Chapter 21: Onwards! Journey to the Desert!

It is midnight, almost everyone in the guild is asleep except for Morgan and Dew. Morgan, in the girl's room couldn't sleep after all that she's heard from Flame. Her eyes are slightly red as she looked out of the window into the moonlit sky. Dew on the other hand, couldn't even think straight from what took place as well. How come Opal didn't tell them? About the guild, Flame, everything! His mind started racing as he too stared to stare into the night sky.

*Later that morning*

Team Ivory stood outside of the guild as if they are waiting for someone.

"Urgh…Where is she?" Static asked impatiently."

"I'm sure that the Guildmaster will be here. We have our supplies right?" Asked Dew.

"Yeah, we do." Said Morgan.

"Are you two okay?" Jesse asked. "Ever since what took place yesterday, you two haven't been yourselves lately."

"Don't worry…we're fine. Right?" Morgan asked as Dew nodded.

"I see that you're all together." Flame came out of the guild's entrance with her normally calm demeanor.

"Where have you been?" Questioned Mystic.

"I forgot something that was in my office." The Ninetales reasoned. "Steven, Morgan, you have my deepest apologies for what happened yesterday. I know that you're feeling some sort of pain, but I want you two to move on."

"It's okay, what were you trying to get." The water type responded.

"Static, this is for you." Flame said as she used Psychic to retrieve an item that is hidden in one of her tails.

"What's this?" The Pikachu questioned.

"Your father, Shock, wanted me to give this to you. He told me to tell you not to open it until needed."

*Sigh*"Alright, fine." Static said slightly disappointed.

"Moving on, the quickest way to the Western Desert is Northwest of the guild. It will take a long time, but there is a rendezvous point past a cave where a few pokémon will take you there quicker. Like I said, be careful, because there in the desert is a Drapion dictator and a pokémon that goes by the name of "The Queen of Thieves."" The fire type instructed.

"The Queen of Thieves?" Asked Jesse.

"Yes, she known thief of the desert that is currently fighting the Drapion leader. Unfortunately, I don't know much about her." Flame responded.

"Fine…Is everyone ready?" Dew questioned as everyone nodded.

"Wait; let me mark your map." Flame said as put a dot on a few areas of there maps where the team should go.

"Thanks." Replied Mystic with a smile.

"Alright, let's go." Dew said as the team left.

The team started to travel along a path not to far from the guild. It wasn't long until Jesse started acting a bit strangely.

"What's wrong Jesse?" Asked Morgan.

"I sense an aura." Jesse stated. His ears and tail perked up, his red eyes shifting this way and that as he tried to focus on the location in the cave. "This way!" Team Ivory moved at great speeds down the left corridor. They didn't notice the shadowed figure rise from the ground in the spot they once stood in.

"Oh no…My food!" a meek voice gasped. He quickly phased back in to the ground.

Team Ivory ran with Jesse at the head of the group, Morgan and Dew in the center and Static and Mystic bringing up the rear.

"Ah!" a small explosion stopped them in their tracks. They turned back to see Static on the ground with smoke rising from his back.

"What th-Ah!" Dew was struck from behind and before and so was Mystic.

"Guys!" Jesse and Morgan yelled.

"No one will steal my Food! Zen Headbutt!" A blue glow came out of nowhere, blinding Jesse and Morgan with its light in the darkness. Morgan was sent flying back in to Static who had just recovered.

"Shadow Ball!"

"Take Cover!" Dew shouted, avoiding a Shadow Ball as it flew past his face. He collected Morgan and Mystic and ducked behind a rock only for all of them to be thrown in to the air as the earth underneath them burst up. They were thrown out in to the open and were bombarded by Shadow Balls from above.

"Thunderbolt!"

"Aura Sphere!"

Jesse and Static fired blindly in the dark. Static's attack illuminated the cave long enough for Dew to see a shadow phase in to the ground.

"We're not alone!" He shouted, activating Razor Shell and slicing through another Shadow Ball. Static fired a scatter-shot version of Thunderbolt, illuminating the entire tunnel but the enemy was nowhere inside. He was struck from behind and sent flying. Mystic whirled around with Dark Pulse but it hit nothing but the rock walls.

"Night Slash!"

Dew noticed a purple light out of the corner of his eye and whirled around with Razor Shell. The two attacks crossed.

"Static, Light!" Static discharge electricity but their opponent was gone moments before the tunnel lit up. Static readied Iron Tail. Jesse with his Aura Sphere. Mystic activated Hidden Power, keeping the circles of light orbiting around her. Dew kept Razor Shell active and Morgan readied Slash, her claws grew longer and glowed bright with power. Their attacks together kept the area around illuminated.

"Don't let your guard down even for a minute." Dew said. The others nodded and looked around, hoping to spy something in the light around.

"Night Slash!" Static saw a purple light shoot towards him and moved to counter with Iron Tail but the target disappeared the moment he was in range.

"Shadow Ball!" the Pikachu was sent flying from the group by an spectral energy ball hitting him in his back.

"Static!" Mystic fired Hidden Power around the Pikachu to keep the enemy away from him. She was thrown in to the air by the earth bursting up underneath her feet and was sent back in to the ground by Shadow Ball from above.

"He's using Dig, keep moving!" Jesse said. "Aura Sphere!" Jesse fired multiple, weak but fast spheres of energy at the ground, blowing of small clouds of smoke.

"Morgan, get Static and Mystic to higher ground!" Dew called out. The Meowth used her speed and got them on to higher rocks. Jesse figured out Dew's plan and used another Aura Sphere to counter a Shadow Ball and got to higher ground himself

"Scald!" Dew inhaled deeply and released a powerful torrent of boiling water down the tunnel way, flowing down in to the holes made by their attacker and his digging.

"HOT HOT HOT!" A shadow burst from the ground screaming at the top of his lungs.

"Thunderbolt!"

"Dark Pulse!"

Mystic and Static released a stream of dark energy and en electric bolt respectively that coiled around one another and combined in to a larger blast. The shadow yelped and dived away. The combined blast destroyed and collapsed a large portion of the tunnel cave but Jesse used Aura Sphere to keep it from totally blocking their escape route.

"Don't let him escape!" Jesse yelled, firing off a couple aura spheres, kicking up clouds of dust that let them see the target running away.

"Static!" Dew jumped in to the air and Static jumped up beside him.

"Scald!"

"Thunderbolt!" Dew released another torrent of boiling water that washed down the tunnel. Their enemy's footsteps splashed through it and he yelped in pain at the burning. Static's electric body gave the water a charge and electrocuted the enemy.

"Got'em!"

"Let's finish it!" Jesse exclaimed, "Force Palm!" Morgan joined in his attack, activating Slash. They saw a glint in the darkness and jumped aside before crossing their attacks. They looked back at the cry of Night Slash and were knocked away.

"Must be Ghost-type," Mystic said, "Dark Pulse!"

"Uh uh!" The shadow phased back in to the ground, the dark energy stream flying down the tunnel and exploding in the distance.

"He's gone!" Morgan gasped.

"After him, Jesse, try to lock on to his Aura." Dew said, Team Ivory ran down the tunnel with Jesse in the lead. The Riolu's ears perked up and he spun around and fired Aura Sphere between Mystic and Static, colliding with a Shadow Ball in mid-air.

"The ceiling!" Jesse cried.

"Move aside!" Dew cried, "Aqua Jet!" Dew was surrounded by rushing water and launched up with his Razor Shell out front, he pierced the ceiling with the sharper blade and fell back down, slicing through some falling debris.

"He's in front of us in the ground, he's trying to escape!" Jesse cried, avoiding some falling rocks as well.

"He's not going to, Thunderbolt!" The Pikachu fired a powerful electric bolt at the ground, upturning large chunks of earth and sending debris flying in to the walls. Through the smoke they could see a figure running away.

"Quick Attack!" Morgan and Static cried in unison. The two of the sped through the smoke to counter the enemy with Dew, Mystic and Jesse following behind them.

"Aqua Jet!"

"Iron Tail!"

Dew hopped in to the air and his body was once again surrounded by rushing water and he flew through the air overhead and over his enemy. He came crashing down in front of his enemy who jumped back and was sent flying by Static and his Iron Tail.

"Ah!" Their enemy splashed across the water that flowed in to the tunnel. Team Ivory surrounded him.

"Enough running." Dew said sternly. Their enemy raised his hands and slowly rose to his feet.

"Please, please don't take my food." It was Sableye, and a young one at that if the voice was any indicator.

"Who are you and why did you attack us?" Asked Static angrily.

"And what do you mean by food?" Questioned Morgan as the Sableye just sat there drooling at the coin on Morgan's head.

"Ow!" The Dark/Ghost type cried out as he's rubbing the top of his head.

"Dude, that's my sister you're drooling at!" Dew yelled. "Tell us why did you attack us?"

"A-alright, I'll tell you." The Sableye said nervously. "My name is Claws, and I am also from the guild. And this is what I mean by food." He pulled out a large gem.

"Wow, where did you get that?" Asked Mystic in awe.

"Uh, that's just a gem," Stated Jesse. "How can that be edible?"

"DON'T TOUCH IT! I NEED MY GEMS TO EAT! WE SABLEYE ONLY EAT GEMS" Claws snapped.

"Easy there, we're not going to take anything. We were just passing by." Assured Dew.

"I'm sorry. It's just that someone who I thought was my friend betrayed me and stole my gems. That's hoe I got this." Claws explained pointing to a jagged scar across on one of his diamond like eyes.

"Wow, I'm sorry to hear that. By the way I'm Dew." The Dewott said holding out his paw.

"I'm Morgan." She two stuck her paw out.

"I'm Mystic." She did the same.

"I'm Jesse." Jesse joined in as well.

"And I'm Static." The Pikachu spoke proudly as he too held out his paw.

"We are part of Team Ivory, and we're on our way to complete a mission." Dew explained.

"Wow, really?" Claws asked almost tearing up. "Where are you going to?"

"We're heading to a place known as the Western Desert. Do you know where that is?" Asked Mystic.

"I know of a road that I can take you too, mostly because I spend most of my time digging and guarding this cave." Explained Claws.

"You do?" Questioned Morgan. "Where do we go?"

"Wait. Before I tell you, you must do something for me." The Sableye said.

"What is it?" The team asked.

"As long as you don't tell anyone about this cave, or take any gems that lie here, then I will lead you to an area close to the desert. Deal?" Claws suggested as he too stuck his hand out.

Team Ivory looked at each other for a second. "Deal." The six pokémon shook in agreement.

*Elsewhere*

Somewhere in a mountainous area, a golden Riolu was standing on a mountain peak as several Braviary and Mandibuzz were circling him. The birds swooped in as they thought that they are finally going to catch their prey. The Riolu smiled as they swooped in.

"Toxic…" The Shiny dog jumped into the air as his paws glowing an eerie purple, avoiding several pecks and wing attacks from the bird pokémon. Every one he touched fell to the rocky surface below as the ones not affected successfully hit their target. As this is going on, a shiny Kirlia is watching the entire scene from behind a bunch of rocks.

"What is that idiot doing?" The Kirlia said to herself. "He's going to get himself killed."

The Riolu ran as fast as he could through a series of caves as the Braviary and Mandibuzz were in hot pursuit. The Riolu made it to the end of the cave as if he's leading him to a trap.

"Earthquake!" A red aura surrounded his body as he slammed his paw onto the ground sending a fissure and aftershock to the cave. Dozens of rocks fell on top of the many bird pokémon leaving them as a pile of broken bodies under a bunch of boulders.

"Wow…so cool." The Kirlia said to herself until she head a loud squawk. There, she noticed a Braviary swooping down on her. The Kirlia tried to run but slipped and fell onto the rocky surface. She closed her eyes as she is preparing for intimate death until…

"BRICK BREAK!" The young Kirlia looked up as she saw the Riolu striking the eagle pokémon square in the neck as he fell to the ground dead. The Riolu walked up to the Kirlia with a stare with almost no emotion.

"Kora…what are you doing here?" The Riolu asked angrily. "You have no other place but to show your weakness here?"

"I..uh Master Celestio wanted to see us Simon." The Kirlia known as Kora lied.

"Is that so…" Simon replied.

"Yes he did, he said it's important." Said Kora as the Riolu walked away.

"Jesse…the next time we meet, I WILL kill you." The Shiny Riolu said to himself as the Kirlia slowly followed.

Alright, now it's time for me to end this here. So Team Ivory is finally heading to the Western Desert, and they appear to have some help along the way. Jesse seems to be in trouble too as it appears that one of Celestio's henchmen wants Jesse dead. Will Team Ivory make it to the desert? What does Simon have against Jesse? Will Shock be okay? And who is the "Queen of Theves? Find out next chapter. Also, I gotta thank kkman57 for the idea for the ending, and barrett m107 for the team ivory battle.

Giovanni: *Chuckle* Review…