Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and happy New Year everyone!

I apologize in advance if this chapter is a bit shorter than the rest, but I've been busy with other things.

(Okay, no I haven't. I've just been lazy. Sorry)

Anyways, I hope you all got something that you wanted for Christmas, or Hanukkah, or whatever you celebrate! (If you don't celebrate, I wish you a happy New Year!)

So I guess that I'll leave the Taking with Fans chapter thing up for a while longer... But here it is! Chapter 9 of Gardevoir's Retribution! Happy Reading, fans!

Chapter 9

The Mega Jacket and Team Galactic

As I enter the city, I feel surprised when I see that all the buildings, except for the Pokécenter, look old and creepy. I catch up to Ninja and we walk along side each other until a voice calls us. "Ah- Hey you two!" I look towards the voice and smile to see the old man waving us over.

Hello, sir. I say. Can I have my jacket back? We need to get going as soon as we can.

"Ohoho of course you can! It's your jacket, after all. But I did promise something for the little Kirlia, and here it is!" He says, stepping inside his house for a second before returning with something wrapped in cloth. "This is a Dawn stone. It will evolve you into a Gallade when you touch the stone, so when you're ready, just remove the cloth and touch it." He says, giving the stone to Ninja, who takes it in his hands with care.

Thank you, sir! he says, smiling at the old man.

"Ah- and your jacket. I didn't want to harm the stitching, and I noticed that there was a Key Stone embedded in the zipper, so I just infused the Gardevoirite into the zipper's metal." He says, handing me my jacket.

Sir, I cannot thank you enough. I say, grinning as I take the jacket and put it on. But, how did you infuse the metal with the stone?

"Ohoho that's an old family secret." he says with a wink. "Don't want anybody to go around and infuse metals with stone."

We say our goodbyes and I start to head back the way we came before Ninja calls to me. Katelyn, it's getting late. Where are you going?

I turn and notice that the sun is very low over the horizon. Sorry Ninja, I thought that it was earlier. I guess we can get a room at the Pokécenter. I say, walking towards the Pokécenter.

We both enter the Pokécenter, and I set us up with a room. Ninja goes to the room with our stuff as I go over to a nearby phone. I pick up the receiver and call Ian's mom to tell her what happened. She has tears in her eyes when I tell her that Jirachi has been stolen. Well… Nobody ever said that this would be easy. And don't worry, even if it's the last thing I do, I will get Ian back.

"Thank you, Katelyn. I know you love him more than anything… And I know that he feels the same way about you. A mother always knows, after all." She says, trying to smile. "I'll have Skyla pick you up in a helicopter tomorrow. She'll take you to an Airport where you can fly to Sunnyshore city."

Wait, Skyla is in Kalos right now? Why didn't she fly us here? I ask.

"Well, she flew in before the Unova League. There was a friend who had an injured flying-type." Ian's mom says. "I know you don't like many people in one area, Katelyn, but thank you again for doing this. Take care now." She says, smiling.

I return the smile. You too. I say before hanging up the receiver. I walk into the room to find Ninja watching TV. I chuckle slightly before flopping down in one of the beds. Ah, Ian…. I can't wait to be back in your arms… I say to myself, blocking Ninja out. It's been too long since you've held me… Since I've heard your voice. I mean, not in a dream. Physically, in the real world. I pause. I love you, Ian. The Savior of our world. I say before pulling the covers over me and closing my eyes, thinking of how much I miss him…

The Next Day…

I can feel myself start to awake, but I try to stay asleep for just a while longer. Sadly, it doesn't work. When I open my eyes, I see that I'm cuddling with a pillow. I blush and push the pillow away, looking around the room. I see that Ninja is laying in his bed staring intently at the Dawn Stone wrapped in cloth. You can evolve whenever you want to, Ninja. And you've been staring at that Dawn Stone ever since we got it, so I'm wondering; Why haven't you decided to use it yet? I telepathically ask him.

His gaze doesn't break when he replies; I don't know… I guess I feel like now isn't the time to evolve. I don't know what, but something's telling me that I should wait.

Well, whatever the case is, I know you'll be a very powerful Gallade. Or, I mean, you can become a Gardevoir if you want. I say to him, grinning slightly.

His head snaps towards me. You know I don't like being in something that looks like a skirt… People always think I'm a girl. I don't think being a Gardevoir would help my case. he says, gesturing to my body which still is beneath the covers.

Well if you become a Gardevoir, your Psychic would become even more powerful than it already is. I say as I start to get out of bed.

As I'm making my bed, Ninja replies. Well… I'll still know Psychic as a Gallade. Plus I think I'd look cool! he says, getting out of bed and grinning.

I laugh at his response. Of course you'll look cool. Now c'mon and make your bed, Skyla should be here soon. I say after glancing at a clock next to the beds.

A few minutes later, we're on the roof of the Pokécenter as the helicopter begins to land. "It's good to see you again, Katelyn! I just wish the circumstances were better…" Skyla says when I put the headset on my head with some difficulty.

You know I don't need this headset to talk to you, right? I tell her telepathically.

"Yeah well… You need to be able to hear me. Plus it's kind of a tradition to wear headsets in helicopters." Skyla replies as the helicopter begins to ascend.

After flying in silence, save the sound of the helicopter's engine, I ask Skyla what's been on my mind since yesterday; So do you know anything about people dressed in spacesuits with light-blue hair?

She glances over at me. "Yeah, that's Team Galactic. They're a team of jackasses who tried to rebuild the galaxy in their boss's image. They took people's Pokémon and tried to harness the power of Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina. But they were defeated by a skillful Pokémon trainer who, alongside Giratina, destroyed Team Galactic's plan. This was years ago… I don't know how you didn't hear about it."

You forget; I wasn't with humans until 5 years ago. Come to think of it… I was only 11 when I first saw a TV screen. I reply, remembering how Ian had helped me.

"Oh yeah… Sorry, I'm used to Pokémon being with humans." Skyla replies, seeming embarrassed.

Don't worry about it, Skyla. I say to her, giving her a thumbs-up. She doesn't say anything else, and I start to reminisce about how Ian swore to protect me…

Flashback: About 5 years ago

Ian and I were wandering through Petalburg Forest, trying to find our way out. I hadn't been with him long, so I was just beginning to trust him. I stayed silent, walking beside him as he tried to figure out how to get out. I saw something in the trees that looked shiny, so I walked deeper into the forest to find it. When I came to where I saw the shiny object, I was stunned to see that the forest opened up to a small clearing, and in the center was a golden Nugget. Ooooh shiny… I said, walking towards it. I stopped in front of the Nugget and picked it up. When I did, I heard a loud cry. I looked up to see about 50 Taillow in the trees, all looking at me. They did not look happy. I began to walk backwards, but the instant I took a step backwards, all of the Taillow began to swoop down and attack me. I tried to run, but they slammed into me and sent me crashing against a tree. I screamed for Ian inside my mind as the Taillow kept on attacking me. Not even 5 seconds later, Ian comes barreling out from the forest with Treecko beside him, attacking the Taillow. Ian ran to me and scooped me up in his arms, shielding me from the Taillow. I saw him wince with pain every time a Taillow slammed into his back.

"Treecko, return!" He shouted when he saw Treecko getting overrun with Taillow. He hurriedly stuffed the Pokéball into his pocket and began to run away from the Taillow, not following a specific path. He could have been running for hours, I can't recall, but he came to a stop at a dead end with the Taillow still close behind. As the first Taillow slams into him, he threw himself against the wall of trees and protected me with his body.

Why are you doing this, Ian?! I asked him, tears beginning to form in my eyes.

"Katelyn, I made a silent vow when I first rescued you. I saw how pained you were, and I never want you to experience that pain again. You were close to death, so I vowed to never let any harm come to you." He says, attempting to grin as the Taillow slam into his body. "As long as I'm around, you won't be harmed." After he says this, he curls into a ball, covering me with his body, taking the full blows of the Taillow.

I felt the tears drip from my eyes as his vow echoed within my mind. It filled me with a strange feeling that I couldn't understand at the time, but it caused me to throw my hands to the side, pushing all of the Taillow away and creating a protective bubble around Ian and I. When he doesn't feel the Taillow slamming into him, Ian looked around to see my bubble. I concentrated hard on the Petalburg Pokécenter, and suddenly we were there, still inside the bubble. Inside my mind, I also said a vow. I also vow to never let any harm come to you, Ian. I remember seeing Ian pass out before I do, and I remember how I had an urge to be closer to him, even though he was basically around me.

Present Day

"Hey, we're approaching the airport. I've got you two tickets to Sunnyshore city," Skyla says, bringing me out of my reminiscent state. "The flight leaves soon after we land, so I'm going to have the airport attendants take you directly to the plane." Ninja and I both nod our heads in understanding.

Soon, we're sitting next to each other next to a window. I look out the window as the plane begins to take off. I silently say goodbye to Jason, Celic, Jenny, and Nicole, then prepare myself for the long flight ahead of us…

So that's the chapter.

I'm not that good at ending the chapter... So I guess that I'll see you (Hah I can't see you guys because I can't see through the computer) in the next chapter! Take care, and Remember; Don't Die!

~Ninja (The writer, if you didn't know)

(Lol I went overboard with the Line thing)