"I'm afraid not." Giovanni smirked.
"Why not?" I frowned, whining. He gestured to Mew Three, who was standing there awkwardly. I blinked once. Where was Mew Three to go?
...
...
...I know...
"Alright, I got it! RayRay, if you would." He nodded and slithered off my shoulder, then grew to his full size.
"Marina..." Wallace warned.
"Don't worry, I'll b back in time before... nine! It's only six now anyway!"
"Fine, but please be careful." Wallace nodded at me. I smiled and nodded back after hopping on RayRay's back.
"Come on Mew Three! Get on, would ya? You're really slow." I teased him. He frowned and floated next to RayRay.
"I can fly you know."
"Fine, have it your way. I just thought I'd be considerate, since you just came out of battle!" I turned my head, "Ready Pikapi?" He nodded, smirking. "See ya guys!" I laughed, RayRay launching into the air.
"BE CAREFUL!" Misty yelled after us. I just raised a hand, holding on tight as RayRay flew away from them.
*Thirty Minutes Later*
You're probably wondering where I'm taking Mew Three. Well, a couple of years ago, actually, one to be exact, I 'overheard' two team rocket grunts talking about one of their chief DNA scientists going rouge after Mew Two had escaped, saying what they were doing was wrong. I also 'overheard' that he was the gym leader at Cinnibar island. And well, I figured since he knew things about... pokemon creation... then he'd be able to help Mew Three more than I could. We reached the island minutes after, and RayRay shrunk to traveling size, resting on my shoulder. I looked around. Everything was...
...
Gone,
I guess.
That's funny. I heard Cinnibar Island was famous for big attractions and the old mansion... but... there's nothing here except a small, inactive volcano, a gentle breeze, and a pokemon center. There was a small boy sitting down on the ground, leaning against the pokecenter, probably eight or nine. He had short brown hair and dark eyes. It looked like he was waiting for someone inside, but his eyes seemed distant, so he didn't notice me. In his hands was a small music box. It kept playing this... haunting melody. So peaceful and sweet... yet so sad...
I turned to look at the ocean, far from the coast, when I heard it.
"Daddy, is Ash going to be okay?" My eyes widened as I saw a younger me and a shadowed figure, hand in hand, staring at the ocean, like I was, except from the shore. Mew Three or Pikapi didn't notice, so it was probably a figment of my imagination, but still...
"Of course he is, sweetheart. He only has a cold, and mommy is at home taking care if him." A familiar deep voice that I knew as my true father explained.
"Then why are we here?" Younger me asked innocently. The breeze blew through all of our hair slightly.
"There was a friend I wanted to visit. You should like him, too. Call him Uncle Blaine." I could feel dad smiling as he said that.
"Dad..." I trailed sadly, taking a step forward. He turned and looked right at me again, and to my surprise, so did myself when I was younger. It's funny, but I can't remember any of this.
And I thought I remembered everything.
"Daddy, why is that girl crying?" I stopped breathing as I realized I was.
"Hey, Marina, Are you okay? Why are you crying?" Pikapi asked cuiously, concern also evident in his tone. Suddenly, I could see brown eyes from the shadows that covered my father peek out at me. My eyes widened a fraction, before a small smile escaped my lips. Suddenly, they were gone. I walked up to where they were standing and stared at the ocean, just like they had.
The music box played in the backround.
"My, my, is that little Marina I see?" A gentle voice asked behind me. I turned slowly to see an old man in a lab coat and sun glasses, looking like he just came back from a stroll on the island. He was bald, with a white mustache that reminded me of Rai. I sent him a quesioning gaze, to which he returned like a mirror. Realization probably struck him. "Oh, right. Considering you were so young at the time, you prbably don't remember me much. Well, Marina, I'm-"
"Uncle Blain?" I croaked. His eyebrows rose.
"Yes. My, I didn't think you'd remember me..." I shook my head.
"I don't much, sorry." I sighed, turning my gaze back to the ocean. He joined me, standing beside me. Mew Three stood awkwardly, going un-noticed. Uncle Blain nodded.
"It's alright, I didn't expect you to remember anyway. Like I said, you were very young." There was a moment of silence, except for the music box. "I haven't seen you since you and your dad stopped by all those years ago. How have you been? Is everything alright?"
"Everthing's great, Uncle."
"I think you're lying."
"And why would that be?" I asked curiously.
"If everything was 'alright' you wouldn't be here, crying, while staring at the ocean." I sighed deeply.
"Okay, I guess everyhing isn't really alright, but it's gotten better now." He nodded in approval.
"That's good." There was another silence, wih the melody playing in the back.
"Uncle Blaine?" I asked.
"Yes?"
"... What happened here?" He paused. The music box's melody echoed in my ears.
"...The volcano erupted unexpectedly. Everything was destroyed." He answered flatly, with hints of sadness.
"What?" I asked, surprised, turning towards him now. He held the same look as his voice. "Was there anyway to stop it with Pokemon?"
"I'm afraid not. A natural disaster is not something to be battled with by pokemon."
"But if you had the right types, you could stop it." I argued.
"Not nessessarily. pokemon tend to flee when a natural disaster comes around." Uncle Blane explained. "Anyway, take a good look around you... A volcano erupts, and just like that, a whole town disappears. We can go on winning and losing in Pokémon, but if nature so much as twitches, we can be overwhelmed in a second... That's the way it is..." Overwhelmed in seconds... That's how I've been feeling lately. "But don't worry. We're working on reconstruction. All will be togeter in no-time!" This time, it was a comfortable silence as we listened to the melody of the music box.
"Unlce Blaine, sorry to be abrupt, but you know a lot about pokemoin DNA, right?" I asked, remembering why I was here. is face grew dark.
"I may... why?"
"Well, I have a friend here," I gestured to Mew Three. "And he needs a home. Considering you know about these things... I thought you'd be able to help him feel at home, and if he had any problems from expirimentation, you could help him. He'd b a great help in reconstruction here, since he's strong and a psychic pokemon!"
"... Well... I do feel lonely sometimes, and I would like a companion and a friend... so I would be fine with that... it's his desicion though." Uncle Blaine explained. We turned to Mew Three.
"Those were wise words earlier, Mr. Blaine." Mew Three commented slowly.
"Thank you. And please, call me Blaine. But, you would be?" Mew Three must be talking aloud, considering Blaine heard it.
"Mew Three."
"Nice to meet you Mew Three."
"Nice to meet you too, Blaine."
"So?" I asked, anxious.
"...I would appreciate a home, Blaine. And a friend as well.."
"So it's settled! You can stay here. I hope you can help with recnstruction."
"It's the least I can do." Mew Three smiled, laughing. I smiled at them, before signaling RayRay to grow to full size.
"It was nice seeing you again, uncle Blaine, but I really have to get going. There's one more stop I have to make, before I can go home." I smiled.
"It was nice seeing you again too, little one. I hope you visit soon."
"I'll try, Uncle." I nodded smiling. I was suddenly engulfed with the need of hugging him, so I did. He returned it quickly, without a thought. I turned to Mew Three. "Well, this is good bye... for now, I mean." I smiled. He smiled and nodded back.
"Goodbye... Thunder." We exchanged serious smiles, before I hopped on RayRay, wih Pikapi on my shoulder, and flew away, waving goodbye to uncle Blaine and Mew Three.
*An hour later*
Purity Canyon was now in sight. Pikapi tensed, but sighed. We landed, and were immediatley teleported to the canyon's core. Mew Two was waiting for us, along with the other cloned pokemon behind him. I sighed once, before walking up to him.
"As promised, Mew Two, he's safe and sound." I stated flaty. Pikapi jumped off my shoulder and slowly dragged himself over to Mew Two's side. Mew Two nodded and raised his hand to teleport me out of here, when Pikapi bolted straight for me, jumping int my arms.
"I'm gonna miss you, Marina." He frowned, nuzzling into me.
"I'm gonna miss you too, Pikapi." I hugged him tightly. We stayed like this for another minute or so, before Pikapi went back to Mew Two's side. Mew Two's handwas still raised. "Goodbye, then, Pikapi, everyone... Ace." I saluted sadly.
"Goodbye Marina." Pikapi was on the verge of tears, as I was. Mew Two nodded, while Ace just turned the other way. I nodded back, and that's when I was teleported back out.
"You and 'Pikapi' will meet again." Mew Two's voice echoed in my mind. I sighed, before letting a tear slip down my face.
"Let's go RayRay." And with that, we left.
*Another hour later*
"Champion Marina, you've returned!" Glacia exclaimed as we decended into the courtyard. There was a small crowd waiting for us, although I don't know why. They should be getting some sleep. All of them seemed... quite upset. I became alert as I jumped off RayRay and returned him, due to Wallace's cautious glance.
"What's wrong?" I asked, eyes dropping fo a split second. I am so very tired right now, but something tells me to focus.
"Marina..." Gucci trailed. I blinked once.
"Yes?" I aked, seeing as she wasn't going to continue.
"...Marina... Aaron's gone again." Misty whispered.
And I don't know if it was from exhaustion, sadness, frustration, or something just plain unknown,
But I fainted.
Waking up was unpleas I looked around to see I was in my dorm room. There was a note sittng on the table, but I could read it from here.
Come to the court yard when you wake up
Sighing, I stretched my arms and walked toward the table, wobbling slightly from sleep. Surprising me sightly, my bag was waiting, already packed wth all my belongings. But why would-
Oh.
They're taking me back already...
*FLASHBACK*
"You will be staying for the rest of the school year unless something happens."
*FLASHBACK OVER*
Darn it. Well, might as well get going. Looking out my window, I gasped shortly at the lightning that shot by. I ran to the roof as fast as I could, tackling the awaiting guardian into a hug.
"Rai!" I cried happily, snuggling into his fur.
"Hello." He smiled. I let go, smiling back at him.
"I haven't seen you in a while."
"Yes, I am dissapointed too. The council has had me running erons the whole time you wre in Johto." He sighed. My full backpack caught his attention. "You're leaving?"
"Apparently, the league thinks it's time for me to go back." I sighed as well. We both frowned now.
"Don't worry. In due time, you'll recieve the freedom you deserve."
"Yeah, I just hope that 'due time' gets here sooner." Suddenly, we both heard music booming from the courtyard. Now, actually looking around, I noticed it was already night time.
"It's time for me to make my departure. Good luck out there, Marina."
"Thanks Rai." I smiled, hugging him again. He nuzzled me, and then jumped off the roof, dissapearing into the woods that surrounded the school. I sighed and turned around, walking into the elevator and waiting patiently. Finally reaching the ground floor, I headed outside and decided to wait in the shadows, to see what exactly was going on. The same decorations were placed, and everyone was partying in normal clothes. The only difference is that there is no Team Rocket (Except for Giovanni), and that the emergenc disaster squad decided to stick around. Ash and Misty were here too... As if she heard me think about her, Misty turned her head suddenly and stared right at me.
"Hey everyone, Marina's awake!" She yelled over the music. In sync, everyone turned their heads to look at me. Quite frankly,
It scared me to death.
It's good thing they didn't say anything for a while, because at that moment, I was prepared to turn around and walk away.
Cheers erupted from the students, before the party resumed. I nodded in approval. If they did anything more than what they did, I would've walked. I continued to watch from the shadows as they celebrated. Misty came over and pulled me into the crowd.
"How are you feeling?" She asked loudly over the blaring music.
Scared. Horrible. Proud. Depressed. Nogalistic. Lonely. Confused. Betrayed. Sort of content with a hint of insanity.
"I'm fine!" I smiled fakely back at her. She gave me a skeptical look. "Really!" I smiled widely.
"Alright, what ever you say..." She sighed, dancing to the beat. I nodded, looking around. My best friends surrounded me, except he wasn't there.
Again.
A person caught my eye that really surprised me.
"Mom?" She turnedan smiled at me, making her way through the students and hugging me.
"Hey honey!" She laughed happily.
"What are you doing here?"
"What, you don't want to see your mother?" She asked, suspicious.
"Of course I do! But, last time I asked you, you didn't remember the school's name."
"Oh, I know. But Gary, Leaf, and a bunch of your friends came over a while ago and reminded me."
"... why were they over at our house?"
"Oh...um... Well, they wanted to know information about your father." She replied softly. I almost didn't hear it over the music.
"What kind of information?"
"Oh, you know, something that'll help them with where to find you guys. But, I don't think the information I gave helped them any."
"Oh."
"OH! Professor Oak would like to talk to you, by the way!" She exclaimed cheerfully.
"Is he here too?"
"No, he's at the lab. He wants you to call him as soon as possible, though." I nodded.
"Thanks mom, I'll go find a phone right now. Have fun!" I cheered, twisting and turning to escape the crowd. A phone was located near the eadges of the courtyard, so I dialed professor oak's number, waitiing as it rang.
"Hello?" He asked, looking at the monitor closely.
"Hi professor! You wanted to talk to me?" I asked, scratching the side of my head.
"Oh, yes, you see, I wanted to ask you if you could send more information on your pokedex concerning Rayquaza, er, RayRay." He quickly corrected himself. I nodded and used a cable hooked up to th phone, plugging it into my dex and waited.
"Hey, professor?" I asked while information was passed.
"Hmm?" I don't know what possessed me to ask this next question, but I did. It's been eatng at my mind ever since it was mentioned.
"Do you know anything about the 'Master of Illusions'?" I asked softly.
"Sounds like Zoroark." He shrugged. I paused.
"What?"
"A pokemon in the Unova region, Zoroark, is known by that name... Why?" I blinked once. Twice. Unova... hmm... that's something to look into.
"No reason, professor, I just saw it in a book, that's all." I lied. Suddenly, my dex beeped and I disconnected it from the cable, slipping it into my backpack. "Alright, looks like that's it! See ya professor!"
"Thank you, Marina. Good bye!" The screen went dark. Suddenly, two hands dragged me back to the partying students, and I was surrounded by my best friends again.
"This is a party," Kaleb started, letting go of th hand he used to drag me here.
"Have some fun!" Cheryl finished, letting go of my other hand. I smiled at them.
"Thanks guys." I sighed before ruffling their hair.
"Hey, freak!" A shrill voice pierced through the music and I turned toward her. Alright, so I wasn't surrounded by my best friends. Lily was still here. "Just wanted to let you know that just because you beat me, doesn't mean you're stronger!" I frowned at her.
"I'm sorry, am I being talked to? I feel like there's a buzzing somewhere around here."
"Yeah, yeah. I mean it, though! I'm stronger!"
"Okay, Lily, whatever you say." I shrugged.
"Hey! Don't make fun of me! At least I have the power to keep my friends from ditching me!" To me, it all fell silent. I'm sure it really didn't in real life, but I couldn't hear anything now. "Yeah! I said it! Whatcha gonna do about it?"
Stab her. Humiliate her. Retaliate. Throw her out of the school. Throw her out of the region.
Fortunatley, I didn't have to do any of that. Warm arms wrapped themselves around me from behind. A head placed itself on my shoulder.
"What are you talking about Lily? I don't think anyone ditched her." A soft voice rolled in my ears. I smiled gently. Lily growled and walked away, saying something like: 'this isn't over' under her breath.
"Where were you?" I asked, spinning around to look at him.
"Winning a championship." He shrugged. I nodded in understanding.
"Who?"
"Lance."
"Lance?"
"You say that like you're surprised."
"Guess I shouldn't be..." Suddenly, the music was stopped.
"Hey, what gives?" Rex asked, upset. Suddenly, and old man, looking high in authority, climbed on stage and took the microphone.
"Champions Aaron and Marina, you are under arrest for acts of treason. Please come quietly, or we will have to use force." He announced.
...
"What?" I asked, utterly confused.
"What do you mean 'acts of treason'?" Aaron bellowed next to me.
"Please come quietly, or-"
"What acts of treason have we commited?" I yelled, outraged. Suddenly, fifty men, dressed like soldiers, stomped in surrounding us.
"This is insanity!" Aaron yelled as they came closer.
"We will not let you take the Champions away without proper explanation!" Wallace argued.
"Yeah!" The student body and disaster squad agreed.
"You do not need an explanation!"
"Then you don't need to arrest us, do you?" Aaron asked. The soldiers grew closer and closer. Wallace suddenly turned to me, knowing this was about to get ugly, and released the signal.
"Well, this is fun and all, but Aaron and I have to get going... so... bye!" I exclaimed, releasing RayRay, who grew to full size immediatley and got us on his back, flying away with extreme speed.
"YOU WON'T GET AWAY!" The old man bellowed.
"BE CAREFUL HONEY!" Mom called from below. Soon, it was all out of sight.
"So, where to?" Aaron asked.
"...Unova."
"Why?" He asked, slighly curious.
"I want to pay this 'Master of Illusions' a visit."
And THAT is the ending to Suspicions 101! Thanks to everyone who reviewed, read, favorited, and etc. Remember to watch for The Fugitive Plan in August! This is literally being ended minutes before I leave for the airport, so with nothing really important left,
Marina: BYE everyone!
Aaron: See ya in August!
See ya soon!
~Kioku7