Chapter 44

Route 111-North

With the desert firmly behind them, the group finally appear at a bend in the road. The four older kids looked back and forth and they knew it was once again time to part.

"I wish little Red could have woken up by now," Booth said, placing a hand on the still unconscious young girl, hanging on Miracle's back.

"I agree, but she has to fight through this herself. We all did the same thing when we were babies, that is if the stories I was told were true." Miracle chuckled.

"So where are you guys heading now?" Saki asked.

"Fallarbor Town then to Meteor Falls," Sarah replied, "We have some more intel we want to look into."

"Yeah, and I'm looking forward to seeing some Solrock and Lunatone." Booth smiled, "I didn't get over there on my first go round."

"And I'm guessing you three are heading up the mountain, and over to Lavaridge Town," Sarah added.

"Yeah, Red has family over there, and the gym is up there as well," Mira spoke.

"I hope you guys have some good luck," Saki smiled, "Those guys always seem to find us."

"Oh before I forget," Booth said, he pulled out a pokeball from his bag, "We found this little guy, beat down, and worn out. I thought you would be the best person to train him."

"What is it?"

"Its a secret," He smiled.

"Okay,but I hate owing people. So I will pay you back."

"I know, but he is a good little fighter, and he would be stuck behind the eight-ball with my team." Booth said, "Now we need to get going if we want to make it to Fallarbor by nightfall."

"Its been good to see you guys again," Saki said, "Be safe you two."

"Same to you," Sarah added, "Keep her safe Mira, that little girl is just the next piece to this shitty puzzle."

The friends smiled to one another, and they split. Miracle and Saki stood there for a few moments as they watched their friends continue north.

"What next Mira?" Sakinah asked.

"We need to traverse the mountain, but I don't think we could do it with Red like this."

Saki nodded in agreement but spoke up, "But the nearest hospital is in Lavaridge. She needs some sort of medical attention, and we cannot camp out in one spot for days and weeks."

"Im not saying that babe, we need to head out but Mount Chimney is a high peak and an active volcano. We need to be absolutely, one hundred percent prepared to climb it."

"What do we need then!" Saki screams in anger, "Please answer that for me."

"Water and food, we depleted our supplies in that desert. I know that there are some hot springs in the area, so that's not a problem. But food will be tough, areas like this are not known for producing anything in the realm of being edible. Even the pokemon are tough to eat*."

"Then what is it that you propose we do," Saki asked.

"Locate the hot springs and set up camp for the night, stockpile water and put Ariel in a position to possibly wake up. We will want a good nights sleep as well, since we just got out from the shitty desert."

Saki was not feeling good about Miracle's plan, but its better then going out unprepared. "Fine, but I'm not in the mood for anything extravagant okay."

"No problem, now lets find those hot springs."

After a half hour of searching, the girls eventually found a suitable place to set up camp. They layed Ariel down in her sleeping bag and began to load up most of their containers with the water.

"So what can we get for food?" Saki asked.

"I know a ton of fire pokemon in the area are known for holding rawst berries, so there may be some hidden bushes." Mira responded.

But before the two of them could take off, they came face to face with someone they didn't think they would see for a while.

"Hello Miracle." The words were sharp, and sarcastic, but had a hint of lust.

"Azula!" Mira and Saki shout.

The regal regalia was a bit tattered, but the girl looked as confident as she did a few days ago. She strolled up to Miracle's side and nuzzled into it, "Im in need of a huge favor," She purred, "And only you can help me with it."

Swaki and Mira both looked at her like she was crazy, which she was, but Mira took the bait, "And what is that exactly?"

"I want you, to show me how to catch a pokemon," She smiled.

The girls were taken by surprise, but Saki was the one to speak up first, "Why is that, every child is taught how to do that in school. I mean don't you have your own pokemon by now?"

"Listen hear mind reader, I come from a family of ruthless criminals, and corporate thugs. They fought

with things a lot more dangerous then pokemon. Guns, lasers, knives, and bats to name a few; and I was never taught the proper protocol when catching pokemon and recruiting them to your side."

"Well I guess I can give you a quick lesson."

"Miracle, we are supposed to be preparing for the hike up the mountain. Not to mention we still have an unconscious little girl with us." Saki yelled.

"She's still out?" Azula questioned, she walked over to Ariel and stared at her intently, "Ive got a proposition for you."

"Great," Saki sneered.

"What is it?" Mira asked.

"You give me the crash course, and I kick-start the little red heads noggin. Deal." She held out her hand.

"Sure, but Sakinah will be the one giving you the crash course, not me," Mira slid in.

"You or nothing Miracle, I...want...you...to do it." Azula demanded.

"Saki or not Azula. I can always wait for Ariel to get up herself."

The queen of mean was seething with anger, but eventually she came around, "Fine, you win. But I will eventually get you next to me again Miracle. Come on mind reader."

Saki was at a loss for words, but Mira took hold of her hand, "You can do it, she isn't all that bad."

The psychic took a deep breath and after a moment of clarity, took off with Azula in tow.

"I hope they don't kill one another Red. Cuz they are both smoking hot." Mira smiled.

WITH AZULA AND SAKINAH

"Okay lets get this over with," Saki sighed.

"I agree, i wanted the buff amazon not the brainy mental case," Azula snips back.

"Anyway, I assume you already have a trainer I.D," Saki asks.

"Yeah, its automatically given when you turn ten," Azula's patience was stretching thin.

"Fine, do you have any poke-balls on you?"

"Oh, uh yeah I cleaned the grunts out before I turned on Nu. I seem to have an array of them."

"Alright. Most of them are standard, great and ultra balls, that blue one is a lure ball that works best on water types. The black one is a heavy ball, its ability is that it works on heavy pokemon, the one with the lightning bolt is a quick ball, its capture rate is really high when you first enter battle." Saki looked to the mob princess and noticed she was really paying attention, "Now I know you are electric based in your powers, but I'm not showing any pokemon of that type on or near the mountain...But I think getting either a Numel, or possibly a Torkoal, or even a Spoink."

"What are those over there?" Azula asked.

"We are in luck, that is a herd of Numel. Their typing will allow you to capture electric pokemon, since you will have an affinity for them."

"Sweet, now catch one for me," Azula demands.

"Not so fast, I will lend you a pokemon to use as a...surrogate. But you must do it all yourself," She pulls one ball off her belt and handed it to Azula, "He is an electric type, so you can get used to them."

"Thanks," She pops the ball open to reveal Rotom, the plasma pokemon. Instantly the two had a connection that sparked between them. "Rotom use blizzard on the Numel."

The box shaped pokemon spun around and let out the dead of winter from its mouth, the Numel had no chance to escape. But with the heat in the air it didn't do exactly the damage she expected. The Numel shook themselves off and began shooting back flamethrowers.

"Crap, uh Rotom dodge." The blasts narrowly missed the ice, electric pokemon as he shot himself away.

"Show some patience, you wouldn't be in this mess if you would have picked one off instead of taking on the whole group." Saki told her.

Azula growled at her, but knew she had a point, she had Rotom fall back and play defense for a time. With the floating pokemon on her side, it was easy to dodge pokemon that are known for being slow.

"Okay, Rotom get up high." He started climbing higher and higher, "Use shadow balls to bury them into the ground." The attack was fast and precise, the Numel had nothing left.

"Good, now make your choice," Saki told her.

Azula was smiling, but took too much time, as Rotom took a flamethrower from one Numel that was still standing and angry. This made Azula smile, "Thats my guy, hes got a fire burning in him."

"Duh, hes a fire type," Saki points out.

"Stop that, you know what I mean!" Azula yelled. Numel took that distraction and began to use roll-out. His speed now increased, Numel began to pelt and pepper Rotom with shot after shot."Damn it, Rotom use blizzard to get yourself high into the air."

The cool burst of wind easily propelled the pokemon up high, and when he reached the apex he just hovered there. Use shadow ball." Rotom launched the attack and it was heading straight at Numel, but Azula had another trick up her sleeve, "Speed it up with blizzard." Rotom took a deep breath and let out a blast of wind so powerful, not only did is speed up the shadow ball, it coated it in ice. And when it struck Numel there was no chance for him to get up.

"Nice job, now choose a pokeball and throw it," Saki told her.

An ecstatic Azula grabbed a great ball from her waist and easily caught the downed Numel, "I got it...Wow that was amazing. You're not a bad teacher brainiac."

"Yeah, whatever. Now hand me Rotom's pokeball back."

Azula froze, she held the electric pokemon's pokeball tight to her chest, "Uhh. Can I have him."

"What, no, he's my pokemon. You have Numel now."

"I know, but I feel a connection with him. I can feel his strength surging into me." Azula smiled.

"Quit messing with me Azula, what in your, not so right, mind would make you think I would consider giving my Rotom to you?"

"Blind faith, good will, whatever you want to call it. Or I could take him by force."

"IM not one to fold so easily princess. Rotom is mine, you cannot take possession of him without me. But I think you are genuine in your words... If I give you Rotom, you have no more passes at Miracle, no nudges, whisps, or caresses. No verbal passes, winks or kissy faces."

"Kissy faces, what are you, four." Azula laughs.

"Take it or leave it princess," Saki says.

She pats Rotom on on his back, and Saki smiles, knowing Azula will choose the pokemon over Miracle, "Sorry Rotom, but I'm not done with Miracle just yet." This statement crushes both the pokemon and Saki. "Nice try mind reader, now lets get back to that stud of yours and I will help with the red head."

BACK AT CAMP

"So how did it...whats wrong with Sakinah?" Mira asks.

"Dont worry about her, she is just in shock at how good I am," Azula smiles, "Now let me see the girl."

Saki was muttering and grumbling,not to mention cursing the woman under her breath, but she lets it go. Azula walks over to the still sleeping little girl, and places a hand on her forehead.

"Now what is it you're doing exactly?" Mira asks.

"My ability allows me to sense, and feel electrical currents in things from buildings and people, to animals and plants. If I observe closely enough I can feel blacks in these currents." She moves her hand down the girls neck, and then to her temple. "There, the blockages are all gone."

At that moment Ariel stirred, and opened her eyes for the first time in nearly five days, "What did I miss?"

(*)Yeah I went there