Guess Who?
"Okay Tubby, we've learned our lesson from last time. Just because it says 'all you can eat buffet', it doesn't mean we can eat everything without paying," I warned the big guy. We were on the SS Anne the day after my birthday. Yesterday had been so awesome – it was great to be with my family to celebrate the special occasion. I had really missed them all so much. Still, I could have done without Dad embarrassing me by making Andy sleep downstairs. If only he knew how often we had shared a room! I loved the gifts everyone bought me, especially my Snorlax suit. So far I had been true to my word and hadn't taken it off once. It made me feel closer to Tubby, like I was his sister or something. A couple of people stared at us but they didn't say much because I saw a few extremist Pokéfans dressed as their favourite Pokémon so I didn't stand out too much. Sometimes I got it in me to growl quietly or cry 'Snorrrrlaaaaaaaaax!' which earned a few startled looks but other than that I like to think I blended in well.
A girl to my right nudged me. She looked about nine, had black hair that was tied into two cute pigtails and was dutifully sucking her thumb. Her other hand was clutching the paw of a Lopunny as if for dear life. I turned to her, ready to bare my teeth and roar at her for interrupting my gaze at the delicious food spread out in front of me. Her face looked surprised when she saw me baring my teeth but not scared – so I stopped.
"The food's free. Its part of the ticket deal," she said. I gaped at her. The food was free? I spun around to Tubby and squealed excitedly, hurriedly thanking the girl before grabbing Tubby's hand and rushing towards the food. Tubby dug in immediately but I was smart and shoved as much of the food that was in wrappers in my bag before eating anything. That way when there was nothing left we'd at least have something to eat on our travels.
Soon after Tubby and I had finished stuffing our faces, Rina, Rikki and Andy joined us and said they were feeling hungry. Obviously I couldn't miss out on a chance to eat more – neither could Tubby – so we ate even more food with our friends. That was probably why when we arrived at Snowpoint City around fifty minutes later, I urged my friends to let me have a rest in the Pokémon Centre. I could feel a serious stomach ache coming on. Andy booked us a room for the next few days and we all settled in. That was when Rina mentioned the B word. Battles.
"I'm going to wait until tomorrow to battle the gym leader, so I can squeeze in a bit more training," she said. I didn't say anything in response; I was too busy admiring my new ball capsules, seals and ribbon case Rina had bought me for my birthday. Because they were new they were so shiny – I felt as if I could stare at them all day. In six days from now I wound have the opportunity to try out my luck in a Pokémon Contest just outside Sunnyshore City. Andy was concerned that it was too far for us to get to in time so Rikki came up with an excellent solution.
"Gallade could just teleport us there. That way we won't waste energy travelling such a long distance," she said confidently. It was a great plan! Too bad Rina didn't think so.
"I'm not too sure...I don't really like using Gallade for transport..." said Rina, biting her lip nervously. Andy put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"It's the only way. We'll never make it otherwise," he advised wisely. Rina eventually relented but I could tell she wasn't happy about it. I don't know what her problem was: if I had a Pokémon who could teleport I'd never walk again! I'd have it whizz me everywhere in mere seconds and never be tired or late.
Andy released Happy and began stroking him, asking what our plans were for the rest of the day. He, Rina and Rikki got into a boring conversation about temples, research and Pokédexs so I zoned out. I wasn't interested in all that stuff. Truthfully, I was thinking about why Andy always got to look after Happy. It was as if I hadn't had a hand in helping him hatch! Who had bought him the scarves, baby carriers and all the other stuff? Okay, maybe that was Andy because I hadn't had any money but it was all my idea.
As I was having this argument in my head, I noticed a strangely familiar couple entering the Pokémon Centre. With a start I realised who they were, although it had taken me a while to figure it out as they weren't in their normal Team Elemental uniform. I froze.
"Guys, look who just walked through the door," I said aloud, hoping to get their attention before I freaked out.
"Karumo and Ebony," said Rikki, repulsion evident from her tone. Rikki must have been louder than she meant to be because they heard her and the next thing any of us knew, Karumo and Ebony were standing before us. I shrank back from their presence. Since they were around, their boss Terry might not be too far behind. I didn't want to run into him any time this century. He scared the bejeebers out of me.
"What do you want?" asked Rikki, not bothering to sound polite. She was ignored. Ebony explained that she and Karumo had quit Team Elemental after giving the police an anonymous tip-off about the evil fiend Terry and where he could be found. He and the rest of the group had been arrested but Karumo, Ebony, Selene and Saul weren't. I was glad to hear that about Saul and Selene: they were nice people really. I remembered my brief stint on the side of Team Elemental and it hit me how wrong that could have gone had it not been for Selene and Saul. I owed them big time.
"Wait, why weren't you two and Selene and Saul arrested along with everyone else?" asked Rina, frowning.
"Terry didn't rat us out," replied Karumo, which surprised us all. Terry was like the spawn of the devil – why hadn't he blabbed to the authorities about four double-crossing members of his organisation? Maybe he was embarrassed that he had been outed so easily. It was possible. Apparently the arrests were all over the news in Sinnoh but we had been in Kanto and therefore not heard anything.
"Saul and Selene are in Johto now, trying to start a new life. Karumo and I will be joining them in a few weeks," Ebony went on. So wait...Team Elemental was no more; Terry wasn't out there plotting how to kill us; Karumo and Ebony planned on living the rest of their lives happily in Johto? It sounded too good to be true.
"How do we know you're telling the truth and this isn't just some evil plot to lure us into a dungeon where you will torture us and leave us for dead?" I asked, highly suspicious. Ebony and Karumo's story just sounded a little too convenient for my liking.
"We aren't asking or telling you to believe us," said Ebony with a heavy sigh. "All we want to do is give Andy his Pokémon back." She produced two Pokéballs from her pocket and tentatively placed them on the table in front of Andy. I think I wasn't the only one who gasped. Now they were doing a good deed? What was going on in the world that bad guys couldn't stay bad guys and live up to the evil perception the public had of them? Andy grabbed the balls, stating that there were two missing. Rikki – quite rightly – demanded to know how the two ex-Team Elemental members were so certain the Pokémon belonged to Andy.
"Terry kept a track record of all the people he stole from and he kept the Pokemon in cages along with the trainers' profile. Those two Pokeballs contain your Sandshrew and Psyduck," responded Karumo. If that was the case, I wonder if the police would find the record and return all the Pokémon Team Elemental had stolen from other trainers. I was thinking briefly of a little kid in Canalave City that had been crying his eyes out because of his missing Pokémon, but mostly my mind was on TJ Torres and his Vespiquen.
"Where's Krabby and Rattata?" asked Andy in a small voice.
"Those two had to be put down," answered Karumo. "A lot of the Pokémon had to be put down. Terry experimented on most of them. They couldn't be saved, I'm sorry." It was weird but Karumo genuinely did look sorry. Maybe he and Ebony had honestly turned over a new leaf. I guess stranger things have happened, although I was slightly worried for all those kids out there whom still prayed to one day see their Pokémon again...only to find out they were long dead.
Andy nodded in understanding and hesitantly opened the two Pokéballs. Instantly, two jets of red light emitted from them and when the light faded, a Sandshrew and Psyduck were standing on top of the table looking decidedly puzzled. My eyes lit up. They were adorable! They scrutinised Andy for a tense moment before deciding he was safe and embraced him happily. I got out my Blukberry and quickly snapped a picture whilst no-one was looking. Andy would love it.
Note: Allo, allo, allo! It's my birthday ;D