are you... you're..." Silas stammered, his face fire-red.

The woman smiled, "Cynthia, " she said, and I knew it was her name.

Why did I know that name? I quickly looked down at the plaque in front of me. Oh, that's Sinnoh Mythologist. Really, was this her? Silas's face told me yes.

"I-I-I-" he stammered, unable to speak. He produced a notebook from his pocket and a pen instantly. "Ca-can I- I can... autograph?"

Admittedly, I was amazed he was able to complete the word. I bit back the urge to laugh.

Cynthia took the offered pen and signed her name in one quick fluid stroke. And Silas looked as if he were on the verge of dying. He probably used all his willpower to remain standing.

"Silas," I said.

He nodded once in my direction, then returned to stammering at the Mythologist.

"Well, this has been fun," she said with a laugh, then turned to me, "I don't think I caught your name. I usually have good instincts when it comes to people, and I have a feeling I'll be seeing you again. I'm usually right about these things."

"Shade," I said, extending my hand. She shook it.

"I'll be seeing you, Shade," she said, walking away, "Try not to pass out, okay, Silas?"

And for a moment, I think he did, but she had already left.

"You were talking... to Cynthia?!" he said, "What'd she say, was she nice? What'd you talk... wait, how do you know my name?"

"I bumped into you in Sirius Town." I said. Our encounter hadn't been that long ago, had it? Maybe an hour at most? I didn't know.

"Oh, that's right." he said. Then, "You're a Trainer, right?"

"Well, sort of. I just got my first Pokemon today, I haven't really battled that much."

"Neither have I." he said, "Would you like to battle? It might help tremendously if my Pokemon experienced an actual battle."

"Oh, alright. But I think we should go outside." I said, "I don't think I want to risk accidentally wrecking something important."

"Of course," he said,"Is now a good time?"

Thinking of the 50P I'd spent getting in, I considered it for a moment. "Now's fine." I said.

We left the museum and walked over to the park. We stood several feet apart.

I cast my Pokeball out high and caught it when it fell back into my hand after releasing forth Riolu.

"RIII" he cried, taking up a fighting stance.

"Go forth!" cried Silas, "Larvesta!"

The ball ejected the pupal Pokemon I'd seen at Professor Flora's Center. Weird, I thought she was only giving me and Storm Pokemon. Maybe she's seen Silas and decided to send him on a journey, as well.

"Ember!" cried Silas.

Larvesta reared up and spit out a small burst of flame from within its body. Riolu jumped aside quickly, easily missing Larvesta's attack.

"Endure!" I said, and Riolu prepared itself for Larvesta's next assault of Ember.

"Quick Attack!" I called, and Riolu surged forth with lightning speed, charging directly into Larvesta's body.

"String Shot!" Silas ordered. Larvesta positioned itself carefully, firmly planting its body into the ground.

"Dodge it!" I cried, hopeless as Riolu's body became encased in silk.

"Ember!"

The silk caught fire and burned quickly, rendering Riolu unconscious.

I let out a small cry and returned Riolu to his Pokeball. Angry, outraged, I threw out the blue and white Great Ball Mom had given me.

"Espurr! Espurr!" came the resulting cry.

"Psychic!" I ordered. Espurr looked at me curiously. And planted itself firmly on the ground.

And went to sleep.

"No, Espurr! Wake up! You're supposed to-!"

"Ember!"

I watched hopelessly as the sleeping Espurr drowsily fainted.

I bit back the urge to cry. Why hadn't Espurr listened? She'd always listened to me at home! I walked over to the unconscious cat Pokemon and cradled it in my arms. I held out her Pokeball and tearfully returned her to whatever existed within.

I walked over to Silas. He had an expression of pure joy and awe on his face. He'd won. Victorious.

He called back Larvesta.

"I didn't think I was going to win." he said.

"It's alright," I said, "One of us was going to lose, anyway."

"I suppose so." he said.

I held out his prize money and he accepted it, gratefully. 100P. That seemed fair. He pocketed the change and thought for a moment.

"You should probably go to the Pokemon Center." he said. I had actually been thinking just that. "You can't battle without Pokemon."

I scurried away, quietly my Pokemon from further harm.

"We'll take your Pokemon for a moment." said the Nurse at the Pokemon Center. I handed her the two Pokeballs from my belt and walked away while she went to revive my fainted Pokemon.

"Shade!" I heard Storm call out. She stood at the front door, looking distraught. For some reason, I'd thought she would probably have left the city already. She looked mortified.

She ran over to where I stood.

"It's terrible!" she announced.

"What? What happened?" I asked, quickly and frightfully.

"I just received a message from the Professor on my Pokedex!" she said. Okay, that made no sense. A message on her Pokedex?

Oh, right. The Professor did say something about a communication program being installed.

"What's wrong? What'd she say?"

"She said someone had stolen her last Pokemon after we'd left. Apparently, when her Aid put them away, someone had broke in without anyone knowing and STOLEN LARVESTA!"

Stolen Larvesta? That can't be right.

"When did this happen?" I asked.

"She doesn't know. Around the time we were having our battle, I guess."

"You're saying someone had stolen the Professor's last Pokemon?" I asked, not wanting to connect the dots that I saw forming before my eyes. "Was there a video camera recording this? Does she know who did it?"

"She sent me a picture of the video, in case we see him." Her voice was starting to finally calm down. She fished around in her handbag and pulled out her Pokedex.

She clicked open a few files and held it out so I could see.

Among the graininess of the photo and the time stamp below it, one could discern a perfect image of a boy with his jacket pulled tight around his body.

"Sir?" said the Nurse, calling me back to the front desk.

"We've restored your Pokemon to full health." she said. I clipped the Balls to my belt. "We hope to see you again." she said.

"It's horrible." Storm said when I returned. "Who would do such a thing?"

I wanted to say I didn't know. But the truth was, I did know. I'd seen that face staring at the Pokemon through the Professor's window. I knew that who it was. And with one final look at the photo, I felt a sharp pain rise up in my throat.

The boy running out of the Professor's lab, had been Silas.

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