Hey guys! Sorry it's late, but I had problems writing this chapter. Let's just say I couldn't get the reaction right...
Marina: Yo.
Hello Marina!
Marina: What's up, wassabi?
Wassabi?
Marina: Yuppers!
Ah... nothing, really... where's Aaron?
Marina: He's still scared of me!
Aaron: No I'm not! I'm just giving you the silent treatment.
Marina: And why would that be?
Aaron: DO YOU NOT REMEMBER THE PRANK YOU PULLED?
Marina: Oh yeah! It was originally planned for Wallace!
Aaron: Why?
Marina: He wouldn't tell me when everyone called.
I do believe the plan is in Chapter one.
Marina: Right you are, Kioku!
Aaron: She should be, I mean, she wrote the story, so...
Alright, enough! Disclaimer, please?
Aaron: Nah-uh. I'm doing the silent treatment before something bad happens to me.
Marina: Fine! Kioku7 does not own pokemon! Only the Ocs!
Thank you, Marina.
Marina: No problem!
Enjoy!
I can't really tell what happened next…
But I'll try…
Not a moment after I said 'checkmate', three people teleported in somehow and threw multiple smoke bombs. I couldn't see an inch in front of me.
"Everyone….. scatter! We … fire!" I faintly heard Cyrus demand over the screams of surprise.
Seconds later, when the smoke had cleared (thanks to Lugia), they were all gone.
Including Aaron, Archie, and Mew Three.
Paramedics arrived suddenly and picked up Maxie, taking him away to be hospitalized.
The legendary Pokémon rose and fled quickly, but I could tell they were still watching from the shadows.
I stood there frozen, an almost blank expression on my face.
"They're gone!" Some people gasped in surprise. Cheers broke out as everyone congratulated each other on their victory.
But I still stood there, arms to my side and glaring down at the ground.
"Ms. Marina?" I heard Drake asked quietly. Everyone went silent around him as they heard the worry in his voice. I swiftly turned my back and pulled my hood up.
"What, are you a little upset that they ruined you're moment?" Carol asked teasingly. I could feel everyone's stares bore into my back.
"…. Yeah, that's it." I replied softly after a while, so soft I could barely hear my own voice.
"Oh, cheer up, we won!" Cheryl laughed. The congratulations continued. I dropped my head in shame.
How could I let this happen?
They took my best friend…. To work for something he hates and under the man that ordered his mother's death…
They took Mew Three… the only one that has any clue where or what happened to my father….
They took the knowledge of brainwashing others….
They took the technology, although broken, that can force others into going against their wills, Humans and Pokémon alike…..
How could I fail like that?
If only I knew what Cyrus said!
"Marina." Joy suddenly called out from behind me. My head shot up, but I didn't turn around.
I won't show a weakness.
I'm a champion.
I can't show a weakness.
If I do, what will other's think of Hoenn?
Stay strong, just for a while.
I turned my head a little in indication that I heard her.
"Are you alright?" The cheering stopped again, and I was brought into focus.
"…" I didn't respond.
I couldn't respond.
….
"What, are you taking our victory hard or something?" I tensed.
Win?
We did anything but.
"Hey," Dawn started hesitantly, "We did win…. Didn't we?" I dropped to my knees on accident.
Oh, darn it.
"Marina!" Joy shouted in surprise, trying to rush to my side, but was stopped when Steven held an arm out.
"Tell them what they need to hear." Steven commanded suddenly.
"Steven, what are you talking about?" Phoebe asked curiously. He held his hand up in a silence motion.
"No, Dawn," I started lowly, shaking my head, "We didn't win."
"How so?" Rex asked, almost in an angry manner.
"We let them get away. How long will it be until they come out with a newer, better device?"
"We can still go after them." Paul suggested plainly.
"That we can." I nodded slowly, still on my knees.
"But we don't even know where they went!" Kaleb exclaimed. The seconds after the smoke bomb replayed in my mind and I tried hard to remember what Cyrus said.
…
"How did the paramedics get here not moments after they left?" I asked suddenly, out of curiosity.
"We called them secretly while we were held captive." Joy replied, smiling.
"Is Maxie going to be alright?"
"He's going to be fine. Now, we need to focus on where Team Rocket went." Steven replied gently. I nodded, finally turning around to stare back at the crowd. My gaze swept across the crowd, until it finally reached someone unconsciously.
Giovanni…
Wait, Giovanni?
How had I not seen this before!
"Giovanni, do you remember any of their plans?" I asked hopefully.
That hope was shot down.
"I'm sorry, no." I tensed, coming up with a solution.
"Would you come here, please?" I asked gently. He nodded and came to stand in front of me. I put my hands on his temples, and I exhaled loudly, closing my eyes. "Ready?" He only nodded.
I let counter take control from there.
"Alright, let's see….. Memories! Ah! Here we go!" She exclaimed happily, but suddenly frowned. "This is… going to hurt you, you know."
"I know. Just do it."
"Are you sure? We finally got that ringing out of our heads and you want that horrible noise back?"
"If it helps to find Aaron and Mew Three…And save the Pokémon, or course!"
"Ha-ha, right."
"JUST DO IT."
"Fine, fine… brace yourself." I waited for the pain to come.
Oh, it arrived, alright.
"Gah!" I yelled, almost snatching my arms away from Giovanni's head, but I took a deep breath, keeping them there and letting the pain surge through my body. Just a little bit more… alright…plans to catch the…
Fire bird?
Suddenly, the frequency of the sound waves became greater, resulting in more pain, and I had to let go, falling to my knees again.
"Marina!" Leaf exclaimed in surprise.
"The fire bird…" I gasped out, arms holding my up from the ground, "….Ho-oh."
"Ho-oh?" Noah asked unsurely. I nodded.
"But where would Ho-oh be?" Steven asked softly, lost in his thoughts. I finally caught my breath, sitting up.
Suddenly, a familiar face came into view from the corner of my eye.
"Hello." Petrel's voice greeted.
"Hey! What's up? Why are you here?" I asked curiously.
"To give you a little information I thought you'd like to know." I nodded, urging in to continue. "Well, they're going to Tin Tower, the ruins of Alph, and Purity canyon."
"Thank you… murkrow."
"Please, call me Peter." He replied as he flew away. I smiled in reply.
"Alright, we have three areas and a giant group of people. My guess is that team rocket doesn't know where Ho-oh is either. Now, we need to spit up and head out tonight. Who will head the search to the Ruins of Alph?" I explained, turning towards the crowd and finally standing up.
"We will." Steven and Wallace replied in unison. I nodded.
"And Tin Tower?"
"I'd be willing to do it." Gary stood up.
"I'll help him." Leaf winked. I smiled and nodded.
"Good. I'll take Purity canyon. Now, we need to make teams. I'll take the smallest teams because I have a feeling they're aren't going to search it thoroughly, so it gives me time to inform you what's going on. I'll take five people. The five that are coming with me won't have time to heal their Pokémon, so choose your team wisely. I want the Hoenn half of the disaster squad to go to the ruins of Alph, if that's okay with you, Lance." I explained.
"My region and I shall search Tin tower." He replied not a moment later. I nodded.
"Alright, I'm leaving now, whose coming?" I turned toward the crowd.
"…"
"Count me in!" Noah stepped in confidently, smiling.
"…Us too!" Carol smiled, pulling on Rex's arm, who smiled widely after a moment.
"I'm going."
"Me too!" Kaleb and Cheryl laughed respectively. I nodded, but took in Gucci's alarmed face.
"Don't worry, Gucci, I'll take care of her." I assured gently as I tossed RayRay's master ball out.
"All aboard! Next stop, Purity Canyon!" He roared in a joking manner. I laughed at him. If only the others could hear him, hear Pokémon…
It's a shame only Aaron, Noah, and I can…
"You heard the Pokémon! Everyone on!" I cheered, jumping on his back swiftly as I've done many times before. Kaleb and Cheryl followed in suit, excited about their mission. Noah followed in manner, later joined by Carol and Rex. "Bye everyone!"
"Wait, Ms. Marina! You need your headset!" Drake suddenly yelled. I paused, turning to catch it when he chucked it at me.
"Thanks Drake! You're the best!" I smiled brightly at him, to which he returned with a smirk.
"Bye everyone!" We yelled and waved.
"Bye! Good luck!" They cheered back.
"Hold on tight everyone; this is gonna be a bumpy ride…" I warned, grip tightening on RayRay.
"Extreme Speed!"
A
Aaron: I spoke too soon... something bad did happen to me...
Marina: Because you know how much we love to pick on you!
Aaron: SHUT UP!
Marina: Don't tell me to shut up!
Aaron: I just did!
... Well, tune in next time to see what happens! We may be reaching our end here, people! No worries though, Unova is on its way!
Marina: YAY! New Region.
OH, no. Don't yay.
Aaron:... Why?
You won't like the reason...
Marina: Oh come on tell us!
Nope! Leave a review and tell us what you thought! See ya soon!
Marina and Aaron: You are not signing off without telling us-
~Kioku7
(HA! Too late.)