Sky: WHO'S READY FOR ANOTHER UPDATE?!
Kate: Back and writing already?
Sky: *shrugs* Eh sort of. I'm still dealing with a lot. Any of my followers would know I'm struggling with a few health issues. But I'm fighting it and I'm getting better. One step at a time! I'll write little by little for my readers!
HTF: Ahem. OUR readers.
Sky: *sweatdrop* Riiiiiight…sorry! Read, review and enjoy!
Keith: Lamest catchphrase ever.
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"Oh my gosh…..oh my gosh...ohhhhh my gosh…"
Back on the Union rooftop, the blonde pair were in a state of shock. Rhythmi, now in Issac's body, was pacing the roof. She hyperventilated as she mumbled the same phrase again and again. Issac, who was in Rhythmi's body, was silent. He was frozen at first but under shock, he fell back against the Tree of Harmony and stared off into the distance with wide eyes.
"W-what happened to us?! T-there was lightning…a-a-and it was purple! It sh-shocked us! Pain…darkness…buzzing noise…" Rhythmi stammered, panicked. "Our bodies! W-we switched bodies! Oh my gosh I'm in your body! A-and I'm a guy! I-I-I can't be a guy! I-it's so weird and….and…"
Issac shook his (Rhythmi's?) head and snapped from his daze. He went over to grab Rhythmi by the shoulders.
"Calm down. Panic will only make our situation worse." Issac told her in the calmest tone he could muster.
"But Issac…!" Rhythmi sniffled.
Issac shushed her. "I'm not, er, comfortable with this either. Still, we need to settle down and examine our dilemma."
Rhythmi nodded. She took a deep breath and un-tensed the once clenched up muscles. Issac waited a moment to make sure she calmed down enough before continuing.
"Now then, to assess the situation." Issac said. "It seems we've switched bodies. My mind is in your body and vice versa. How did this happen? That's the question…"
"I remember there was a storm brewing. But it felt different than usual. And we were struck with purple lightning. I felt a bad headache before I passed out." Rhythmi recalled.
"That lightning must be the cause." Issac deduced.
"Do you think it's the darkness spreading across the world? The same our friends are encountering?" Rhythmi asked.
"It's a possibility. Another theory is the electricity in our heads corresponded with the electricity of the lightning." Issac answered.
"In our heads?" Rhythmi was confused.
"The brain has electric pulses running constantly. They deliver messages to other parts of the brain to help us communicate, think and feel. Anything the body does, lightning bolts of sorts are travelling through the brain to help transfer information needed to react appropriately." Issac explained.
"Ok then." Rhythmi nodded, understanding.
"When the lightning hit, it could have done something to our brains. Electricity patterns scrambled and rearranged. Because we were so close, the electricity patterns jumped from one brain to the other in a switch." Issac went on.
"Then what can we do about this? Is there a way to switch back?" Rhythmi asked.
"If my theory is correct, then yes. I could construct a machine to stimulate our brains into creating excess electricity. Then I send more electricity to our brains like a lightning bolt which will cause the switch back." Issac answered.
"Let's hope that you're right. I'd hate to think the darkness did this…" Rhythmi sighed.
"While it's a possibility, it doesn't seem likely. Reports of darkness and shadows don't mention anything about lightning or body switching. It's usually about the kidnappings of people and pokemon." Issac assured. "Don't worry. I'll start building a machine right away. Might take a couple days but I promise you, I will do everything in my power to fix this."
"Thank you!" Rhythmi hugged her friend, somewhat relieved.
It was weird hugging Issac in a body not of her own. Rhythmi was usually in Issac's arms but now she was wrapping her arms around Issac. A hug is a hug, true. And Rhythmi felt a lot better just having Issac close to her. Still…she preferred her body. She wanted to be held in the arms of her trusted friend once more.
Rhythmi assessed the body she switched into. She knew Issac's looks perfectly. Being in his body? It felt so foreign and strange. Being a guy felt much different than being a girl. It was going to take getting used to. And…wait. Couple of days, Issac said? To build a machine to switch bodies again? What if Rhythmi had to use the bathroom?! Or….oh boy…
Her face went cherri berry red at the mere thought. Issac was starting to wonder the same thing and turned the same hue as well. Both jumped out of the embrace, embarrassed and awkward. They sheepishly looked away in awkward silence for a minute.
"So…how are we going to explain this to the Union?" Rhythmi wondered out loud.
"That might be a problem…" Issac sweatdropped.
"Summer, how you holding up?" Ben asked as he pinned a researcher up against the wall. He ducked away slightly as a punch came towards his head.
On the other side of the room, Summer lay on the ground. She slowly began to ball her fists and stand back to her feet. She looked up; blood ran from her upper left arm. She noted that being thrown into metal machines were no fun and to, hopefully, never have it happen again.
"About as good as a grass type in a wild forest fire," Summer answered as she dodged one of the researchers coming for her.
The two needed a plan, they had to get back together in the middle of the room and then fight their way out from there. Ben released the researcher and turned in time to catch a fist coming for him. All those training sessions with Summer seemed to pay off.
The two needed a way to get out of the lab. The researchers and Elm had done what they had wanted. Lured the two Rangers away from the door and blocked them off from the only escape.
Ben quickly punched the researcher in the stomach, sending him to the ground. The only way to regroup with Summer in this was to fight his way through and then together, fight their way out.
"Ben, we need a way out of here!" Summer called over to him as she ducked from a female researcher and swept her feet from under her.
"Give me a minute and I'll have an idea!" Ben called back to her. 'That is if we don't get knocked out first,' he added as an afterthought.
Summer backed away as more and more researchers advanced on her. There was no end to these guys, just no end. She didn't want to fully injure them and send them to the hospital, but they needed out. They were like zombies consumed in darkness.
'I wonder,' Summer began thinking as she dodged attacks. Soon, it became like she was in a trance. Deep in thought, but aware of her surroundings. One thought processed her mind with this darkness and she wonder if, for a moment, it was true.
"Summer, heads up!" Ben called. Summer quickly broke from her trance and turned in time to catch another researcher heading towards her. She set the man on the ground and glared at Ben.
"Remember, we don't wanna kill or injure these guys! We just need to get out of here," she stated. Ben nodded his head and did a quick once over of the room. Researcher here, researcher there, one to the front, one to the back.
"There's no end to these researchers!" Summer growled as she pushed another one away from her.
Ben looked around again; something was missing from the scene. He could tell from outside the darkness had been here. There were no people or pokemon, but when they walked in he was sure they had ended up face to face with Professor Elm.
Ben almost face palmed. It hit him like a nail on the head. Elm, where the hell was he?!
"Summer, where the heck did Elm go?" Ben asked as he neared her. Summer didn't have time to take a glance around the room. She was too busy getting rid of these things in front of her.
A flashing caught Ben's eyes. He quickly rushed over to the flashing it was coming from one of the computers. He quickly scanned through it. He didn't have the techno smarts like Rythmi did but he knew when something was wrong. And something in the lab was going to go wrong.
Horribly wrong.
Kate sighed as they entered the Lake near Twin Leaf town. Unfortunately the Professor wasn't in his laboratory. Looking around, the lake looked deserted. Keith walked up behind her his eyes scanning the area.
"Well, this isn't creepy at all," he whispered as they took a step forwards. Kate readied herself for anything that could jump out, while Keith surveyed the area. It was deserted.
"I don't understand. Cynthia said he would be here, why would she lie?" Kate pondered aloud as she looked around the area, dropping her guard.
"I don't think she did," Keith answered as a black mist began to surround them. Kate readied her guard once more.
"What is this?" she asked as she looked around. Keith grabbed onto Kate's shoulder, she turned to look at him.
"We have to leave, we can't stay in this, look!" he ordered as he pointed towards wild, rabid pokemon. Kate's breath hitched in her throat as she tried her hardest not to scream. They were the same colour as the Bidoof she and Seren had fought back in Almia. But it seemed darker this time.
Looking around, Kate confirmed there was no sign of the professor and turned on her heel. She almost screamed as she came face to face with someone all too familiar.
"Arceus Sven! Are you trying to kill us?!" Keith yelled as he looked at the cowboy.
"Wait, Sven?" Kate asked as she looked at the man. Keith slowly turned to Kate with a terrified look on his face.
"Sven is with Wendy in….. Kanto," the two teens paled as they looked towards the cowboy again. This time he was gone. Turning on their heels they saw the wild pokemon had also disappeared.
"Oh...my...Arceus..."
The two teens looked around the mist; they saw Seren on her knees with a Totodile in front of her. Keith held onto Kate as he stopped her from running over.
"They're in Hoenn, Kate, I'm sure Kellyn will look after her."
"Well, you are Kellyn."
The teens paled once again, Kellyn had been turned into a pokemon?! Kate fell to her knees shaking her head.
"This can't be happening!" she yelled as the mist began to disappear.
"At this rate, we'll lose everything," Keith whispered as he looked around. The mist had disappeared and the lake was as it once was before, deserted. Empty.
Keith only just realized, there was no noise from any of the pokemon. He looked up at the sky as he felt a drop on his nose. It was raining. He placed his hand on Kate's shoulder and helped her to her feet.
"We need to get out of the rain," he stated as he looked at her.
"No, what we need is to figure out what the hell's going on!" Kate yelled as she turned back around, she glared into the distance. Her eyes landing on Mt Cornet. Dark clouds surrounded the top of it and she knew, something was happening there.
"We will not be defeated by this! We're strong and we will fight to the end! Even if it means being consumed by darkness!" Kate yelled as she watched lightning strike the top of the mountain.
She turned on her heel, walking out of the lake. Keith followed quickly behind her as they walked off. He smiled. Kate was right, they'd find a way to beat what was trying to attack them one way or another.
Seren entered the room of their hotel room with a sigh. She quickly placed Kellyn onto the bed and knelt down in front of him.
"Now, what to do with you," she wondered. "I can't finish this mission alone, so I do need help. But I could do with Kellyn as normal Kellyn," she muttered as she began pacing the room. "Then again, they do say good things come in small packages," she giggled to herself. Kellyn found himself blushing slightly.
"What to do, what to do," Seren spoke as she tapped her chin with her fingers. She sighed and slumped onto the spare bed. "Guess I should report to Hastings first," it was decided then that she'd see what Hastings needed her to do.
Pulling her styler out, Seren dialed in the Union's number. Rythmi's face appeared on screen, though she looked at little uneasy.
"Hey Ryth, is Hastings there by any chance?" Seren asked.
"O-oh Hastings is erm, where is Hastings?" she asked Linda who was sat next to her.
"Trying to finish off an experiment with the research team," Linda answered as she continued her work.
"Yeah, he's there," Rythmi smiled. Seren looked at her confused.
"You okay, Ryth? You seem on edge," she stated.
"Huh, oh I'm fine, just fine, I'll go get Hastings," Rythmi answered as she rushed off. Seren looked at the style with confusion before shaking her head.
"Guess everyone should be on edge really," Seren muttered to herself as she pulled her knees up to her chest, hugging them tightly.
"Ah Seren, what can I do for you?" Professor Hastings' voice reached Seren's ears, causing the girl to look back at her styler.
"I was wondering what you needed us to do here in Mauville City," Seren stated as she looked at the styler.
"Ah, I need you to go around the City and see if there have been any reports into any of the bigger companies about what's happened. After that, fly to meet Professor Birch in Little Root town and get some answers from him. After that, just stay in Mauville and the surrounding areas to see if anything changes," Hastings ordered. Seren nodded her head and slowly hung up the styler.
She stood to her feet and stretched her limbs. Smiling, she held her arm out to Kellyn, who jumped onto it.
"I suppose it's time to talk to the companies, huh?" she asked as they exited the room. Kellyn sat on Seren's shoulder thinking about how he could get back to normal and how he might be able to help Seren while he was in this state. Currently, no ideas came to mind.
As the two exited their hotel, they were met with a strong heat. Kellyn huffed as Seren looked up at the sky, her hand covering her eyes.
"Well, I suppose we can note the weather's getting more severe," Seren stated as she looked around. She saw her mother's building in the distance and breathed in deeply. "Let's get this over with," she whispered as she walked towards the building.
Kellyn sat on her shoulder, bobbing up and down as she walked, with a confused expression on his face. Why did she look so scared to enter this building? What could have been so bad about it?
Seren kept her head down as she walked, not looking where she was going until she bumped into someone in front of her. Hitting the ground with an 'oft' she still refused to look up. Not because she didn't want to know who she had bumped into, but because she might be blinded by the sun.
Kellyn make a scared noise as he fell off of Seren's shoulder and rolled a few feet away. Kneeling up, Seren walked over to her partner and turned back to the person, she noticed they were about the same height.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going," Seren apologized as she tried to walk passed the person. This person, however, had other plans.
They quickly gripped Seren's arm and threw her onto the floor. She gasped in pain as she hit the ground; Kellyn jumped out of her arms and put his hands on her arm. He gave her a concerned look and Seren only smiled slightly, showing she was okay.
Looking up, she glared at the person.
"What's your problem, pal?" she asked as she grit her teeth. Her eyes widened when the boy looked down at her. The black hair and blue eyes, their resemblance was uncanny. "You," she hissed through gritted teeth. The boy smirked.
"Now, is that anyway to speak to your big brother?" he asked. Kellyn looked between the two as Seren stood to her feet.
"Beat it Tyler, I don't have time to deal with you right now," she stated as she looked up at the boy.
"Again, you shouldn't talk to me like that," Tyler hissed. Seren gulped as the boy raised his hand. Kellyn glared as he thought quickly. If he was a water pokemon, could he use water pokemon moves? He shrugged slightly. Worth a shot.
Without warning Kellyn opened his mouth and hit Tyler with a water gun attack. Tyler was sent flying backwards against a wall. Seren looked down at Kellyn, quickly picked him up and ran off in the opposite direction.
Tyler watched as she ran away. He growled slightly, he'd get her to come home one way or another, she wasn't leaving this region.
Seren ran into an ally way before leaning against the wall. She dropped to the floor, released Kellyn from her arms, started hugging her knees and silently began to cry.
Kellyn watched in confusion and amazement as his partner cried in front of him.
"I knew it was a bad idea, coming back here! I knew it!" Seren cursed to herself as she continued to cry. Kellyn had never seen this before and in his form he couldn't really to anything about it. So he stood there, helplessly as he watched his partner cry her eyes out.
His hat, that was all that was left of her beloved partner. Wendy clutched the hat in her hands, tears streamed from her face as she looked up. The pokemon Sven had saved gathered around her as she cried.
Oak looked at the girl with pity before walking into the field. He watched as she sobbed her body racking as she did so. She had lost a friend. To her, she had already failed in the mission.
"Get up Wen'. You're a Top Ranger, you're the Ranger Base's Bird Girl and you have a mission to finish."
Sven's voice ran in her mind. Looking up, she could have sworn she saw the clouds take on the shape of his smiling face. The face she loved to see so much in a morning.
A ray of light shone down from the sky, aiming at Sven's red cowboy hat. Wendy looked down as the light illuminated it. She could see a small dark patch from where her tears had hit the hat and suddenly her sadness turned to determination.
"You are not gone. You will never be gone. Because I still live, and while I live, you live within me. I'll complete this mission. I will save this Region. And then, I will save you. But until then, Sven, please, stay safe," Wendy whispered as she lifted her head up high. She dried her tear stained cheeks and stood to her feet.
Gripping the red hat in her hands Wendy looked at it with glazed eyes before placing it atop of her head. She smiled a sad smile as she turned to see Professor Oak waiting for her at the end of the field.
Slowly, she walked towards him, her head held high while the pokemon followed her every step. Oak nodded his head as he looked at the girl in front of him.
"Sven was right, you are a strong determined girl," he stated with a proud smile as he looked at the now lone Ranger.
"I will save this Region, and I will save Sven. I can promise you that," Wendy spoke as she smirked at Oak. Sven's attitude had rubbed off on her over the years. Instead of the being the shy girl she once was, she was now determined and outgoing. And now, her determination was fueled by making sure Sven returned to the Union, to her safely.
"That's what I like to hear, from Rangers and Trainers alike. What do you need to know?" Oak asked as he looked at Wendy with a helpful expression.
"Can you tell me what the Region's doing to even try to keep their pokemon safe?" Wendy asked.
"Unfortunately, since we don't know what it is causing this, we can't defend against it. But we have Trainers in every town that have been sent home from their journeys. From what I gather they're protecting the pokemon so far," Oak answered.
"And does the same thing that happened to Sven happen to the pokemon when they can't?" Oak was surprised; she spoke of what happened a moment ago so easily. All expression of remorse, all doubt was gone from her face; all that was left was courage.
"Unfortunately yes."
"Have any other people been taken?"
"No."
"What do you know about the weather changes?" Wendy asked. Oak froze for a moment, he wasn't expecting that question.
"Well, our weather depends on the weather of the Sinnoh Region. You see, the weather in our Region alternates with Sinnoh, we get the weather they have most of the time and it is difficult for them to get the weather we have. Right now, it's sunny, but partly cloudy which means that Sinnoh's weather will be changing soon. Lately it's been changing more drastically than it ever has before," Oak answered with a frown. Wendy nodded her head.
"And how long would you say this has been happening?"
"About a month now," Oak answered. Wendy frowned.
"That was around the time we started seeing Unown when reporters were on the TV," she mused to herself. Piecing two and two together Wendy made a mental note to call up Ryth and Isaac as soon as possible. "I only have a few more questions. Would you say anyone in the Region has been affected by what's happening to a larger extent?" Wendy asked.
"We've had people admitted to jail because of things they admitted to doing but say they had no control over their bodies."
"And if you had to take a wild guess, where would you say the most trouble's coming from?" Wendy asked. Oak sighed.
"I would say Sinnoh, there's a Mountain not fair from here Mt Hideaway. If you go there you can see the Sinnoh Region not far off. Many of my researchers have gone there lately but say they're unable to reach the top due to disturbances in the weather, I'm afraid," he answered. Wendy turned her head to see Mt Hideaway. Looking up at it she saw a dark black cloud circling the top of it.
Balling her fists a rush of determination over took had as the wind blew strong and rain began to fall. Wendy clutched Sven's hat, holding it to her head. With a glare at the mountain and a grit of her teeth against the cold weather, Wendy made up her mind.
"I'm going to that mountain," she stated as she turned back to Professor Oak, who gave her a skeptical look.
"Are you sure you can handle it?" he asked her.
"I can only get so far with my Staraptor. She can carry me half way until I have to walk. But I will get to the top," Wendy answered.
"Very well, at least let us give you some supplies that will help you on your journey. Follow me," Wendy nodded her head, turning to cast one last glance at the darkened mountain behind her.
In an instance Wendy had set out her own destiny. Created her own mission within this havoc. But what she didn't know is that this mission would hold more hardships for her than ones she had already faced in her life.
In the end, Wendy might just have to make the decision of life or death. Which raises a question for us, my dear readers, which will Wendy choose?
Hey guys-
Keith: *runs passed with medical supplies*
You guys know Sky ain't dying right?
Keith: Shut up, we're gonna have to operate!
Sky: What?!
No operations! As you can see, Sky is still alive, getting well and I'm afraid this chapter was once again solo from the part of Kate and Keith.
Kate: We deeply apologize for the lateness of this chapter.
I waited on Sky trying to have a breakthrough but we both decided I should do the rest of this solo. Worst that will happen in this situation now is that Sky will have writers block a few more times and there will be more late updates. But I WILL NOT finish this story without her! We started this together and by Arceus we will end it together.
Kate: To anyone who's concerned about Sky she's slowly getting better, congratulate the girl on getting a job-
Keith: *throws party stuff around*
Kate: But please have patience with her updates
Anyway, in the next few chapters I think I'll show you a little more of Seren's past while she tackles obstacles, Rythmi and Isaac are Sky's department so I'll see what she can do. As for everyone else-
Cast: Mission time!
Again we thank you for having patience with this chapter and we deeply apologize that it's late. Hopefully the length makes up for it.
Kate: Until next time-
Cast: We'll see you soon!
Don't forget to review!