Chapter 13: Madeline's determination
'Oh No! Lily has vanished!', everyone could hear Lauren screaming in the early hours of the morning. Madeline and Amy, still in their nighties ran into Lily's empty bedroom to see what was going on. The girls screamed out loud. That woke Professor Oak and Delia.
'What's the matter girls?', groaned Oak sleepily as he walked into the room.
'Sis is gone', wailed Madeline. 'She's disappeared', squealed Amy.
'You've got to be kidding me', cried Oak. Suddenly, Delia screamed from the guest's bedroom. Everyone ran out of Lily's room to find Delia weeping in the middle of the floor.
'Delia! What's wrong?' asked Professor Oak running to her side.
'My Ash', she cried. 'He's gone as well'.
'Ash too?' Madeline cried with shock. But then it hit her. She remembered what Lily said to her before they went to bed, I have to go to the Pokemon Temple. Those words shook Madeline with fear. What if Lily gets hurt? What if she dies?
'I know where they've gone', said Madeline. 'They've gone to the Pokemon Temple'. Everyone stared at her with disbelief. No one had to the temple since the death of Queen Lucy.
'Are you sure?' asked Professor Oak. 'I'm positive', she replied confidently. 'Sis told me she wanted to go there. I have to go after her', she cried out loud. She was about to run out of the room before both Amy and Lauren stopped her.
'But you said it was dangerous', said Amy frighteningly. 'Yeah, you told us Mummy died there', Lauren agreed with Amy.
'I'm sorry girls but your big sister is there right now', exclaimed Madeline. 'I must go after her'.
'But we don't want to be alone', wailed Amy. 'We don't want you to die!' wailed Lauren. This time Madeline paused for a few moments before responding. She bent down and put her hands on each of their shoulders.
'I know it's scary but, I have to go after her. I care about both of you. You are precious to us because we promised to look after you after your mother died. Your big sister means so much to me. Not because she's my twin sister but she's so unique as a person. One day she couldn't talk to strangers or us and she stammered every time she tried to talk to us. Now she's strong, brave and can talk to her friend without any trouble. Now I can express my feelings to her and you can too. That's why I must go', said Madeline comfortably. this calmed Amy and Lauren down as they had learned the promise Madeline made to her mother before she died.
Suddenly, something strange happened. A massive roar was heard in the distance. Then, there was thunder and fire balls started falling from the sky. With Madeline dressed, everyone ran out of the mansion. The surrounding trees were on fire.
'What in the world is going on?', asked Professor Oak, alarmed by the sight. 'The monster is using its power to destroy our world!', Madeline yelled in shock. 'I must go now!'. However, before she flew off, she turned around to the others. Delia was holding Pikachu in her arms. Pikachu was looking incredibly frightened. Madeline immediately knew why he was worried. She went over to Pikachu.
'I know how you feel', she told Pikachu. 'You're worried about Ash. I can tell the two of you are best buddies, aren't you?', she smiled gently. 'Pika..chu', Pikachu replied slowly.
'We both have something in common. You're worried about your trainer and I'm worried about my sister', said Madeline. She held out her hand to him.
'Would you like to come with me?', she asked thoughtfully. This was a silly question for Pikachu because he jumped straight out of Delia's arm and straight onto to Madeline's shoulder. Madeline took out a small rope from her hand bag and tied it around her waist. Then she tied the other side on Pikachu's tummy.
'This is so you don't fall off my shoulder when I'm flying', said Madeline cockily. Amy and Lauren stepped forward.
'Maddy, is your shoulder alright?' asked Amy worriedly. Lauren nodded, agreeing with Amy. 'Don't worry girls. My shoulder is all better', Madeline replied confidently. As more trees around them, Madeline, with Pikachu in her shoulder, jumped into the air and flew away from the mansion. She looked back at her sisters, Professor Oak and Delia one more time before she set of for the Pokemon Temple.
On the way to the temple, Madeline saw some horrible scenes. She saw fire melting the ice in the Snowy Mountains and burning the trees and grass in the Grassy Forests and Fields, water hardening lava and putting out fires in the Volcanic Lands and lightning striking the Grand Oceans. Concerned, Madeline and Pikachu carried on flying before reaching the borders of the Alternate Pokemon World. Up ahead, they saw the pokemon temple. It was glowing white, brighter than usual. Unfortunately, she saw a barrier surrounding the temple.
'Well this is just great', Madeline moaned with sarcasm. 'Now how are we going to get into the temple?, she dropped down with disgust. 'Pika. Pikachu', Pikachu squeaked at her, pulling her thick hair, which was tied in a high ponytail.
'Do you mean we should try and break through the barrier and to the bottom of the temple?', she asked him smiling mischievously. 'Pikachu!', Pikachu nodded.
'This may be an insane idea but it's our only option if we want to find Sis and Ash', said Madeline. At once she began to pick up speed. She flew as fast as she could, trying to break her limit. As soon as she was closing in on the temple, she braced for impact and got ready to charge through. But she wasn't strong enough and she found herself bouncing off the barrier and being sent flying back. Pikachu tumbled off her shoulder but the rope pulled him back and prevented him from falling. As soon as she recovered, Madeline charged towards the temple again. This time, much faster than usual. She commanded Pikachu to use quick attack while she used dragon claw to break the barrier. The tactic failed as well and they were sent flying back again. But Madeline didn't give up and neither did Pikachu. After two more failed attempts, Madeline hovered in midair, trying to think of another way to destroy the barrier.
She knew she had to think fast. Her world could be destroyed within hours if she didn't reach Lily and Ash on time. She stared at a worried Pikachu who was squeaking for Ash. Madeline faced the temple. The barrier was strong but it can't hold up forever. Maybe there could be a limit to what the barrier could reflect back. Something started to come into her mind. It was risky, but she had no choice if she was going to break into the temple.
'Pikachu', she said to Pikachu. 'Hold on tight. I'm taking a risk', she warned him. She felt Pikachu cling onto her shoulder even tighter than before. Madeline took a deep breath, closed her eyes and put her arms onto her chest. She felt her body becoming heavy as she starting falling down. Pikachu squealed as it clung onto her shoulder. She felt her hair being tugged the wind, her dress swaying as she felt herself falling and her body felt as heavy as a weight. As they fell closer and closer to the ground, Madeline started to pick up speed.
Suddenly, she shot up into the air, just metres away from hitting the ground. She could feel her ears getting sore. Madeline realized that she was flying so fast, she could break the sound barrier any moment. She turned towards the temple, ready to break the temple with all her might.
'Are you ready Pikachu?' Madeline shouted at Pikachu as she flew. Pikachu squeaked, as if it was saying 'yes'. Madeline braced herself. She charged up a moonblast and a few seconds later, she felt herself surrounded by her move's power. As she charged towards the Pokemon Temple, she grabbed Pikachu and two of them braced for impact as they charged closer and closer to the temple. Moments later, they felt themselves crashing into a wall of magic. It broke and they were sent charging towards the building. After that, everything went black on Madeline.