CHAPTER 10

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All was silent for a moment. Everyone's mouths had dropped open, and I couldn't blame them. This book was more than five years old…and I was finding it now. My dad had never said anything on it… And the pictures…Entei, Suicune, and Raikou…It was all so curious.

"So…" Emily pushed her lips together. "Should…um…should we all…uh…tidy this place up?"

"Sure," Onyx agreed. They dragged Chobin away, leaving me at the table. Emily gave me a look that told me they wanted me to look at the book.

I nodded, and I turned back to the table. I pulled up a chair and sat down, making myself comfortable. Opening the book, I breathed in the scent. Old paper always had that…different smell. I grinned and plunged into the book. The first page was just the introduction. It was a picture of Persian, sticking its claw out. I was intruiged.

I brushed off the dust, and then I began to read.

This world, as everyone has known, is inhabited by Pokémon. Pokémon are amazing little creatures that can do almost everything. They can breathe fire, control nature, fly, and even use their minds, which are far more developed than humans'. Humans have dreamed, but never been able to conquer many of these abilities that Pokémon are born with.

Legends have been formed around Pokémon. Myths have been formed by those who return on long, perilous journeys. And yet we still don't know everything. We never will, either. But there's always a thirst for knowledge. And there always will be. I just don't want that thirst to become something more than it should be. Learning about Pokémon is a journey. Pokémon themselves are journeys.

Each journey needs to be taken. With each journey comes risk. With each risk comes a choice. And with each choice comes knowledge. Whether the knowledge of that choice is knowledge of a good choice or knowledge of a bad choice, you will learn with each journey. You will learn along with your Pokémon. Bonding with Pokémon will never be easy. But it needs to be done, or this world will never be in any sort of harmony.

Once I finished the last sentence, I looked up. That was really…true. My father's words were true. I flipped through the book, skimming over the important pages. I read no words, only glimpsed at the pages. I saw a photo of a Meowth and a Growlithe battling, a Primape running after a jeep on a safari… Swarms of Beedrill, apparently attacking the camera, made me laugh. Emily skipped over to me, and leaned her elbow on my shoulder, looked at the picture, and smiled. Onyx came over too, and leaned on a broom. Chobin, meanwhile, was nowhere to be seen. Well, that was going to happen eventually…

Later, we were done tidying the room. "Same time next week," I said to them all as we sat at the table. The Pokemorphs nodded at me. Then, Emily cocked her head.

"What about…the book?" she asked. "And emergencies?"

"You guys are welcome whenever over here," I said, smiling. "But…this place seems to be hiding something…"

"Yeah, I know," Onyx agreed. "Maybe we'll all look next week."

"Right," I said. "Till next week. You need a password to enter the HQ. What is it this week?"

Everyone's eyes narrowed, and we sat a moment, thinking. Then, eventually, Emily said, "I got nothing."

"That's it!" I shouted, getting to my feet. "Entei."

"Entei is our password?" Onyx asked.

"Yeah!" I pointed to my dad's book. "It fits, right?"

"And no one would guess it…" Emily nodded. "Entei it is."

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CIPHER ADMIN LUNA'S POINT OF VIEW!!!!

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I paced back and forth in my office. Great, I thought, My Peons failed to finish their task, and now Master's going to demote me! I just know it.

"Admin," said a voice from the phone. It a secretary. I strode over and pressed the button. I spoke into it clearly and snappishly.

"What, what is it, Ramona?"

"Um, Miss, there's um…someone on line two…"

I rolled my eyes. "That'll be all, Ramona," I said. "Put him on."

I heard a click, and then I picked up my phone. I pressed the "2" button, and then I said, "Hello."

"Luna."

"Master."

"Luna, you disappoint me. I've heard news of your Peons'…ahem…mishap."

"Sir, that was entirely not my-"

"Quiet."

I pursed my lips together angrily. I listened, yes, but didn't l didn't understand much of it.

"My project is almost finished, and I need a sample of the Pokémon of nothing. It needs to be small. I think your Peons can handle something simple like that?"

"The Pokémon of what?"

"Nothing, you heard right. Luna, I need a sample of a Ditto. It's vital to the project. I'm counting on you."

"How am I supposed-"

"Figure it out, Luna. I need it by next week. Don't let me down, Luna. I can't afford another slip-up…"

"Yes, sir."

Click.

I slid into my chair and slammed the phone down. I pressed the star button, and clearly said, "Ramona. No more calls. I'm through for the day."

"Miss?"

"What is it?"

"A parcel arrived for you in the mail."

I rolled my eyes. "Send up Perry with it," I ordered.

There was a silence. Then- "She'll be right up."

"Good."

I waited for a while, with my hands behind my head. I heard a tap on my door, and I called, "Come in, Perry."

A young man, Perry, walked in. "Miss," he said, "your package." He put the small box on my desk.

"So…" I said slowly. "That's the package, then?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"And…are you waiting for something?"

"Only to see it opened, Miss."

"Perry, do me a favor."

"Yes?"

"Get out!"

Perry's eyes got large in an instant, and he raced out of the room, slamming the door behind him. I shook my head. "Stupid boy," I growled to myself, reaching for the package. I ripped the tape off of the cardboard, and then I opened the box itself. Inside was a blue Poke ball… I stood up.

"It is…" I whispered. I opened it at once. A silhouette took form…and gained color…and it showed to be a Pachirisu. My Shadow Pokemon detector whirred, and I smirked.

"Pachirisu," I said, "we're going to get that Ditto. One way or another. Because Cipher will be great. We just need to bring it to its reign."

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Done! Mwuhahahah!! Well, read and review!! Thanks!

Until next time!

-NewProphecy