This chapter was updated/revised on January 20, 2020
The Chase
"I've been a fool and I've been blind
I can never leave the past behind
I can see no way, I can see no way
I'm always dragging that horse around
All of his questions, such a mournful sound
Tonight I'm gonna bury that horse in the ground
So I like to keep my issues drawn
It's always darkest before the dawn."
Florence and the Machine
Day 60
Soledad, Tamaki, Anika, Tobie, Gracie, Tomoko, Flare, Carol, and Mariana had spent almost all of Friday afternoon catching up on their work. They returned to the spot Professor Rosedale had asked them to search and were trying to get as much done as possible before their friends' next contest in Kiwi Mountain City. It was now late Friday night, and most of their group was sitting in the lobby of the Pokémon Center, bleary, beat, and watching the news on TV.
"Is there anything else on? I hate news," Gracie complained. "Cartoons? A funny movie? A game show? I'll watch anything other than the news."
"I need to see what the traffic is going to be like around here next week. We might need to adjust our schedule a bit. There is no way we are going to be able to navigate this island and to that contest on time if there are traffic and tourists everywhere," Tomoko explained. "And these Alolan hurricanes are intense. We want to be safe as well."
"We can watch cartoons next time," said Tobie. "It's also late. If I was one of the strict big brothers, 'd have made you go to bed hours ago."
"Next time might not be for a long time," Gracie pouted.
"You are just like my little bro," Tamaki told the youngest member of their group. "He hates watching, reading, and listening to the news. I find the news interesting though. When it's not all serious stuff, I mean."
"Speaking of serious stuff, look," said Lucas, pointing to the television. "They said there was a twelve-car pileup on Kamahele Island: fifteen dead, thirty seriously injured, and dozens of people left with minor injuries."
"Oh no!" Gracie cried. "That's horrible. This is why I hate the news. I don't need to see this!"
"Yeah, turn this off. We can probably just ask Nurse Joy what the traffic is like around here on the weekends," said Flare.
"Hold on," said Soledad. Her eyes were still on the television screen. "Kamahele Island sounds familiar, and I know it isn't one of the islands Professor Rosedale told us about."
Everyone sat and thought about it for a moment. Then the reporter mentioned Team Rocket, and half the group gasped.
"We have to call Rita right away," said Soledad. She fumbled through her bag in search of her cell phone.
"I got her," said Tamaki, who had already dialed Rita's number and had the phone pressed to her ear.
"Why do you have her number on speed dial?"
Tamaki blushed. "I went through great lengths to obtain this number, and it was before you and I—"
"What is going on?" Gracie interrupted.
"Nothing you need to worry about. Gracie, let's go watch cartoons in the other room," her brother suggested. "Actually, let's go to bed. It's midnight."
"Okay," the little girl yawned. "But I want a full report in the morning."
"Goodnight," everyone said as Tobie escorted her to her room.
"Where's Mariana?" asked Tomoko.
"She went to bed almost three hours ago. She was exhausted, and she is sick with something so I don't think we should get her up," Anika replied.
"Right..."
"No one's picking up," Tamaki told the others. "Should I leave a message?"
"Yes. Tell her to call us back immediately," said Soledad.
"Hey Rita, this is Tamaki and friends. We just heard about an intense car crash that occurred near the Team Rocket cabins on Kamahele Island and we want to make sure you are okay. Please call us back as soon as possible."
When Tamaki was finished with the voicemail, he reluctantly hung up and looked to the rest of the group for guidance.
Soledad had tears in her eyes. "They said one of the victims was an unidentified girl who they estimate is between the ages of seventeen and twenty-five. What if that is her?"
"We can't panic about this. She might not have been involved. Maybe she didn't answer her phone because he is busy helping do first aid on the victims," said Anika hopefully.
"I sure hope so…but she always answers her phone."
"Let's just hope for the best," Tamaki suggested. "There's no point in getting worried about it right now when there is nothing we can do."
"You're right…for once."
Soledad and Anika picked up Tamaki's phone and the three of them went into one of the back rooms. They sat down on Soledad's bed and waited for someone to call back. When the phone finally rang about twenty minutes later, the three kids jumped to answer it. Tamaki got to it first and decided to put it on speaker.
"Hello? Did you call this number?" a male voice on the other end asked.
"Ralph, is that you?" Soledad asked hopefully.
"No," the man responded. "I'm an EMT. I found this phone in the street, I was just searching through the contacts, seeing if I could find someone to call when I noticed there was a voice message. I didn't listen to it, but I saw that it was from this number."
"This phone belongs to our friend Rita," Anika responded shakily.
"I don't know who that is. Can you give me a description?" the man requested.
"She is tall, almost six feet, and she has short blue hair, and a Zorua that always follows her around," said Soledad.
"She's in Team Rocket, and she's on duty, so she is probably in her uniform," Anika added.
"I think I know who you are talking about," the man replied.
"Did she get hurt in the car accident?" Tamaki asked anxiously.
"If the person I am thinking of is her, then yes. She didn't have a Zorua with her though."
"What happened to her? Where is she now?" asked Soledad.
"She was on a motorbike, and from what it looked like, she got very badly injured. She was taken to the ER on Pa'a Island. That's a slightly larger islet about three and a half miles south of here; there isn't a hospital on this tiny island."
"Are you going to Pa'a?" Anika asked.
"Yes, in about an hour. I am still helping here on the accident site."
"Okay. One of our friends is going to go pick up the phone from you. We are going to Rita," Soledad told the man.
"Okay then. If I'm gone by the time your friend gets here, tell them to meet me on Pa'a."
"We will. Thank you, Sir," said Tamaki.
The kids hung up the phone.
"We should have Tobie stay here with Gracie. Some of us should go to get Rita's phone, and the rest of us should go see if Rita is okay in the hospital," said Soledad.
"I'll go get her phone," said Tomoko as she entered the room.
"So will I," said Carol, joining them in the common area. "We overheard you speaking to that man. You three should go to the ER."
"Thank you," said Soledad.
"Tell Gracie I'll be back soon," Anika requested.
"We will," Carol responded. "You should get going."
"Right," Soledad and Anika responded together.
"Use my Skitty to teleport you there," said Tomoko.
"Your Skitty knows Teleport?" Tamaki queried.
"No, he knows Assist. I used to help train another Pokémon that can use Teleport, and even though she is no longer with me, the ability stuck."
"We should bring another Pokémon with us for safety. All mine are with Nurse Joy," said Soledad.
"I have my team," said Tamaki.
"Good. Now let's go."
It took Skitty three times to teleport them, but once he was successful, they found themselves in an empty lot on Pa'a Island.
"Now we just have to find out where the hospital is," Anika surmised.
A passerby in a long cloak and her two Iwanko overheard them talking.
"The hospital this that way," she told them, pointing westward.
"That was good timing," said Tamaki.
"Thank you so much, Miss— "Anika started.
"Helena," the woman finished, lifting her hood.
"Helena?!" the three kids exclaimed.
"What are you doing here?" Soledad asked.
Her Iwanko transformed into their original forms.
"Diii to-o," they greeted the kids.
"I'm people watching," Helena responded. "And I enjoy nightly walks."
"What about your gym?" Soledad inquired.
"I have interns helping me out. Now go check on your friend."
"Right."
They ran in the direction she advised, Skitty and Tamaki's Pokémon jogging and flying next to them.
"I wonder how she knew," Tamaki said as they approached the hospital's entrance.
"We have more important things to focus on now," Soledad replied.
Anika pushed open the doors and they were met with near chaos. The waiting area was overfilled, and people were standing in the hall and foyer. Most of them looked injured. Several frustrated people were yelling at the staff, and doctors were everywhere trying to help the victims.
"This must be from the accident," Anika mumbled.
The trio addressed one of the workers. She appeared to be checking a little girl's injured arm. They decided that out of all the doctors there, she looked like one of the calmest.
"Our names are Soledad, Tamaki, and Anika. We believe our friend was involved in an accident on Kamahele Island. Do you know where she could be or who we can ask?" Soledad inquired.
The woman nodded towards the check-in area, where dozens of people were demanding news about the accident.
"I see," Soledad replied glumly.
The woman sighed and looked up at them directly.
"I am really sorry about your friend. I suggest you wait. Maybe within the next hour or so you will be able to visit her," she told the kids.
"We want to at least know if she made it," Anika stressed.
"She's alive, at least right now."
"How do you know?"
"All the fatally injured were male," the woman answered. "There were plenty of female victims, but as of about ten minutes ago, none of them were deceased. That may change, but it hasn't yet."
"Good," Tamaki sighed. Everyone gave him a look. "I mean, not 'good', but at least she wasn't one of the um…fatally injured."
"The chances are if they brought her all the way here, it was serious. One hundred and seven people were involved in that accident, and only the badly hurt were transferred here. Everyone else is being treated by EMTs near the site of the accident."
She said a few words to the little girl whose arm she was now placing in a temporary cast. When she was finished, the child returned to her parents.
"That little girl broke several bones in her hand and wrist after she fell off a Lelen. I am supposed to be helping the accident victims, but she has been waiting since four this afternoon. It's ten minutes past midnight now," the doctor explained.
"Yikes. This hospital is busier than we thought," Tamaki responded.
"I would see if you can ask the director about your friend. Though she is extremely busy now, she should have time for a quick question like that. She is in the waiting area talking to people now. She is the lady with the pink hat."
"Thank you so much," said Anika and Soledad.
"Good luck."
She left to go check on another patient. The kids pushed their way through the waiting area until they spotted a rather short and plump woman wearing a carmine beret. Soledad tapped her on the shoulder. The woman spun around, temporarily ignoring the concerned young man she was talking to a second ago.
"We are looking for our friend Rita. We think she was badly injured. Can you tell us where she might have been taken to?" Soledad asked.
"We have dozens of female victims. Can you give a description?" the director requested.
"She's tall, has pixie-cut bluish hair, pale white skin, she's skinny, but fit...her eyes are brown...I think" Anika replied.
"Ok, I know who that is," the woman answered. "She is a Team Rocket agent, correct?"
"Yeah."
"Go upstairs to the second floor, to the ICU. If someone tries to stop you, tell them that Fredia gave you permission. Tell one of the nurses who you are looking for."
"Thank you so much," Soledad told the lady before they ran off to the elevator.
"This isn't sounding good," Tamaki commented anxiously.
"It could be worse."
"Yeah," Anika agreed. "She coulda been D.O.A."
"Don't go there."
The second floor was not nearly as busy as the first, but doctors, nurses, and their Pokémon assistants were running around nonetheless, most likely to treat the dozens of patients that were sent there. They asked a janitor if he saw anyone who fit Rita's description.
"As a matter of fact, I have. She wasn't looking too good, but they are taking care of her," he answered. "She has taken into room 222 about an hour and a half ago."
"Thank you so much, Sir," Soledad replied quickly before running with her friends to room 222.
When they opened the door, they immediately noticed that no one was in the hospital bed, but there was a man about Rita's age sitting on a chair in the corner, eyes closed and snoring. He was in a Team Rocket uniform. Rita's Zorua was in his lap, and the foxlike Pokémon smiled and yapped at the kids the moment it recognized them.
"Ralph!" Soledad called out as she and the others entered the room.
Ralph opened his eyes. Zorua leaped out of his lap and started frantically conversing with Skitty and Tamaki's Espeon.
"Oh, it's you…Who are you?" Ralph responded, rubbing his eyes. "You look familiar."
"Anika, Soledad, and Tamaki," Anika reminded him. "Rita's friends. Where is she?"
"Surgery."
"Zor zorr," her Pokémon added sadly.
"Why?" Soledad questioned.
"Broken ribs. They are afraid she was going to puncture a lung or something like that. I reckon you heard about the accident on the TV."
"How is she? Did you talk to her? Tell us what she sai."
"I didn't get to talk to her. By the time I discovered what happened and got here, they were already preparing her for surgery. That's all I know. They didn't even tell me how long she'd be. They took her away about an hour and forty-five minutes ago."
"Oh."
Anika sat down in one of the other chairs. Tamaki and Soledad took the empty bed.
"We should call her parents and siblings," said Soledad. "I know it is late and Mariana has the flu, but I think she'd want to know what is happening."
"I don't have her parents' numbers, but I have Mariana and Lucas' cells," Tamaki said as he reached for his phone.
Tamaki dialed Mariana's number while the girls continued to talk to Ralph.
"Mariana and Lucas are her siblings, right?" Ralph queried.
"Correct," Anika confirmed.
"Mariana didn't pick up, she probably turned her phone off because she didn't want to be disturbed in the middle of the night. She was feeling sick, after. And it's 12:20 am," said Tamaki. "She went to bed at nine."
Anika was already on the phone with Lucas. She was explaining what happened and where they were. On the other end of the phone, Lucas was pacing the floor. His voice woke up Nolan, Jake, and Tyler, with who he was sharing a room in the Pokémon Center in Aubergine. After he noticed them wake up, he put the phone on speaker so that the others could hear.
"…and that is all we know for now. We are gonna hang here until we get more info. Her partner says that she has been in surgery for over an hour and a half and so she bound to get out soon," Anika concluded.
"Okay," said Lucas shakily. "Thank you for going to her. Rita is tough but she'd have been terrified to wake up alone in an unfamiliar hospital."
"It's no problem. We were nearby anyway," Anika replied. "Goodnight. We'll call you in the morning."
"Talk to you then."
"It sounds bad. Do you want to visit her?" Nolan asked Lucas.
"I will tomorrow after she wakes up. She's probably going to be too dazed from the anesthesia to talk now and it's late. I'll wait for the others' cue."
"That's a good idea. There is nothing we can do now anyway," said Jake.
"It's fine. Rita has been through worse. She'll be okay."
XO
Day 61
Early the next day, Annastasia woke the kids up and encouraged them to start getting ready to go to the next contest, which was just outside of Kiwi Mountain City. It was set to start at 9:00 am. There were three people she almost never had to remind to get up, however she did get suspicious when she didn't see or hear any of them while the others were getting ready. She went to their room to investigate.
"Hello, Jay, Amber, Jezz? You guys up?" Annastasia queried as she knocked on the door.
There was no answer, so she knocked harder. After a few minutes, she decided to go in anyway, assuming that they were all still asleep and didn't hear her knocking.
"What the heck?" Annastasia remarked.
Her Pokémon watched her curiously. Lil-G sniffed around the room and then barked at her. Plusle and Minun imitated the puppy Pokémon. The three kids and their dozen-plus Pokémon were all gone.
'Where could they possibly be?' she wondered.
Annastasia left to go find Mewtwo and Lucario. The two were just getting back from a walk, and they entered through the front door just as she was about to walk out. Mewtwo changed back to his original form as she got ready to explain her ordeal. Mewtwo cut her off.
"The children are not here," he asserted. "I don't feel their auras."
"Neither do I," Lucario added.
"I don't either and that's why I'm worried," Annastasia replied. "They're…gone. They don't even seem to be nearby. Normally I can sense them from a distance, like when they are out playing in the woods. I checked every room in this building. Their Pokémon are gone too."
Annastasia heard the faint sound of footsteps behind her, and she turned around immediately. Sandshrew was standing there watching her, his face emotionless.
"You've returned," Annastasia uttered.
"Obviously," it replied. "Late last night. I wasn't benefitting in Kanto."
"Okay. We obviously have a problem here. Amber, Jay, and Jezz are missing."
Saying it out loud gave her an even deeper pain in her stomach. Sandshrew looked amused for a moment, but then its expression softened. Whether Sandshrew liked it or not, she always left on impression.
"There is something you know that we don't," Annastasia asserted after she observed its amused expression.
"Perhaps," it replied.
"We don't have time for games," Lucario scolded. "This is serious. Young humans are in potential danger. I will invade your mind if need be."
Sandshrew shrugged. "I know."
"Then help me," Annastasia pleaded. "I have a lot on my plate, and three missing children are the last thing I need right now."
"Come with me and I shall tell you a story."
Annastasia, Lucario, and Mewtwo groaned and then followed Sandshrew into the dorm room in which Jezz, Amber, and Jay once resided.
"There was a drama in this room last night," said Sandshrew.
"I know, I was there," Annastasia responded.
"What I am talking about did not involve your presence."
"Something happened among the three of them?"
"Correct."
Just then Michio entered the room, having heard their discussion from down the hall. He moaned when he saw Sandshrew sitting on the bed, but his expression changed to worry once he noticed everyone's faces.
"Amber, Jezz, and Jay are gone. They aren't around here anywhere," Annastasia told him frenetically. "Sandshrew knows something and is about to explain what happened."
Even though Michio had a million questions, he knew getting Sandshrew to talk wasn't easy, and if it was willing to help now, he knew better than to interrupt.
"Let me explain," it started.
XO
Day 61, ~8 hours previously:
Friday night Amber, Jay, and Jezz stayed up later than they expected. They played poker and talked, but it didn't take long for Amber and Jay to notice that something was weighing on Jezz.
"Maybe we should go to sleep now," Jay suggested. "You look super tired."
Jezz wasn't tired, but he pretended to be. He was actually conflicted and disturbed after the conversations he had with Amber and Annastasia earlier that day. He nodded, and the three of them got ready to sleep.
"I can't wait for the next contest," Jay said as he snuggled into bed. "I think I found my new thing."
"I bet ya did," Amber yawned. "Goodnight, boys."
"Goodnight!"
"Yes, goodnight," Jezz murmured.
Jay was asleep within minutes, but the other two lied awake for almost another two hours. Jezz's anxiety amplified until every minute felt like an hour. Eventually, he got up and started to quietly place various items into his knapsack. Amber watched him through the darkness.
"Are you getting ready for tomorrow already?" she whispered.
"Amber…I didn't know you were awake," Jezz murmured. "Yes. It is true that I…am getting ready for the contest."
Amber was suspicious. "Care to explain why?"
"Not particularly."
"Didn't I just prove that I am trustworthy?"
"Yes…it's not about that…Not really."
"What's 'not really' supposed to mean?"
Jay stirred in his bed. He sat up and rubbed his eyes, then turned to over to his two friends, who were now standing face to face in the center of the room. He climbed down from the bunk bed ladder and stood next to Amber.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"Amber, Jay—I am so, so sorry," Jezz stumbled as he nudged his Xatu.
"Xatu?" the heavy-eyed Pokémon asked.
Jezz nodded. "But wait until I say."
Jezz's other Pokémon gathered around close to him, but Amber noticed that only Chimecho and Vileplume were out. The others were in their balls. Jezz rarely puts them in their balls.
"Step back," Jezz told Amber and Jay firmly.
"Tell us what's going on," Amber demanded.
Jezz verged as far away from them as possible in the meagre chamber.
"I am so, so sorry," he repeated.
Jezz nodded at Xatu. Jay stepped forward, just in time to grab his arm. Amber watched as her two best friends disappeared.
"What the hell?!" she cursed.
Togekiss cried and scampered to the spot where Jay and Jezz stood scant seconds prior. He, Pip, Meganium, and Pidgeot talked among themselves franticly.
"Did…did Jezz just use Xatu to teleport away?" Amber breathed.
"Toge kisssss," Jay's Pokémon guessed.
"Pikaa," said Pip.
"For fuc—"
Amber halted after hearing a faint knock upon the door. Still in panic mode, she rapidly arranged pillows under Jay and Jezz's comforters so that it looked like they were asleep in their beds. Then she answered the door, praying to Arceus that it wasn't Annastasia or Michio coming to check out the noise.
"Sandshrew? Why are you here?" Amber questioned nervously. "I thought you were with June's dad."
"I found living with him to be annoying, so I returned. I noticed there was a disturbance," it replied. It looked at the beds. "Your friends are no longer here."
"W-what makes ya say that?"
"I can sense that they teleported out of here."
"It was an accident… I think. Jay certainly didn't mean to go. He grabbed Jezz unexpectedly …I think this was Jezz's idea. But don't get it."
"Your friend, 'Jezz', was exceedingly distressed. That is why he ran away."
"Ran away?"
"I can read thoughts, you know. He was confused. Very confused in his so-called brilliant mind."
Amber crossed her arms. "How much do you know?"
"He left because he felt as though he was betraying everyone's trust and afraid of what would happen if they discovered he was lying to them."
Amber moaned, kicked the air, and re-crossed her eyes. She sniffed up a tear before it could fall.
"You know his secret," she mumbled. "And you've known for some time."
"I don't see why it is a 'secret'. You humans are obsessed with defining and labeling yourselves. You put yourselves into all kinds of boxes, but the truth is that you are all ignorant flesh-bags. I don't understand why that isn't obvious," it retorted. "Not even us Pokémon, who are made up of all different types, species, and forms have this problem."
Sandshrew had obviously disregarded the fact that fusion Pokémon were not being excepted by unaltered Pokémon. Amber thought about that—and Jezz. Jezz wanted to be in a box, just not the box that most people wanted him to be in.
"I'm no expert, but I'd argue that the world forces us to use these boxes and labels," said Amber. "I don't know why, but I think Jezz is hurt because he believes that no one will ever really accept or understand his…box…I supposed you'd call it. But I didn't know he'd be upset, I thought he'd be relieved, at least a little, after talking to me."
"He is guilty. He lied to a lot of people," said Sandshrew.
"That's technically true, but since when do you care?"
"I don't care, it is that I've noticed you humans, when emotional, do not typically defer to reason. It is fascinating at times."
"I am glad our pain entertains you. I don't think you realize this, but this is a big deal. I don't know where they are or how to get them back. I'm worried and…"
"Scared?"
"Well, how'd you feel if two people you really cared about just…vanished…?"
"Indifferent."
"Shoulda called that one…"
"There is nothing I can do to improve your situation."
"Then why the hell did you come in here?"
"Curiosity."
"Don't you dare tell anyone. I want—need—to find them, and I wanna do it before A freaks."
"As you wish."
Amber watched the Sandshrew leave, part of her desiring to go after it. It was a powerful nuisance, likely able to use as many moves as Mewtwo, including Teleport. For all she knew, it could even track Jay and Jezz. But Amber was stubborn and she couldn't bring herself to trust Sandshrew. Though she knew she may regret this in hindsight, at this moment she felt desperate. She looked around the room at her and Jay's Pokémon, all of whom had been left behind.
"Any of you know Teleport as well as Xatu?" Amber asked the group, affecting hope.
They all shook their heads with a despondent 'no'.
"Can anyone track another Pokémon or humans?" she inquired.
They once again all responded with a 'no'. Amber's hope relinquished, and the Pokémon tried to comfort her. Jay's Togekiss hit her with his special ability, causing her momentary happiness, but it faded once reality sank back in. Amber started to viciously pack up her and Jay's things.
"Then I will just have to go find them on foot," she decided. "Or in flight, rather."
XO
Day 60, Present
"Why didn't you get us?" Annastasia asked Sandshrew. "This is serious. They are children. They can't just go out there alone. And Jezz…whatever he is feeling right now, I don't think Jay could handle it. That's if they are even still together. And Amber, if you knew she was leaving, you should have stopped her."
"I told you I am uninterested in your human drama. That redhead girl took thirteen Pokémon with her, I doubt they will abandon her and leave her defenseless," Sandshrew nonchalantly replied.
"You better not be lying," said Michio.
"It is speaking the truth," said Mewtwo.
"How do you know?"
"I can sense deceit, as Usodan, though my abilities are refined."
"I have three emotionally distressed missing kids, two preteens that I am now hesitant to leave alone together, two eight-year-olds, three talking cats, Michio, and three of the most powerful Pokémon in existence," said Annastasia. "There has to be something I can do."
"Technically we have four of the most powerful Pokémon," said Michio. "I still have Lunala on-hand."
"Okay, so four, plus my other Pokémon and those I've befriended. Mewtwo, there aren't any Pokémon capable of tracking another Pokémon?"
"Not if they used Teleport," he responded.
"I need to call Rita and Rumika. If anyone can help me, it's those two."
Annastasia left to go get her phone. Michio followed her out. When they got to her phone, the first thing she noticed were the several missed calls from Soledad, Anika, Tamaki, Mariana, and Lucas, as well as a text message saying 'call one of us the moment you have a chance'.
"I wonder what this is about," Annastasia murmured.
"Want me to call Rita while you get back to them?" Michio inquired.
"No, one call at a time. I'll call Soledad first, see what all these missed calls are about."
After four rings, Soledad finally answered her cell. Her voice sounded extremely tired and stressed.
"I noticed you and a few of the others called me several times after midnight, but I slept through it," said Annastasia, doing her best to mask her panic.
"Um…hold on," Soledad responded.
Annastasia and Michio listened to what sounded like Soledad shuffling around her backpack or dresser drawers. Then they heard the door shut and Soledad picked the phone back up.
"Rita is in the hospital," she started.
"Oh, okay," Annastasia gulped, her voice calm with only a hint of tremor. "What happened?"
"The other Geo-catchers and I were hanging out and watching some TV as we got ready for bed when the news started telling a story about a car accident that occurred on Kamahele Island. We knew that was where Rita was, and they said the accident was near the Team Rocket mini-base. We called Rita's phone and eventually discovered that she was hurt in the accident."
"How badly was she hurt?"
"All we know is that she had several broken ribs and needed emergency surgery. They did the surgery last night—finished about two hours ago."
"Is she recovering fine?"
"I think so. We didn't get to talk to her. They had to fix her before it caused damage and after that, we decided that we should let her rest."
Annastasia decided now was definitely not the time to explain what happened to Amber, Jezz, and Jay.
"I want to support Rita, but I can't go over there now," Annastasia told Soledad.
"I know you had the contest today," Soledad replied. "But maybe you can come by later, I think Rita would probably like that. If not, it'll all be up to Ralph to comfort and take care of her."
"It's not because of the contest. We have a situation here. It's a bit of an emergency, but I don't want you to worry about it. It is just something that needs our attention asap. I will go see Rita once I get this cleared up."
"You can tell me; I won't tell anyone's parents. Did someone get hurt?"
"It's more complicated than that. I'll talk to you later. If you get to talk to Rita, tell her that I will get over there as soon as I can."
"I will. Bye for now."
"I had a feeling something bad was going to happen," Michio said darkly as she hung up the phone. "I saw the harbinger again, last night."
Annastasia rubbed her temples while her Pokémon, and Minun and Plusle, came over to soothe her.
"Why?" she asked Michio.
"I keep seeing that thing. It's an omen, a harbinger, I'm saying," he answered. "We ignored it, and now it's coming to get us. Just reminding you."
"I don't have time for that, Michio. I got start getting things together. We need to figure out what to do about June, Jocelyn, Takeshi, Benny, Logan, Lily, Maya, and all the Pokémon we have with us. They are in their rooms right now getting ready for the contest. I don't want to hide this from them… I don't even think I can…but I can't have them involved. It would be too stressful and dangerous even to do that. And their parents are going to be there…including my parents, and Jezz's guardians. Who knows, Ash Ketchum and Misty might show up too. I am not in a good place right now. I need help."
"You must tell their parents and guardians," Lucario said as he entered the room. "Failing to do so will destroy your reputation for honesty. Are you not a woman of honor?"
"I know I gotta tell them, and I will, I'm just not sure how."
There was a knock on the doorframe, and they all turned to look. Takeshi and June were standing there. They were all dressed up and ready to go, but their faces were turned down in shame.
"We didn't mean to overhear. We were just wanted to know when we were leaving," June sniffled.
"Did something bad happen to Jezz, Amber, and Jay?" Takeshi asked.
Annastasia hesitated, then approached the young duo.
"I am not certain, but from what I understand, Jezz ran away, and Jay and Amber went after him. We have no idea where they are."
"What are we going to do?" June inquired.
"I have to call their parents and my aunts," Annastasia replied. "Lucy and Rumika are great trackers. It has been part of their career for the last eighteen years, so I will get them to help me. As for you—"
"—We want to help," June interrupted. "Right, Takeshi?"
Takeshi nodded hesitantly.
"That's sweet, but it's best if the adults handle it," said Annastasia. "No offense, but this is something I don't think you, or any of the other kids, can help with."
"I can't just do the contest and pretend that nothing happened!" June shot back.
Everyone, including June herself, was surprised at her talking back. She had never done that before in her life, not even to her siblings or parents. June never got angry either, but now she was fuming.
"Whoa," said Takeshi. June glared at him, something else that was entirely new.
"This is my plan," Annastasia said firmly. "We will call Jezz, Jay, and Amber's parents/guardians so that they know what is going on. If you don't want to do the contest, that is perfectly fine. Someone will watch you while I, my Pokémon, and some other Team Rocket agents go searching for them. Any more complaints?"
"No," the kids responded shyly.
"Good. Now tell Lily, Logan, Maya, Benny, and Jocelyn to get in here."
"Yes, Ma'am," Takeshi and June mumbled. They spun around on their heels and nearly sprinted down the hall.
Annastasia sat back down, this time burying her face in her hands and sighing in frustration.
"Wondering how you are going to explain how you lost three of the children under your guardianship?" Sandshrew asked, amused, as it jumped on the bed next to her.
"How'd you guess?" she responded sarcastically.
"I can read min—"
"—She didn't lose them," Michio interrupted. "They lost themselves!"
"It's all the same," Annastasia murmured. "Either way, it's my fault. I pushed Jezz to talk about something that made him uncomfortable because I thought I could help him. But I was wrong, I just made things worse."
"At least you took a chance. It's not your fault the kid freaked out about it."
"Onēsan?" said a quiet voice.
Jocelyn, Benny, Maya, Lily, Logan, and several of their Pokémon walked through the door.
Annastasia explained what happened as best she could, as well as her plan of action. Lily got angry, Maya was sympathetic, Logan was confused, and Benny and Jocelyn were deeply upset.
"I am sorry," Annastasia said after they vented. "But look on the bright side: we have an illustrious team on our side, and I just know we are going to find them and get this whole thing sorted out. Maybe they will even come back on their own."
The children and Pokémon nodded.
"Want me to help?" Lily asked.
"You, Maya, and Logan are adults now too. You can watch the others for me. That would be perfectly supportive," Annastasia responded.
"I want to help," said Jocelyn.
"I know, Princess, but it will be better to not have you involved. It's not personal. When I was your age, I wasn't allowed to work on missions like this either."
"Finnnne."
"Feeee," Flaafy sighed.
"Bounssss," her Bounsweet added.
Michio handed Annastasia her phone, and she took it in her hands and stared at it.
"Procrastination is for cowards," Michio whispered into her ear. "And Annastasia Morgan is not one of those."
"Right," Annastasia breathed, then she dialed the number.
"Are you calling Mommy and Daddy?" Jocelyn inquired.
"Yes."
"Can I talk to them too?"
"Not—Maybe. I will let you know what they say."
The children nodded and left the room. Everyone other than Michio left too as she paced around the room, waiting for her parents to pick up.
XO
In the Next Chapter:
- Jay and Jezz quarrel
- Amber runs into an acquaintance
- Panic attack
AN: Thanks for all the reviews! A reminder that I am answering questions on my Tumblr page "chipotlepepperspokemonandother". Several people have already asked me questions about my story, and I think some of you all would be interested in checking out the answers. They last one I answered was about headcannons.
Have a nice day and please leave me a comment/question if you have the time