Chapter Eleven: Improving Relations

"So, um, can I go now?" I asked the officer, who was sitting at his overly messy desk, typing everything I said. I told him the full story from my point of view.

He grumbled something and took a swig of his piping hot coffee, and nodded. "Yeah, we got what we needed, now scram." He pointed to the door, not looking away from his computer.

"Well, great." I walked out the door and into Gateon Port, which was lively with action as police were going around, questioning everyone about last night's shooting. Officials had claimed it to be an assassination attempt on Dawn, most likely by the remains of Team Galactic, although that theory was full of holes.

People continued on with their daily lives in the port, as if nothing had happened. Those who had lost one of their loved ones were of course mourning them, but those who had been completely unaffected by it brushed it off.

I sighed, and began walking. To where, I really didn't know, all I was doing was walking in a direction. The next time you get a new open world video game, just pick a direction and walk. You'll be amazed at what you find.

In real life, it doesn't work like that. David was sitting on a bench head in his hands, looking out at the ocean. The bags under his eyes indicated that he probably hadn't slept well last night, and honesty, I understand that. I barely slept myself.

"How is she?" I asked, walking over to him.

He glanced up at me, and scrowled slightly. "Critical." Hey, at least he actually spoke to me. "She was hit six times."

My heart sank, and I felt complete sorrow. It felt...familiar. "I'm sorry," I said, rubbing my eyes. "If there's anything I can-"

"I'll let you know," he finished, staring out at the sea.

I nodded, slightly surprised that he was acting the way he was. I thought that he'd probably try to kill me or something.

"I was wrong about you," David said, after a minute. "I just got all fed up in...I don't know how to put it..."

Jealousy, said a voice in my head.

"...you were jealous?" I offered, hoping that the voice wasn't lying to me.

"Yeah," David admitted, sighing. "Ever since Dawn came from Sinnoh to help at our lab, I've had a crush on her. Whenever I'm with her, I fell like I'm the happiest person in the world. Maybe you would know what I mean?"

"Yeah," I said, lost in thoughts. "Maybe I would." In truth, I knew exactly how he felt. I felt the exact same way when I was around Dawn. This was about to get crazy.

David contiuned. "I couldn't tell anyone, I was too shy. You were always with her, and all that, and when the chance came up to make you look like some sort of creep, I took it, not thinking. And then she said that she wanted you out of the group, and I went along." He stood up and held his hand out to me. "I apologize for all of that, and I'll clear it up with Dawn when she gets better."

If she does, the voice thought. "Apology accepted," I replied shaking his hand, sorta understanding what he was saying. I think I liked Dawn too. "So, where's Luna and Skyler?"

Shrugging, David pointed out to the forest just beyond the port city. "Last I saw them, they were training together. They were in there pretty deep, so they might not have heard the sirens. I don't think either of them are coming out soon, and you can probably join them."

Zen would have had a field day with those sentences. "Kay, thanks," I said, running off to find them. The forest was thick with underbrush and several assorted spiky plants, so navigating through there wasn't the easiest thing to do.

Finally, after cutting my arms and legs countless times, I made it through into the not so spiky part of the forest. Trees stood tall, branches swaying in the wind. Other than the sound of rustling leaves, there was nothing but silence.

"It's peaceful," I commented, taking a few steps forward, and then I found myself dangling upside down. Apparently, some idiot had left their snare out, hoping to catch a wild Pokemon in it, and completely forgot about it.

My bag slid off my shoulders and hit the ground, along with all four of my Pokeballs. "Oh, that's just great," I muttered, trying to reach up to get at the knot. Since I'm not in the best physical shape, I horribly failed.

I dropped back down to my original position, cursing. "This is perfect." I felt my blood rushing to my head, and groaned. That was going to make this even worse.

"You look like you need some help," a voice said, and I struggled to face the source of the voice. There was an Aggron standing nearby, which appeared upside down to me. "I could help you if you like, human."

"That would be appreciated," I answered, still struggling to get free. "Please, I would be in your debt."

A sharp-edged rock sliced through the rope mere inches from my foot, and I fell face first onto my bag, which conveinitly contained some sharp-edged max revives. "Son of a bitch, that hurt."

I brushed myself off as I stood up. "Thanks. How can I make that up to you? I have some food if you're hungry."

"No," the Aggron shook his head. "I believe that I am endebted to you."

"What for-oh shit." It hit me right then and there. "You're the Aggron that killed Zen, weren't you?"

Looking away, the Aggron nodded. "If that's what you named your Darumaka, then yes. I did."

"It's okay," I told him. "Of course I'm torn up, and I should hate you, but I don't." I paused. "I've just got the feeling that Zen somehow knew that he was going to die, and I guess that it was meant to be."

"Is that really how you feel?"

"Yeah," I answered. "I can't forgive you for what you did, but the least I can do is say that I'm not going to hold it against you."

The Aggron sighed. "I have to make it up to you somehow. It is my duty."

"You don't have to," I insisted, reaching down to gather my things, and slinging my bag over my back. "Getting me outta that mess was good enough." I started walking deeper into the forest, trying to find Luna and Skyler.

"Yes I do," the Aggron continued, following behind me. "Nothing can atone for the sins I've committed."

I rolled my eyes, making sure that the Aggron didn't see. "No, honestly, it's okay." After a few more seconds of walking, I glanced back and saw him still following me. "Okay then," I sighed. "What did you have in mind?"

"I figured that I could become a personal servant to you, and obey your every command." Wow, this guy was completely nuts. But still, if an Aggron ever offers to be you servant, never pass it up.

I nodded. "Fair enough. You gotta name?" I lied to him. I really hated this guys guts, and would have tried to get him back if he weren't some several foot tall metal being.

"I am Jake," he answered proudly. "Born into human captivity, and then released into the wild."

"Well then, Jake," I said. "How do you battle?"

"Terribly," he replied, slashing some low hanging vines with his sharp metal claws. "After all, I was beaten by your Geodude." He swung his tail out, taking out several bushes. "By the way, that egotistic bastard Charizard thought that she was really something special."

I paused, and glanced back at him. "That black one with the red eyes?"

"You know him?"

"Yeah," I nodded. "Calls himself the Grim Reaper."

"Classy." Jake remained silent as we continued forward. "He lied to us all, deceived us, and used us to carry out his plans."

"What's he trying to accomplish?" I asked. "He thinks he some sort of god or something, doesn't he? Trying to accomplish world dominance? All that would happen will that he will enslave every living being, and the world would become dull."

Jake nodded. "Yeah. Last I knew, he was planning a trip to capture Celebi, and was preparing to face off against Darkrai for some reason."

"Meh, he's just trying to show off," I commented. "He'll get his ass kicked." By now, we were pretty deep in the forest, and still no sign of Skyler or Luna. "Seriously, where the hell are they?"

"If you're looking for your human friends," Jake said, pointing to the left. "They're that way. I passed them on my way here."

I shrugged. "Lead the way, and cut the brush in the way.

"No problem." He took the lead, lashing out with his claws, slicing any and all vegatation that blocked our path. I think that his human trainer may have taught him Cut or something like that.

As Jake mowed down a small tree, a stream came into view. "We can rest here if you want," I offered. "You've been at this for a while."

"It hasn't even been five minutes," he replied, "but why not?"

He bent down, and drank from the babbling brook while I sat on a rock, reaching into my bag, looking for a bottle of water. Pulling it out, I unscrewed the cap and began chugging, emptying the bottle in only a few seconds.

Jake looked up. "I'll never understand you humans," he remarked. "There's water right here," he pointed to the stream, "and yet you insist on drinking from your own container."

"I never question the ways of my speices, other than why we go to war and other stupid stuff like that," I said. "But never about why we drink from bottles, it's convienient, I guess."

"Dinking from a stream is more conveinent, and you don't have to carry a bottle," the Aggron replied, leaning in for another sip.

"Human are wierd," I told him, "get used to it."

Right about then, two Sableye burst through some bushes, clawing at each other, slashing and swinging their claws, locked in a battle for sumpremacy.

It was really easy to tell that they were Gremlin and Renegade, Luna's and Skyler's Saybleyes.

"Stand down," one said, swiping at the other. "I am far to strong for you."

"Bullshit," the other exclaimed, retailiating with several Shadow Claws. "I can take you down, you son of a bitch."

They clashed again, lashed out and blocking each others attacks. Finally, one of them missed a beat, and the other slashed him upside the face, and jumped back, preparing a Shadow Ball. It fired, but the other sidestepped, firing his own and hitting the other in the face.

Growling in rage, the one that had been hit pounced on the other, clawing rapidly. Jake sighed and clomped over, picking up one Sableye in each hand, holding them up to his eye level.

"Put me down so I can kick his ass, you giant tin can!" the one in his left hand shouted. "Put me down or you're next!"

"Do not listen to him," the one in his right hand said, "put me down and allow me to crush his weak being."

Shaking his head, Jake said, "Why don't the two of you chill out? You guys seem tense."

"Our trainers set us against each other, and I am not going to dissappoint," the one in the left said, struggling to get out of the armored titan's grasp.

"I will defeat my opponent in the field of battle," the other replied, "now put me down, you blashemous, incharitble, hunk of metal."

"Gremlin!" Luna called out, wading through the bushes. "Where are you?" She saw me, and waved. "I didn't think I'd see you out here."

"Eh," I shrugged. "I get around."

"What? Don't forget about me!" the Sableye in Jake's left hand, presumably Gremlin called out. "You can't ingore me!"

I pointed, "Gremlin wants you," I told her.

She looked over, and saw Jake holding the two darkness Pokemon. "Um, which one is Gremlin? Do you know?"

"Yeah, the one on the left," I answered. "By the way, the Aggron's name is Jake, if you wanted to know."

She smiled as Jake handed her Gremlin. "Nice to meet you."

"The feeling is mutual," he nodded, dropping Renagade to the ground. "I assume that we may be travelling together in the future."

"He's says it's good to meet you as well," I translated. "Anyway, where's Skyler?"

Luna pointed in the direction that she came from. "He went the other way, searching for Renegade. I guess Gremlin found him."

"And that brat caused quite a ruckus," Renegade said, folding his arms as he glared up at Gremlin, who was sitting on Luna's shoulder.

Suddenly, something clicked in Luna's head. "Wait, did you say that the Aggron said something?"

"Did I forget to mention that I understand Pokemon?"

"Um...yeah. Well, when you were telling us about your Pokemon a while back, when we first met, it sounded like you could, but you never said anything." Luna looked up at Gremlin. "What does he think of me?"

Gremlin smiled and cleared his throat. "I believe that you are the most wonderful trainer ever. I feel privelaged to be under your command, and-"

"He really likes you," I answered. "He feels honored to be your Pokemon."

"Is that what you said?" Luna asked Gremlin, who nodded. "Dude, that's awesome!" she exclaimed. "I need to talk to some of my Pokemon. How do you do it?"

I shrugged. "To hell if I know. I don't really remember."

Luna's smiled faded. "Oh, well if you remember, let me know."

Sklyer burst onto the scene, panting heavily. "I couldn't find them," he said in between breaths. Then he saw Gremlin on Luna's shoulder, Renegade next to Jake, and me sitting on the rock. "So, where've you been?" he asked, picking up Renegade.

"Around," Renegade and I answered at the same time, and then shooting each other looks.

"So...are you still mad at David and Dawn?" Luna asked. "Skyler and I were kinda against it, so we broke off from them."

"Actually, David admitted that it was a mistake, and I think he will let me back in the group after Dawn gets better."

They both stared at me. "What did she do this time? Fall off the scooter again?"

"No," I replied, looking away. "I got a job at a resturant, and Dawn and David came in. A few minutes later, six men walked in, and pulled out guns." I sighed, looking back at them, seeing their surprised faces. "Last I heard, she was in critical condition, and had been shot six times."

There was a stunned silence. My mind wandered, thinking about death...

"I took that for you." The voice was of a girl, and it sounded weak.

"Why?" This voice sounded like my voice, but I couldn't tell.

"I was wrong about you...I told you.

The memory faded, but I had heard enough. The voice that spoke first, it could be none other than Dawn's.