A/N: At this point, I can safely say the Pokémon Special Manga won't really run the same way anymore. Yeah.
DISCLAIMER: Pokémon belongs to Satoshi Tajiri and the people at his company. Pokémon Special belongs to Hidenori Kusaka.
Chapter 8: The Faithful
"It's just hair gel, Silver!"
Gold chased his red-headed friend from the outside of a barbershop, waving his hands smothered with hair goo like crazy windmills.
Ahead of him Silver ran even harder, his boots pounding at the concrete. "I don't care, you are not touching this new cut!" He turned sharply left and nearly upset a frightened mother and her baby carriage in his wake.
He squawked as sticky fingers locked onto his burgundy mane and yanked hard. The two teenagers tumbled onto the ground, kicking up a cloud of dry dust and earning a few scandalized looks from passers-by. Red panicked and tried to get them off each other. "Guys, now is not the time!"
Pearl, on the other hand, was cheering with all his might, hopping up and down as the two squirmed on the ground. Green sighed and tried to distance himself from the others, licking his ice pop.
A short distance away, Ruby and Diamond were walking a bit more slowly from the other boys. They, too, were headed for the Pokémon Center with ice pops. The girls had informed them (apparently, after several tense minutes) of Sapphire's situation just as they were out accompanying Silver for a haircut.
The Amity Square entrance buildings were still being repaired. Dia pointed the work cranes out to his companion, who seemed unresponsive at best.
"Ruby?"
"I've tried so hard to protect her...and now her burden is only heavier." Ruby said bluntly. His eyebrows angled sharply and made him seem so solemn. "Probably if I hadn't...but how could I have known?"
It was a bit unseemly of him, but he groaned heavily as he watched Red plead for Green to help him unstick their junior counterparts.
"I think you should have just a bit more faith in Sapphire." Pearl's green scarf got caught in Gold's flailing fists and he was dragged into the fray.
Ruby simply stared at Diamond, who continued on. "I think our role right now is to be there for her. She needs you." There was sincerity in his voice, simple and clear.
"...Yeah. Thanks, Diamond." Green sighed and clocked the three on their heads to stun them.
Diamond adjusted his beret and smiled serenely, watching Green drag them along the road. Much to Red's embarrassment and horror.
"No problem. You gonna finish that ice pop?"
"Ovoviparous, the case seems to be." The Nurse Joy presiding over the ultrasound said cheerfully. Aware of the delicate situation, she decided it was best to keep mum about it and be as supportive as possible. She held the ultrasound scanner to the teenager's stomach.
"Ovoviwhatsits?" Emerald was puzzled. He and the other Pokédex Holders were circled around Sapphire's bed, curious at this new development. His green eyes were wide with wonder as a tiny creature stirred from within, alive and aglow.
"That means that the baby isn't really growing from you - just inside you." She pointed to a thin chalky line that meant to be a shell in the shifting flesh of the grey screen. Nurse Joy heard the soft gasps and whispers of awe that was so familiar with human parents.
"You have to take care of yourself now, Sapphire. A natural gestation period of a warm-blooded biped Pokémon is roughly three months in natural surroundings, so I think we can say that your...um...case may be similar."
The wild girl suddenly felt a warmth in her heart, and she rubbed her palm over her stomach. She could even feel a tiny ripple under her skin.
"Manaphy. Its name is Manaphy."
The heat of the sun escalated as the day soon became noon. Beneath the green leaves was a small clearing, where the light of a Team Galactic uniform shone white.
Indeed the slender Jupiter was there, watching some sort of beeping device in her hands. The Commander smoothed her lavender tresses, keeping her Skuntank alert for anyone who might detect their presence.
"Why, Jupiter! I believe that it's been too long."
Horrified at the voice, Jupiter spun around and met a cold figure in grey robes leaning against the trunk of a large evergreen tree. Furious, she sent out her Skuntank to defend herself, screaming.
"You?"
The Persian flung itself at the violet stink Pokémon with an Iron Tail attack. The Skuntank ducked and narrowly dodged the blow, facing about sharply to deliver a Poison Gas attack. The Skuntank dove at the robed enemy and bared its claws to deliver a deadly Night Slash at the pale neck.
"Ah ah-ah," Sird smiled, pointing her finger at Jupiter.
The Persian tackled the Galactic Commander and pushed her to the ground, opening its glowing jaws to unleash a Shadow Ball at Jupiter's face. Struggling under the heavy feline paws, the candy-haired woman shrieked at Sird with venom.
"This is my assignment, wannabe! Stay out of this!"
The taller woman smirked and kneed the Skuntank in the ribs, twisting her lanky body away and clapped her hands once. Immediately her feline Pokémon sank its claws deeper into Jupiter's arms, forcing the Skuntank to hesitate attacking the Beast Warrior.
"Fat chance, pinky. Tell Cyrus that he can forget about his plan - it is stupid to think -"
Jupiter kicked the Persian in the gut with her white heeled boots, sending the large cat falling back into the shadowy bushes. She jumped up and got behind her Skuntank, who snarled menacingly.
"You're working for a fool that's been long dead to the world. Stop being such an idiot!" she roared.
Sird's face became draped in shadow, and she cackled madly. "Oh silly Jupiter, so cheeky as always!" Sird smiled and regained her composed demeanor. "I'm sure you're clueless about this new energy source your boss is hounding, am I right?" The pale woman's lips twitched cruelly as Jupiter blanched, and she clapped her hands sharply again.
"Silly girl..."
The Persian lunged to the extreme right, blasting a powerful blob of darkness at the Galactic Commander and her Pokémon. Jupiter and her Skuntank were caught off guard and were knocked off their feet and into the trees. The pink-haired woman's shriek of pain and rage resounded as the Beast Warrior slunk away, grinning madly.
"A message from Sir Giovanni, pinky...Team Rocket lives!"
"Excuse me, package for a Mister Gold."
After the ultrasound scan was completed, another pink-haired Nurse Joy came in, carrying a large brown paper package. Blue thanked her and took the package, passing it over to Gold.
"Cool, Ma's sent us new clothes. Look, there are some for you too - Silver, Crys." He waved two other thick bundles of clothes in the air.
"M-me too?"
"Wow, your mom's so nice!"
Everyone admired their nice new clothes, especially Crystal's - her outfit was a great departure from her usual attire. Ruby's mood considerably brightened as he and the girls chatted over how cute her puffy white hat looked like.
The other boys looked over at Silver's shorter - and much more form-fitting-jacket. Pearl wolf-whistled. "Oh, looks like Silver's out to attract someone with the power of his 'hotness'!" Even the red-head had to laugh.
Most pleased of all was Gold, who hollered,
"You think your clothes are cool? Check these out-ninja shorts!"
The black-haired youth swaggered around in his new jacket and shorts, the cuffs wrapping around his calves. He proceeded to prance around and stretch his legs, trying to do a few karate kicks and nearly knocking over a vase.
Crys had to suppress a faint urge to smack him round on the head.
"So, what are our plans now?"
Everyone looked pointedly at Sapphire, who murmured under her breath,
"...Snowpoint. I...need to get to Snowpoint. I was told that Manaphy should be born in the cold regions, so I think I should go there."
Green thought about this for a moment.. "With three months as our schedule, we aren't in too much trouble." Blue had to interject at this point. "Hang on a minute! The traveling pace will have to be slow, we'll have to pace ourselves for Sapphire!"
Platinum was already checking with her father for any lodging they could find at Snowpoint.
"W-wait, all of you are coming?" The wild girl was confused. The thirteen of them traveling all together?
"Of course! We still have to figure something out." Emerald declared, his superior tone rearing. "If Manaphy is needed to bring balance to nature, why did the unnatural phenomena happen only over the course of recent months?" What kept the balance before that? And what happened to it?"
Yellow crept over to Sapphire's bedside and clasped her hands together over the tomboyish girl's. "Of course, we can't leave you to do this alone."
Sapphire's face grew a happy pink and she nearly choked the blonde girl with a massive hug. She knew - from everyone else's smiling faces - that they, too, would not let her down.
BZEET. BEEP.
Tapatapatapa.
Please wait.
BDEEP.
Tapatapa.
Botanic energy source found.
Location unknown.
Volcanic energy source found.
Currently at: Stark Mountain
Tapitytaptap.
Mobilization of agents successful.
Current mission: retrieve marine energy source.
BZZT.
TBC
