Bianca was talking with her dad. Kenya and I watched from the other side of the pokemon center.

"How long do we have to wait?" Kenya groaned.

"Be patient," I said. I fiddled with the figurine in my pocket. Kenya munched on a chocolate bar.

"You guys are gonna challenge that Clay guy, right?"

"Yeah."

Bianca hugged her dad. The two of them split up. He said a few more things before leaving.

Bianca hurried over to us.

"You guys ready?" She asked. We headed out of Nimbasa. Bianca told me about her talk with her dad as we crossed the drawbridge. Kenya gazed off the side, not paying attention.

"He said he won't try to stop me," Bianca said. "But I could tell he wasn't happy about it." I nodded.

I tried to think of something supportive I could say. Bianca changed the subject before I could think of anything.

"Hey, Kenya." Kenya turned her head.

"Yeah?"

"Just making sure you're all there," Bianca said with a smile. Kenya turned back towards the water below.

"No one's out fishing today," Kenya commented, ignoring Bianca.

"That's weird." I moved closer to the edge. Kenya was right, there wasn't a single boat in sight. "Maybe it's a regional off day?"

"I've never heard of anything like that," Bianca chimed in. We bounced a few other ideas off each other as a group of trainers walked past us.

I glanced at them. I recognized a guy walking in front, I couldn't quite place his name. A light breeze picked up. I shivered.

"It really is getting to winter, huh?" Kenya hugged herself. "I need to buy a coat." She gave the water one last look before we kept moving.

Driftveil was silent when we arrived. I didn't remember it being a particularly noisy place, but the silence was off-putting.

We made our way to the pokemon center. Kenya commented to keep an eye out for the Black Empoleon guys. I hadn't seen anyone to begin with.

Nurse Joy was the only one in the pokemon center. She looked up, her eyebrows raised like she wasn't expecting company.

"Hello there!" She smiled. "Here to get your pokemon healed?"

"Um." Bianca was the first to speak up. "Where is everyone?" Nurse joy's smile faded. She glanced between us, as if unsure what to say.

"I'm not sure what you mean?"

"You do go outside sometimes, right?" Kenya asked. "There's like no one there."

I wondered if Cheren was here. Had he somehow already battled Clay and moved on? He certainly wasn't one to waste time.

Nurse Joy raised her hands defensively.

"Oh, that's what you mean." Kenya and Bianca shared a confused look.

The two of them approached the counter.

I hung back, concerned.

Kenya leaned against the counter. Nurse Joy was trembling. I looked out a nearby window. I had a view of the Driftveil gym.

"I'll be right back," I called out. I stepped outside, scanning the nearby buildings.

I hadn't made it three steps when Kenya burst out, Bianca was on her heels.

"You aren't going anywhere without us!" Kenya shouted.

"What?"

"You got kidnapped the last time you were here!" Kenya prodded me in the shoulder. "I'm not letting you out of my sight!"

I furrowed my brow.

Bianca got between us.

"It's best for us to stay together," she said. "I really don't like this…" Her voice trailed off.

She was still talking but I couldn't hear anything she was saying. I'd spotted someone, by the treeline.

I recognized him from the Desert Resort.

Zinzolin. He vanished into the trees.

"Hey. Here comes that stupid old guy," Kenya nudged me. She gestured past me. Clay was approaching. He'd crossed the street from his gym.

"He has to know something," Bianca thought out loud. Clay stopped a few feet away.

"What are you brats doing here?"

"Well, she and I are here to challenge you." I gesture to Bianca and myself. Bianca nodded excitedly.

"Not a great time. You three need to get out of here. Is Nurse Joy in there?" He started for the pokemon center.

"We've noticed!" Kenya cut in front of Clay. "What's going on around here?" Clay scowled at Kenya.

Bianca stepped forward. Her wide eyes locked with Clay's.

"Is someone in danger?" The question seemed to come out of nowhere.

For a moment I was left questioning Bianca's line of thinking. Then I saw Clay's face.

His pale white face, sweating buckets. His lip quivered. His eyes dart to the nearby treeline.

Bianca hit the nail on the head. She moved in closer.

"Nurse Joy is freaking out—" Clay took a swing at Bianca, she ducked at the last second, stumbling backward.

"Hey!" Kenya yelled. She and I got between Bianca and Clay.

"You brats have no business here!" Clay shouted. "Get lost!"

"Clay!" Nurse Joy appeared at the entrance of the pokemon center. She surveyed the situation.

"What are you doing there?" Clay demanded. "I told you to get out of town!"

"I'm not leaving you by yourself!" Nurse Joy shouted back.

I share a look with Kenya.

Bianca grabbed the back of my shirt. She pointed at the bridge. Everyone followed her line of sight.

There, above the drawbridge was a frigate, hovering in the sky. The sight was absurd.

Only the bottom half of it was visible through the clouds. It slowly descended, revealing more of the hull. Clay makes a raspy sound.

"Is that a boat?" Kenya asked. "It's flying."

"Joy, get inside!" Clay yelled. Nurse Joy is gone.

The pokemon center door swings ajar as if she was never there.

"Joy!" Clay looked around.

"What happened to her?" I turned to Clay.

He knew what was happening, I was sure of it.

Clay's eyes were set on the frigate. It slowly approached, descending lower. I could see a bit of the upper deck. There were dozens of people spread out on deck.

"I did what you said!" Clay yelled. He waves his arms at the frigate. "You can't do this!"

A man with long white hair appeared in front of Clay. A moment later, both of them were gone. The three of us gasped, scattering.

"What was that?" Kenya sputtered. Bianca shouted something intelligible. A cold wind whipped up, knocking us off our feet. I rolled onto my side.

A Cryogonal floated towards us.

"I have him here." Zinzolin was standing behind the Cryogonal,

"Dragon Claw!" Kenya sent out Druddigon.

I wanted to shout at her for not immediately sending out Darumaka, my mouth doesn't move. I simply stared.

Druddigon slashed at Cryogonal.

Cryogonal responded with a powerful blizzard.

My vision was entirely shrouded with snow for a few moments. I buried my face in my arms.

Zinzolin pulled me onto my feet as the blizzard fades.

Kenya and Bianca were nowhere to be seen.

Druddigon was embedded in the wall of the pokemon center. My hand fell to my pockets.

Pokeball! I dropped a Pokeball. Pignite appeared. I pushed away from Zinzolin.

"Flame charge!" Pignite catches fire and lunges at Cryogonal.

Arms wrapped around my chest. Suddenly, I was in the sky.

The wind rushed over me. I gazed up into the clouds for a moment, stunned.

I was on the deck of the frigate. There were Neo Team Plasma members everywhere.

The man with long white hair was in front of me. He backed up and vanished.

I was immediately swarmed by people, hands all over me.

My bag was pulled away. I tried to get ahold of a Pokeball but they were ripped from my grasp.

I writhed and struggled violently, someone appeared with ropes. It wasn't long before my wrists and ankles were tied.

"This makes everything worth it," Zinzolin leaned in front of me. He tossed my bag to the floor and held up the translucent orb.

I tried to look fierce, glaring at him. He smiled.

"Nothing to say?"

"What is this?" I struggled to keep my voice steady. Stay calm. Don't be afraid. "What's going on?" Zinzolin caressed the orb.

"Kyurem." The name brought a shiver under my skin. I glanced between him and the orb. "Ever since you were a child, you were fated to encounter Kyurem."