Yay! Chapter 3! I'm really excited about this chapter. Starting this chapter and all the chapters afterward, the story starts to speed up and awesome things will start to happen. Sorry about forgetting to do the author's note at the end of chapter 2 and the preview quotes. They'll be back this chapter. Now Onward!

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Double Thunder

Chapter 3 – Of Comprehensions and Combat

In the morning we all got ready to leave. Azure tired to convince us to stay with them in the village but I told her that we had to leave and that there were important things we needed to do. I promised that we would see each other again and as we all waved good-bye to Azure, Bubble, and Elder Marrow, I knew that we would definitely see each other again.

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The Road to Dokutetsu

"So what's Dokutetsu like?" I asked

"Well, it's a BIG town, much bigger than Seisui Village was. They have this giant building called the Dokutetsu Gym that all the trainers flock to challenge the leader. I've never been there, but Lacey has! She used to live outside of the town with an old lady." Kitty replied.

"Is that true?"

"Yes. I used to live with Granny Amaryllis. She was a very kind woman and took very good care of me until I evolved. Then she told me that I was allowed to live the life I wanted and did not need to stay. So I left. I met Viper and Kitty and we have been living in that cave until we met you two. I'll introduce you to her."

"That sounds great."

"What's it like to evolve Lacey? I can't wait to be a Delcatty! I hope Granny Amaryllis has a Moon Stone! That would be great!!" Kitty squealed.

I looked back and saw that Max was falling behind, so I decided to keep her company. I could tell that just being there and not talking made her feel a little better though I couldn't tell what was making her feel bad and I knew that she wouldn't tell me if I asked. I wondered if something had happened to her when we both fell unconscious the previous day.

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Disclosed Location

"Have you found the targets?"

"Yes. They are 6 miles away from Dokutetsu."

"Should we engage, Captain?"

"No. Observe for now. We don't want to be discovered. I shall report to the Commander and inform you when to attack."

"Understood."

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We walked for what seemed like forever. Even the sun had set behind us but we continued on. Lacey had said that this Granny Amaryllis's house was in the very far outskirts of Dokutetsu. When it seemed that I almost couldn't take another step, a small cottage came into view. It was the only source of light, besides the moon, in the darkness. The door opened and an old lady came stepped outside. She was wearing a pale pink dress with a dusty yellow shawl. Her hair was completely gray but seemed like silver in the glow of her house's light.

Lacey stepped forward and said; "Granny?" the old woman turned to us and looked at Lacey.

"Lacey?" Lacey nodded and ran up to her. The old woman picked up the leafeon and hugged her.

"Oh Lacey! It's so good to see you again. You've grown into a fine leafeon!"

"You haven't changed at all Granny Amaryllis. I missed you."

The duo finished their reunion and Granny Amaryllis turned her attention to us.

"Are these your friends Lacey?"

"Yes they are. Everyone I'd like to introduce you to Granny Amaryllis."

"I'm Kitty!" Kitty said jumping up and down, even though she had seemed to had been the most tired early.

"Viper." Viper said simply.

"I'm Kilika." I then pointed to Max, "and this is Max."

"It's a pleasure to meet all of you. Any friends of Lacey's are friends of mine. Please come in. You all must be exhausted."

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The House of Granny Amaryllis

The inside of Granny Amaryllis's house was exactly how I pictured it. In the room we entered into there was a brick fireplace with a blazing fire. There were two chairs, a small coffee table, and a small couch. Granny Amaryllis sat down on one of the chairs and Lacey sat on her lap. Kitty and I sat on the couch and Max took the last chair. Viper on the other hand was quite comfortable with curling up in front of the fire on the rug. We decided that we could tell Granny Amaryllis about our situation and even confided in her the details of my conversation with Gardevoir. I did most of the talking with the other chirping in sometimes, but Max stay silent.

"Well, that is quite a story and I believe it is all true. For you see when you get to my age, you can tell when a story is false and your story was as true as it could be." She said after we had finished.

"Maybe you can help us understand some things, Granny." I said.

"We shall see. Go on, little one. One question at a time though. Don't want to wear me out with all those questions you have bottled in your head."

"Well, who is this 'Great Mother' that Gardevoir talked about?"

"I assume that this Gardevoir is referring to Mother Arceus."

"I've never heard of anyone like that." Kitty said.

"Neither have I." Lacey said looking up at the old woman.

"That's a bit hard to believe but I wouldn't blame you. Before I explain her purpose, I think I should explain the purpose of the Legendaries as a whole. You see, the Legendaries have been considered the gods and goddess of this world from the dawn of time and for very good reasons. It is said that it was the Legendaries who created the continents, the oceans, the sky, space, time, Pokémon and people. Mother Arceus, however, is the creator of all. It was she who created the Legendaries, gave birth to existence, and created out world out of a void of darkness. If the Legendaries are the gods and goddesses of our world, then Mother Arceus the Supreme God of everything that is. It is said that she continues to watch over the world that she created and takes care of us, her children."

"Wow." Skitty gasped

"That's incredible." Lacey said.

"So we were transformed because she wanted us too?" I asked.

"From your story, I can only assume so."

"Well then who was this Messenger of the Legends that Gardevoir talked about?" Lacey jumped off Granny Amaryllis as she stood up and walked into another room. A short time later, she came back with a scroll in hand.

"The Messenger of the Legends is a special Pokémon. He/she is specially picked by Mother Arceus herself to be the representative of the Legendaries and Mother Arceus on Earth. It is said that the way you can recognize the Messenger is that their body is pure white with only pale blue where there would have been a color change in a normal species. It also is said that the Messenger wears a green ribbon around their head with the symbols of each of the seventeen elemental types. So if it was, let's say, a vulpix; then its fur would be white but its tail and locks would be pale blue and it would be wearing a green ribbon." She began to open the scroll and laid it on the small coffee table.

The scroll seemed to be very old but still managed to stay intact over the years. On the scroll was a picture. It showed the Legendaries and a bright light, that I assumed was meant to symbolize the Great Mother, on one side and a group of humans and their Pokémon on the other. In the middle of the picture was a blank space that seemed out of place.

"It is said that The Messenger has incredible abilities and is invulnerable to any form of capture. This scroll shows The Messenger being the force between us and the Legendaries."

"But where is it? The scroll has a blank spot." I asked.

"That is because the current Messenger has not been revealed."

"What do you mean, Granny Amaryllis?" Lacey asked getting back on her lap as she sat down.

"The Messenger is never the same person. It changes. When a Messenger is chosen, they continue their job until the day they die and then a new Messenger is chosen. When Mother Arceus feels that we are ready to meet them this scroll, along with other representations of the same scene, will change and show it. I have been told that the Messenger also reveals itself personally to those deemed worthy."

"What if one wanted to meet with the Messenger? So that they could talk with the Legendaries. How would you find it?" I asked. I hadn't expected to really ask this, it just came out.

"The logical solution is to talk with the Legendaries but since you can't see them without the Messenger, it's a bit impossible to meet with the Messenger. There have been tales of people seeing it traveling at incredible speeds all over the world."

"So, it's impossible." I heard Max say. She sighed and looked at the fireplace.

"There must be some other way." I said.

"Sorry, little one. The chances of you meeting are very slim."

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Somewhere Else (not the disclosed location)

A small figure walks up to a glowing sphere of light and bows its head.

"You wanted to see me, Mother Arceus?"

"Yes, my angel."

"I am at your service."

"I wish for you to send those friends of yours to watch the town Dokutetsu. That human team is about to make their move."

"If I may ask, shouldn't I be the one sent?"

"Your time will come my angel; I want you to standby until the mission I have requested for your friends is completed."

"My friends they are not. Lady Kitten ordered me to have them travel with me."

"Regardless, this is my will. Deliver it, my angel."

"It shall be done." Eyes with the colors of the rainbow shined brightly.

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Disclosed Location (again)

"What are the Commander's orders?"

"We are to surround the vicinity."

"What about the targets?"

"Acquire them by any means necessary."

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The House of Granny Amaryllis

I awoke to the sound of Granny Amaryllis yelling at someone. I sat up from my spot on the couch and ran to the door.

There were five men dressed in a brown and red uniform outside of her house. Lacey was next to Granny Amaryllis, hissing in a defensive manner. Viper and Kitty tried to make themselves look intimidating as to scare off the intruders. I felt something touch my shoulder and turned around to see Max looking over me at the scene.

"I want you to leave! You and your group are not welcome here!" Granny Amaryllis said to the men. One of them stepped forward; he had black hair and brown eyes and seemed to be the one in charge.

"We have orders to acquire two Pokémon said to be in your possession. We don't want to cause you any problems. Just give us the Pikachu and Shinx and we will be on our way."

"You think you can some here and do whatever you want. You have no right after the horrors your Team Terra has committed!"

Team Terra! That was the name of the team that Elder Marrow had said caused the destruction of Seisui Village! We couldn't let them get away with that.

"What could they want with us?" I heard Max say softly.

"Nothing good. I'm sure about that."

"If you won't comply peacefully, we will have to use force!" The Team Terra Grunt said. The five of the released 4 Pokémon each; five Sandslash, five Nidoking, three Rhyhorn, two Rhydon, and five Donphan. We joined our friends and stared down our opponents.

"This won't be easy." Max said, "It's 5 against 20 and the only Lacey has an elemental advantage. The rest of us are weak again Ground-types." It surprised me. How did Max know this much about trainer battles?

"Don't worry! We'll figure it out! I won't let them take my friends away!" Kitty said. Lacey and Viper nodded in approval and then we charged.

Even with such high hopes, the battle didn't go very well. The Nidoking had immediately separated Lacey, our only advantage, and kept her away from us. None of us had any attacks that very effective, even Max's new Iron Tail did little damage. With our energy fading fast, most of us were on the ground, too weak to fight. All except for one person. Max. Even with the continuous attacks that electric-types were highly weak against, she continued to stand.

"This Pikachu is getting on my nerves, Marco!' one of the grunts said to his superior, "We've done everything and no matter what we throw at it, it won't go down!"

"There is still one thing that we haven't used." Marco said with a smirk. The head grunt reached into his pocket and took out a ball. I knew it was a type of pokeball but I didn't recognize it. Marco looked at Max and held the ball out in his hand. It was black with a silver chain pattern in an X-formation.

"Do you know what this is?"

"Why? Should I?" Max said back. Whatever was special about that pokeball I knew it wasn't good and I knew that Max knew it too.

"This is a Vortex Ball. It is a very special ball that Team Terra scientists created. Do you know why it's so special?" Marco said with a smirk. Max just stared at him in silence except for her heavy pants, a sign of her weakened state.

"It is a perfect capture. And it also is a perfect control device. Anything caught with this will obey its master without any defiance. The Master Balls contained a flaw that the Vortex Ball corrects!"

He was going to capture Max! Not my friend, please no. I couldn't let it happen. Then, I felt a surge of power build within me. It continued to grow and grow until I felt that my body couldn't contain it. In order to accommodate the new power, my body changed. A bright light engulfed my figure and when it receded, I had changed. I was twice my normal size and a black mane around my face. I also gained another yellow ring around my legs and retained the one that I had in my Shinx form. I was a Luxio; I had evolved! Everyone stood in shock at my change, but it didn't last long.

"Heh. So you evolved. Big whoop. You still aren't strong enough to take out my Pokémon! Rhydon! Take care of her!" Marco said and a Rhydon stepped forward to challenge me. Even though I was stronger, my strength was still low and the Rhydon easily sent me right back to the ground. I could only watch as Marco prepared to capture Max.

He threw the ball but Max managed to dodge it, only to trip and fall to the ground. It was no good, Max was far too weak to dodge again and none of us were strong enough to stop them. She would be captured and there was nothing we could do about it. Marco took out another Vortex Ball and prepared to throw. Max glared defiantly at him, never once taking her eyes off of the Team Terra Grunt. I tried to look away but my body wouldn't let me. Suddenly……

"TWISTER!"

"POISON STING!"

A giant tornado shot down from the sky right on top of the Grunts and their Pokémon. Simultaneously, purple darts shot out if the tornado and hit the enemy Pokémon for double the damage. The tornado then shot the whole group into the sky and far off into the horizon. ((A/N: Think Team Rocket blasting off)).

"That's what they get for starting the party without us." A female voice from the sky giggled.

"Do you think we overdid it?" A male voice asked. A large figure flew down from the glare of the sun and landed.

The first was a tall bird with a long neck and long legs. It was silver gray except for red feathers under its very sharp wings and

yellow eyes. Its feet both had two toes on them with sharp talons and its tail had a hooked end that also seemed incredibly sharp. It was a Skarmory.

On the Skarmory's back was another figure half its size that jumped off when it landed. It had a blue rabbit-shaped body and big ears. It was covered with large spines on its back that seemed like they held a strong poison. This was a Nidorina.

"No way, Iron! That's what they get for attacking defenseless Pokémon!" The Nidorina yelled childishly to the Skarmory.

"Do you even know who they were, Maria?"

"No." Iron, the Skarmory I assumed, sighed and looked over to us.

"Are you all ok?" he asked.

"We're fine. Thank you for helping us. We were done for." I said.

"Who are you?" Lacey asked, coming back to the group.

"I'm Maria! And this guy's name is Iron!" said the Nidorina.

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Yahoo! Chapter 3 done! This was a fun chapter to write and it will only get even more fun. Now, Meet Iron and Maria. This duo is a riot because as you will see, Maria can be a bit childish and Iron has to deal with her. I just have ONE more main character to introduce and that will hopefully happen next chapter.

Preview of Chapter 4:

"Our boss is even stronger than us! She's incredible!"

"This time you won't get away! I guarantee it!"

"I think you should give up. If you don't I will not be held responsible for what becomes of you."

Next time on "Double Thunder": "Help from Above"

See you then!