Disclaimer: I don't own pokémon. I don't own anything out of Aliet Faslami's stories. I do own my characters. That will be all. Nothing more can be said.



1 Chapter 1

A Gyarados slid into the pool that was so often kept for water pokémon. He swam around inside, enjoying himself. A young fourteen-year-old girl laughed amusedly, then ran forward to the table in the center of the room. She was of medium height, with pure black hair and tanned skin. There was always some laughter within her, as if she was a fun-loving person. It was rather strange that she was a gentle kind of girl, yet her pokémon was labeled as "ferocious".

"Tallula, are you done over there? We have some serious measures to discuss."

The girl swung her head around to peer into the face of a man in his middle ages. He seemed old for his age. Tallula sighed almost playfully, before seating herself at the table. She rested an elbow on the arm of her chair, feeling a little bored at the time being. Fleetingly, Tallula wondered why she wasn't a ghost trainer, but all thoughts of that were pushed away as the man cleared his throat.

"It is rumored that a young woman recently brought her dead Fslam pokémon back to life," the man snarled at the mention of the Fslam.

Tallula stared. So that was the whole fuss. She was a new addition to the main council group, so she obviously felt differently about the whole thing than her peers.

Shrugging her shoulders, the girl asked, "Why should we worry about that Marwell?"

"Because," said another man, this time in his twenties, "the Fslam are our enemies, and have been for generations."

"Especially because that lizard was killed three years ago in the name of the so called "sacred" Seaking. It absolutely ticks me off," said a woman, seemingly an old witch, "I never agreed to the pagan idea, but I didn't mind the sacrifice."

"Shall we get on with this?" Marwell intoned, his Tentacruel making a noise that was only matched by the trainer.

The younger man nodded, stroking the back of his huge Blastoise. "But still, we can't forget the idea that the Fslam pokémon was brought back to life."

"True Stephen," the leader stroked his chin, "It was the work of something interesting. Obviously not Krethuyr."

"Probably their 'Eatusur'," the woman rolled her eyes as she patted the Vaporeon in her lap.

Tallula brought up another point, "Well, that is their PokéGod. Eatusur is to the Fslami as Hygwecia is to the Jha'ik. You can't deny that Esdra."

The woman shook her head, wiping the grey hairs away.

Another girl a few years older that Tallula spoke up, "Maybe that person is more than human; maybe more than a fire trainer; maybe even a Fslami."

This brought outbreaks among the group.

"How could you even think that Reskay?! The Fslami are gone now; it is the Fire trainers that do this now. Krethuyr knows what they're believing," Stephen shouted out loud.

"Now Stephen," Esdra held his arm firmly.

Another man was seemingly annoyed. "Do we even know who's here or not? The talk can continue as soon as we're done with an attendance schedule. You all know that no one enjoys missing a meeting."

"Very well," Esdra once more rolled her grayish eyes that only matched her hair.

"All right then," Marwell began, "Esdra is here, as with Stephen, Reskay, Greg, Sakre, Palfor, Yizen - where's Tackle?"

A deep growl like sound answered, "Right here. I had some business to do." The speaker brushed into his customary seat, eyes brooding as usual. He glared at Tallula. "I don't see why she was elected," he seemingly spat.

Tallula gave Tackle a funny look and answered, "I was elected because I was elected. I just happen to be good at training Magikarp and have a great sense of humor."

Marwell groaned and said, "Humor was not the reason, but it is true, you do."

Tallula just continued to stare at Tackle more and more. It wasn't that she liked him or anything; in fact, she hated him. But why did he hate her so much? She shook her head as the group went on to talk.

"I don't see why this is so important," Greg said drowsily, "That Charizard must mean a lot to her. I understand."

The deep growl erupted from Tackle's throat yet again as he spoke angrily, "Of course it is. Being able to bring a pokémon back to life can be used to bring back others as well. And plus, our enemies might use that to their advantage."

"What kind of enemies? I don't see the Fire trainers as any sort of enemy. Sure we have our differences, but deep inside, we all have the same goals to thrive in this world," Tallula said indifferently.

Everyone stared at her, except for Reskay. Tallula had to hide a smile for her friend. She would have to thank her later.

"Hmmm." Tackle murmered thoughtfully, "It seems to me as if this young child doesn't quite worry about us being crushed by those of Fire. More or less, Electricity and Plant as well."

It was Tallula's turn to stare. "I did not mean that! Why would they want to do that anyway? It seems more like they would want protection than war, don't you think?"

"How would you know?"

"Um." Tallula faltered. The only reason she knew was because her boyfriend just so happened to be an Electric trainer, his best friend was a fire trainer, and they both had a bunch of grass types as well. And she didn't want anyone to know that.

"Ha! And that child says that she's a Water Master?!"

"TACKLE!!"

The man looked over to Reskay, who had a rather angry look on her face. "She may be young, but she's very effective when training and has defeated the Elite Four. That obviously qualifies her as a Master, and you have no right to take that title away from her with your insults," she continued on.

"She defeated them one month ago," Tackle snarled, "Not nearly enough time to experience the true life of a Master! No experience at all!"

"ENOUGH!! Tackle, Reskay, please sit down," Marwell called order, "There is really no need for that."

Tackle had a strange look to him that everyone turned from the subject.

As everyone else went on to talk about other things, such as events, newly registered trainers that might become water trainers, gym battles, and so on, Tallula began to get a little bored. Her mind trailed to what her life was. Training, having fun with her friends, going out with her boyfriend; she enjoyed it. Chad was so odd, she thought, but funny. She knew why he had failed in military camp. His sense of knowing and humor were too great to be serious enough to be a soldier. The perfect reason why she and him got along so well.

"Hey, earth to Tallula, we're done. Everyone's leaving," a voice said in her ear. Tallula grinned at Reskay, who had been her best friend for a long time.

Tallula glanced around at the relatively dark cavern lit by water pools for the exit. The light that reflected off the pools immediately came to her sense, and she followed them straight to the hole that led out.

"^WAIT FOR ME!!^!" cried the voice that was undeniably Gyarados.

Tallula slowly turned around with an air of mock surprise, then suddenly had to move aside, for Gyarados came crashing into the hole. She turned around, this time real surprise marking her face. Gyarados lifted his head from the hole, looking extremely dizzy and muttering something about being too big to be useful, before dropping down onto the ground, seemingly glaring at his trainer.

"I didn't want to get squashed," Tallula said in a very innocent voice.

"^Well, warn me next time.^"

Tallula pulled out a pokéball that was required to get Gyarados out of the immense cavern, a red beam of light engulfing the pokémon and bringing him into the ball.

Tallula smiled and whispered at the ball, "Don't worry, I'll let you out as soon as I exit the cavern."

"Why are you whispering at that?"

Tallula smiled as she entered the hole and began up the ramp, "Because Gyarados is in it. He just doesn't fit in this thing."

Reskay grinned. "Good point," she answered, recalling her Lapras.

The two friends went up the tunnel, in silence at first. Then, Tallula said softly, "Reskay, thanks for sticking up for me."

The older girl stopped for a moment, before smiling.

"It was no problem. Tackle's been giving you trouble ever since you were elected-"

"Last week. I know."

"Still, it's just not right for him to be so uptight about you being in the Council," Reskay shrugged, "Lots of different elements have councils, and you're definitely not the first fourteen year old person to be in one."

The two continued on in silence, only pausing when they got outside to the bright sun of Valencia Island. Tallula pulled off the kimono-like dress that marked her status as a Council member, revealing the pair of shorts and tank top she always wore. Reskay stayed in hers.

"You know, I think we have more in common with our enemies than we think. We're just too ignorant to notice them sometimes," Tallula sighed a little. She began walking towards a building about twenty feet away.

Reskay followed with a small grin on her face, and tiptoed silently behind her friend. About a couple seconds later, Tallula groaned and without turning around, said, "Reskay, I can tell you're trying to sneak up on me again."

Reskay gave Tallula a childish pout before continuing on to the main Council building. As she walked inside after Tallula had gone in first, she noticed a very annoyed Tallula waiting for the guide to stop talking.

"Welcome to the Council building. This is where Water Council members have their main rooms and prepare for meetings. This is also the back building to their unofficial gym, where they do not give badges, but do train. Feel free to look around as long as you don't enter any of the Council's private offices," said the guide said eloquently, until he noticed the robe that was hung over Tallula's arm. Then he stared, and quickly answered, "I'm sorry, I guess I don't know you too well, Council Member."

"Tallula. I'm new," she gave a half smile, before jogging over to where Reskay was, who hadn't been bothered at all.

"They still think I'm a visitor." she grumbled quietly.

"That," Reskay pointed to the dress she was wearing, also symbolizing her Council status, " is why I always keep this on until I get in here."

"Well, you've been here on the council for two years, and this is my second week."

"Understood."

Tallula found the usual water pool and released the only pokémon she had brought along. Gyarados came out, his facial expression readable to only those who had raised any of his kind.

"^Finally, you let me out of that little thing,^" he said, his face spelling relief, "^I hate pokéballs. They're just not for me.^"

Reskay looked over to Tallula and asked, "What'd it say?"

"He hates pokéballs. And that's HE, not IT."

"You were always picky about pokémon being called by the term it."

"If you live with a Gyarados, you would know why."

Gyarados seemingly roared in approval, and Reskay had to cover her ears from the sound. Laughing, Tallula carefully snatched away Reskay's Lapras' ball and released the pokémon in the water as well.

As the two pokémon began to converse, the two girls headed over to their office rooms, smiling at each other as they entered the separate rooms. Tallula thought privately to herself as she cleaned herself up a bit. Each office had a desk, bookshelf, and bed, since some meetings were very close together and would just be a waste of time if a member went home, or they just lasted through many debates. She lay down on the bed now. What was the big deal about type rivalry? Sure, some types would die if they went near their weakness, like fire and water. Or water and grass. Or grass and fire. The list went on and on. Some things just didn't make much sense to Tallula; she had been brought up believing that only when something goes wrong could one turn to Krethuyr's side. That was the story behind her father's disappearance, anyway.

Sighing, Tallula put away the dress, grabbed out her laptop from her pack, and began typing up an email to Chad. Maybe he could help her straighten things up.

"^I don't get how Tallula thinks, no matter how long I've been with her,^" Gyarados rumbled to Lapras, "^I just think she understands different pokémon better that others, even other types. I guess she's kind of a pacifist.^"

"^Yes, we are a picky type, aren't we? It's in the old legends that the Jha'ik were some who caused much destruction and ruin to the world, despite the fact that we're also life givers,^" Lapras cooed in a somewhat mature and experienced voice. No matter where, she was always one to look up to.

Gyarados dived down for a moment, thinking to himself. It was true, and that was the reason why the true Jha'ik; the people of Water who wouldn't hurt a fly, much less other pokémon types; had gone into hiding so that no one would attempt to take vengeance on them. It was Krethuyr's dark people who had managed to pretend to become water trainers, then become leaders and reek destruction to all those who had tried to stop them. Namely, the Fslami.

Lapras came down as well, seemingly thinking along the same lines. "^I wonder what all this has to do with Tackle's scheming,^" she said thoughtfully.

"^Scheming?^" Gyarados turned around.

Lapras looked sheepishly at Gyarados before continuing on. "^Yes,^" she replied softly, "^I've been eavesdropping through his office door lately.^"

"^How? The doors are soundproof! You're at a high enough level to become slightly psychic, aren't you?^" Gyarados paused at the thought, but continued with his idea.

"^Yes. I'm not that strong yet, I just happened to hear into that man's mind one day. He was thinking about taking over the Council, or something like that. And then he was thinking that your trainer was in the way of his plan. And then something about Krethuyr.^" Lapras stopped.

A Seaking dropped down into the water, looking at the pair curiously. "^What were you talking about?^"

Lapras and Gyarados looked at each other. "^Nothing, just wondering if any challengers are gonna' beat Lance - um.Drake! Yeah, that's it!^" Gyarados said a little too quickly.

Seaking gave Gyarados a strange glance. "^Well, if you want to know, I'm sorry about the way that my Trainer treats yours. He changed dramatically about fourteen years ago. He started acting kind of.secretive and evil.^"

"^SECRETIVE AND EVIL?!?!?!?!?!?^" both Lapras and Gyarados shouted. Seaking flinched at the noise.

"^Yeah.please don't tell anyone! He would be really mad at me if he found out I told anyone.^" the poor fish looked at them innocently.

Lapras gave Seaking an understanding look. "^I understand. Now I get the evil part of it anyhow.^"

"^And it happened fourteen years ago.^" Gyarados thought, wondering to himself. "^Tallula is fourteen years old.^" he smiled with a sly flavor to him. "^I think it's time I look into this.^"

Lapras rolled her eyes. "^The detective is online, huh?^" she groaned softly, "^If you're going to try and solve this, you're going to need a lot of help.^"

Chad tapped a reply into his laptop. The email from Tallula had given him a thought to think. Why was Tackle so mean to her? He couldn't understand why; she was such a humorous person. A Raichu poked her head over his shoulder as he typed.

"^Can I type yet?^" she asked shyly.

"When I'm done. Which should be soon."

"^I see. I'm getting better, really I am!^"

"That's good."

Chad logged off the internet and opened a certain document entitled "Raichu's practicing."

"^Yeah!^" Raichu hopped around her trainer and scrolled down to the bottom of the page. "^Now where's the A key.Here it is!^" she punched in the appropriate key. "^Now, where's B.^"

Chad turned a laugh into a cough. As he left Raichu busily typing away; or at least trying to; he made his bed while watching her at the desk. His room was kind of small, but it worked for a room. There was nothing in there except a closet, a desk, a window, and a bed. He rarely stayed here anyway - it was only for a place to stay the night.

He turned down a hallway and found his mother talking on the phone. She peered at him, then smiled.

"He's here. Chad, it's your friend, Brand," she handed the phone to Chad.

Chad took the phone gladly and listened in. "Hello?"

"Hey man, it's me! We were going to Valencia and meet your girlfriend, remember?" Brand's voice rose from the other end.

"Yeah, so?"

"The ferry's leaving in five minutes!"

"HOLY CRAP!! I'm not even dressed yet!!"

"Well dude, hurry up!"

"I'll be there, okay?"

"Kay' bye."

Now, Chad raced through the house. "Raichu, you need to shut down the laptop! We're going!"

Raichu gazed sadly at the screen of the laptop. "^I really need to work on this.^" she sighed as she initiated the shut down process.