Chapter 10: "Upcoming Journey."
A day later, Heat the Braixan takes TJ and the kids to the park. Other Pokémon enjoy their picnics, and the kids play in the playgrounds. TJ and Heat play a chess game on a table somewhere two feet away from the playground.
Lee is sitting on a bench by a sidewalk with his grandmother's red scarf in his hands. He looks down on the fabric, wonders what would it be like if his grandmother and his parents were still alive. He also wonders what would it be like if the world he is living in is normal: No Pokémon Power Negation Disorder... No PRAMA Periods... No Darkrai.
Rose, Sam, and Mike watch their poor friend Lee from under the playground slide about 50 feet away from him, with sad faces.
"So, Lee's dad decided to abort him, huh?" asked Sam.
"Yeah," Rose responded.
"But he sacrificed himself anyway because he felt he has nothing else to live for, right?" asked Mike.
Rose nodded and sighed, "I wish we could find a way to cheer him up."
A floating lightbulb floats on top of Sam's head, "I know! We could do a funny video of each other! Lee always liked humor."
Rose's face brightens and faces her friends, "Sure! We can make a video about as funny as that car insurance commercial!"
"The one with that Camerupt?" asked Sam, no longer smiling.
"Yeah."
Mike speaks, "Yeeeeah, uh, that commercial was rated the funniest and the most supportive commercial in the year. So, it'll be kinda tough to make a video as that. Then again, imagine us in that commercial."
The girls looks up in wonder.
(I apologize if this joke is getting old, but I've planned this bit last year, so you might as well deal with it. Enjoy!)
As the kids are out training at different areas at the yard, a Camerupt appeared and yells out, "Uh-oh! Guess what day it is! Guess. What. Day. It. Is."
He walks up to Rose, who is practicing on her balance beam. "Rose! Hey! What day is it?" The Riolu tries to ignore him. "Oh, come on! I know you can hear me!"
The Camerupt then walks towards the Chimchar doing jumping-jacks, "Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike! What day is it, Mike?" The irritated fire-type also struggles to ignore him.
The Camerupt makes a goofy laugh as he finally walks to the female Pikachu, holding a wooden sword by the sword rack. "Sam. Hey, tell me what day it is," he whispered to her ear.
The irritated electric-type sighed in surrender and answered quietly, "It's Hump Day..."
"Whoo-hoooooo!" the Camurupt yelled happily.
Lee and TJ stand on a small, random stage somewhere on the field while playing each playing a ukulele.
"Hey, TJ," Lee asks. "How happy are Pokémon saving up on car insurance?"
TJ answered, "I'd say happier than the Camerupt on Wednesday."
The said fire ground-type walks up behind the stage and proudly yells, "HUMP DAAAAAAAY! YEAH!"
Ruckus' voice then appears while a logo with a Pineco on it appears on the screen, "Pine-Co: 15 minutes could save ya 15% on car insurance. Drive safe, Ijits!"
"Nah," the trio agreed as they stopped thinking about that reference.
Rose faces back at Lee, "On second thought, maybe it's better if we just let him cheer up by himself. We wouldn't want to give him suspicion if we try anything funny."
"Eh, I guess you're right," Mike shrugged.
"Yeah, I'm with you on that one," Sam agrees. She then thought of something, "Hey, wait a minute. Didn't you say a powerless Pokemon's parents could die before they're even born? My parents died when I was a Pichu."
"Uh, yeah, same here," said Mike.
"Huh, and so have I," said Rose.
What Rose, Sam, and Mike didn't know, is that Lee's ears are VERY sensitive. He heard every word his friends say. He smiled a little when he heard that they really wanted to cheer him up. But he then frowns again when they say that they got to know their parents, while still gazing down his grandmother's lucky scarf.
Two Months Later
A shining, morning sun creates a blanket of golden-orange light over the Wushao Temple. Everyone at their fancy dining room eating breakfast.
Wushao picks up his glass of water and taps on with spoon to get attention, "Children, I have an announcement to make."
Everyone put their eating to a pause and faced Wushao. "Would our chosen ones stand up please?" The said Pokémon stood up from their dining chair.
The Mienshao also stood up from his chair started to speak again, "My children, your training is almost complete. The War Comet will appear in five days. So, that's when you all start your journey. Your training and specialties are developing very well, and I believe you are all ready for your mission."
And with that, Blast, Flame, Cream, and Ruckus makes an applause for the next Team Arc. Mike, Sam, and TJ share a smile for all the support. Lee wanted to smile, but he couldn't help but frown a little. Rose also sadly frowned when she sees his friend unhappy.
Sam was beside Rose, so she elbows her arm to get her attention.
"What?" Sam asks.
Rose whispers into her ear, "Do you mind asking Sensei why your parents died when you remembered them and Lee's died before he was born?"
Sam's glanced at Lee and whispered back, "Lee's still not feeling better? It's been two months."
"I know, but could you ask Sensei? Please?"
"Well, wait a minute. I gonna need you to come with me."
Rose blinked, "Why?"
"Uh, because you were eavesdropping when he told Lee about his past."
A sweat drop fell down the Riolu's face, "Oh, yeah."
"I will be right back, children," says Wushao, "I have things to prepare for your mission." Rose and Sam faces their master and watched as he leaves.
"Okay, let's go," the girls follow the Mienshao out of the room. Lee watches as they left, wondering what they're up to.
At night, Mike and TJ practice combat on each other in the hallway. Mike swings his foot to TJ's face. The Teddiursa ducked and sweeps the Chimchar off his remaining foot with his own. As the fire-type collapsed on his back, TJ tackles Mike and holds him down in a wrestling fashion.
"Oh, come on! This isn't wrestling school," Mike complained while TJ laughs.
The boys heard a knock on the door. TJ got off of the Chimchar and says, "I'll get it."
The normal-type walks to the door and opens it. The visitors revealed to be Heat and Snowy.
"Hello, TJ," the Braixen greeted his favorite fighter/student.
"Hi, guys! Me and Mike were just practicing on our fighting before out big journey."
"Yeah, we heard," said Snowy.
"Congratulations," said Heat.
"Thanks," said Mike as he props himself up and walks towards the others.
"Hey, where are the others?" The Delibird asks. "We'd like to congratulate them, too."
"Everyone's upstairs," answered TJ, "Why don't you guys come in?"
"Gladly," said the Braixen as he and Snowy walked into the temple.
Nobody notices, but there is a small, black, surveillance camera hanging on the ceiling. Back at the dark dimension with the evil souls floating around and the dark castle, Darkrai is in the castle in a room in front of several TV screens on the wall. One of the screens shows the front end of the Wushao temple hallway. Darkrai can see a Braixen and a Delibird entering the temple's exterior. He can also hear the conversation between them, Mike, and TJ. They head for the farther end of the corridor.
Darkrai noticed something at the farthest door of the hallway next to the altar. He zoomed in and found two Pokémon coming out through the door to the right, a Riolu and a Pikachu.
"Snowy!" yelled Rose.
"Heat!" yelled Sam.
"Hello girls," greeted the Braixen.
"We thought we heard someone at the door," said Sam. "So, what's up?"
"We want to congratulate you guys on your upcoming adventure," said Snowy.
"Thanks," Rose giggled. "Everyone is right upstairs, just right through that door," she points to the farthest.
"Come on, I'll take you guys," said TJ as he leads Snowy and Heat to the door. They follow the Teddiursa through the door, but Rose, Mike, and Sam didn't follow. Instead, they waited until they're gone.
When they completely left, the Chimchar started asking, "So, what did you asked Master Wushao about the disorder?"
Sam responds "Um, well, his answer was, uh," she rubs the back of her head, "Well- He said he has know idea."
A sweat drop glides down the back of Mike's head, "You mean he doesn't know?"
"Well," Rose spoke up, "Despite that he was pretty shocked when we told him that I heard him telling Lee about the past, he did say that the death of the Pokemon's parents after it was born might depend on something. But, it doesn't have to be within two weeks. So, I'm guessing that the doctors were kinda wrong."
"Interesting," Darkrai slightly chuckled in the watch room.
"Well, anyway," Mike speaks again, "since we're leaving the region this week, I think I'd better go and pack up."
"Mike, it's in five days," Rose tell him.
"So?"
Sam place her hands on her hips, "And you only have like four items."
The fire-type shrugs, "And your point is?"
The girls each have a sweat drop gliding down their face as their eyes drooped.
"Whatever. Come on," said the Riolu, "I made a present for Lee, and it's in my room."
"What's the present?" asked Sam and Mike in unison.
"You'll find out. Let's go!" Rose ran to the door and Sam guickly follows.
"Hey! Wait for me!" The Chimchar eventually follows the girls upstairs.
"Well isn't that sweet of them to help their leader out?" Darkrai speaks to himself. As soon as the Pitch-Black Pokémon watch the helping trio disappear through the door, he raises his hands up to create a purple orb.
He brought the or close to his face and spoke to it, "Moh Wan, send your grandson and his team to Wushao Temple. I think it's time we give both them and our competitors a little more practice before their big journey."
"Can do, sir," Moh Wan's voice was heard from the orb.
Darkrai makes the orb disappear before face the screens again. "I think I'm going to enjoy this show," he said before laughing evilly.