So, last week, I got run over with test prep at school, and for two of my weaker subjects. So last week's update wasn't a possibility. Ergo, I'm updating two chappies today!
Chapter 10: You'd Think that She Would have Cared.
As soon as the third turned around, Lucas saw Astrid visibly stiffen, her already alabaster skin paling.
The third one, a woman, looked very like and very unlike Astrid. Like Astrid, she had large violet eyes and hair but a few shades darker. Unlike Astrid, who exuded a sense if warmth and good cheer, she let off an air of cold indifference.
"Aww, my baby sister. How I have missed you!" she said, smiling, but her tone and her eyes made the hair at the back of Lucas's neck stand on end.
"Alexia," Astrid whispered.
The green-eyed man sneered.
"Who is this slip of a girl?" the green-eyed man asked.
"My little sister from my messed-up home, Damaron," Alexia replied indifferently.
"Messed-up home? You turned so cruel, left in the middle of the night! I cried myself to sleep for weeks! You just up and left and now you've joined them? What have they done to you?!" Astrid demanded, tears in her eyes.
The black-haired man sneered. "What have we done to her? She came and joined us willingly! Practically begged us to! She's one of us now," he said, his sneer twisting into a leer as he eyed Astrid in a way that made Lucas take a step toward her, protectively.
Astrid looked at Alexia for what felt like an eternity, trying to look for her sister in the cold, cruel human being that she had become.
She found nothing.
"As much as we have enjoyed this little tete-a-tete, we have buildings to burn," Damaron interrupted. "Excuse us."
This seemed to snap Astrid out of it. "Over my dead body," she snarled, her eyes dark with fury. "Absol, use Dark Pulse!"
Her loyal best friend burst out of its Pokeball, and, seeing the tears staining its trainers' face, let out a roar of fury and hurled a Dark Pulse at Alexia and her comrades. Lucas snapped into action as well.
"Zorua, use Shadow Ball!" he barked, snapping Zorua's Pokeball forward. His loyal friend burst out of its Pokeball snarling, and fired a clean, powerful Shadow Ball as soon as it hit the ground.
The attacks struck true, owing to the fact that the startled intruders hadn't been given the time to react, but Lucas and Astrid were far from relaxed. Team Starr still had the upper hand.
A Poison Sting, Flamethrower and Rock Wrecker flew toward them, coming nearer and nearer with dazzling speed.
"Use Hyper Voice!"
"Use Psycho Cut!"
The attacks met in midair. The Poison Sting and the Flamethrower were dispelled, but the Rock Wrecker flew on, relentless. It smashed into Absol, who was flung back with a howl of pain.
"Absol, NO!" Astrid yelled in horror, rushing to check on her fallen best friend.
But the Pokemon was already standing, struggling to its feet. Astrid's eyes were bright with tears and resolve. "Absol," she said, pressing two fingers to the earring that held her Keystone. "Mega Evolve!"
Absol roared and a myriad beams of light connected the two stones, and a blinding flash of light later, Absol had Mega Evolved.
Alexia hissed like an angry Glameow. "So you got a cute little toy to amuse yourself with. No matter. We'll get rid of you anyway. Aggron, use Takedown!" she yelled, swinging her hand outward. Aggron charged at the two trainers, its body glowing.
"Zorua, use Scary Face!" Lucas barked. Zorua's face took on a terrifying quality. It snarled at Aggron, who stopped dead in its tracks and whimpered, backing away.
"You useless rock-type! Attack!" Alexia yelled.
Astrid snarled. "You're going down! Mega Absol, Mega Horn!"
Absol roared and flew at the already petrified Aggron, its horns enlarged and glowing green. It slammed into the burly rock-type with deadly speed. The former didn't stand a chance. Aggron collapsed, unconscious.
Alexia looked livid, her pixie-cut blonde hair ruffled as she returned Aggron to its Pokeball without even a single word of praise. Astrid's blood boiled.
Damaron and the black-haired man, whose name was apparently Porsin, glared at the duo. Toxicroak and Vespequin growled menacingly.
"Don't forget about us," Porsin growled, his tone oily. "Toxicroak, use-,"
He didn't get the chance to finish as a Thunderbolt and a Fireblast hit them head-on in a deafening blast. The area was enveloped in fire and smoke, smoke that burnt at Astrid's eyes and stung Lucas's throat.
When it cleared, they were gone. Ash and Serena stood a little behind them, their expressions hard. They changed, however, when they saw the looks on Astrid and Lucas's faces.
The blonde looked like she was fighting a bitter battle against tears.
Serena walked over to Astrid and took her hand. "Astrid, whatever you've been through, there's no need to be so tough," she said gently as the exhausted blonde looked at her. "It's okay, even good, to cry in a situation like this. Get it out of your system, okay?"
Astrid burst into tears and buried her head into Serena's shoulder. A few sobs later, she spoke.
"You'd think that she would've cared," she whispered.
Clemont woke up to someone frantically shaking him.
He opened his eyes and saw grey eyes and blonde hair. For a split, hopeful second, he hope that it was Korrina, but this person had longer hair, and narrower eyes. She looked older.
"Cynthia!" he gasped, coughing up water, and saw Flint waking May up.
"Clemont, are you all right?" she demanded.
"I'm fine, but the Pokeballs-,"
"Are safe."
Clemont sagged with relief. The Pokeballs were safe. May was safe. They had escaped.
"Don't rest so easy," Cynthia warned. "You've missed a lot. Aquacord Town was attacked by a group called Team Starr. Korrina and Meera have been taken hostage."
He went deaf to everything after the words 'Korrina' and 'hostage'. "We need to get her out," he said, trying to stand up. Cynthia pinned him down.
"Don't get so hasty. You and May are both exhausted, and we're calling in Ash and the others as we speak. Korrina will have to wait."
Clemont's eyes blazed with indignation. He opened his mouth to speak.
"It's all right. There's something you all need to know before we defeat Team Starr once and for all. You see, their plan is far more gruesome than anything we've ever faced before,"
Author's Note: So as you can probably see, the final showdown is… well, not so near as you think. But a lot of important stuff is going to happen in the next few chapters.
This chappie was pretty self-explanatory so, without further ado, a big thanks to all of my patient readers (haha), and another one to Amourshiper35, Strawhat Quilava and 1 guest for reviewing. See you all next Monday!
Review and keep smiling,
Leaflame