Rainbow Castle: Thanks for reviewing! And thank you so much for reading! :D That is such a huge compliment…you have no idea how happy your review made me!
theasianwonder: Haha! Sorry…I have to build up to that event first!
niibbles sunshine lollipops: :3
Fprmr1: Yes, I live! Muahaha! I'm still here! And… they are aren't they?
ContestshippingRose: Glad to hear that I have achieved my goal for that chapter!
Rikato Tojidofukuto: Yeah. He does. It's some sort of mental issue. I'll try to get more into that as the story goes on. Thanks for the info! So the white stuff is like a hat right?
Apheleia: Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for your constructive criticism! I realized those things as well when I read my story over this year. I guess I was just a bit simple then! I've always had a hard time at the beginning of a story, as when I envision a story, I always have the outline and the ending come up first, so my brain is a bit backward on this matter! Haha! And the true… more complex part of the plot is going to start really unfolding here. So watch out!
LoveLoverGrl: Close! That WAS, however, originally going to have been incorporated into the chapter!
Disclaimer: Let's see…according to reality…I do not own pokemon! Bummer…
Chapter 9: When Midnight Arrives
May and Drew could not believe what they saw… Blaziken was ribbon dancing with Roserade. Ribbon dancing.
May just stood there, staring.
"We could use this for our appeal…" Drew said thoughtfully.
Blaziken and Roserade did a final twirl and flip around each other, then, they bowed.
Everyone cheered and applauded, then, one by one, they all slowly left.
Blaziken then, saw May, in shock.
"You didn't see anything… right?" Blaziken asked, hoping, really, REALLY hoping that May, or Drew, did not see his recent act of feminism.
"Sorry Blaziken. I saw EVERYTHING." May replied, smirking, after she quickly snapped from her initial shock.
"Aw come on!" Blaziken pouted.
"There's really nothing for you to be ashamed of! You were totally awesome! You were so elegant and light-footed, like a ballet dancer! " May assured.
"There goes my manly pride…"
"Hey. Who ever said men had to be all strength and no skill?" May said.
"I… I guess you're right! I mean, I am mostly a contest pokemon anyway." Blaziken instantly perked up at the realization.
May smiled.
"Come on then, everyone's been waiting for you and Roserade!"
"You think we could have them do a ribbon dance routine for the appeal round?" May asked Drew, as they sat in the pokemon center's lobby.
"I don't see why not. Our song even goes pretty good with some ribbon dancing in it." Drew replied.
"We've only got 6 days to train before the contest…"
"I bet that we'll perfect our routine by the day of the contest if we start tomorrow." Drew said. "After all, Blaziken and Roserade are really fast learners. And I think we can squeeze in some attack combos in there for Milotic and Seviper to practice.
May thought for a moment.
"I bet we could. Let's give it a shot."
In the contest training hall…
"One more time Blaziken and Roserade! Then we'll take a lunch break! Hit it Drew!" May shouted.
Drew pressed play on the computer that was connected to some speakers.
Blaziken and Roserade did a small ribbon dance routine during the intro, trotting and gliding through the air.
"I used to rule the world
Blaziken jumped up, ribbons in hand, and propelled an overheat in the shape of a sphere to the ground.
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Roserade, who was on the ground with her arms crossed in an "X" holding her ribbons, spread her arms out and brought them forward using gust on the overheat once it hit the ground, making it into a fire wave.
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Blaziken was nowhere to be seen.
Sweep the streets I used to own"
The wave suddenly broke into four winds, with Blaziken in the middle sweeping his right leg clockwise, his right hand following and his left hand rising up.
For the short 12 second instrumental, Roserade danced gracefully around Blaziken while he stood still in his position.
I used to roll the dice
Blaziken joined Roserade.
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
Listened as the crowd would sing
Now the old king is dead long live the king
Blaziken and Roserade both stopped, standing about a foot away from each other, their backs facing, and diagonal from each other. They both slapped both ribbons on their wrists at the same time, and like a slap on bracelet, they wound up on their wrists.
One minute I held the key
They both raised both of their hands into the air, left palm facing the right.
Next the walls were closed on me
They formed their hands into fists (or at least Blaziken did) and brought them down to their chests. Their eyes closed and their faces up.
And I discovered that my castles stand
Their eyes snapped open.
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand
They both turned around to face each other swiftly and did long horizontal leaps, looking like they were going to crash into each other, but merely passing each other while they threw salt into the air, like flower girls do at a wedding with flowers, landing they turning around and repeating the same process with sand.
I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing
They drew the ribbons from their wrists and started to do a very swift and elegant ribbon dance, both of their movements complementing each other, like a completely in sync choir.
Roman cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
Missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
Once you'd gone there was never
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world
They slowed down, and did a leg sweep.
For the 14 second instrumental, they did a series of graceful movements, while staying where they stood.
It was a wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
They sped up their movements.
People couldn't believe what I'd become
They slowed down.
Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh who would ever want to be king?
They stopped all together and stood in their fixed poses.
I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing
They suddenly started to move in a swift and beautiful dance, a variation of the one they did for the other time the chorus played.
Roman cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
I know St Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
During start of the main instrumental, Roserade and Blaziken continued their practiced routine.
Blaziken then lit his ribbons of fire by igniting his wrists, and Roserade slapped the ribbons onto her wrist and held one bottom corner of her leaf "cape" in each hand.
Whoaaa…
They kicked off into their amazingly breathtaking, finale.
Whoaa…
Whoaaa…
Whoaa…
Whoaa…
Hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing
Roman cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
I know St Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
They slowed their pace down a notch.
But that was when I ruled the world"
Blaziken put out the flaming ribbons with a swift flick of his wrist, and Roserade posed with her arms out, holding her cape.
They bowed.
Drew gasped in amazement, as May stood up and clapped, along with all of their other pokemon.
"Go Blaziken!" Salamence shouted.
"Go Roserade!" Beautifly cheered.
Blaziken and Roserade high fived each other, as May hugged both of them.
"I can't believe how fast you two perfected that! It's only been the first day of training!"
"It was nothing." Blaziken blushed, rubbing his neck, embarrassed by all the attention he was currently receiving.
"Aw, Blaziken! Give yourself some credit!" Roserade smiled, putting a rose hand on his back.
"Yeah! Stop bein' so humble!" Flygon slapped his back.
"Group hug!" Milotic announced.
"No… plea-mmph!" Blaziken started.
Everyone came over and started to hug, with Blaziken in the middle, muffling him.
Drew's pride kept him from coming over, so he just stood there and watched.
"Come on master!" Masquerain encouraged, beckoning him over.
Drew shook his head.
"Come here Mr. "high and mighty"." May smirked, yanking Drew in.
During their break…
May reached her hand up to Drew's head and ruffled his hair.
"Hey! You messed it up enough with that death hug of yours." Drew ran his fingers through his hair.
"Your hair looks better messy. It makes you look "rugged"." May jumped up and ruffled his hair again, ignoring his protests.
Drew rolled his eyes and sighed.
May backed up, checking her work.
"Perfect." May stated, satisfied.
Drew then came up with an idea to get back at her.
"Well, since you styled my hair… why don't I style yours?" Drew smirked.
"No way." May shook her head, starting to walk backwards.
"Yes way!" Drew ran forward, as May turned around and bolted away.
"You'll never catch me!" May laughed, looking back at Drew, who was running behind her.
"I'm pretty sure I will." Drew smirked, seeing that May was about to run into a pond.
May stuck her tongue out at him.
"You know May… if you don't start looking forward; you're going to fall in a pond."
"What?"
"3…2…1."
May looked forward and her eyes widened as she fell straight into the water.
May took in big gulp of air as she came to the surface.
"Told ya." Drew smirked, kneeling in front of her.
May glared at him.
"Don't look at me, it's not my fault you're such a klutz." Drew flipped his hair.
May pouted, and then smirked.
"Well…" May slid her hands around Drew's neck, and put her mouth next to his ear and whispered.
"I'm about to get my revenge, in 3…2…1." May pulled him straight into the water.
Drew gasped, as he resurfaced.
May laughed.
Drew splashed her.
"Oh. It's on!" May splashed him back with all her might.
At one point in their splash war, May tackled Drew, and clung to his back like a Remoraid on a Mantine.
Drew got out of the water, May holding fast and started to run around the grassy field.
They both laughed, when they fell into the soft long grass, paying no mind to the pokemon around them looking at them curiously.
Meanwhile…
"Hey… where are Suicune and Latias?" Blaziken looked around.
"I don't know… they'll be able to take care of themselves anyway." Absol replied, scanning the area.
"Yeah. I guess." Blaziken shrugged.
"Aw… look at May and Drew!" Milotic squealed. "Isn't it so romantic?"
Seviper rolled his eyes.
Everyone turned to look at them.
"You know, I wouldn't mind Drew as May's mate… I mean boyfriend…er… husband or whatever it is humans call it." Blaziken smiled, staring at them.
Roserade looked at how happy Drew was with May on his back, and how May laughed so joyously, then, glanced at Blaziken for a moment, before looking back, and shaking her head.
"Blaziken is my BEST FRIEND. What am I even thinking about?" Roserade slapped herself in her head.
"Roserade? You alright?" Blaziken put a hand on her shoulder, seeing Roserade shaking her head violently.
A tingly feeling suddenly shot through her stomach.
"Yeah… I need to go somewhere…" Roserade stood up suddenly.
"You want me to go with you?" Blaziken asked.
"No! I mean no… it's okay. I need some time alone." Roserade took off.
"Roserade!"
But Roserade was already gone.
Blaziken stared after her.
"What's gotten into her?" Blaziken scratched his head.
Roserade ran into a forest, jumping on one tree, and swiftly jumping up from branch to branch.
She settled on the tallest branch.
"What is up with me today?" Roserade put a hand on her forehead.
A shadowy figure suddenly emerged behind a thick branch.
With Suicune and Latias…
"Thanks for coming." The Lucario in the silver sash said to them.
"It's our honor Hogosha." Suicune bowed.
"Very." Latias bowed as well.
Hogosha bowed back.
"So what have you summoned us for?" Suicune asked.
"You two must be ready. The dark is rising quickly."
"We are ready." Latias said.
"Good. Because tonight…everything will start to swing into action."
They both nodded.
"Do you want us to inform them?" Suicune asked.
"No. Things must happen on their own."
"Very well."
"I pray the power of my father be with you." Hogosha raised a paw.
The both bowed their thanks, taking the signal to leave.
"Roserade! Roserade!" Blaziken called out, running around the orchard frantically.
The team had been searching for Roserade for HOURS on end, and soon everyone had plopped down and given up.
Everyone except for Blaziken of course.
"Roserade!" Blaziken roared, spewing a giant overheat into the air in the process.
The overheat came down and crashed into the ground with a blast, creating a huge gale.
"Where are you?!"
"Blaziken…" A voice cooed.
"Who's there?" Blaziken whipped around.
"It's meeeee! How's my favorite Blazi-blaze?" Brendan grinned, stepping out into the light.
"Don't call me that you as*! Where's Roserade?" Blaziken's wrists flared up.
"Woah, woah, woah! Relax Blazi-kins!" Brendan chuckled, raising his hands up. "Your precious Roserade is safe…for now…"
"What do you want from me?!"
"Nothing you can't give." Brendan smirked. "I want your trainer."
"Give me a break!" Blaziken growled. "You don't need May. You need a one way pass to the mental hospital."
Brendan's crazed grin only spread wider across his face.
"Crazy idiot…" Blaziken thought, clenching his teeth.
"Just meet me in the woods at the left of the avian highway at midnight. You bring May. And we'll make the trade." Brendan turned away and started to melt back into the shadows.
"What if I don't?"
"Then…I'll kill your precious little plant friend." Brendan said simply, disappearing completely.
Blaziken could feel the that squeezing feeling at the back of his throat begin to make itself known and the stinging feeling in his eyes warning him of the tears that threaten to fall. He dropped down to his knees and pressed his eyes against his palms.
"What will I do…?" Blaziken sobbed.
When Blaziken finally somewhat pulled himself together, he put on an emotionless, mask-like expression, as he walked back to the hotel everyone was staying at.
He stepped into the lobby, pushing open the heavy glass doors.
Drew, May and the whole crew were there. May was pacing back and forth anxiously when she looked up.
"Blaziken!" May ran up and hugged him.
Blaziken just stood there, motionless, like a still, stone statue.
"I can't let anyone know about this…I can't let anyone know about this…" Blaziken chanted in his head.
"Blaziken? What's wrong?" May looked up at him.
Blaziken's jaw tightened as the back of his throat started to squeeze again.
"Be strong…for May…for Roserade…I can't let anyone else know…I'm facing this alone…solitary…this may be the last I see of all of them…" Blaziken allowed his eyes to look over the whole crew.
"I'll not only be fighting to save Roserade…I'll be fighting to save them all."
That night, Blaziken got up and checked the clock.
"10:45…"
He walked over to the pokeballs and stared at them.
"I'll miss you all…my friends…my family…my teammates… good-bye." He said to them in a hushed whisper.
He walked over to May and Drew's bed quietly.
He looked at May and brushed a hair from her face.
"You…my first trainer…my first real family…I'll miss you the most…" Blaziken wiped a stray tear that fell from his eyes. "I just want you to know…that I can never repay everything you've done for me…you cared and loved me. Even when I wasn't the best pokemon I could be for you… you were the best trainer you could be for me… thank you…so much… for everything…"
He walked over to Drew's side of the bed.
"And you… take care of May for me… I'll be watching you Drew! You better take good care of her!" Blaziken allowed himself to smile a little. "I know you will…"
He walked towards the door silently and stepped outside. He glanced back inside.
"You are all a part of my world…without you all… it wouldn't be complete…" He closed the door silently, and dashed away.
It took Blaziken almost an hour to find Avian highway and reach it by running and occasionally leaping.
He crashed into the woods and fell down as his legs gave way.
He just lay on a bed of leaves for a few precious moments and tried to enjoy the beauty of the moonlight peeking through the trees and the cool breeze that blew through his fur.
He suddenly heard a rustling noise behind him.
"It's time."
"Ah Blaziken. How are you this fine night hm?" Brendan smirked.
Blaziken got up and brushed the leaves from his fur.
"Where's Roserade?" Blaziken growled.
"Where's May?"
"I asked first you jack. So answer me first." Blaziken took a fighting stance.
"Hold on cowboy!" He chuckled. "There's no need to overreact!" He put his hands up defensively. "She's in the car back there, guarded by my pokemon. So no need to worry."
Blaziken scowled. "There better not be a scratch on her when I see her."
"Alrighty then. I guess I'll go first." Brendan whistled.
"That's Brendan's signal. Let's move." Swampert said.
"Heh. Come on sexy." Shiftry smirked, grabbing ahold of Roserade.
"Don't touch me!" Roserade poison jabbed him with both hands as her hands and feet were duct taped together.
"OW!" Shiftry immediately released her, dropping her on the ground.
She started to try and squirm away.
"Hey!" Rhyperior swatted her head.
Roserade growled.
"Let me handle her. I'm immune to poison, and grass isn't super effective on me." Aggron suggested, hoisting her up on his shoulder.
"Dam* Brendan!" She muttered under her breath.
Blaziken watched warily as a Swampert, Shiftry, Rhyperior and an Aggron walked out from behind the trees.
"Oof…" Aggron unceremoniously threw a small green figure on the ground.
"Roserade!" Blaziken dropped his fighting stance.
"Blaziken…?" Roserade looked up.
Blaziken dropped to his knees and quickly cut the duct tape with a metal claw and scooped her up in his arms.
"What…is this?!" Blaziken's eyes widened when he saw felt a lump on the side of her head, and saw that it was a purple and blue-ish hue. "I thought…I told you…that I better not find a scratch…on her!" Blaziken laid her on the bed of leaves he was laying on a while ago, checking her head bruise, while glaring at Brendan.
"Well…I still held my end of the deal. I gave you back your precious Roserade… you give me May."
"Well…" Blaziken scooped Roserade up in his arms again when he was done. "The only problem is…I'd never-ever give May to you!" Blaziken lit the grass around them on fire and propelled away as fast as he could. He shot fire from his feet to give him an extra boost forward, as he strained his legs to run at a rate well beyond their limit. The adrenaline pumping through him was the only thing that fueled his aching and straining legs.
He scaled the hill and leapt for the highway, but a hand snagged his foot and pulled him back down the hill into the woods.
"You thought you could get away huh?" Swampert smirked at Blaziken's expression.
"But why…?"
"Because my trainer has commanded me. And I must follow his orders."
"So you're not doing this at your own free will? Mudskipper…what happened to you…?" Blaziken only spoke the last part in a hushed tone.
Swampert flinched at the name. It was his old nickname, the one Blaziken liked to call him when he and Blaziken were only Mudkip and Torchic.
"I'm not "Mudskipper" anymore…for he no longer exists." Swampert said, forming a fist with one hand.
Blaziken closed his eyes and curled his body over Roserade's, tears trickling down his face.
Then everything went black.
Blaziken awoke to a sharp pain in his back.
"He's still not loosening his grip boss." Aggron said slashing his claws down Blaziken's back.
Blaziken didn't know how long he was out, but he was relieved to know that during that time… he hasn't released his tight hold on an unconscious Roserade.
"Very well. I'll take care of it myself." Brendan reached into his jacket and pulled out a GP 35 handgunand pointed it at Blaziken.
"Just FYI… the name 'Hogosha' means 'Guardian.' I really have no idea if a Blaziken can learn metal claw in the games… but I'll be a rebel and just totally break the rules! Heheh. Well anyways, reviews are always welcomed and appreciated. Have a wonderful day or night… or whatever. Just be happy! It's good for your mental health! Oh, and happy Halloween!"
~SierraLobo~
