I grabbed the first pokéball I came to and threw it. It was Houndoom's. Houndoom instantly figured out what was happening and jumped in front of me, getting hit by the flames that were meant to be mine. I heard it say something through Charizard's roar.

"Go. The others need you now, more than I do. You MUST go!" I knew I had to, even if it did feel like treason. I ran out of the building to find my friends surrounded by Dark Pokémon, obviously at Jason's command. Their Pokémon were doing their best to fight, but I could see Brian holding his baby Houndour tight, a look of fear in his eyes.

If there was ever any doubt of Brian in my mind, it vanished at that moment. I grabbed the pokéball of my best non-Dark Pokémon and threw it high in the air. "Pidgeot!" I called. "Attack!"

She obeyed, swooping down on the unsuspecting Pokémon from behind. They were quick to turn and fight, but I knew Pidgeot could take them down easily. I was more worried about my friends.

I ran to them, and the look of relief in Asheya's eyes was enough to shake me out of my temporary shock.

"Are you alright?" I asked, out of breath for some odd reason. Asheya nodded, but Brian's face was pale. "What's wrong?" I asked him. He shook his head in a 'tell you later' gesture, and I shook my own and put up a barrier of silence around us with my power.

"Houndour...I think an attack got through...her leg..." I could see one leg sticking out at an odd angle. I gently laid my hand on the leg, making Houndour whine. I sent my power through it, and a bright spot approached during this dark day.

"She'll be alright," I said as I carefully popped the bones back into place. I dug in my backpack until I found some wooden sticks and a bandage, and bound the leg tight. "There," I said, and the barrier disappeared.

"Look!" exclaimed Asheya. "Houndoom!" And there he was. Barely a scratch on him, and he was carrying a pokéball in his mouth. He dropped it in my hands, and quickly got rid of the attacking Pokémon with a roar. The police station, I could see, was in ruins, and Jason and Leria were nowhere to be found.

I called back Pidgeot and opened the pokéball. Something very small and helpless-looking appeared. I bent down and gasped at what it was.

It was a baby Chikorita. The poor thing looked like he had just hatched, and already he was kept in a pokéball?? And he didn't look like he was treated that well, either.

"Leria's," said Houndoom, and I called him back, too. Carefully picking up the Chikorita, I led my two friends back through the forest to Asheya's home.

It was about a week later that my pokégear rang. I answered it to hear another familiar voice, though this one was much friendlier than the last familiar voice I'd encountered.

"Hi, Keya? It's Simon, in Mahogany. I just heard news of a very exciting story going on in Blackthorn, and I figured you'd be there. Am I right?"

"You bet! Listen, if two kids show up, one a guy named Jason with a scar on his face, and the other one a beauty named Leria, please tell me!"

"Actually, I was hoping you'd come to Mahogany Town anyway. We're having a birthday party for my partner, Juilee. You remember her, right?"

"How could I forget?" Juilee was the Murkrow breeder, and had been one of the most recent Masters I'd 'found'. "Her Pokémon went crazy when they met me! Sure we'll be there!" I said, hanging up.

"Brian, we're going to Mahogany Town!" I said, and he got up quickly.

"More trouble?" he asked. I shook my head.

"A birthday party, and we leave now! Let's go!" Umbreon came instantly to my side, and I picked up Chikorita, which now took me to be his trainer.

"Wait," said Asheya, and I looked over my shoulder at her. "I'm coming too," she said, and I knew there was no arguing with her. So I just nodded, and we set off through the forest towards what would hopefully be a happy birthday.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Well? The next one, again only if anyone wants me to write it, will be called "A Mahogany Celebration". Hope ta see you there! ~The Darkness Master