Chapter Nine

"Okay Zorro good job. Come back now," I commanded. Zorro had, after a little difficulties, taken out Lenora's Herdier. She jumped up to her normal place on my shoulders. "Okay Ember you're up." He raced on to the battle field from my side.

"You're good kid, but no matter how grim the situation, I'll use my research skills to find a winning strategy," Lenora said while throwing out her Watchog. I shrugged not knowing how to respond to her words. Watchog creepily eyed us waiting for an order.

"Ember, use arm thrust," I commanded. Ember quickly raced up to the Watchhog to strike first.

"Now we won't have that. Watchhog dodge and use retaliate," Lenora said. Watchog swiftly dodged Ember's bigger body, then slammed into him. I winced retaliate did twice the damage since Herdier just fainted.

"Are you okay Ember," I asked.

"Fine, just fine," He said while getting up. I nodded and try to swiftly come up with a plan.

"Okay just keeping using arm thrust," I said. If we manage to hit once then it's in the bag, I thought. Lenora smirked.

"Dodge then use hypnosis," Lenora commanded. My eyes widen. If Ember got hit by that he was done for. Watchog dodged once more and fired the mind attack.

"Quick Ember dodge and use flame charge," I commanded. Ember jump to the side narrowly avoiding the attack. He flamed up and charged Watchog. Watchog jump too late and was knocked over by the move.

"Hurry and get up Watchog then use crunch," the normal type gym leader said. Watchog swiftly got back up not taking my damage from the attack. Watchog quickly ran over to Ember and bite his arm. I smirked.

"Okay Ember before he gets away use arm thrust," I said. Lenora's face fell as she realized the predicament she put her Pokémon in. Before Watchog could get away Ember hit it three times with arm thrust. Watchog let go of Ember before fainting. I smiled we won.

"Good job you two," I said to Ember and Zorro.

"Anything for you mother," Zorro said.

"I was awesome wasn't I," Ember asked. I rolled my eyes along with Zorro.

"I manage to not get hit and swiftly take out my opponent. So no you weren't that awesome," Zorro said. He growled playfully at her.

"Good job," Lenora said while approaching us. I smiled at her my Pokémon did great. "Now I award you with this badge to prove your victory. Here you go this is the basic badge," she said while handing a basic looking badge.

"Yay thanks to you guys I got the basic badge," I yelled. I posed and my Pokémon jumped up around me.

The moment was interrupted by a frighten Hawes. "Dear dear, come quickly. Team Plasma is threating to steal bones," he yelled. My eyes narrowed, that good for nothing team.

"What," Lenora shirked. She quickly pushed past me and ran up the steps. Hawes followed after her and I trailed after them. Team Plasma were standing around the fossil of a dragon Pokémon. For some reason I had to fight the urge to stand in front of the black stone.

"We're taking these fossils," One of the grunts said. Before anyone else could say something the grunts threw down smoke bombs.

"Hey wait, what are you doing? Unfezant use gust," Lenora shouted. After a moment the smoke cleared up.

"Whoa they just took the head," Ember muttered. I looked down at him before I look at the fossil again. He was right the head was missing.

"Why just the head," Zorro asked. Before I could respond somebody walked in. Startled I took a defense position.

"Hello Lenora. Have you found any good fossils lately," the stranger asked before taking a look around. "Wait what happen here," he asked.

Lenora sighed, "Burgh nice of you to stop by, but Team Plasma just stole the head of one of my fossils." Burgh's eyes widen.

"They did what," he asked. Lenora rolled her eyes,

"You heard me. So are you going to help," she asked. Burgh nodded. "Hilda could you please help too. They couldn't have gone that far the only close place is Pinwheel forest,"

"Sure I can help, but first I must get my Pokémon healed who knows what they could do," I said. Lenora shoot me a thankful smile.

"Oh, who is this Lenora," Burgh asked.

"Oh Burgh this is Hilda, a trainer. Hilda this is Burgh, the leader of the Castelia gym," Lenora said. I smiled at him. He was dressed oddly for a gym leader but from what I've heard they all dress weirdly.

"Cool. So Hilda are you ready to go beat up some crooks," Burgh said. I nodded along with my Pokémon.

"And once more it's time to go beat up some bad guys," Zorro sighed. I laughed slightly.

"You know you like it," I teased. She smile a bit but still looked worried.

"We're just afraid that you'll get hurt one of these times," Ember said. I rolled my eyes and noticed the gym leaders plus Hawes were looking at us.

"Sorry. So we'll all meet up at the entrance to Pinwheel forest, correct," I asked.

"You and Burgh will. Hawes and I will stay here in case they come back," Lenora said. I shrugged and nodded.

"Come one Ember we have to hurry," I said before bolting out of there.

"Hey Hilda," a voice said after we got outside. I stopped and turned. "Is there something wrong?" It was Bianca, Cheren was standing next to her.

"Yeah Team Plasma came in and stole a fossil. Burgh and I are going to chase them down," I said, "could you do me a favor and stay here in case they come back."

"Um are you sure Hilda," Cheren asked. I nodded.

"It's not like I'm going to chase them down by myself. Burgh is a gym leader," I said. I could tell they still looked unsure. I smiled a bit before running off again.

"They're worried about you," Zorro commented.

"Who isn't at this point," I asked.

"That no good N," Ember muttered. I shoot him a glare. Even though we travelled together for about two days it still hurt that he left just like that. I didn't say anything as we reached the Pokémon center.

"Nurse joy could you please heal me Pokémon," I asked while returning Ember and Zorro.

"Of course I can. Coming right up," she said as I handed her all of my Pokémon. "So do you need a room later Miss. Hilda," she asked. I looked at her shock, I thought she had forgotten about this morning meeting.

"No I plan on leaving town today," I said.

"Oh what about your friend," she asked. I flinched at the reminder of N.

"I found him earlier," I said shortly. Something in my voice must have told her to not ask any more questions.

"Okay Miss. Hilda your Pokémon are all set. Come again soon," Nurse Joy said handing me my Pokeballs.

"Thank you," I muttered. I went over the pokemart and bought a lot of potions in case my Pokémon got hurt. After I was done I sent Ember and Zorro back out and put the others back on my belt. "Okay you two let's go," I said. Zorro climbed on top of my shoulders and Ember stood awkwardly at my side. We walked until we were out of town before breaking into a run. Before long we reached the entrance to the forest where Burgh was waiting for us.

"Come on you three let's get going," Burgh said. His face was completely serious. We walked slightly behind Burgh as we took in the looks of the forest. It was a slow walk until we reached a fork in the road.

"Okay so are we going to split up," I asked. Burgh nodded.

"You can take the forest path. I take the road. The paths meets up back at the top. Be careful though the forest path is more dangerous," he said before walking off casually.

"Wait," I called after him. Did the gym leader really just sent me to the more dangerous path. He didn't answer but instead just kept walking. "Is it me or do these gym leaders seem like cowards," I asked.

"They seem like cowards," Ember muttered. We looked toward the forest. It was huge and slightly creepy looking.

"Well I guess we have to go," Zorro said. I nodded and started walking into the forest.

Some grunts, who stupidly revealed that I was going the right way, and trainers, who just got in the way, later we nearly to the end of the forest.

"Do you guys here something," I asked. Ember and Zorro stilled.

"Only you would get us lost," a female voice in the forest said. I crept forward instantly on guard. "I told you we should have taken the pave path but no you had to go looking for some bug Pokémon," the same voice scolded.

"Sorry, sorry, but in all fairness you wanted to see some too," a different voice said. This one was male and sound familiar. Careful not to step on any branches I peered into a clearing. There were two kids around my age standing there. The boy had brown hair cover by a red, white, and black hat. I looked like he had brown eyes but I was a bit too far away to tell. He was wearing a blue jacket with black pants and red shoes. The girl had back length caramel colored hair that was in a braid and under a pink hat. She was wearing a light blue dress and grey jacket and black shoes. It looked like she had blue eyes and was carrying a black tote bag. The boy was trying to calm down the girl, who looked like she was going to kill the boy.

"Hilbert," the girl cried out. "Why did I ever agree to travel with you?" My eye widen did she say Hilbert.

"Well Kandy we both know you couldn't resist my awesomeness," Hilbert said. Kandy huffed. At that moment Ember slightly shifted and stepped on a branch drawing the two attention. They both whipped around to face our direction.

"Hey who's out there? Show yourself," Hilbert demanded. I shared a look with my Pokémon.

"I think I might know the boy," I whispered. Ember shrugged and Zorro shoot him a crossed look. Holding my hands up in defeat I walk into the clearing.

"Who are you," Kandy asked. Hilbert stared at me for a moment.

"My name is Hilda," I said, "and this is Ember and Zorro." I pointed to them as I said their names.

"White is that you," Hilbert asked. My breath caught in my throat.

"Black," I asked. He smiled and ran towards me. I started running and meet him half way.

"I can't believe it's you Hilly-willy," he said. I smiled and hug him.

"Well we were bound to meet up at some point. You only left a week ahead of me," I said.

"Um sorry to interrupt but Hilbert who is this," Kandy asked.

"Yeah mom who is this random boy," Ember asked.

"Kandy this is my cousin Hilda. Who I tend to share everything with," Hilbert said brightly. I rolled my eyes.

"You know expect for this journey as he left a whole week ahead of me without a goodbye," I said crossly.

"Sorry Hilda I just left early because I really wanted to go and didn't want to wait for your friends," Hilbert said.

"Hilbert Alex Black I swear I need to put you on a leash some times," I yelled.

"Hilda Alexis White I'm sorry for worrying you," Hilbert said. I smiled, I had panicked at first. I thought he was leaving me just like my Dad. He did leave me a note but it didn't mean I wasn't still mad.

"Wait you guys have nearly the same name," Kandy asked. I nodded.

"Our moms were really close and we were born on the same day so they made our names similar," I explained. I paused for a minute. "Wait who are you?"

"I'm Kandy Adele Cresten. I'm from Sinnoh and am travelling with Hilbert," she said. I smiled at her.

"Well anyone who could put up with Hilbert is okay in my book," I said.

"Hey," Hilbert yelled. Kandy rolled her eyes.

"I know he's had us lost in this forest for two days," she complained. I rose an eyebrow and shared a look with Zorro.

"You do know that the path is over there," I said pointing behind me. They both blushed.

"I wonder how they didn't notice," Ember said. I playfully pushed him.

"So which Pokémon do you have," I asked them both.

"I have a Servine, a Pikachu, and a Skitty," Kandy said.

"I have a Dewott, and a Pidove," Hilbert said proudly. Kandy and I rolled our eyes, only Hilbert. I glance at Ember who was tugging on my shorts.

"Don't we have a fossil to get," he asked. I gasped.

"Your right Ember. I'm sorry I have to go. Unless you want to come with me," I said. I don't know what made me say that but I really hope they would agree. They shared a look and Hilbert looked at me with a goofy smile.

"Of course Hilly I wouldn't let you travel this forest alone," Hilbert said. Kandy nodded in agreement. I smiled.

"Oh yeah also I'm tracking down some Team Plasma grunts at the moment," I said. Hilbert's eyes widen.

"What," Hilbert yelled. I poked my tongue out at him and ran back to the path. They stumbled after me, hurrying to keep up.

"Come on guys the end of the forest is behind these trees," I said not loudly in case any Team Plasma grunts were there. We stopped as we heard a voice.

"This skull isn't a legendary Pokémon. You have failed our King," the voice said. I peered in. There were five grunts and a sage.

"Then you can give it back right," I said while stepping into the clearing. The people in the clearing all turned to face me. The sage shrugged and the grunts circled us.

"Hold it right there," Burgh called out. He walked into the clearing with Lenore behind him.

"I am Gorm of the seven sages. We may not need the skull but you are being warn to stay out of the way of our plans," He said while throwing Lenora the skull. He and his groupies walked away. None of us doing anything to stop them.

"Thanks Hilda. Other kids I most likely battled," Lenora said before leaving the scene too.

"I hope to see you guys at my gym," Burgh said cheerfully before running after Lenora. I turn to Kandy and Hilbert.

"So to Castelia City we go," I asked.

So sorry I haven't wrote in a while. I've been busy remember to read and review~ Swiftfire mews.