Ch. 9: Back and Gone Again

"What do you mean the gym leader's away?!" yelled Kari. She, Davis, and Aven were talking to a little girl who told them that Jasmine, the gym leader, was away. They were standing outside the gym building.

"I'm sorry, but she went out to do an errand." said the girl. "You'll have to wait a while before you can have a gym battle with her."

"Absol…"

"Aw, this stinks." said Kari walking away from the gym.

"Oh don't worry about it. She'll probably be back before you know it." said Davis. The both sat down on a bench near the docks. Aven lay down next to the bench. "Why don't we go to Cianwood while we wait? There's a gym there."

"Really? Ok, I guess that'll work. How do we get there?" asked Kari.

"We'll either have our Pokémon take us there, or wait for the ferry to come, which should be here soon." Davis gets up. "I'm going to give my friend a call that I'm coming sooner then scheduled." He heads for the Pokemon center.

"I guess it's just you and me Aven."

"Yes…."

"…Is something troubling you?"

"…My life was… going so well, until these…poachers captured me. I didn't know where they were taking me. Only I heard something about an island. After that, I didn't really remember much, but when I woke up, I just had all these, strange powers. Then after that I was able to get away from my captors. I notice we weren't on an island. I was still stranded, somewhere. I tried to get back to my family but without a sense of direction it was very difficult. Then…I saw a light…I saw a human in the light. Then the next thing I know I was in that forest, exhausted and hungry. I wish I knew what had happen and why I have these powers? I didn't ask for them, what have I done to deserve this..torture?"

The trashbin next to Aven tipped over.

"Aven…"

" I just want to go home, is that too much to ask?" Aven was becoming furious. "Humans…they bring pain to this world…If they were never born-" Kari puts her arm around Aven. Aven was stunned.

"Aven don't think like that. I know humans haven't been very good at the things they've done, but they're not all bad. What about Ash, Misty, Brock, Davis…me?" Aven looked up at Kari. "I made a promise that I would take you back home, if that includes protecting you… I won't break that promise."

"Absol…" A ghost Pokémon was peering out from an alley. It started to fly towards them. It looked like a doll that had been revive with a zipper for a mouth.

"Banette…." it said.

"Absol?" Kari looked behind her, letting go of Aven.

"Banette.." It linger just a few feet away from them.

"Hey, what is that?"Kari takes out her Pokedex.

"Banette, the Marionette Pokemon- No further information at this time."

"What kind of Pokedex is this, if it can't even give enough information?" said Kari, irritated.

"Banette…" it turned and flew towards the alley. Bannette looks longingly back at them.

"I think maybe it wants us to follow it." said Kari.

"I don't think we should. Banettes aren't very trustworthy"

"Banette…" it's eyes glowed.

"Let's not follow it…Kari?" Aven looks up to see Kari had a blank stare on her face.

"Must…follow…" Kari slowly walks towards Banette.

"Kari no!" Aven grabs Kari by her shirt. Kari was a lot stronger then Aven had expected. He was pulled into the alley with her where the Banette disappeared.

"Kari, snap out of it! Something's not right!" yelled Aven. Kari returned to her senses and looked around.

"Hey…how did I get here?" she said.

"You were hypnotized by that Banette. Let's leave now!"

"Blaziken!!" A Blaziken came out of no where and use Sky Uppercut on Aven.

"Ab….!" Aven was put into shock, and lands hard onto the ground. His front left leg cracked, it sounded like it had been dislocated. Blaziken pins Absol to the ground to stop it from trying to get up.

"Aven!"

"Banette!" Banette blocks Kari's way.

"Kari..behind you!" A man jumps down behind Kari and grabbed her. He turned her around and covered her mouth with an alcoholic cloth. It was making Kari drowsy.

"That's it, fall asleep, and don't interfere with my duties anymore…" said a familiar voice. The voice Kari wish she hadn't heard. That man from Team Magma.

"Aven…" Kari was getting sleepier, and sleepier.

"Kari!" Aven yells for Kari to get up. "Absol! Absol!"

" Shut up, you! Besides she can't hear you." The man walks over to Aven. Aven's eyes glowed. He was about to use a Psychic attack when Banette slips another alcoholic cloth on Aven. Aven was losing focus.

"heh, I don't think I want to see you try that despicable attack again. It's not even your natural skill anyway…"

"Banette!" Blue flames surrounded Banette and they also appeared around Aven, Banette was using Will-O-Wisp to slowly weaken Aven by burning him from the inside.

"You've escape my capture many times, but this time I've caught you. Project Aena." Aven growls at the man. He took out a black pokeball. "This is a special pokeball, made by Team Magma. Once inside, if you try to get out without being called, you'll be hit by a burning sensation, and this will be your new home." the Banette from before flew over to the man.

" Well done Banette, you've done Wheeler proud."

"Banette…"

"Wheeler?" Aven looks over to Kari as she looks back. "Kari…well I guess I won't see you again…It's been great being with you…" Aven was getting weaker and weaker by Banette's feverish flames, the cloth was making sleepy and with Blaziken on top of him there was no way for him to get himself free .

"Av…" Kari was losing consciousness. I promised to protect you, Aven…

"That's right, admit your defeat! I'll soon kill you anyway…"

"Kill me?!"

"Go Magma Ball!"

"I promised…Aven!" Wheeler threw the ball when it was stunned and knocked into the wall. A white light had appeared behind him. "huh?" Wheeler looks behind him and saw nothing. "heh, must've been my imagination," he said. But then…where was the girl? The white light appeared again, this time where Aven was. He turns around and sees Aven glowing. "Hey what's going on!" he said. Blaziken and Banette backs away behind Wheeler. Aven opened his eyes, he was back on his feet. "How's that possible! You were down just a few seconds ago! Blaziken, go and use your Sky Uppercut!"

"Blaz! Blaziken!" Blaziken ran towards Aven. A barrier appears between Blaziken and Aven.

"Blaz?!"

"Now what!" the bright light intensified. Then Wheeler heard two voices coming from Aven.

"Timeless Judgement!" All of the sudden, Blaziken and Banette were sent back into their Pokeballs and Wheeler didn't call them back. Time had frozen. Everything stopped, and then, in a blink of an eye everything started to move again. Everything was resuming back to normal. Wheeler had disappeared again, only Kari and Aven were left lying unconscious in the alley.

Debuting Pokémon: Banette

Featured Pokemon: Absol, Blaziken

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon, but I own almost everything written in the fic!

Preview: Catch That Ferry!

So to put things short of what has happened. Kari's at the hospital, Aven's at the Pokemon center, Davis is freaking out, and there's a little girl chasing after him! What else could go wrong? …erm…doesn't the ferry leave noon? Stay tune!