Hello everybody and welcome back to Miracles! Another chapter, and yet I've done zero reviewing still. I'm such a terrible person. :(

Aww well, it will get done this week. Anywho, my Nuzfic starts this week, along with the release of Pokemon Gold last Friday! I'm super excited as Pokemon Gold was the game of my childhood. I completed a Red nuzlocke this year and although I never made a fic, I have my reasons. You just have to read to find out. ;)

As for Cold….who really knows, it might just come out randomly, like I said I'm never quite sure how to start a fic, as opposed to finishing it.

So, no more waiting, let's get on with the ninth Chapter!

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"So, let me get this straight, you three lost two of the most important pokemon in this raid….the only job you had." The voice belonged to Terry, and he was anything but happy. Shade hung his head in shame, burning in resention with his comrades. Terry's voice was coming through a laptop Shade had on top of a tree near the edge of the forest. He had a clear view of Eterna City.

"Yes, padre. They escaped as Alicane and Duff slept." Shade informed him, his voice thick with anger as well. He heard Terry sigh, pinching between his forehead.

Terry looked up, seemingly tired. "Shade...you're my number one pokemon. Hell, the only one I can truly rely on in this organization. What happened, hijo?" He was sounding less angry, but confused.

Shade curled his lip. "I think Duff betrayed us. The tonto ripped out their trackers and popped the latch for them to escape. Alicane claims maybe one of them are owned and knew how, but even then there's no way they'd be able to rip out trackers from the back of their neck."

"And the other devices?"

Shade scoffed. "In their wrists, padre. It appears Duff isn't that much of a fool." He tapped his scythe on the tree, the anger of being betrayed starting to overwhelm him.

Terry noticed this. "Relax, mi hijo. This is why I didn't put you on retrieval on the first place. I don't know about the Pikachu, but that Buneary would've most certainly been dead with your temperament." He said, amusement in his voice.

Shade rolled his eyes. "I've got Alicane searching near the lake and Duff getting Dodge and his crew to help. If we can get access to the burrows, there's no escape for them."

Terry nodded, sipping from a cup. "Aye….do you think it was Duff who betrayed us."

"Que?"

"Duff's not the most intelligent mon we have, I doubt he'd be smart enough to put this together. Even then, dumb as he is, he's always shown nothing but loyalty to his trainer and the rest of us. I just don't really get the betrayal sense off him." He elaborated. Shade realized Terry had a point. Duff is the same mon that ran head first into a battle with a Heatran, thinking its fire typing would be super effective against its own steel typing, making the Heatran damage itself every fire attack….Shade still had to give a head scratch to that one.

However, his eyes widened realized what that could mean. "You're not saying Alicane is the betrayer, are you?" He asked in disbelief.

"He has the intelligence. Plus, he has shown reluctance in missions recently, even you can't deny that." He told him. Shade's gaze lowered, realizing he has caught looks of unease and uncertainty every now and then.

"We hatched him 14 years ago, he's been with us through thick and thin...there's no way." Shade said, although he sounded unsure.

Terry sighed. "Another thing, hijo….plant based pokemon can't bleed red, rather their blood is more clear and sappy." Shade started to shake, a fury building inside him. "It just doesn't make sense that this leads up to Duff."

Shade snarled. "He could've easily taken the blood from the Buneary or Pikachu. Or hell, even another forest pokemon. There's no way Alicane betrayed us." He yelled.

"And if it was Alicane?"

Shade stared off, his emotionless eyes not wavering. "Then I kill him on the spot." He said simply, his voice showing as much emotion as his eyes. Terry chuckled. That was the Shade he knew.

"Look, this is speculation. It's very well the shinies actually did pull the trackers from their necks. But we don't make any move until we know for sure, understood?" He asked sternly.

"Yes, padre."

"Good. I've informed the others to head for Eterna, there's a black van waiting. We won't leave until the shinies are captured, so that's on you."

"Si."

Terry took another sip. "I'm heading down now, the buyer wants to meet in Veilstone. I'll inspect the Pokemon and we'll be there in three days." He informed him.

Shade nodded. "What shall I do?"

Terry got ready to get up. "Find the truth." He said simply, hanging up. Shade scoffed and then got up. He had a small setup in a tree, littered with items. He spotted one on the ground, two blades, shaped to fit his scythes. Putting them on, he glanced at the tree across from him. Giving it a slice, he cleaned the tree straight in half, making a large thud as it hit. Shade gave a heartless thought of what it has done to pokemon in the past, and with no other noise, disappeared back into the forest.

Meanwhile, Terry closed his laptop, scratching his chin. Saul, who stood silently in the back the entire time looked up.

"What did he say?" He asked, unable to understand Shade.

Terry stood up. "He thinks Duff has betrayed us. The shinies escaped."

Saul laughed. "Of course. Right when things were getting smooth, huh?" He asked him.

Terry picked up a photo, showing a young Scyther, Terry, and a Ledian. The Ledian was leaning against the Scyther, all looked happy.

Sauls expression dropped. "You still think she's the reason?" He asked.

Terry cleared his throat. "We all have demons, amigo. People call me the incarnation of greed. If that's the case, Shade, he's the incarnation of Wrath. Anger clouds his judgment way too quickly, and unnecessary blood is shed. That's why Alicane is a perfect match, in a way he reminds me a lot of her. Intelligent, calm, Shade's better half."

Saul looked away. "Losing your mate damages you, man. You know that just as well as Shade."

Terry glared at him. "I did what I had to do." He replied. Grabbing his jacket, he stormed out.

Saul glanced at the old poke ball next to the photo. And then another photo, Terry with a woman holding an infant.

He scoffed, following him. "Yeah, okay." He said simply.

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Shade landed back in the clearing where the empty cage still stood. Reaching down, he examined the trackers, the blood on them dry. He picked them up and stared at them. Red. Terry was right, there was no way this was Duff's blood, not even he would be that stupid to use his own. He could find Alicane to see if he had any marks from using his own blood, but a simple cut like that could easily be healed by Moonlight. Shade tapped his claw. Walking away into the woods, deciding to take things slow, he looked around. Terry had good points, Alicane was the only one with the intelligence to betray them. Duff would've left clear signs of his betrayal.

Closing his eyes, he let out a breath. "Could've it been you….hermano?" He opened his eyes to the sound of a pokemon moaning in pain. Heading towards it, he found a Bidoof in pain, a Bibarel holding him. He was bleeding from his shoulder.

"It's okay, little guy, you're gonna be fine." He told the small Bidoof.

Shade walked up to them, startling them. "Please don't hurt me." The little Bidoof, probably a kid, squeaked.

"I'm not….I'm too busy." He replied simply.

The Bibarel huffed. "At least there's one merciful pokemon in this forest. Unlike that stupid Vileplume." He replied.

Shades eyes stretched and he instantly got in their face. "What did you say?" He asked, scaring them.

The Bidoof spoke. "It was a Vileplume...he said he was going to beat me bloody. And then he did." He whimpered.

"He didn't seem too bright. Took off when I beat him a bit. Left him with a black eye." Shade instantly saw blood. He didn't really notice the black eye, Duff's skin being purple and all, but then again he never really looked at Duff. He looked at the blood and it all started making sense. Duff used this young Bidoofs blood to help the shinies escape. Without another word, Shade burst through the trees anger blinding him.

The Bibarel blinked. "Well at least some of these guys have mercy on us." He said simply.

Duff, meanwhile, was walking along a path, holding his eye. "Gah, that stupid bunny. Using Fire Punchs and stuff…..at least I was able to take out my anger on that weak Bidoof." He muttered to himself. "Next, I'm clobbering that Buneary." He announced, heading off into the woods. Shade meanwhile, continued his pursuit through the trees. As he spotted Duff, he hid up in a tree.

He was rubbing his eye, the sticky blood disgusting him. "I better wash this stuff off." He said.

Shades lip curled and he rushed at him. Starlys flew from the trees as a sickening piercing sound echoed through the forest…

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"I'm not telling you anything!" The blonde haired man spit on Pedro's shoe, irking the young boy. It had been a half hour since they found the man and Arrow. Arrow was out of critical condition, but was still unconscious.

"Listen you tell me where the Pikachu is or I hand you to the authorities." He threatened, pulling out a file. "Richard Jones, three counts of assault, two counts of armed burglary, 4 counts of poaching."

The man stuck his tongue out at Pedro.

He huffed, trying not to lay the beating Gena did on this man. "Listen just tell us where the Pokémon is and we'll let you go, your boss won't ever find out you helped us."

Richard laughed. "Bull. Like you wouldn't hand me straight to the authorities the minute I told you."

Pedro sighed impatiently and released a Miltank. It looked ready to fight.

"Alright, then how about this. You tell me where the Pikachu is and I don't hand you into the authorities in several pieces." He said, growing impatient of this man.

The man mimicked every word he said like a child. Pedro groaned, frustration filling him.

"Okay, you're gonna make me pull the big guns." He warned.

The man didn't let up his mimicking.

Pedro rubbed his temples. "Last chance."

"Last chance."

"Alright then, Gena could you come here please." Gena looked over, talking with one of the officers that showed up. She was a lot calmer now, thankful that Arrow was doing great.

Instantly the man cowered at the sight of the teenage girl. "Ok, ok, I'll stop." He whimpered comedically, still afraid of her.

Pedro rolled his eyes. "Thank Arceus!" He exclaimed.

Richard huffed. "Look, I don't have your Pikachu, alright? The Charizard stopped me before I could make a move." He admitted. Pedro and Gena already knew this, the dark balls on his jacket had no indication of ever being used. They just wanted confirmation.

Gena wasn't sure if she was relieved or not. Sure this man said Ryan got away, but that didn't exactly meant we wasn't captured either by another poacher.

Pedro spoke up. "Were you the one that injured my Charizard?" He asked.

Richard shook his head. "Nah, he was hurt like that when he found me. I thought I could beat it injured, but that Pokemon is trained well, he wiped me out even with his injuries."

Gena chuckled. "Well, he has a pretty amazing trainer, so I'm not surprised." She said. Pedro blinked, blushing from the unexpected compliment.

Richard laughed, noticing this. "Ay, man. You're turning the color of that Buneary." He said, making Pedro smack him upside the head.

He coughed, embarrassed. "Anywho, where did you see the pokemon?"

"Near the road, 5, 10 meters. In the heart of the forest, though. So good luck with that." He replied.

Pedro nodded. "I don't need luck...was it Shade?" He asked, causing the man to give him a confused look.

"Yeah...how did you know?" Not many outsiders knew of Shade, most didn't come out alive after a confrontation with him.

Pedro smirked. "Educated guess?" He said.

Richard studied his face then his eyes widened. "Wait a minute, I know who you are. You one of our-" Pedro put a piece of tape over his mouth before he could finish, confusing Gena.

Noticing her look, he spoke up. "Shade is their deadliest pokemon. Not only does he have the power to defeat Arrow easily, those slashes more than prove it. I'm guessing Alicane is here as well?" He asked the man who nodded, a fury in his eyes. "Another pokemon just as strong as Shade, the two of them together are unbeatable." He told Gena.

"That can't be good if there's two pokemon much more powerful than Arrow in this forest." She exclaimed, dread filling her. "What are we going to do?" She asked.

Pedro thought for a moment. "We're going in." He decided.

Gena's eyes stretched. "What?"

"Shade and Alicane won't be near the roads, they'd rather be deeper in order to locate the pokemon more easily." He told her. "I have a device that can locate pokemon in a mile radius. I can't tell what specifically they are, but I can tell levels. If I find a lower level then odds are we found the pokemon."

Gena looked away. It was dangerous...very dangerous. But she trusted him. Plus she would do anything to get Ryan back. She nodded to him and he grinned.

He motioned one of the scientists over. "Get us a jeep ready." He told him, walking away from the Richard.

The scientist, a much older man with white hair gave him a bewildered look. "Pedro….you're 14. You can't even legally drive yet." He told him, not all wondering about why.

Pedro gave him puppy dog eyes. "But-"

The scientist shook his head. "No, Pedro." He said sternly, bopping his head.

Pedro crossed his arms. "I'm one of the top forensic specialists and accomplished scientists in Sinnoh, I'm pretty sure I can figure out the basic functions of a car." He replied.

The scientist looked at Gena who had followed them. "What about you, you have to be at least 16."

Gena sweatdropped. "I've actually never learned to drive a car." She admitted, ashamed. She got irked at Pedro's disbelieving look. "It took me eight extra years to become a pokemon trainer, I don't know what you expected!" She yelled, causing the scientist to chuckle.

Pedro rolled his eyes and slipped inside the jeep when they approached it. He started it and took a look at the controls. It was currently parked with a few other cars near it.

The scientist looked nervous. "I'm not sure about this, Pedro."

Pedro put the car into a gear they couldn't see. The Jeep was facing towards the forest, so all he really needed to do was put it in drive.

He laughed as he looked at the dashboard. "Look, Frank, it's in forward. I'll be fine."

Frank gave him a look. "Forward? There's no-NO WAIT PEDRO-" Too late. Pedro immediately backed full speed into the one car, destroying the front.

"MY CAR!" A scientist wailed.

Pedro stepped out, blinking in dizziness. "Okay...that didn't pan out like I thought." He said sheepishly.

Frank stepped in the jeep, switched gears and took it out of the small white car that now was missing most of the front. The jeep, however, looked unscathed. He stepped out, and looked down at Pedro.

"Pedro."

"Yeah."

"Where did you see that F?" He asked.

"...on the dash…..it was on top of an E….I figured R meant ready…." He shrunk down.

"Pedro, that F and E is the gas checker. F means full. E means empty. R, the gear you set it into, means reverse." Pedro bit his lip. Sure, he has invented a handful of complicated objects….yet that jeep was a real humbling experience. Gena, meanwhile, held a hand over her mouth, finding humor despite everything that's happened the past hour.

The scientist whose car got destroyed just looked at his car, comedic tears rolling down his face.

Frank rubbed his temples. "Sorry, Izzy. We'll make sure the insurance covers the whole car." He promised. Turning back to Pedro he sighed. "Listen, you two get in, I'll drive." He said tiredly.

Pedro nodded, sweatdropping. "Yeah, that might be better." He said begrudgingly. He threw up a couple poke balls. "Melissa, Dizzy." A Miltank and an Electivire appeared. "I need you two to scoure the forest, find any poacher you can. Apprehend them, and bring them back here for questioning. It's time we end this gang's reign of terror." He told them. They both nodded and headed into the forest. The severe injury of their friend made adrenaline run through their veins. Pedro looked at Gena. "You ready?"

Gena nodded. "Let's get Ryan and the Buneary back." She said, pumping a fist. "Is it good to send out your pokemon, what if we get attacked?"

Pedro motioned to Frank. "Frank is my mentor, he taught me everything about battling. If there's anyone who can take on Shade and Alicane, it's him." He smiled. "This is going to be dangerous." He told her.

Gena gave him a look. "You scared?" She taunted him.

Pedro scoffed. "Please, like anything in this world can defeat me." He said, brushing his shoulder. Gena laughed and they jumped in the car, Frank waiting for them in it. And as he took of, Gena stared ahead at the shady road that led into the forest, and led to an uncertain end…

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Wow that took longer than expected. Got back to my dark ways of writing. Didn't even put Jane and Ryan in this chapter. XD ANYWHOOOO leave a favorite and a review if you enjoyed. Or leave a flame if it was bad. Just let me know what ya thought, and I'll shall see you all in the world's first nuzfic!