Here's chapter twenty one of my Pokémon song fanfic. So far on the list of Pokémon that have been caught according to Chase's list the heroes have Volcarona, Milotic, Shedinja, and Unown. A good start, but can they beat Andrew since he has two of the seven pieces of the Odd Keystone? Could be given what's happened to Andrew, I'd think so.

DISCLAIMER: I HAVE NO CONNECTIONS TO POKEMON HOWEVER MUCH I LIKE TO THINK I DO. PLEASE DON'T REPORT ME FOR A SUIT FILE.

International Tournament File 021: Picking Up the Pieces; Andrew Meets Friends

Opening his eyes slowly Andrew sat up in a bed and looked around with his eyes dead. Standing up and making his way down a staircase Andrew braced himself on the wall going down the spiral staircase. Going down the stairs another boy passed by. The boy was Mexican in origin, was about as tall if not taller than Andrew, seemed a bit older, and wore a black t-shirt with a pair of dark colored cargo pants. Waving to Andrew, Andrew did the same out of instinct and continued to go down the stairs where he found a middle aged couple looking at him eagerly.

"Good morning, Andrew," the man said with his balding head. "How did you sleep?"

"Well," Andrew responded. "Thank you. By the way who was that guy I passed in the hall on the stairs."

"Oh that was Ven," the woman said. "Pay him no mind. He's only here temporarily while his father is away on business."

"Unlike me," a young girl said coming down the stairs. "Ven gets to leave eventually. Me, I have to stay."

"That's no way to talk, young lady!" the man shouted out. "Please, we have a guest."

"That's right," the girl said coming down next to Andrew and placing her hand on his shoulder in a royal blue tank top with dark blue denim shorts and black hair reaching down past her shoulder to the middle of her back. "How did you sleep with the monkeys of the house loose?" she asked looking over at the two adults.

Constraining their anger the two adults chuckled sarcastically while Andrew looked at the girl and smiled. Standing Andrew left for his temporary room and lowered his head in saying bye. Waving goodbye the girl's mood dimmed as she turned around to see the two adults cracking their knuckles.

After hearing a knock on the door Andrew turned around and opened the door and returned to the windowsill and looked out at the scenery and found the girl from before walk in.

"Is there anything I can help you with?" Andrew asked.

"Nah, just needed someone to talk to," the girl said extending her hand. "I'm Amara."

"Nice to meet you," Andrew said shaking her hand. "So what did you want to talk about?"

"Anything," Amara said. "I know you can't remember anything, but what happened to you?"

"Based on the massive size of the bump on my head; I'd guess I was hit by something bigger than pebble," Andrew said holding his head where a bump could be felt. "What about you? Why're you so against those two people? Aren't they your parents?"

"Sure, maybe foster parents," Amara said. "My parents died when I was seven after being crushed by a wooden beam saving me," she explained with a tear in her blue eyes. "So I've been moved from house to house in the foster care system. At least, there's gotta be someone looking for you."

"I hope," Andrew said. "No offense to you, but I can't imagine going through life without parents."

"I take none," Amara reassured. "It's good to know that there are people that actually bother to care about someone."

"Amara, are you a Pokémon trainer?" Andrew asked looking at a PokéBall strapped to her belt.

"Yep, take a look," Amara said throwing the ball onto the ground and then caught it as an Espeon appeared from the receding light. "This is my partner, Espeon. I also consider her to be my only glimmer of hope and my only reminder of my parents."

"How do you mean?"

"This Espeon used to be an Eevee that was raised by my parents and when they died they left this little girl to me," Amara said tearing up again.

"They must've been good people," Andrew said looking out the window and then to an empty PokéBall on the bed. "What's it like being a trainer?"

"It's like being your own maker of destiny," Amara said. "More importantly, how do we know you're not a trainer and you have a Pokémon looking for you right now?"

"If I do, I'd like to give him back his PokéBall. Unless, I'm just a failure as a trainer who can't manage to catch even one Pokémon," Andrew said chuckling and looking down at his tattered shirt and jacket.

Amara giggled looking at the clothes and told him to wait for a few minutes. Andrew smiled watching her leave and looked back out the window and pressed his head up against it.

"A trainer, huh?" he said looking at the PokéBall on the bed.

Returning from another room with a short sleeved red and white jacket with a black shirt and added on a cap for good measure. Leaving the room to another Amara chuckled and then saw the two adults with a long stick. Gasping slightly Amara tried to get into the room to find it locked. Sending out Espeon in a panic Amara told it to use Confusion in the door. Quickly unlocking the door Amara and Espeon ran in to find Andrew no longer in the room and the window opened with the PokéBall gone.

Down below Andrew began stalking a Pokémon he found as a Bulbasaur. Looking at the surroundings Andrew threw the PokéBall off in one direction and it began ricocheting around the area and then hit it on the bulb and then instantly catch it with no resistance from the Pokémon.

Climbing the wall to the balcony Andrew came back up to find Amara and Espeon badly hurt and with multiple bruises. Helping her up onto his shoulder Andrew began carrying down the stairs and past the two adults who barely noticed them. Looking away from them Andrew carried Amara off to a nearby Pokémon Center.

"I know you specialize in Pokémon, but please accept this case," he requested from underneath the cap.

"We'll help her, so don't you worry about anything," the nurse said as they took the two in the back room.

Pacing the floor with Bulbasaur following him Andrew continued to worry about Amara as though she were a member of his family. After an hour of waiting Andrew saw the boy from earlier, Ven, run in.

"What happened to Amara?" Ven asked out of breath.

"I wish I knew," Andrew said looking back at the room.

Ven looked down and then back at Andrew who continued to pace with Bulbasaur still following him. With a Charmeleon standing at Ven's side all four were pacing the room and then sat down.

"Ven," Andrew said. "Where do you go every day?"

"I go to a battle institution for classes ever since my mother died," Ven said. "She gave me my Charmander and then five days later died of a heart attack."

"Do you mind if I come with you?" Andrew asked.

"Why?" Ven asked.

"I know nothing natural caused that attack and I want to fight those people to keep them away from Amara, once for all," Andrew said looking at him with a fire in his eyes.

"Sounds good," Ven said as the nurse came out.

Looking at the nurse she held up a V with her fingers and showed them to the recovery room.

"Amara's a lucky girl, given what happened to her," the nurse said. "I'd like to keep her until tomorrow evening if that's okay."

"Sounds good," Andrew said leaving the center with Ven following. "She was battered viciously," Andrew said stopping in the middle of the room. "Someone believes that they have the authority to determine whether a person can be made into a punching bag," he said tears beginning to form. "And I won't stop until they're locked up like all criminals should be!" he said raising his fist into the air.

The next morning Andrew came inside after training all night with Bulbasaur to find the two adults casually eating breakfast without a care in the world. Ven climbed down the stairs and led the way to the institution.

"What is with those people? They're supposed to be caring for her and they act like nothing has happened. What are they to you?" Andrew asked.

"They're my uncle and aunt; they have a history of being violent and highly abusive to people. Even to me at one point," Ven said. "The fact of the matter is they feel that they are superior to people who are A, mixed ethnicity, and B, without parents. I've been trying to blow their cover for some time now, but they keep on denying everything and without proof I can't do anything. That's why my father told me to stay with them until I could find them out."

"Another thing I've been meaning to ask you; what does your father do for a living?" Andrew asked.

"He's with the police as one of their top officers. He trained me when I had free time and turned me into who I am," Ven said proud of his father.

Reaching the institution the entire building was filled with people working out with Pokémon and then in the center of the courtyard was a large battlefield for practice battles. Taking Andrew to the main hall Ven introduced him to everyone else who all thought he was too young to be considered worth their time.

"I'll battle the kid," a large man with a muscular build said walking up to him. "Just don't crying to Ven when you lose."

"Andrew, don't do it," Ven whispered to him.

"I'll do it!" Andrew announced much to the surprise of everyone in the room.

The man chuckled and Andrew grinned as they took off to the battlefield. On the field everyone in the area was pointing and talking about the idiotic kid who was battling muscle-head.

"Begin!" the referee shouted as the two PokéBalls were thrown.

"Machamp!" the man called out.

"Ivysaur!" Andrew called out sending out the evolved Bulbasaur.

Raising an eyebrow to Andrew Ven crossed his arms and watched the match between the flower and the four armed monster. The Machamp charged and then reached out with two of its four arms at Ivysaur grabbing it and holding it above its head. The referee was about to stop the match only for Ven to put his hand in front of him.

"Watch," Ven said looking back at the battlefield.

Andrew kept the bill of the cap down and then looked at the scene and then nodded to Ivysaur, "Sleep Powder."

Struggling to break free Ivysaur secreted a powder from its flower and then sent it out in full fury quickly making the giant Pokémon drop Ivysaur and fall down asleep.

"Vine Whip," Andrew said.

Extending vines from its flower Ivysaur easily defeated the Machamp based on a clear advantage. The referee called it as Andrew's win and Ven rejoined him on the battlefield.

"Battle me," Ven said looking straight into Andrew's green eyes.

Andrew smiled and nodded as the ref began the next match and the two started off in nothing but silence. Ven made the first move as Charmeleon charged Ivysaur and out of its mouth came a smokescreen. Surrounded in the smoke Ivysaur was in a near panic when Andrew looked at Ven.

"Leech Seed!" Andrew shouted.

Shooting a single seed into the air Ivysaur looked back Andrew as Ven shouted to Charmeleon. Charmeleon charged through the smoke and Andrew simply shouted out to Ivysaur, "Now!"

Slashing the area where Ivysaur was Charmeleon looked around to find nothing and began blowing away the smoke by swishing its tail around to find an entire battlefield filled with Leech Seeds from everywhere to one area on Andrew's side of the battlefield where Ivysaur sat.

"Flamethrower!" Ven shouted to Charmeleon.

Spitting out a constant stream of fire Charmeleon ran right behind it walking through a cleared path from the Leech Seeds. Ivysaur jumping out of the way landed in the field of Leech Seeds and was unaffected. Using the same tactic Charmeleon continued to chase Ivysaur throughout the entire area until both became fatigued. Taking a misguided step into an unattended seed Charmeleon became engulfed in the power and began losing its health gradually.

"Ivysaur, this is last shot!" Andrew said as Ivysaur cringed and jumped up. "Solarbeam!"

Absorbing solar energy Ivysaur let out a mighty sound and shot the beam directly at Charmeleon who was blasted back to Ven's side and fainted almost instantaneously. The referee called it as Andrew's win once again. Both Ven and Andrew fell to the ground in their seats and chuckled to each other.

"That's the most fun I've ever had," Ven said with Charmeleon being returned to its PokéBall.

"I can't say the same, as I don't even who I am," Andrew said doing the same.

"Actually, Andrew I have something for you," Ven said. "Back at home, I'll give it to you. It might help you remember."

Back at the house the two adults toasted with a bottle of wine and clinked the glasses and drank up and left the room up to theirs just as the door opened behind them with Andrew and Ven going up to Ven's room.

Up in the room Ven shuffled through his belongings and produced a large backpack that was the kind slung over the shoulder.

"Is that my bag?" Andrew asked.

"Yeah," Ven said. "Those two freaks gave it to me and told me not to give it to you unless he was ready, which to them means never, but I think you're ready."

Opening and looking through the bag were several things; an atlas, three pieces of stone, and four weighted PokéBalls. Looking at each PokéBall Andrew clicked the button and out of each one came a different Pokémon; Ferrothorn, Gengar, Ninjask, and Hariyama. Surprised and amazed at the amount of Pokémon were in the bag Andrew then turned his attention to the three odd pieces of stone.

Ferrothorn placed a tentacle over his shoulder and the rest of the Pokémon gathered around him and held the pieces of the stone together. Tracing with his finger over the stone pieces and based on symmetry and the angle of incline Andrew slapped his forehead and looked back at pretty much everything.

"How much do you remember?" Ven asked.

"Not much, but I know that I caught all these Pokémon and I'm looking for the final four pieces of that relic to do something," Andrew explained. "Ven, I'm the criminal people are looking for."

"Other than that, nothing?" Ven asked.

"Yes," Andrew said standing up and looking at each Pokémon. "What about Amara? Isn't she being discharged today?"

"Yeah, the two idiots went to go get her, I'm a complete screwball," Ven said realizing what had happened.

"We have to hurry!" Andrew said returning all five Pokémon.

"But what about your memory?" Ven asked.

"My life can wait, Amara's can't!" Andrew said racing down the stairs.

At the Pokémon Center Amara tried to resist being taken back with Ven's aunt and uncle as they kept pulling.

"Nurse, please don't let them take me back there, or next time I won't make it!" Amara shouted as the two made it to the door where the man was pushed back by a giant palm.

Amara looked up and saw Andrew with Hariyama by his side. The woman pulled out a PokéBall and then looked at the surroundings. Amara smiled out of relief and Andrew winked at her and then turned to the nurse.

"Nurse," Andrew said. "Call the police and tell them two things; one, that he have two child abusers and attempted murderers in our midst, and just to make them to come faster tell them that Andrew, the criminal is here."

The nurse hurried to a phone when the woman sent out a Scyther and had it place the blade near Amara's neck. Andrew's eyes dilated as he threw another PokéBall.

"Gengar, Psychic!" Andrew called out.

The ghost Pokémon came out of the PokéBall and then, with its mind, produced a blue aura around the Scyther and moved it up and down repeatedly where it hit the ceiling and floor every time. Gengar then moved its finger forcing Scyther into a wall and then turning to the woman who made a break for a back door only to be blocked by Hariyama. Running to various windows and doors the woman tried to escape only for the exit to be blocked by one of Andrew's Pokémon except Ninjask. Ninjask then came out of a door and began to spiral around and around the woman with a rope in between its pincers tying her up within seconds. Returning all his Pokémon Andrew turned to Amara who hugged him out of relief until they heard the woman laughing beneath them.

"We've gotten away with it before, how is now any different?" she asked.

"Because I'm here," a gruff voice called out from the entrance.

The man had a large moustache and a very muscular build with an leisure suit with a badge clipped to his shirt pocket and began to walk up to the woman as he showed her a voice recording.

Turning on the recording the woman went into a state of panic.

"Oh come on, Mary, no one's going to find out we practically bludgeoned that foster kid," the man said.

"You're right, George, besides it was fun to keep her hands over her head while you got her with that stick," the woman said.

Clicking the recording off the man untied the woman and put a pair of handcuffs around her wrists while the man was put in an ambulance while in handcuffs as well.

"Sir," Andrew said. "If you don't mind my asking, who are you?"

The officer turned to him and saluted saying, "Chief Inspector Santiago Martinez, my son told me to give you ten minutes after these guys leave and then I can try to arrest you."

"Tell Ven thank you," Andrew said tipping his hat.

Inspector Martinez returned the favor by tipping his own hat and turned his head away. Amara looked at Andrew as he was about to leave and grabbed his sleeve.

"Thanks for everything," she said leaning over and kissing his cheek.

Barely reacting except with wider eyes Andrew turned to her and simply said, "No funny stuff from now on. You're going to be just fine from now on."

"But can't I go with you?" Amara asked.

"That's a question that doesn't require an answer," Andrew said negatively. "But a random tidbit of information," he said so the inspector wouldn't hear. "The Odd Keystone is a relic said to react to supernatural forces in the center of the rock formation of Stone Hinge in Salisbury Plain in England," he said while winking. "Oh and check this information with Ven, I'm sure he'd be very knowledgeable on the subject."

As the timer began to beep Martinez and the other police officers charged him only for him to float away by Gengar's Psychic.

"For the record, Amara," he said. "I won't ever forget you."

Location: Roswell, New Mexico

Iain and Jon combed the desert line for hours without finding anything while looking at a composite sketch of the Pokémon. Which looked like a three year old could have done better.

"The next time I see Chase," Iain said. "I'm gonna take him to the open sea and throw him overboard!"

"I'll build the plank," Jon said. "For now let's find that secret facility run by Pokémon entirely."

Chapter twenty one completed. So while he doesn't have his memory completely back Andrew did gain the trust of two people and maybe even someone's affections. Will these two be able to sway him back to life as a solid citizen…if he was one to begin with?

Next time: Looking for conspiracies is a waste of time, but not if it means finding a Pokémon that can take control of technology itself. Next time: In Roswell, Pokémon Catch You; Catching Rotom.