DWA: Heya everyone and welcome back to TAA: Johto, last time Lily beat Hana, got the things to hold her team's mega stones, and met with Alex. This time she'll travel to Mahogany Town, where Tucker lies in wait. What will Tucker do to try and assassinate her? Find out in the chapter ahead!

NOTE: this woulda been out earlier but my laptops battery decided to conk out and I spent a week waiting for it to get fixed. Also I'm kinda lazy lol. But I do wanna work on this more frequently I just need to actually do it.

Reviews:

Manaphymajic1999: Meeting Alex is a pivitol point for Lily, or would be if she knew who he was. As for his mystery, well, why spoil it? And while I'm glad you think so our main villain David is, well upset. Then again out of all the higher up ES members Alex has had the most screen time, yet we know nothing about him. Fun right?

"Speech"

'Thought'

[Translated Pokespeech]

Ch 19: Ice Cold Mahogany

Lily, Midnight, Zack, and Robin were around the halfway point for Route 42, Lily had had around three short battles since they left Ecruteak. Since they were no longer backtracking less people would show up. Of course, Lily wasn't really herself, her mind was focused on Alex. And of course, Robin had taken note of this.

"So tell me, what's eatin' at ya?" Robin asked. Lily didn't answer or seem to hear him. Zack tapped her with his elbow and she seemed to snap out of thought.

"Huh? Did you say something?" She asked all three of them.

"Yeah I did." Robin said. "What's got you so distracted?" He asked.

"…Well, last night I went to the Burned Tower." She said. "Someone was there. Black coat, really long. A hood on it, black gloves and pants, black everything. Besides his mask, it was a smiling mask, I couldn't see through the holes." She said. "He was…off."

"Off how?" He asked.

"I don't know how to describe it. He just felt, wrong. Standing near him made me uncomfortable, but he wasn't mean, he was actually polite." She said.

"Everything you've said signals like twenty different danger flags for me." He said.

"I know…everything felt like it meant the opposite. His body language said harmless, but his looks said dangerous. His voice was gentle but…also mean. Maybe I'm just crazy and worried." She said.

"I doubt that, your instinct tends to be correct. Come on, let's stop for a snack and rest a bit, clear your head." He said. "After all, not long till your facing the Ice Gym Leader." He said with a bright smile. She gave one back.

"You're right! Yeah let's take a break!" She said. Robin nodded, happy she seemed to go back to being the Lily he knew.

-(o)- Time: 2:23pm, Location ES Johto HQ.

Alex sighed as he sat in his chair, why did David have to call now of all times? He was busy. He tapped a button and David's face appeared on the large monitor on the wall.

"Alex. Glad I got you." He said. He didn't look happy.

"Yes sir? I hope you don't mind we rush this I'm busy." He said.

"Oh I know. Prefab parts hm? That means a quick set up, just what are you planning?" He asked.

"A small outpost on the Whirl Islands, it's possible the real Lugia is there, and we want to keep tabs." Alex said. David's eyebrow raised.

"Send a recon team then, not a whole squadron." He said.

"It's a possible nesting spot, one of many, but the area is isolated, and therefore, the most likely. I'm setting up that outpost David." He said sternly. David gave a slight grunt of disapproval.

"It feels like you're keeping secrets Alex. I don't like that." David said.

"It may seem that way sir, but I assure you I am not, I have as much faith in you, as you do your own plans. Besides, keeping tabs on the Islands may bear fruit in the future, we can watch trainers come and go, scout new assassins." He said.

"Yes your little, assassin group. I still don't see the need." David said.

"It's natural, old thinking even. You think Pokémon battles always ended in a good try? No, death was common. I'm just, returning to tradition sir." He said chuckling darkly.

"I see, well, a shipment of new tech will be arriving soon, with that cube we stole from Registeel we had a breakthrough. The details are on a 'you'll find out' basis." He said.

"Of course sir I'll prep for them." Alex said.

"Alex, if this base proves a waste of resources we'll need to talk. Make sure to continue gathering influence. Understood?" David asked.

"Understood." He said nodding. David sighed and hung up. Alex scoffed.

"I know what I'm doing sir." He said quietly as he went back to filing reports.

-(o)- Location: Mahogany Town, Time: 5:12 pm

Lily, Midnight, Zack, and Robin walked into the small town, there weren't many people out and about. It just seemed like a lazy little town.

"Plans?" Robin asked.

"Well I wanna scope out the gym, maybe talk to the Gym Leader!" Lily said.

"Gotcha, I'm gonna check out the Lake of Rage, never got a chance to see it last time I was around here." Robin said and started walking off. "Stay safe!" He said.

"You know it!" she said and ran off. Midnight and Zack sighed but easily caught up with her. They easily found the gym and ran inside only to see it was empty, save the clerk at a desk. She looked up and smiled. "Please head on in, Tucker's been expecting you." She said and stood and stretched as she made her way for the exit. Lily ran into the room, but before Zack and Midnight could, shutters blocked their way.

[What the-!?] Midnight said jumping back, she looked back and the woman was gone.

[Midnight?] Zack asked.

[…We need to get in there. Lily's in danger!] She shouted.

Lily looked back as the door slammed shut. "Guys!?"

"Sorry, they won't be joining you." A voice said and the lights opposite her turned on, revealing a man in a winter jacket and pants. Beside him was a Mamoswine, and he was smiling, hands in pocket.

"Hey, you can't just lock out my friends!" Lily said. The man laughed.

"I just did, and try as they might, they aren't getting in." He said. "And you, will have a very unfortunate accident, ending your travels here. Your Pokémon dodged the attack, but you didn't, and all the cameras were being upgraded, so the fight wasn't caught on tape." He said. Lily looked scared.

"W-What?" She asked.

"Come now Lily I was told your smart. But I guess you are thirteen. Did it never occur that Gym Leaders could be a part, of Engulfing Shadows!?" He shouted followed by laughter.

"Engulfing Shadows…" She said, the breath taken from her. Here they were again, trying to kill her. The man sighed and smiled.

"Well I'm done spouting what little exposition I had. Blizzard." He said and Mamoswine reared backed and blew a stream of icy cold air at Lily, who was chilled to the bone quickly and hugged herself to try and keep what body heat she could.

"You knew it would be cold." He said. "Shoulda dressed for it." He said and tossed a Poke Ball up and out popped a Weavile. "Ice Beam." He said. Weavile started charging the attack, taking aim.

'If it hits I'll be iced…and die…" She said. "No, no way." She said and grabbed one of her Poke Balls and tried to enlarge it, but it didn't work. "Huh?" She said and kept trying.

"All Poke balls receive a signal; when that button is pressed, and hacking it is normally worthless as it can be dangerous not to have, but, I didn't turn it off, I just homed in on your ID, your Poke Balls don't work." He said and smiled. "Ta-ta, Lily Zenex." Weavile shot the beam of ice energy and things seemed to slow for her, she was so cold she could barely move, she couldn't dodge it, it would be pointless. She simply closed her eyes and waited for the hit.

"Lily!" Ordis' voice called out as it rushed out from her Holo Caster and put up a Protect that stopped the cold Blizzard and the Ice Beam.

"What the…" Tucker said looking rather confused.

"Run Lily!" Ordis said.

"I-I-I-I'm….t-t-to cold!" She said shivering pretty badly, she seemed…blue.

"Lily, there is a door to your right, it is your only chance, GO!" It shouted. Lily took a deep bvreath and used what little strength she had to break for it, Ordis covering her. Lily tackled the door and ran down the Hallway, Ordis following, though it was much warmer in here. Thankfully not hot enough to cause a shock to her systems.

"…Weavile, you don't mind do you?" Tucker asked and Weavile swiftly gave chase.

Lily was breathing heavily as she made her way through the halls, she was warming up but the sudden change didn't help. She burst into the room at the end of the hall, waiting for Ordis, who noticed a computer and went inside. Lily closed the door and sat against it.

"Ordis…thank you." She said.

"My pleasure Lily…I'm downloading some files, they seem to mimic the Upgrade that could cause my Evolution. As well as some incriminating evidence against Tucker, that's the man's name. The Police probably won't believe you didn't forge these, but the League would be forced to take an investigation." It said. "Done, installing updates, Lily, hold out for a few minutes, stay silent." It said.

Lily nodded and took shaky breaths her body hadn't recovered yet, and she knew that Weavile had had to be searching for them. She tried to calm down as best she could. Tucker made her wonder, who else was in on all of this?

Suddenly the door started to open. Lily, being startled, yelled and pu8shed the door closed and the Weavile started really pushing.

"Ordis, hurry!" She said, doing her best to keep it closed, though against a Pokémon it wasn't working too well.

"Updates installed, Model, Porygon2, designation, Ordis. Lily!" Ordis said and came out of the computer. Ordis moved to an angle it could see Weavile and the Dark/Ice type snarled at Ordis, who responded with a Signal Beam, sending it into the wall. Without the counterweight Lily slammed the door shut. Ordis then looked at a wall and used Signal Beam on it, blowing it wide open, and the new exit led outside.

"Come on." It said in a much smoother voice. Lily nodded and ran outside. "Midnight, Zach!" She shouted and from the front of the gym they came running, Zack hugging her.

[Thank Goodness.] Midnight said smiling. The Weavile opened the door, staring at them. Lily shrunk back at the sight of it, but the Weavile didn't attack, instead it just, walked away.

"Why didn't…" She started to asked, then looked around, there were people staring

"It is alright everyone, move along." Ordis said, the people walked away slowly, more interested in trying to help, but the growls and glares of her Pokemon finished the job. Robin came running however.

"Lily! What happened? I heard the explosion and-"

"Engulfing Shadows." Lily said. Robin stared at her.

"You mean…Tucker…" He said slowly. Lily nodded and rubbed her arms. "We need to go."

"Right, we can fine another badge."Robin said as he looked around. The group started to leave the town, and as they got to the sign that showed them they were exiting the sound Ordis pinged.

"New Message, sender anonymous, message context, on your right, under the sign." He said. Lily blinked and looked where the message was telling her to look, and there was a small box. She opened it and gasped, it was the Glacier Badge.

"The badge…" Robin said. "But…who…?" He asked looking around and seeing no one.

"Whoever they are…they know everything, more than we do." She said taking the badge. "Let's keep going." She said and walked on. Robin nodded and followed her, his head on a swivel.

-(o)- Back at the Mahogany Gym

"So we failed, I bet the boss was expecting it, guess I'll do what I can to lay low." He said recalling his two Pokemon and started to walk to his office, but heard a voice before he could get to the door.

"Ooohhh Tuuuuuckeeeeeerrrrrr~" A sing songy female voice said and he tensed up, and started shaking.

"Oh fuck." He said.

"Oh fuck, indeed." The voice growled.

Tucker was spun around and swiftly met with a fist to the face, crumpling to the floor unconscious. The woman grabbed Tuckers phone, and dialed the police.

"I'd like to report an attempted murder. Evidence will be on scene. Trace the call." She said and dropped the phone on him, placed a flash drive containing video footage on him, and walked out of the gym.

DWA: That took forever I am sorry. Anyways, Lily has been attacked three times and she's thirteen poor girl. Still, I wanna hear guesses on who this woman is. Who is she? No hints from me, I just wanna hear your thoughts! Remember, Read, review, and favorite!