"Get out of the way, child!"
A strange energy engulfed me, taking over my body and seconds later I was tossed aside as easily as a ragdoll. I think I screamed as the force lifted me up. After only a few moments of being airborne, I slammed into a wall. Pain shot through my body, winding me. I heard Elliot shouting in pain, then a series of heavy thuds, followed by a high pitched, wrenching scream. My eyes flashed open with fright. I saw a figure lying in front of me. A sudden horrifying flash of terror reverberated through me when I realised it was Alakazam.
"Alakazam!" I screamed.
He was lying there; face down on the floor, only a little ways away from us. I scrambled to my feet, completely ignoring Elliot who was still struggling to get up, and sprinted over to Alakazam's side. I dropped to my knees and began shaking Alakazam in a frenzy, calling his name, not even caring about the two men laughing in the background.
Alakazam's whole body was weak, limp and totally unresponsive. His eyes were shut and the only indication he was even alive was the slightest rise and fall of his chest. "Alakazam!" I cried, begging him to rouse. "Please! Wake up!"
"He can't die!" I thought frantically, feeling hot tears form in my eyes. "He… he can't…"
"Leave it be," the man with the Butterfree's cold voice rang out from near to me, and I whipped my head up to be faced with his imposing frame towering over me, A nasty glint shone in his eyes and a superior smirk was spreading over his smug face. "That Alakazam will die anyway. Why it would risk its life for you, I don't know."
"No…" was all I was able to say tearfully as I looked down at Alakazam as he struggled to breathe. "He can't… he can't… I won't…"
"Sienna…?"
I heard Elliot's voice and a moment later, he was crouching down next to me. I took a glance at him and saw him pale and wide eyed, his attention fixed wholly on Alakazam. His body started to tremble as he looked him up and down. "Alakazam…?" his voice cracked as he spoke.
At Elliot's voice, a slight tremor ran through Alakazam's body. I felt a shift in him and as I watched, hardly daring to avert my gaze, his own eyes opened slowly. But while Alakazam's eyes were normally alert and all seeing, they were now glazed over, barely focusing, like he was looking through me, not at me…
"Alakazam!" I said, giving him a tiny shake, praying that he would respond. "Please!"
His mouth parted and a single sentence escaped him in a weak croak. His voice was so scratchy, so thin, that it made my heart sore. "You must stop them… or the world will never be the same again…"
I watched in horror as his face slowly contorted and he let out a low moan of pain. He spoke once more, but only once. "I only regret…" he whispered. "I only regret… I could not have done more…"
Hot tears began blurring and blotting my vision, and dripping down my cheeks. I felt the threat of sobs come but I tried valiantly to hold them back. I couldn't cry. Not now. I just couldn't. And then, as I was holding him, a terrible shudder ran through Alakazam's body, his chest rose and then all his breath escaped him in one long, juddering exhale. Then his eyes slowly closed, his head lolled to the side and he became still. And I knew he was gone…
For one long, horrible moment all I could do was stare numbly and in horror at Alakazam's body. His lifeless body. The realisation was crushing. Alakazam was… Alakazam was gone. He was dead… he was dead!
Then all of a sudden, the man with the Butterfree grabbed me roughly by the arm and yanked me upwards. Whilst I protested, the Empoleon crept up and seized Elliot, suctioning him to its massive body. He shouted and struggled, but the Empoleon had easily overpowered him. As for me, the man's grip was so tight I couldn't get away, and I started screaming hysterically, desperately pulling and protesting, suddenly filled with fear, terror and anguish.
"Enough!" the man with the Butterfree screamed. Something in his voice compelled me to be still and I looked up to his cold, hard stare. His eyes hardened and darkened as he looked down his long nose at me. "You have done enough meddling… it's time to put a stop to your interfering ways for good."
It was at this point I knew I was going to have to do something drastic.
With a burst of strength I wasn't quite sure belonged to me, I was able to wrench my arm from the man's iron grasp. He let out a shout of surprise as I jerked away, pivoted on my heel and grabbed the only two Pokeballs left on my belt. The man with the Butterfree stopped dead in his tracks as I held up my Pokeballs, but then he smirked and laughed, shaking his head. "You really think you can take me with just two Pokemon? Don't make me laugh!"
"Sienna!" Elliot protested, his voice taking on a panicked edge. He was struggling violently against the Empoleon's massive girth, but it was useless. "Don't do it! There's no way you can win against them!"
"Pitiful," the man with the Butterfree spat, then turned to his associate, folding his arms casually. "Jack, take care of this little rat for me."
"With pleasure, Boss." the other man, Jack, chuckled heinously. His hand went to the Pokeballs at his waist and he slowly, deliberately extracted them, a wicked smile upon his face. He tossed them, almost casually towards the ground and his Pokemon erupted in flashes of brilliant white light. "Go, Typhlosion and Gardevoir!"
I paled and felt physically sick at the sight of these two Pokemon. I was up against a Typhlosion, a powerful Fire type, and Gardevoir, one of the most powerful Psychic types I had ever seen. Even just the sight of them radiated power and immense strength! These Pokemon were certainly not to be underestimated! I mean, if this guy, Jack, was working closely with the man with the Butterfree under my dad, they must be on similar skill levels! Panic was beginning to set in I looked at what I was faced with. Last time I had fought the man with the Butterfree, I had been wiped out! But I couldn't let that happen this time! This was just too important! I had to win! I just had to!
"Kiba! Cairo! Let's go!"
Both Jack and the other man flat out laughed as soon as they saw my competition. Kiba was still just a little ball of fluff compared to most other Growlithes his age and his little growls barely carried any threat as they sounded weak and pitiful in the silent of the Pokemon centre. And as for Cairo, well… he was just standing there looking the massive Typhlosion and Gardevoir up and down, trembling.
"Look at this, Jack!" The man with the Butterfree cackled. "She really thinks she can take us on with this pitiful team?"
"I know, Nathan!" Jack laughed tauntingly.
"Nathan…" At the mention of a name, I stopped and I looked the man with the Butterfree up and down. "His name is Nathan…?"
"Sienna!" Elliot's voice cut through my thoughts. "You can't win against them! Just run! Just get away!"
"No!" Suddenly I was snapped back into my senses and my eyes swept across to Alakazam's body. Anger engulfed me and I shot both Nathan and Jack furious looks. "You killed Alakazam! I can't let you get away with that!" The rage came again, sweeping across me in hot waves. "And you're people who are working for my dad! I will not let you capture Groudon! Legendary Pokemon aren't meant to be controlled by humans! Especially not by people like you! Not by people like my dad!"
"You foolish girl!" Nathan suddenly barked, making me jump.
"You still don't get it, do you?" Jack cried.
I wanted to scream out "Get what?" I was so confused. What did these people mean? Why were they saying such bizarre things? I didn't understand! But I had no time to think on it, as Jack gave the order for his Pokemon to advance and use their attacks! The Typhlosion and Gardevoir were suddenly closing in on my Kiba and Cairo. I had to think fast! I had to win this fight!
"Kiba, Cairo, dodge out of the way!"
Both of my Pokemon leapt out of the way just in time as Gardevoir and Typhlosion thundered past, barely missing me in the process! I let out a screech and dove out of the way, running to a safer place to watch the battle and give my orders. I seemed to strike it lucky though as while Typhlosion and Gardevoir were momentarily flummoxed, it was a perfect opportunity to gather my courage and get ready to engage myself in the battle.
"Remember why you're doing this! For Alakazam… you need to stop the prophecy he foresaw coming true! You need to stop your Dad from capturing the Legendary Pokemon!"
"Kiba, use Bite on the Gardevoir! Cairo, use Sand Tomb on the Typhlosion!"
My strategy was simple. Bite, being a Dark type move, was super effective against Psychic Pokemon, and as far as I could see, the greater threat lay with Jack's Gardevoir, which meant I had to take that out first. Typhlosion, although it was a powerful Pokemon, I had at least some advantages over it. Kiba was a Fire type and Cairo was a Ground type rendering Fire attacks from the Typhlosion ineffective against them. I figured if I could at least keep the Typhlosion occupied whilst Kiba dealt with the Gardevoir, I could get rid of the biggest threat and then easily take out the Typhlosion with both Pokemon. It was fool-proof!
Well… let's be honest. Who was I kidding? When have things ever gone like I planned?
It started out well enough, I had to admit. Things almost looked like they were going to go my way for once. Cairo, for once, managed to pull off the Sand Tomb attack, engulfing the Typhlosion in vicious, swirling sands, blinding it and rooting it to the spot. Whilst Cairo kept the Typhlosion busy, Kiba launched himself, snarling, at the Gardevoir, sinking his sharp fangs into the Gardevoir's fragile body.
"Yes!" I enthused as the Gardevoir let out a howl of pain and retracted sharply away from Kiba. "All right, Kiba, let's use Ember!"
"Gardevoir, use Protect!"
I let out a gasp as the Gardevoir let out a musical cry, and a transparent shield hued with greens and blue sprung up around its long, lithe body. Kiba's flames hit the shield and simply bounced off, disappearing into nothingness.
"Now, Gardevoir! Use Psychic!"
"Kiba!" I let out a screech as the incredible strength of the telekinetic energy slammed straight into Kiba, making him fly backwards and hit the ground hard. "Are you okay?"
"Growl…" Kiba whined, slowly pushing himself up to his feet.
Even worse, whilst I was preoccupied with Kiba, the Typhlosion somehow was able to free itself from Cairo's Sand Tomb! It sped towards poor Cairo using a Quick Attack, colliding straight with his tiny body! Cairo flew backwards, straight into Kiba, knocking them both to the ground!
"Kiba! Cairo!"
I ran straight to my two Pokemon. Kiba had been totally knocked out from the force of both Gardevoir's Psychic and the collision with Cairo. He was unconscious. There was no way he could fight anymore. It was with a heavy heart I had to recall him, leaving me with only Cairo. And I wasn't even sure if he was capable of battling after that…
But then, Cairo's eyes opened again and he gave me a dazed look. "Tra…?"
"Cairo!" I gasped as miraculously, my little Trapinch got to his feet.
"Trap! Pinch! Pinch!" he squeaked, looking none the worse for wear after the attack.
"Can you still battle, Cairo?" I asked him urgently.
"P…pinch…" he shuddered, looking at the imposing figures of Typhlosion and Gardevoir facing him, looming over us like two giants.
"Please, Trapinch!" I begged him. "You have to! I need you!"
Cairo looked at me once more and then let out a little sigh. Then a little flash of determination appeared in his eyes. "Pinch! Pinch!
"All right!" I cheered happily and with enormous relief as Cairo faced the Typhlosion and the Gardevoir. "Come on, you can do this, Cairo!"
But even as I said it, I wasn't even sure myself. My little Cairo, my most inexperienced Pokemon against what was practically an army to him? My odds were not good. But I couldn't just stand here and let Jack and this Nathan win! I had to do something! I had to battle with Cairo! And just pray he could pull this off…
"All right Cairo, let's start with Faint Attack!"
"Dodge that now!"
Cairo's attack missed completely as Typhlosion and Gardevoir effortlessly evaded it! I cursed as they dodged out of the way, but the worse was yet to come! At Jack's command, a wicked blast of fire came streaming towards Cairo, engulfing his tiny body with powerful flames!
"Cairo!" I screeched.
After that one attack, it was like opening the floodgates. Jack's Pokemon were merciless. Barrage after barrage of flames scorched Cairo, followed by wave after wave of psychic energy. My poor Cairo was being buffeted by attack after attack and I could do nothing to stop it! I hated that! "Cairo, please! Hang in there!" I begged.
"Tra…pinch…" he responded weakly when there was a momentary break in the attacks. He was dazed, completely incapable of moving, squashing any hope of a chance to dodge.
"Please!" I turned to Jack, realising just what this was doing to my poor Trapinch. I wasn't above begging or grovelling anymore! My Cairo was getting killed out there! "Please stop this! You'll kill my Trapinch!"
But Jack responded only with a peal of maniacal laughter.
Eventually the attacks stopped under Jack's orders. Fresh tears were running down my face as the Gardevoir and Typhlosion eventually stopped their assault, leaving my poor Cairo lying face down on the ground, burned, scorched and bleeding. I took off at a run towards him, gathering him up in my arms. "Cairo! Cairo!"
But he was barely conscious. His eyes were squeezed tightly shut and his breathing was short and shallow, coming in bursts. Exactly like Alakazam. Before he… before he…
"Cairo, please!" I begged. "Please don't die like Alakazam! Please!"
"Oh God this is all my fault! I didn't even want Cairo in the first place! He chose to come with me! And I… and I could barely even be bothered with him because he was a little bit afraid of battling and wasn't strong straight away! God, if only I had been a little more patient with him this might not have happened! I couldn't stand it if I lost Cairo too!"
"Please Cairo…please…" I was sobbing now, clutching the little ant Pokemon close to me. "Please don't die…"
"Enough snivelling," I heard Nathan's cruel voice above me. "You better just accept that this is what happens when you meddle too much! Now, come along! You're coming with me!"
Nathan grabbed me roughly around the upper arm, yanking me to my feet. I screamed in protest as Cairo fell to the ground as I was pulled up. I could vaguely hear Elliot screaming "Hey! Leave her alone!", but I didn't care. All I cared about was my Pokemon!
"Cairo!" I turned my face to Nathan. "Please! Let me take my Pokemon! Or else he'll die!"
"Well perhaps you should have trained him better!" Nathan spat. "Besides, if the Pokemon is weak it doesn't even deserve to live!"
"No! No you're wrong!" I protested at once. "All Pokemon deserve to—"
"Shut up!"
Red hot pain flashed across my cheek! Nathan had slapped me straight in the face! I reeled backwards, my cheek burning and his cold gaze met mine, staring me out. "That's enough out of you," he said stonily. "Now, come on." He gave me a forceful tug, making me stumble forward a few paces. "Time to dispose of you properly…"
A shot of fear reverberated through me. "Dispose of me?"
Then seconds later I was being dragged forward. Even though I struggled valiantly, I couldn't break free from him this time! "Please! Please let me go!"
"Pinch!"
All of a sudden, the Pokemon Centre was engulfed with a brilliant white light. I whipped around and saw my Trapinch get to its feet, white glowing light covering it all over like a veil. I could barely believe what was happening! Cairo was evolving!
I watched in wonder as my little Trapinch's body lengthened and became skinnier; wings began forming on his back and a long tail began to form. What appeared from the white light was a Pokemon that looked like a dragonfly with a skinny yellow body and green wings. It began to flap its green wings and lifted into the air, flying high above our heads. I gawped in amazement at Cairo's new form as he opened his mouth and let out a cry.
"Vi—braaa—a!"
"A Vibrava?" I gasped in shock.
"What the hell…?" I heard Jack say in astonishment. "That thing should be dead by all rights!"
"Pfft," Nathan scoffed. "No matter. It can't be that strong. Jack, shoot that little gnat out of the air and let's get on with it."
"My pleasure," Jack cackled. "Let's go Typhlosion. Use Flamethrower!"
"Oh God! Cairo, get out of the way!" I scremed.
"Vibrava!"
Looking like it wasn't even an effort for him; Vibrava easily dodged the torrent of flame that sped towards him!
"Yes!" I cheered at Cairo's effortless . "Cairo, use Faint Attack!"
Cairo's increased speed was so incredible that he was able to easily pull off the Faint Attack, dealing a great deal of damage to the Gardevoir. But Jack wasn't easily deterred, and his Typhlosion and Gardevoir responded with their own attacks. They sent such a bombardment of attacks, one after another, that it was all Vibrava could do to dodge, let alone send any of its own attacks. I watched, getting more and more frustrated and concerned over Cairo! If even one of those attacks hit, he would be a goner and my hopes of escaping and stopping my dad would be dashed!
And then a blast of flame hit him! I let out a screech as the flames burned his tiny, delicate body! But, strangely enough, the flames did not seem to harm Cairo! If nothing else, it just seemed to make him mad! He let out a screech and drew backwards, opening his mouth wide. A giant ball of green and yellow energy began to form at the back of his throat. I just stood there, open mouthed. What was this? I had never seen this before!
"That's Dragonbreath!" I heard Elliot screech! "Get out of the way!"
I took advantage of the momentary shock that had overwhelmed Jack and Nathan to wrench myself free from Nathan's vice-like grip. I dove to the ground, my arms over my head as a blast of energy crackled across the Pokemon Centre floor. There was a massive crash and then the light faded a few seconds later. As soon as everything settled, I leapt to my feet to survey the grounds.
"Oh my God…"
Nathan and Jack lay motionless at the end of the Pokemon Centre. Their Pokemon were scorched, bruised, bloody and very unconscious next to them. The Empoleon took fright at the sight of its trainer lying knocked out and let go of Elliot, shrieking. As soon as he was freed, Elliot took off at a run towards me. Good thing too, as the Empoleon was an easy target for another Dragonbreath from Vibrava and was swiftly dealt with.
"Sienna?" Elliot gasped in surprise once the Empoleon hit the ground, completely unconscious "What just happened…?"
"It doesn't matter!" I said urgently. "We just need to get out, now!"
"Wait, what about those men? Are they—?"
"They're unconscious, for now!" I wished Elliot would quit asking questions and realise that we had to get away! "But they won't stay that way for long! We need to get out!"
"Right! Just hold on a minute!"
Before I could stop him, Elliot had taken off at a run and in a move that wouldn't have looked out of place in a gymnastics show, vaulted over the counter of the Pokemon centre. He then disappeared underneath it, and I heard the noises of rattling and clanging, like bottles being hit off each other.
"Elliot!" I hissed at him, casting a worried glance at the still unconscious Jack and Nathan. "What the hell are you doing?"
Elliot emerged a moment later, his arms full of bottles and containers of varying shapes, sizes and colours. I blinked in surprise as he clambered over the counter again and jogged up to me. "Here, take some of these!"
I took a couple of them obediently, holding the bottles out at arms length to investigate them further. "What are these…?"
"Potions and Revives," Elliot told me matter-of-factly. "We're not gonna have a hope in hell of escaping here in one piece unless we revive our Pokemon."
"Oh…" I couldn't really say anything else apart from "That's a good idea!"
"Well, hurry up! Recall Cairo and let's get out of here!"
"Oh, um right!"
Quickly, I recalled my new Vibrava and followed Elliot outside. But instead of stopping immediately outside the Pokemon Centre like I had anticipated, Elliot kept on running until we had cleared almost half the length of the town and were ducked behind the shelter of one of the many houses.
"Quickly, heal your Pokemon!" Elliot instructed me, releasing his own team and spraying them with the Revives, then once they had woken up, the Potions.
But faced with this task, a sense of helplessness overwhelmed me and I could do nothing. Instead, looking at the Potions and Revives in my hands made me think of Alakazam. Tears began forming in the corners of my eyes again. If I could heal my own Pokemon so easily with all these potions… why couldn't I do that for Alakazam…? When it had come down to it, why couldn't I have helped him? Then he would be alive right now…
The guilt clawed at me incessantly and I bowed my face to the ground, struggling to keep the tears at bay.
"Sienna?" I heard Elliot's agitated voice near me. "What are you waiting for?"
"I…I…" I stuttered, the tears spilling over my face. I collapsed to the ground
"Sienna…?" Elliot's voice softened. "Are you okay?"
"Ala…Alakazam!" I burst out. "He's dead! I let him die!"
"Sienna…" Elliot looked me direct in the eye. "What happened to Alakazam… that wasn't your fault… He gave his life to save us…"
"He died because of us, then!"
"Sienna…" Elliot's voice was so calm that even though I wanted nothing more than to burst into tears, I couldn't help but listen to it. "Alakazam gave his life so that we could get away. We can't stay here like sitting Psyducks and get caught! Then he would have given his life for nothing. We need to get away and stop your dad from getting Groudon! That's the best way to honour his memory right now, not sitting here getting upset!"
I couldn't say anything.
"Okay…?" Elliot asked me, prompting me to speak.
I eventually managed to nod. "O…okay…"
"Good." He said, getting to his feet again. "Now heal your Pokemon. Hurry. We need to get to Mt Chimney now, before time runs out."
"But how are we gonna get there?" I asked him, whilst doing as he said and administering the spray medicine and reviving my Pokemon. "Groudon sealed off all the entrances to the insides! We'd never be able to get there on foot!"
"Don't worry, we're not getting there on foot," A slight hint of a smile appeared on Elliot's once panic-stricken face, as he indicated the giant Tropius that stood stoically beside him. "You're turning into a right little frequent flyer, aren't you, greenhorn? Now come on, let's hurry. We've got a job to do."
I smiled. "Yeah. We do."
And I was determined now more than ever I was going to succeed.
I am so sorry for the long period of inactivity on my site! :( Unfortunately my laptop took a bath in vodka after a particularly boozy night had by my flatmates and I had to take it in for repairs. Then there was all the essays and coursework for uni and my exams start next month, so... All I can say is that I'm sorry! I go home a month today so updates will perk up then.
I can't really say much more tonight as I have to be up for a nine o'clock English seminar but I hope this update isn't too much of a disappointment.
Thank you all to those who had reviewed. I will get back to answering every review next chapter. But for now, can I just thank: Crystal.77, chaison, ampheeee, an awkward boner, The Warrior of Many Faces, , Sniper Mudkip, ArchxDeath, eeveelutionluvr, WOWfan123, something dictionary related; dark lady pegasusm, splashstorm, WildCroconaw, TheSpanishInquisition97, steel-alchemist, Ereneviana, Cerulean City, SonOfHades96, ParamoreDecoy and everyone else for all your kind words and encouragement!
Thank you all for your patience and continued dedication!
