Disclaimer: Pokémon does not belong to me. (Anyone can guess that!) There are many mentions of things from Aliet Faslami's Fire trilogy (Which are all done, but only the first has been posted. Believe me, I know). Before going on, I would suggest that you read Aliet Faslami's "Fire Element" and Shatai's Prologue about that series that are going on. (There are other people who have parts in them.I don't know if they have accounts or not.). It would help understanding my addition to the series. Now, on with the story!





Chapter 2



Tallula carefully pulled a stray hair out of her face. It returned a moment later. She brushed it out the way again. Again it returned. This time, she licked her finger, carefully wet the strand, and pulled it roughly out of the way. She read the schedule on the board by the dock.

"Let's see here.It's 1: 30 right now, so the ferry should be arriving any time now," she talked to herself as she checked the board.

She gazed across the wide blue expanse that was the ocean, barely making out a slight shape that was the nearest island. There was a quick moving dot that slowly grew in size that was obviously the ferry. The wind was blowing lightly that day, making it the perfect time to go surfing, cruising, or wave riding. But she had another task, which was meeting with Chad.

The ferry came to a stop as a loud blaring voice called, "Thank you for riding with us today! This is Valencia Island; repeat, Valencia Island! If you are going on to Mikan Island, please stay and enjoy the view! Have a nice day!"

Tallula watched as people began to disembark. Her eye caught sight of rather messy blonde hair being pulled at from on board. She smiled, knowing who it was.

Chad stepped onto the dock, madly trying to brush his hair. He had barely made it to the dock, and was still trying to get ready. Another boy, slightly taller, who had brown hair and was wearing a red shirt and khakis, was shaking his head and sighing.

"Hey Chad! Over here!" she called, waving and running forward.

Chad abandoned the comb in his hand and rushed forward as well. "Hey, we finally get together here!" he shouted, but then slipped on some water that had been spilled earlier and fell. Tallula giggled and carefully stepped forward, helping her boyfriend up. He grumbled as he picked up his comb and stuffed it back into his pocket.

The boy behind Chad looked at Tallula curiously. Tallula ignored the look as Chad grinned. "I've never introduced the two of you, have I?" he asked, smiling a little lopsidedly, "This is Brand. He's a Fire trainer, trains Magmar. Brand, this is Tallula. She's a water master and favors her Gyarados."

"A Jha'ik?" the boy, now known as Brand, asked.

"Yeah, but it doesn't mean I hate the Fslam," Tallula yawned, then smiled playfully.

"But.they were the ones who started the wars in the first place, wanting to extinguish all the Fslami."

"Here, there's more to it than that. There are actually two groups of Jha'ik. The larger one, known as Gedenbu, started the Wars and ravaged those of other types, even those of the other group. It is said that false dark Jha'ik that prayed to Krethuyr led them," she paused at Brand's puzzled look. "Krethuyr is the same as Shietaor," she explained, before going on. "The other group, the Yatsuni, were pacifists. They didn't believe in war, so they stayed home and watched TV," Tallula stopped at Chad's outraged laugh, then continued, "Well, they would have, had TV's been invented. Today, no one knows if they are descended from a Gedenbu or a Yatsuni, and no one really wants to know, considering that many find the cause for the Wars shameful."

"I see," Brand sighed.

The two of them stayed silent for a moment, not meeting each other's gaze. Chad finally gasped. The other two looked at him strangely.

"Stop doing that!" he said unhappily, "I start holding my breath whenever that happens! I can't hold my breath for over 30 seconds!"

Brand looked over at his friend, before giving an odd smile. "Well then, m'man," he said, patting Chad on the back, "let's get you to the Center to try and fix this little problem of yours."

Tallula and Chad burst out laughing. "Not a bad idea!" Chad grinned, before turning to Tallula for confirmation.

She only shrugged, "I left most of my team there for a checkup anyway, so I can go pick them up."

Laughing, the group left the harbor and began on the trip down to the Center. It was a beautiful day; the sun was shining brightly, there was a slight breeze, and best of all, it wasn't even too hot. Brand even sighed lightly and leaned against a palm tree for five minutes before Chad and Tallula had to bribe him to get up and keep on moving.

"But this is my first time to Valencia Island!" he complained as he got up. Tallula laughed.

As they walked on the trail heading up to the Center, Chad asked, "So, you told me how Tackle treated you, but how was the rest of the meeting?"

Tallula sighed before answering, "Relatively boring. Besides the fact that a Fslam pokémon was brought back from the dead. I think it was a Char."

Brand stopped dead in his tracks and stared at her. "Did you say.a Char was brought back from the Black Fog's realm?"

She nodded. "Yeah, that's what some of the members were arguing about. I didn't see anything wrong with that, but Tackle," she rolled her eyes at this, "believed that it was something that was very important to the Council and was talking about how the Fslam are our great enemies and that they were threatening us. I'll bet he came from a Krethuyr loving Gedenbu leader." At this, she scowled, but Chad grinned at the slight insult.

Brand shook his head. "That's not what I mean, but three years ago, the First pokémon of Senior Council member Aliet Eaton was killed in a pagan sacrifice to a Seaking. It was a Charizard."

"That makes sense now, considering that Tackle is a Seaking and Goldeen trainer," Tallula thought out loud as the automatic door to the Center opened directly in front of her.

The Center was a nice, air conditioned and generally quiet place. The only person inside it at the time was Nurse Joy, who smiled when she saw Tallula walk in the door. "Hello Tallula!" she said, "Your pokémon are in perfect condition. Would you like me to get them for you?"

Tallula grinned. "No thank you, I'll go get them myself. Thanks for the offer though."

Nurse Joy understood the bond between the young Master and nodded. Tallula walked back out and beckoned to the two boys outside. They followed her to the back of the Center, where there was a large pool. At once, a Magikarp jumped out of the water, called out, and came back down into Tallula's arms.

"^Where were you? I was waiting!^" the female fish grinned, "^Everyone else is too. How's Toreyu?^"

Smiling, Tallula answered, "He's great, but he might have a headache since he bashed his head into the entrance of the Council Hall."

"^Well he should know better," another voice came up. An Abra strode up, leaning to one side. "^It's not like he can fit through that opening.^"

Chad scratched his head and asked, "What're they talking about?"

Tallula translated, smiling as her Dragonair joined into the conversation. "^Toreyu isn't as serious as most of his kind are. Although he is just as picky,^" Dragonair cocked her head to one side as she lifted half of her slender body out of the water pool.

"Why don't you all talk to him then?" Tallula picked out one of her pokéballs and tossed it into the pool. There was a light thud on the bottom, and then a huge shape materialized as the ball returned to Tallula's waiting hand. Gyarados lifted his huge head out and roared.

"^Toreyu!!^" was the loud reply. Tallula's entire team came out from hiding and greeted Gyarados. Magikarp even jumped back out of her arms and swam up to the sea serpent. Abra floated over the pool so as not to get wet, and an Aerodactyl sat at the edge. Dragonair groaned at the antics of her fellow team members, but went to talk to the Gyarados as well. Everyone crowded over to where Aerodactyl was perched so that he would be included.

Gyarados turned to where Brand and Chad were standing. "^Yo boys, come on! Let out your teams!^"

"Dude, what was that roar for?" Brand asked, puzzled.

"He wants you to let out your teams. Probably wants to party," Tallula shrugged, before grinning at the two boys.

Chad immediately pulled all six balls off of his belt. Careful to aim away from the pool because of his long range throw, he yelled, "Everyone, come on out!"

Raichu appeared first. She cried out in glee at seeing Gyarados, and rushed forward. Next came a Mareep, who ran up as well. A Noctowl, came next, flying up while a Staryu bounced forward and jumped into the pool. A Haunter floated up to the group grinning at Gyarados, and finally, a Pincer strode up, careful not to accidentally catch anything in her strange jaws.

Brand felt a little uncomfortable, but let out his team as well. Out came a Magmar, Magby, Victreebell, Mr. Mime, Machamp and Scizor. "Well, I guess you guys can have fun," he shrugged nervously.

"Oh come on!!" Chad patted his friend on the back, "I would trust Tallula with my life," he turned to her and grinned, "Since she's saved mine before."

Tallula blushed. Then she brightened up. "So." she began, "Where would you guys like to go? We could go check out the hall, we could go for some food, we could check out the air field, we could go see Professor Ivy-"

"Yeah, I heard that she has a new assistant," Chad began thinking out loud.

Tallula nodded. "Uh huh. His name is Brock, and he used to be the Pewter City Gym Leader in Kanto."

"He must really like Ivy if he came all this way to become her assistant," Brand said thoughtfully, before smiling devilishly.

"As in 'like' like?" Chad asked mischievously.

"Most likely," Tallula finished. The group of three looked at each other for a moment, and then burst out laughing. The pokémon looked at them all questioningly.

"Come on. Let's go to one of those restaurants that you talked about," Chad tried to stifle his laughter as he talked.

"Sure," the other two said at the same time. Tallula looked back.

"You guys behave yourselves, okay?" she yelled over her shoulder.

"^No problem. I'll make sure everything is under control.and by the way, start calling me Toreyu and Magikarp Uliya!! She might evolve soon.^" Gyarados yelled back.

"Sure thing Toreyu," Tallula saluted before turning back to the boys.

The pokémon giggled mischievously as the three teenagers strode off.