Whew! sorry it took so long to get the second chapter out, but there was a lot of stuff to do, so I was real busy. The good news is, SCHOOL'S OUT! so I'll have a lot more time to write.
On the way down back into the training room, Tails jumped into the air. "Oh yeah!" he said, "we're moving up in the ranks!"I watched him, amused, "but you know, Tails," I reminded him, "missions only for supervisors are really hard."
His grin didn't flicker, "so? We can handle this, It can't be that hard."
I smiled, Flame and Cinder gave each other high fives.
"ok," said Cinder enthusiastically, "party in the Dorm tonight!"
"I like the way you think!" said Tails, patting him on the back.
"I'll get some food," he replied, "the kitchens are never kept locked."
"Good idea!" I said to Cinder, also patting him on the back. I never wanted to go to any of the parties at the base, but tonight was special, tonight was the night.
"Gee, Flare," said Tails, grinning, "it's not like you to have fun."
I didn't answer, but I flicked him in the eye with my tail.
Once we got up to the Dorm, Cinder left for the kitchens.
Tails flopped down on his bed, and was asleep in seconds.
While he snored, Flame took out one of her many Mythology books. I squinted at the side, it read The Legend of Groudon and Kyogre.
"Why do you read those things?" I asked her, flopping down on my bed.
She raised an eyebrow at me, "you mean you never had the urge to find out how this world came to be?"
"Nope," I said, fluffing up the pillows with my paws.
"But this is interesting!" she said, flipping the book around and showing me a picture of a stone tablet with strange writing on it.
"Listen to this," she said, and began to read, "Contrary to popular belief, Groudon and Kyogre did not, in fact, create land or sea.
"According to this ancient tablet, the creator of land and sea is none other than the pokemon labeled as 'God,' Arceus.
"After the land and sea were forged, Arceus created the two legendaries to rule over them, and keep them safe."
I yawned pointedly, Flame rolled her eyes and went back to her book.
Smirking, I got up, and walked over to the bathroom connected to our Dorm.
Once I got there, I flipped over the mirror, to expose at least a dozen pictures.
I say pictures, but they were actually drawings done by a Smeargle. It didn't matter, though, they were so lifelike you couldn't call them anything else.
I took down the one picture, that, for some reason, was the most important. My father, an Espeon, and my mother, an Umbreon, sitting next to a little ball of fluff sticking out of a brown egg.
I stared at the little Eevee, so carefree and happy, nothing at all like the pokemon I had become.
I looked up at the other pictures I had obtained from my missions. There I was, on a tiny swing, being moved by my father's Psychic. I saw myself digging into a bowl of berries, smiling and laughing.
A tear rolled down my cheek, but I wiped it away, Things are different now! I told myself, wiping my eyes, I'm different now.
I heard a rustle behind me, and I spun around. I hadn't closed the bathroom door.
Tails stood at the opening, a look of bewilderment on his face. I noticed my eyes were still wet, but I didn't dare wipe them, in case Tails noticed my tears.
His eyes moved to the mirror containing the pictures, and the puzzlement disappeared from his face. He smiled, and left the room. Tails may be an idiot sometimes, but he's a nice guy.
I was the first one out of bed, owing to the fact that I ate the least last night.
When I shook Tails awake, he rolled out of bed, groaning. "I will never eat that much ever again!" he said, groggily rising to his feet.
"Well," I said, tapping Flame on the shoulder, "I'm sure Cinder will envy you, he ate twice as much as you did."
When we were all awake, we went down to the cafeteria for an early breakfast, Cinder, his stomach bulging, trudging behind us.
"Why do we have to eat breakfast?" he complained, "I never want to see another berry ever again."
"Because," I explained, without turning around, "some of us aren't always pigging out. Honestly, you were still eating at 4 in the morning!"
"Which is about the time we got up!"
"Oh, shut up."
As I walked into the room, a small parcel on our table caught my attention. I walked over to it, and called, "Hey, guys, come have a look at this."
It was a small box filled to the brim with berries. A small note was attached to the parcel, it read Good luck on your mission, Leaf.
I could barely believe my eyes, sitting on top of the note was a Rowap berry!
"Whoa!" came Tail's voice from behind me, "is that what I think it is? Those are really rare!"
I turned to face him, he was reading the note attached. He looked up at me and shook his head, "C'mon, it's obvious that she likes you! I mean, she gave you a Rowap berry!"
"Give him a rest!" said Cinder, beside me, "let him decide."
I looked at him quizzically, "thanks, but since when did you care?"
"No reason," he said, turning away from us. Was it my imagination, or was he blushing?
"Well," I said, turning back to the box, "these berries aren't going to eat themselves." I broke the Rowap berry into four pieces, and we dug in.
There were even some Poffins inside the box, Who knew Leaf was such a good cook? I thought to myself as I devoured a Sweet one.
Despite Cinder's previous assumption that he couldn't eat another bite, he ate more than Tails.
Finally, it was all gone, and we were all full and happy. Except for Cinder, who was a little bit too full.
Once he had licked the box clean, we walked back into the training room, and up to the Magmarizer. Once it had opened, we went into the elevator, and it went down.
When it opened again, we walked down a long hall, and into a dimly lit room. "Who goes there?" a voice barked.
"It's Team Inferno," I replied, "we need transportation."
"Ah yes," said the voice thoughtfully, "I was informed of your arrival." A Dusknoir appeared in the center of the room.
"Very well," he replied, and stretched his hands around us, forming a circle. "I wish you luck on your mission." he added, and a blinding flash of light obscured my vision.
When I came to, we were just outside a town. "Alright," I said, as I turned toward my team, "we need to get going." and we started toward the gates.
The entrance to the village was easy, there was one guard at the gate, and he barely looked at us as we passed through.
The village was quite small, but it was also very lively. Baby pokemon ran through the streets, laughing and playing. Adults were walking around as well, some of them carrying eggs.
As I walked along, a baby Eevee turned a corner and ran into me.
I looked down at it, and it looked up at me, we stared at each other.
Then, it's face cracked into a big smile, and, looking at it, I had to smile back. I ruffled it's fur, and it replied with an "Eevee!" and scampered off.
Still smiling, I looked up, and felt my stomach drop into my feet.
There, in front of me, was a house, but it wasn't an ordinary house. I recognized it, it was my house. All of the pictures had this house in them.
"Flare?" I heard Tail's voice behind me, and wrenched my gaze away from my house.
My team was looking at me with concern, and Tails said, "you sure you're alright?"
"Yeah," I replied unsteadily, "just give me a moment." and I turned and walked into the house.
What will Flare find in his old house? Find out, and Stay tuned.
And before you ask, The baby Eevee says only it's name because it's still a baby.