A/N: I would like to say how sorry I am for neglecting this story. I have been very busy with school and work and family that I barely found time to breathe. I hope you all enjoy! Sorry for the wait!

Chapter Twenty

Amari felt like she was living a dream. Cyrus moved her gracefully across the dance floor, his dark eyes holding her gaze. She had a feeling she was blushing, but she could care less. A small part of her didn't want the music to ever end. Eventually, the song did end and Cyrus stood still, his arm still around her waist.

"You are quite the dancer," Amari commented with a smile.

"Well, that's only because I had such a wonderful partner," Cyrus replied. He started walking her back off of the dance floor and towards Burgand. "I hope your friend didn't mind me stealing you away."

"Oh don't worry about him," she said with a wave of her hand. "He knows I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself."

Cyrus chuckled and looked over Amari's head at Burgand. He had a blank expression on his face as Cyrus handed Amari back to him. He gave Amari a wink before bowing to them and walking back into the crowd. Burgand looked over at Amari and tried not to laugh at the expression on her face.

"My, my," he said with a chuckle. "Looks like you've been hit by a truck. Have you never danced with someone before?"

"No," Amari said, slowly shaking her head. "I wonder who that guy is."

"Well I figured I'd ask while you were busy swooning over him," Burgand told her crossing his arms over his chest.

"I was not swooning," Amari snapped giving Burgand a heated glare. She opened her mouth to say something else, but was interrupted by the crowd breaking out into applause.

Both turned to look towards the center of the ballroom. There stood a man dressed similarly to Cyrus with salt-and-pepper hair cropped short and slicked back. His steely-gray eyes scanned over the crowd. Amari felt a chill run down her spine when he looked over towards her. Something about that man seemed familiar to her, and in a very bad way. He raised a hand to settle the crowd down.

"Greetings everyone," he said loud enough to be heard. "I would like to welcome you all aboard and welcome to Team Revolution!"

Everyone in the hall saluted to him, shouting "Soon they will know!" Amari and Burgand awkwardly followed suit, both still feeling rather silly. The man slowly nodded as he looked around the room. "Many of you are probably wondering who I am. My name is Benedict Malum, leader of this fine organization. I see a lot of potential in each in every one of you."

Cyrus appeared beside of Benedict. Amari could feel her stomach drop a little as she looked at the two of them. Benedict looked over his shoulder and gave a small smile. "This is my right-hand man, Cyrus. Some of you may have seen him skulking about the room, no doubt." A chuckle passed over the crowd as Cyrus smirked and shrugged his shoulders. "He will be in charge of your training. I urge you to take this very seriously, for in two weeks many of you will no longer be with us."

Amari glanced up at Burgand, her eyes filled with worry. He looked back at her with a similar look. Everyone else in the room began to mutter to themselves and each other, a few wearing the same expression as Burgand and Amari. Benedict raised his hand once more and the crowd settled down. His smile could be seen as reassuring, but Amari felt disgusted by it.

"This is nothing to worry about," he explained. "What we will be training you here today for is to prepare you for field work. Should this not seem to be suited for you, you will be taken to other factions that make up this grand organization. It takes a lot to participate out in the field, and only those who show they are truly ready can succeed."

His words seemed to relax the crowd a bit, but Amari and Burgand were still on edge. They both knew that become field agents would be the best way to stop Team Rev. Burgand looked down at Amari with concern. He was pretty sure he could handle some, if not most, of the training…but Amari just looked so fragile and weak. He had no idea how she would take to the training. But I have to help her in any way I can, he mentally told himself. He turned his attention back towards Benedict as he was wrapping up on his opening speech.

"I know that everyone here tonight feels the same way I do," he said sweeping his hand over the crowd. "Everyone in this room has been living in someone else's shadow for far too long. They keep oppressing you, beating you in every battle, belittling you in every way. Well this ends now! No longer will we stand idly by while they rule over us. No longer will they hold control over us, for we are stronger than any one of them. Together we will make them see that mocking us was the wrong choice. Soon they will know!"

Once again, everyone in the room saluted to him and repeated the words. Benedict smiled and waved as he made his exit, thunderous applause echoing through the large room. Amari frowned slightly as she watched Cyrus step up and look around the room. He waited patiently for everyone to quiet down before addressing them. "On the wall by the door you came in will be your room assignments. Registration and training will begin at 5am sharp. Get some sleep tonight…tomorrow you all belong to me."

The crowd started towards the exit, pausing to look at the room assignment sheet as they left. Amari and Burgand hung back mainly because she was starting to feel a little sick. She leaned back against the wall and took a deep breath. Benedict's parting words were running through her head. I have been living in someone's shadow for a long time, she thought bitterly, and it's high time I did something about it. She looked up when she heard footsteps approaching them.

Cyrus was standing in front of them with an expression Amari couldn't identify. "Are you alright, Kit? You look a bit pale."

"She's just getting a little seasick I think," Burgand answered for her. "She'll be alright once we get to our room."

Cyrus narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked Burgand over. He looked back at Amari and gave a slight nod. "Very well, I do hope you feel better soon. It would be a shame if you missed out on your training. Please feel free to alert me or one of other executives if she requires any further medical attention."

With that, Cyrus turned his back and walked through the crowd. Burgand took Amari's arm and helped her out of the room, pausing for a moment to find their room. He led her down to the lower deck and through the long corridor. Soon they found themselves in a small but comfortable cabin. Two beds were on opposite walls with a desk along the wall across from the door. There was a closet and even a private bathroom for them to share. Burgand sat Amari down on one of the beds. He put her bag that he had been holding for her down and pulled out one of the pokéballs.

He pressed the release button and Magnar appeared before her. They Cyndaquil let out an excited "Cynda!" and immediately jumped up onto Amari's lap. She smiled down at him and gently stroked his back. "Sorry you had to stay cooped up in there for so long. Hopefully no one will mind if I keep you out of that cramped little ball."

Magnar licked her hand in thanks and curled up into a ball, falling fast asleep. She smiled at him before looking up at Burgand. He gave her a smile as well and flopped on the other bed. He pulled his cap off and managed to get out of his blazer without sitting up. Amari set Magnar down and disappeared into the bathroom with her bag. She came back in a pair of pajamas she had packed and settled on the bed next to the sleeping pokémon.

"You think the training is gonna be hard?" she asked quietly.

"Not for me hopefully," Burgand replied sleepily. "You may have trouble with it, but don't worry. I'll be right there to help ya."

Amari smiled over at him and felt her eyes getting heavier. She pulled Magnar closer to her and closed her eyes, letting the gentle rocking of the ship and her friend's steady breathing lull her to sleep.