Oh, geez, I just reread the dream on my other chapter, and I got the chills. That's just plain sad! *laughs* Anyway, I very sorry about how long it's been since I updated. I've been busy 'n stuff, so…yeah. So, here ya are! The next chapter! I bet you're all wanting me to shut up now, so… THE NEXT CHAPTER!

By the way, someone asked if "great Arceus" is like a catchphrase or something in this story. I don't like putting "Oh my God!" or "good lord!" because I don't want an argument over religion. Arceus created all Pokémon, so I'll just put that. Hope that clears things up!

Two days passed since the Pokemorphs had met and created our list. I knew I had to meet Onyx tomorrow, and I had figured what I was going to say. I'd just ask her to help us. Not tell her about the morphs, but just ask for her help in getting Shadow Pokémon. I looked up at the ceiling from my blue-sheeted bed. I thought back about my nightmare a few days ago. It was a failure dream…an anxiety dream. Everyone gets them…but not in that way. Normally, it was about getting bad grades, or competing in a try-out… not becoming a Shadow Pokémon forever. I never told Chobin or Emily about it…they would have freaked out.

"Jovi! JOVI!"

I sat bolt upright at the sound of Hiro's panicked voice. "What?!" I called, my eyes widened.

"Hurry, come on! There's a newsflash on OBNS! We think it's going to be on Phenac!" Hiro's voice dimmed as I heard the elevator doors shut. I leaped out of bed, surprised. It had only been two days! Were they all okay? I ran out of my room, Mimi in her Poke` ball. I pressed the "up" button on the elevator multiple times. When it finally opened, I almost sprinted inside and let it take me up, and I was tapping my foot impatiently. When I arrived, I sped out, hoping I wasn't missing it. I hurried into the dining room. The news was on, and it was in the OBNS studio. …It wasn't the regular casters. Mary and Jim were not there. Instead, it was another woman, Angela. Her face was grim.

"-and no trace is left of Phenac. In other words…"-she motioned to her black clothing-"we are holding mourning here in OBNS for Mary Belle, Jim Kirack, and Larry Fortworth. Let us hold a moment of silence." And she bowed her head. I could see a tear fall off of her cheek and I heard a small sniff from behind the camera. After about half of a minute, she said, "We are still pitching a team to go out there and see if we can get some footage to show our viewers. No citizen of any town is permitted to go unless they have a signed letter from the officers in Pyrite Town.

"Also, in other news, rumors of swirling storm clouds have been reported, seen off of Gaton Port. Absolutely no one is allowed to go there, as said by the officers themselves. The waters are too dangerous, and we can't have any more disappearances." Angela's voice broke. I bit my lip.

I wondered whether Emily would come with me to Phenac and Citadark Island. I'd still go in morph, no matter what, but it'd be nice if she'd come with me. It'd give me confidence.

"Now, with the news of coliseums, is Mr. Thomas Harper. Tom?"

I didn't wait to hear. I left the room without another word, getting ready to e-mail Emily. We'd head over today to investigate.

**

"What about Onyx?" Emily asked me.

"What about her?" I asked.

"Well, she's smart." Emily shrugged. "You have to admit it, Jovi. We could use her on our team."

"You mean, let her become a Pokemorph?" I asked, surprised. "But she's from Cipher!"

"That was years ago," Emily pointed out, "and besides, we do need a tech-person on our team."

I pursed my lips together. "What do I say, though?" I asked.

Emily and I were walking on the outskirts of Gaton Port, heading to where Phenac was. We decided not to get bored, and talk about business. It was really complicated, actually. We spoke of the time limit, keeping ourselves hidden, and about what we did if the time came to leave. That was the awkward conversation. …No, I'm not telling you about it yet. Later…

I stopped, hearing something. I held a hand out to stop Emily.

"Emily, town morph," I hissed. She gave me a confused look, which I ignored, focusing on my morph. I was going for Glameow. The shape was already familiar to me from my nightmare. Once the morph was done, I shivered. I felt used to this body already. I almost fell over when I saw which town morph Emily was using…her Growlithe…

I hoped that I wouldn't lose confidence because of this. *Uh, er…um, Emily, are you…ready?*

*Yep!* she said, chasing her tail. *What's wrong? Second thoughts?*

*No!* I shouted, hoping I hadn't made that public. If any workers had heard that… *I mean, no.* it's just the fact that I had a nightmare is all, I added silently.

*What about?* Emily asked.

*What?*

*The nightmare.*

*What? What are you t-talking about?*

*You just said-*

*No, no! I was joking, Emily. I was kidding. And it was just a joke to myself…I accidentally said it aloud, I guess.*

The Growlithe's face seemed worried. *Well…Okay.* Her tail wagged as she padded over and circled me. *Come on, then. Let's head to Phenac.*

*Right.*

(A/N: Wow that was a short part! But it's important.)

**

Emily and walked together, Glameow and Growlithe, for a long while in the desert. It seemed like no oasis of Phenac could have ever sprung up here in this sandy wasteland. My tail shielded my eyes, but it wasn't enough. I trailed close to Emily, and her thick fur protected both of us. She was panting hard.

*Too…hot…* she panted in thought-speak. *I c-can't…Jovi, help…*

*No, no, Emily!* I shouted. *Come on, now…Please, you have to keep going…Oh, a bush, Oran berries. Come on, Em. We'll get something to eat.* I wove my tail behind her back to guide her to the small green bush. We hid underneath it, and then collapsed. Oran berries sat there, and the sand was cool, untouched by the hot sun. I grabbed a small blue berry with my tail and shoved it into my fainting friend's mouth. Her face lit up t once.

*Ah! Berry! Oran berry! Where?! Yum!*

I was surprised by her sudden feistiness. *Um…don't eat too many…* I said. *I might need one.* I craned my neck and took a small nibble of the nearest berry. Flavor flooded through my mouth. Excitement pulsed through my veins. I felt invincible! *WOW!*

*I know! I guess this is why Pokémon love them so much!*

* I guess so!*

I shook my head. *Well, as wonderful as this is, Em, we need to head on out.*

I saw Emily's tail droop, and I laid mine on her shoulder in encouragement. *Don't worry. It's for Phenac. For the Pokémorphs.*

*For the Pokemorphs,* she repeated firmly before both of us left the sanctuary. We sped outside and ran as fast as our new Pokémon legs could go. It wasn't that hard now…the Oran Berries had helped a lot.

Soon, after we crossed the large patch of sand whose details I won't go into further because it's boring, we saw a camera crew. Well, well, well! That certainly was quick! Good, I hate waiting.

"Nothing…" one man said. "Not a trace."

"It's like Phenac never existed!" a woman agreed sadly. "There's nothing left."

"We can do a cast from home," the man decided. "There's no point in being here."

*Oh, no!* I cried. *Nothing! They're right, Emily. Smell the ground, there's no scent.*

*I know…* Emily said. *Nothing can be done-Wait. What's that?*

*What's wh-*

*SH! There it is again.*

I craned my neck closer to the Growlithe, and could still hear nothing.

*What is it?* I whispered. Emily clocked her head.

*I don't know…* she said. *I think it's… I think it's footsteps…*

*Footsteps?*

*Yeah…coming closer… Not holding anything…just coming…* Emily's face was befuddled.

*Who?* I asked.

*I…Hey! Isn't that Hiro?!*

*WHAT?!*

I whipped around to see me big brother running across the sand, waving to the crew. They waved him over, and I saw Jolteon by his side.

*That was it!* Emily said. *It was Hiro, Jovi.*

*Yeah…Let's hope Jolteon doesn't see us, or-*

"You there!"

*Aw, shoot.*

Jolteon padded over, leaving Hiro's side. "What are you doing here?" he demanded. "Don't you know what happened here?"

"Yes," I meowed, "and that, in fact, is why we're here."

"If you were smart, you'd stay away," Jolteon barked.

"Are you calling us stupid?" Emily challenged. Jolteon bared his teeth.

"I'm many a levels stronger than you two combined!" he snarled.

"We're many a levels smarter than you and your trainer combined!" I retorted. Jolteon was so full of himself…

"My trainer happens to have saved your pelts!" he growled. "He-"

"We know what he did!" Emily barked. "We know it already!"

"I'll bet you don't, if you talk about him that way!"

"I know it because no one has ever stopped talking about it!" I snapped.

Jolteon turned away. "Whatever. But again… if you were smart, you'd stay away from this place."

I took a swipe at his leg as he trotted away. "If you were smart, you'd go hide in your Poke ball!"

Emily and I watched him go, and then turned to each other.

*We need to demorph. Soon,* I added in thought-speak.

*I know.*

Both of us turned around. Satisfied with our evidence, we ran home and de morphed just in time, and we prepared for what we were going to say to Onyx tomorrow.