AN: Why doesn't FF. net let me keep my awkward paragraph format? I like my awkward format! Grah, it looks like you guys are just going to have to deal with a lot of page breaks. :|

Disclaimer: Can you imagine all the things I could buy if I owned Pokemon? No? Neither can I.


-BEGIN SEQUENCE 3-

088. Shocked

Because this was going too far, even for Team Rocket.


"How could they fit all of this under a pseudo item shop?" Kotone muttered to herself as she wandered down the corridors of Team Rocket's hideout. Mahogany Town was rather small, and the item shop that the hideout was located under was ever smaller, so how the Rocket lair could be so large and complex was beyond the brown haired teen.

"This must be the generator room…" Kotone concluded when she heard a baritone hum sing out from behind two, ominous looking, metal doors. She fiddled with her Meganium's pokeball in apprehension.

"Hold it right there!" A woman's voice called out. Kotone whipped her head towards the sound of the voice only to see Team Rocket's red headed executive. Ariana sneered at the young Trainer. "We can't just let a brat like you do as you please. It's time to finish you." The words were laced with malice as they rolled off her tongue ever so calmly. Almost as if Kotone were nothing more than a beaten Caterpie.

Ariana gave a wry laugh as a meek Rocket grunt wandered up next to the woman. The grunt made sure to stand a few steps behind the female executive, lest her anger be turned on him. "However strong you may be if the two of us fight at the same time you'll have no chance of winning." She gave a coy smile. "Don't you agree?" She smiled prettily as she sent out a formidable looking, snake like pokemon. The grunt set loose a Raticate; it took its place next to Ariana's Arbok.

Kotone sweated. Meganium and Noctowl were the only usable pokemon she had left. Meganium could probably take down the grunt without too much damage, but Ariana would be another story. Kotone doubted she'd even manage to knock out two of the executive's pokemon. Nevertheless, she sent out her Meganium with little enthusiasm. She went to grab Noctowl's pokeball.

Without so much as a word from Kotone Meganium gave a loud war cry and charged at the grunt's Raticate.

"Ah-! Meganium!" Kotone stuttered, utterly surprised at her pokemon's sudden outburst.

"Hold it." A smooth, masculine voice called. What is it with everyone coming up behind me and screaming 'hold it'…? Kotone wondered to herself as she spotted her favorite, cape wearing, Dragon Tamer.

"A two on one battle? Cowardly, but what can you expect from Team Rocket?" The Champion sneered.

"You had an accomplice?" Ariana glowered at the pigtailed female. Kotone shrugged. "Ha, no matter. We can remedy this problem quickly enough." Ariana turned to Lance and gave a cold smile; nothing more than a small quirk of the lips. "Arbok, attack the girl."

Within an instant panic fell over the battlefield as Arbok lunged at Kotone. Meganium turned to his trainer, ready to defend her at all cost. Raticate took the opportunity to sink his fangs into his foe's neck; relishing the sickening crunch sound.

Lance, taken aback by the sudden command, flung a pokeball onto the battlefield revealing a large Dragonite. "Dragonite, slam!" He bellowed, but his command was drowned out by the sound of tearing flesh and a high pitched scream. He was a moment too late. Arbok sank his fangs into the girl's upper arm, releasing copious amounts of toxins into her bloodstream.

Fire flew up from Kotone's arm and gripped at her heart. Crimson blood and violet colored liquid oozed from the large puncture wounds and dripped onto the floor. She was vaguely aware of an annoying high pitched scream emanating from somewhere. It took her a moment to realize the sound was pouring from her mouth. Tears spilled from her eyes and her vision blurred until nothing was distinguishable.

"Don't worry; you'll be okay, Kotone…" Lance trailed off. He didn't sound very convincing, even to his own ears. He pulled a small, yellow, spray bottle from Kotone's bag and applied it to her wounds. As soon the vile was emptied Lance tore off a large portion of his cape and used it as a makeshift bandage. He slid his arms under Kotone's neck and the back of her legs and pulled her up against his chest.

"…I can't feel anything, Lance." Kotone slurred as her head bounced slightly against the Dragon Tamer's chest. Were they moving? She couldn't tell anymore. The sound of a raging Pokemon battle died down until all she could hear was high pitched ringing.

Lance grimaced as he stared down at Kotone's mutilated arm. The large bite wound had been wrapped and the antidote he used earlier had taken care of a good amount of poison. Still, she was unbelievably pale, and the veins on her arms shown through in a sickening purple color. She shivered uncontrollably.

His stomach twisted and rose into his throat. Lance was very well aware of the fact that Team Rocket was, for lack of better words, a bunch of bastards, but he never thought they'd go so far as to mortally wound a small girl. The mere idea was beyond him. And yet there he was, bursting into the Mahogany Town Pokemon Center, with a poisoned girl cradled in his arms.

-END SEQUENCE 3-


I'm thinking of doing a weekly update. Probably on Sundays.

Also! A HUGE thank you to all of you who have reviewed and added this story to your Alerts and what have you. I squeal like a 5 year old girl when I get alerts...and then people give me a strange look. I probably shouldn't check my email outside of my house, hurr.