Author's notes: Seeing as how I have completely skipped character development This chapter will not be including any battling at all. I really hate this because originally my story was going to have a legendary battle every single chapter, but that was before I actually started writing it and realized just how stupid it sounds to magically teleport around and kill stuff. Since then my characters have been going into completely different directions and just that has helped since I felt my characters needs a little bit of personality. My editor informed me that it isn't the end of the world that there is not a battle for a chapter and suggested a gym battle with Wake. I just couldn't fit in a reason to do it with the main Pokémon that Jerry would be using under intensive care. Instead take this time to meet Jerry's partner Pokémon (or just the Pokémon that he shares the closest bond with) as his starter hasn't been revealed yet.

Chapter 2

I sat in the Pokémon center's waiting area staring at the Pokeball themed furniture. The tables and couches were red and white, and even the chairs were shaped like Pokeballs. A lot of trainers apparently liked the theme and continued voting for it for some unknown reason. Needless to say I wasn't the greatest fan. It may just have been my mood from having my Pokémon almost killed by a flower hedgehog or the fact that Nurse Joy slapped the crap out of me when I told her Ampharos's injuries were caused by a Venosaur's frenzy plant attack and a wild one at that. Everyone knows that frenzy plant can only be learned through intense training from very specific hermits. So I didn't blame her. No one would believe that load of crap. Although she may have hit me a little too hard considering I was still seeing stars. Luckily the urgency to treat Amphy got her away from me but I suspected that I was in for a very long lecture when she got done.

If he survived I probably wouldn't be using him against a legendary anyway after what happened, and seeing as I made a deal with Shaymin, I had a lot of legendaries in my future. I stood up and went to the line of P.C.s along the wall and braced myself for the onslaught as I got Prince's Pokeball out. With just a few touches on the screen the ball vanished and a new one formed, this one was White on the top as well as the bottom, a premier ball. As soon as it was fully materialized Lilly let her self out.

The form that appeared was floating above the ground and as always I could see right through her as she was slightly intangible. She had green hair that curled around her white face. She had horns that made her seem to be wearing a mask. She also appeared to be wearing a white dress that was green on the inside. she had long thin legs and arms that ended in three round fingers making me think she didn't eat enough, although the truth is she doesn't eat. she had a red horn... thing sticking out of her chest as well as her back along with her light red eyes that were almost pink. She didn't have any real ghost properties but she could look the part.

"Jerry how was the battle? Did you get hurt? Why do you look so sad? What happened? You met who? And she went that far? How could you be so careless? Jerry... don't cry." I sighed as my thoughts automatically answered the questions almost before she finished them. After being in my head for so long she could read my thoughts better than I could. And that she was the caring type of Gardevoir who almost could be considered my second mom didn't help.

"Jerry I'm so sorry I should have been there to help." She said but I was the one who deposited her and didn't take her back after the league battle. I figured having a second water type would offer me a bit of extra protection against Drake... what a joke. "Jerry it's not like that, who could have predicted that something like that would have happened?"

"You" I murmured. but she just kept staring at me with those sorrowful eyes.

"So you really plan to go through with this legendary thing," she asked knowing full well the answer but asking it to reinforce my resolve.

"I don't see a way out of it." Shaymin might of used the most underhanded tricks I have ever seen but we did make a deal so I had to at least attempt to capture Azelf once. Besides, I was wondering about what to really do now that the league was done. And Shaymin gave me a lot to do. Lilly was not happy about this.

"And whats your plan for actually capturing Azelf?" she asked knowing I didn't even have one. We began to brainstorm ideas together and even though it was just to distract me I felt better.

Then Nurse Joy came in with a very... lost look in her eye. She went to me and began explaining, "your Ampharos might as well be a zombie. He didn't even have enough blood left in his body to circulate oxygen. But for some reason that gracidea has really been trying its best to keep him going. It is keeping his organs moving forcefully and is transporting oxygen throughout his body along with releasing the same chemicals we use in our full restores. I would say your very lucky to have met the legendary after, what was your stupid story, a wild Venosaur decided to use frenzy plant. Anyway you should thank Shaymin for saving your Ampharos."

I took a minute to digest this. No thank you to thanking Shaymin on this one. But it did mean that there was even less of a way out of it, I had to go fight Azelf. Shaymin even helped Ampharos survive.

Nurse Joy went on, "After Ampharos's life was no longer in danger we tried to remove the gracidea but the thing is determined to stay where it is. It has thoroughly wrapped its roots around Ampharos's brain and has bonded with almost every bone in his body. Even when some of our more... extreme help decided to burn the flower off, it regrew in a matter of seconds after the flame stopped."

"They used a fire attack on Amphy?" My mind was blown and this was all I could think of to say

"Well actually she used a flamethrower. She said she couldn't rely on a Pokémon's unsteady breath for such dodgy surgery."

"And you let her?" I knew that Nurse Joy would never do anything that may hurt a Pokémon but still I couldn't think someone would try to use a flamethrower on an unconscious Pokémon.

Nurse joy just shrugged "Her medical degree almost doubles my own and she has been at it for longer than me."

"Oh."

"Anyway Even though my original diagnosis for Ampharos was that he would never battle again, thanks to Shaymin he will be back to a healthy and battle ready state in about a week." Nurse Joy finally said.

"Thank you Nurse Joy." I said relieved for the first time since this whole mess

"Are you planning on staying till he is ready for release?" she asked

"Yes but I am going to spend most of my time training. I have a pretty big battle ahead of me." I had a lot of work to do if I was going to protect the rest of my Pokémon from this happening again.

"And do you have a place to stay?" she asked and I finally caught on to what she was getting at.

"Do you have an empty room at the center I can stay at while Amphy is being treated?"

She smiled and said "Of course come right this way and I'll get you signed up"

I followed her, gave her my Pokedex, got my room key, and headed out. As soon as I left the door to the Pokémon center Lilly appeared next to me. "Cole is over to the left in the woods training" she said and I nodded and followed her towards the edge of town.

"Hey Lilly what town are we in?" I said finally realizing that I had never bothered to ask anyone before this point.

"Pastoria City," She said while floating back to me. Suddenly I noticed her eyes glowed the crimson red that normal gardevoirs had and I reached for Kingy's Pokeball automatically. Things were about to get interesting. Suddenly there was a very large explosion and the ground started shaking throwing me off my feet and making me drop Kingy's Pokeball, but before I hit the ground Lilly teleported to me and grabbed me making me just as intangible and weightless as she was. "Are you ok?" She asked before I nodded and she put me down. We turned towards a building that the explosion had come from. I saw a trainer with a wierd blue bowl cut running away from the building as fast as he could. I bent down and picked up Kingy's Pokeball and put it back on my belt and started heading towards the scene when another trainer with the dumbest hat I had ever seen came out and ran in the same direction.

I continued towards the building as a very loud male's voice became clear. he was yelling at a trainer that had hair that would give Flannery a run for wildest hair about cleaning up. If it were up to me I would have just minded my business and went back to the center. But just before I could carry out that decision Cole came running in with a confused look and after seeing me came streight up catching his breath and asking "Did you feel that earthquake I swear I have never seen Espeon in such a silly pose as she tried to stay on her feet,"

"I don't think that was an earthquake since it came from that building." I said pointing at it. I regretted saying that as soon as it left my mouth as Cole grabbed my arm and started dragging me in its direction.

"Don't just stand there let's go check it out. People could have been hurt and the marsh doesn't normally explode like that."

"Marsh?" Why would someone have a marsh in a nice little town like this. It was a good thing that building was there to block the view of it.

"Yea the marsh is a nature preserve that acts under the safari zone rules of this region." O joy running around in the mud throwing crappy Pokeballs at non weakened Pokemon in the hopes that they decide to come instead of staying in the area being constantly monitored and studied by creepy scientists and their poison Pokémon.

"Hey they're not all that bad. Professer Oak gave you Apollo." Lilly chipped in.

"Thank you Lilly now I think all scientists are the most amazing people in the world."

"Sounds legit," I said hiding my disappointment and the short conversation with Lilly about the place, "So why does anyone want to make a swamp into a safari zone?"

"BECAUSE ITS ONE OF THE LAST PLACES WHERE NEARLY EXTINCT POKEMON CAN LIVE WITHOUT THE THREAT OF TRAINERS COMING FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD TO HUNT THEM TO EXTINCTION AND DESTROYING ONE OF NATURES LAST GREAT SWAMPS!" A voice boomed and we both jumped at the man's loud scream. Turning around I saw a huge man wearing a blue mask but no shirt. He had muscle to spare. Why did I end up always surrounded by the wierd ones?

"Wake hows it been?" Cole said before walking up and giving him a high-five. "Haven't seen you since our awesome battle."

The man... Wake studied Cole for a minute before remembering him "Ah I remember you. You're the trainer with the Metang that managed to out box my Quagsire. How is it doing now?"

"Actually it has evolved into a Metagross now and has pretty much mastered the moves you showed it. So what happened here, my friend told me that the earthquake originated from here?" Instantly Wake's jolly attitude changed back to the serious one he had on before and he straightened his stance.

"Well it seems like a failed terrorism attempt by those new up and coming team galactic goons. To think a crappy bomb like that could damage the great marsh. Guhahaha. What a bunch of saps." he said then looked around and pulled us both into the building. "But it did cause a lot of damage to the rail system any chance I can get you two to help fix it?"

Well I wanted to do some training but It would make me look bad to just deny helping gym leader. "We would be happy to help, but I don't know much about rails or electronics are you sure we would be any help?"

"Nah leave the train to the electricians what we are going to be doing is picking up scrap so it doesn't interfere too much with the wildlife. Pearl has already left to get them."

"Sounds tiring would you like me to help?" Lilly asked me in my head

"Yea that would be appreciated since I don't think anyone but Kingy will be able to help in all this mud," I said aloud and was rewarded with questioning stares from Wake as he didn't know that a stalker Gardevoir was floating behind me in her simi transparent stage that made her invisible to anyone who isnt linked to her mentaly like she just loved to do. She had developed this skill as a Ralts to avoid the large numbers of Poochiana and Mightyana that would love nothing more to have a Ralts snack for them and their family. One of the many reasons Lilly was so special. Now she just floats around intangible trying to make me seem crazy to everyone possible. "Mind showing yourself for everyone else before they start thinking I'm crazy?"

"Oops." Lilly said as she materialized and floated down to stand gracefully on the ground. "It's good to see you again Cole. Hello Mr. Wake I am known as Lilly. I am pleased to meet you." she broadcasted to all of our minds and preformed a short bow.

"Guhahaha, Likewise Ms. Lilly. Now how about we get to work seeing as the marsh isn't going to clean itself." He said as we all walked through the back door and into... mud. Lots and lots of mud. My first three steps outside got me knee-deep in the stuff. Wake was just bulldozing all the mud out of his way while daniel struggled to get through seeming to have more trouble than me but he didn't have the same negative attitude that I felt about being in a swamp and Lilly just jumped across the top of the mud and did a few mocking twirls before landing on one leg and posing. Today was going to be a long day.

Actually it was a long three days as all the metal pieces had sunk below the mud and were a massive hazard to anyone who happened to stub their toes or lose a few legs against the hidden but very sharp metal. Thanks to Lilly Alakazam and Metagross, who was quite happy to see Wake again, we slowly weeded out all the metal pieces in a safe way that included the psychics floating above the muck scanning for the pieces and telling one of us when they found one. Then they would lift it up and one of wakes water pokemon or Kingy would grab it and carry it off to a scrap pile to be recycled into the new train and its rails at a later time.

After the sun finally started to dip in a way that told me it was mid day, of the third day, Wake decided that It was clean enough and safe enough to be reopened to trainers and thanked us for our help. So we returned to the Pokemon center for the rest of the day and a good nights rest. During those three nights me and Cole exchanged stories about our travels in our separate regions. I was just finishing telling him how Lilly managed to dodge Flannery's Torkoal's overheat and use the loss of power to just barely win the fight as Nurse Joy, followed by her Chansey, approached us.

"Ampharos has requested you come see him," she said which confused me since I believed that he wouldn't even be conscious yet much less able to ask for me. But that wasnt going to stop me since this would be the first time I was allowed to go and see him since he went into intense surgery. I happily followed her through the back door and saw Amphy sitting on the side of the table dangling and kicking his legs.

"I don't believe it," I said completely shocked by the fact that there wasn't even a sign that his fur had been ruffled by the encounter. Well that wasnt true the flower was still there at the base of his ear, but that was all.

Seeing me Amphy jumped down from the table and ran up to hug me, which I let him and even hugged back. I was glad to see him back to his old self. After about a minute I regretfully broke up the hug and turned to Nurse Joy. "How did you get him recovered so fast I thought you said it would take at least a week to heal?"

"Well you have the flower to thank for that one. It seemed to work around the clock to cure him in ways that not even our healing machines could do in his unstable condition. I'm still amazed at how much Shaymin must have cared for him to do all this." Yea Shaymin must have really cared about Amphy to horribly rip him apart from the inside by very spiky vines.

I put on my best fake smile and said, "Yea, I guess Shaymin just likes to help others like all the other legendaries." Like some legendary fanboy. Still, It was my fought for challenging Shaymin to a one on one. Next time I wouldn't let my confidence have a turn before my Common sence.

"Well let's go get your Ampharos one more scan to make sure he has fully recovered before giving him back to you" She said behind the smile that Nurse Joy usually had on her. The scan confirmed that everything was normal, well as normal as you can get with a plant symbiosis, and she held out Amphy's Pokeball. I reached out to grab it and pull it away while murmuring a thanks but found that she hadn't released the Pokeball. I turned back to her and saw a very serious face. If it wasn't for the fact that Nurse Joy couldn't simply be bad she would have seemed scary. "If I hear that another one of your Pokémon are this badly injured from some impossible situation like a wild Venosaur knowing frenzy plant I will revoke your trainers license and confiscate all your Pokémon. Do I make myself clear?"

I shuddered. somehow I knew she would carry through with this threat if I let her. "Yes Nurse Joy," I said and she smiled and released the Pokeball as it fell into my open hand. "Thank you once again for all you have done for me and Amphy" I walked out of the room feeling better than I have felt in days. Leave it to Nurse Joy to help you when you need it.

As I walked through the door into the main lobby Cole came up to me and asked, "Hows Amphy? Do you still think they will be releasing him in four more days or will it be longer?" I smiled and answered his question lifting Amphy's Pokeball and released him in front of Cole.

"Well, he had a case of health and they had to ship him to a better place" I said thinking of the coolest thing I could say. Cole was surprised but didn't share the same opinions on the coolness of my statement judging by his frown.

"So I guess we are ready to go to lake Valor then? I'll go get my Pokémon and we can head out." I watched Amphy waddle around exploring every inch of the Pokémon center like a Zigzagoon as Cole went to talk to Nurse Joy. He was always so much more hyper than all the other Mareep along with the general happy contentedness that they all shared. Mainly the reason I chose him over all the others.

"O.K. lets roll!" Cole said rather loudly behind me making me jump. I hid the jump by starting walking out of the door and called to Amphy,

"Common Amphy we got a deal to fill and it's not going to get done here. He looked at me and started running-waddling towards me and followed close at my heals. As soon as we were out of the building he ran ahead and started exploring from a safe distance that I could still see him from. I had no Idea how he could stay so cheerful after what happened to him but I wasn't going to complain about it. Maybe tonight wouldn't be all bad after all.

After thoughts: Cole's journey through Unova is being revealed in pieces. Jerry's Pokémon are being revealed one by one and a very familiar event occurred. The inclusion of Diamond and Pearl along with the timing of the story means that their could be some Galactic interference with their quest to capture Azelf.

Thoughts for the next chapter: There are a few sites to be seen on the way to lake valor lets follow our duo as they see them all. Lets all be thankful that the great Shaymin is ever patient.