Master Six 2:

Truth and Consequences

Chapter 3

Ding Dong!

Amber Lynn's family lived in Vermillion City. It had taken a day to get there from Pewter City, especially since they couldn't use Amber Lynn's special speed bike. It only fit one person. And there were three of them.

"What are your parents like?" Gavin asked as they stood on the porch to the two-story farmhouse.

"My parents will be great," she answered, "my mom will be excited to see you. My dad will be kind of mellow, but still like to meet you. My little sister Jackie will be, cool about it all I guess. But Rose, she's the youngest, she will be a pain. She always is when I bring friends over."

"Do your parents really think we're a gang?" Heather asked, curious about how long this was taking.

"I don't know, I doubt it though."

They were startled by a lot of noise coming from the other side of the door. There was a loud sound of little children stomping through a house. They heard a distinct "no Rosie! Let me get it!" And finally a "Children, sit down!" Then the door opened.

And they were greeted by a middle-aged black woman with curled hair.

Amber Lynn's mother.

"Oh!" she started, "Amber Lynn you are so beautiful!" She instantly grabbed Amber Lynn up into a huge hug. Amber Lynn struggled to get out.

"Mom," Amber Lynn said as she was set back down, "I would like you to meet my friends, Heather and Gavin."

"Oh!" she answered while giving both Heather and Gavin a hug, "come in come in, all of you. Honey! Amber Lynn is here, with company."

"Hi daddy!" Amber Lynn cheered as she entered the house. She ran to him and gave him a hug.

"Hey AL," he answered her and returned the hug.

Then she turned around to the two little kids who had been following her and gave each of them a hug. Heather and Gavin stood uncomfortably in the foyer.

"Daddy, sisters," Amber Lynn said as her father got out of his chair, "these are my friends and teammates, Heather and Gavin."

"Nice to meet you," Amber Lynn's father said shaking Gavin's hand.

"S'up," Jackie said trying to sound cool and nonchalant.

"Hiya," Rose said pulling on Gavin's leg.

The mother hugged everybody again.

Rose scrambled everywhere trying to meet everybody simultaneously.

It was a joyous family reunion.

The family gathered around The Master Six trio and listened to stories of pokemon adventures and encounters. It was a wonderful night. The Mason family was nice and understanding. They were sad that three of Amber Lynn's new friends couldn't make it, but they were glad to meet Heather and Gavin.

They were proud of Amber Lynn's invention. And the little girls were amazed by Heather's flute, and the parents weren't happy with Gavin's guns. They were proud of their little girl and the great things she was doing. They wished the best of luck to The Master Six in the future, and weren't afraid about Team Rocket attacking them to get at Amber Lynn.

Then, after all the stories and welcomes, Gavin and Heather were invited to spend the night and stay longer. They were happy to stay; they had nothing better to do. The rest of the team hadn't reported back yet, heck, it had only been a day or so.

You know, a little vacation could be just what they needed.

Who knows, it could be fun.

* * * *

"Good morning Heather," the mother said in a too cheery voice, "did you sleep well?"

How cliché, Heather thought, but nice.

"Fine," was the reply. Heather was still asleep as far as she was concerned. It had been a nice sleep. She shared a bed with Amber Lynn. Amber Lynn got up what seemed like hours ago. Heather had to be woken up by Rose, who took it upon herself to run into the room and jump on Heather.

"Mornin' Miss Lapier," the father said, he was reading the newspaper.

"Fine," was the reply. Heather dragged herself to the kitchen table. Amber Lynn, Jackie, Rose, and Gavin were seated at the table eating waffles. The mother was busy bodying around the kitchen making the waffles.

"Hey Heather," Amber Lynn said also too cheery.

"Fine," was the reply.

This family got up too early.

Heather sat down next to Gavin, and instantly Mrs. Mason slid a plate of waffles in front of her. Mechanically, Heather grabbed some syrup, poured it on, and then started eating.

"Morning Gavin," Heather said sleepily.

"Fine," was the reply.

"You two sure do sleep late," Mrs. Mason said to Heather and Gavin.

Yep, Heather thought still shoveling waffles into her mouth.

"Rose!" Mrs. Mason instructed the youngest, "watch where you are dripping you syrup! Be careful. Honey, come get some breakfast."

"After the paper."

"Amber Lynn, see to it your friends here are set. I can't seem to get through to them."

Heather smiled to herself. Adults.

"You okay fearless leader?" Amber Lynn asked helpfully.

"Yeah yeah," Heather answered, "thanks for the waffles Mrs. Mason."

"Oh, don't mention it. Anything to help Amber Lynn's friends. You should know that by now."

"Hey AL," Mr. Mason called from his paper, "what was the name of your little team again?"

"The Master Six daddy," Amber Lynn answered.

"Well, you're in the paper."

What!? Heather snapped awake. In the paper. The Vermillion Times was a rather large newspaper, and her team was in it. But how? Their mission had been a secret, in a secret compound, against a secret evil army. How was it in the paper?

"What?!" Amber Lynn squeaked and shot up a foot in the air.

Both Gavin and Heather jumped up from their chairs and ran to Mr. Mason. Amber Lynn was close behind. The rest of the family stayed at the breakfast table and turned around to face the living room.

"Can I see that?" Heather asked Mr. Mason.

"Sure," he said pointing to the article, "second page, right here. "Youths Involved in Water Show Riot." Let's see. Three youths, believed to be members of a new renegade pokemon team, The Master Six, stole stunt Pidgeots and attacked and aquatic acrobat performance involving a large Lapras. Two males flew the Pidgeots, while a blonde girl who was chosen as an audience volunteer performer was taken to the Lapras. Only to fall off into the water, then get rescued by the two guys. The Master Six then fled the scene, returned the Pidgeots, and were lost heading out to sea. "There is an eye-witness account from some acrobat guy. Also some talk about mild crowd rioting."

"HAH!" Amber Lynn exploded into laughter.

"You know anything about this?" the father asked.

"No," Amber Lynn answered, "but I can imagine it pretty well." She moved away laughing hysterically.

"That would be our three other members," Heather explained, "I'm sure I'll get a good reason for this when they get back. I'd hoped for publicity somewhere, this isn't what I wanted."

"Any publicity is good publicity," the father said.

"They better have a good reason," Gavin muttered, "can I see this section now?"

The father handed over the paper, and Gavin retired to another chair in the living room. Heather walked back to the table to finish her waffles, shaking her head. She told those three not to get into trouble. Yet it didn't seem to surprise her much that they did. She couldn't tell Mr. and Mrs. Mason that she perfectly understood the article. She couldn't tell them why it had happened. That Lindsey needed to get into contact with the Lapras apparently. Although she thought that they probably could have found a better way than stealing stunt Pidgeots and high jacking a water show, but whatever.

Heather sat down and started eating her waffles again. The article now brought some interesting thoughts to Heather's mind. Thoughts that she had wanted to avoid, but would have to come out sooner or later. She looked at Amber Lynn, calming down and again eating her waffles. These thoughts didn't include Gavin, it was his idea to create the team, he wasn't included. They involved Amber Lynn though, and everybody else.

What could they have accomplished if they didn't join The Master Six?

Amber Lynn and Rodney both invented wonderful devices that could possibly make them rich. The parents probably had thought this, but let is slide because their children wanted to do this. So it was decided that they would join, and they decided not to cash in on their inventions for the time being. They would remain solo acts, and they wouldn't sell their inventions to Silph Co. or anybody. Everybody seemed okay with it; it's just that Heather felt kind of guilty that she was holding them from riches. But they assured her a lot that they were happier living a life of adventure and crime-fighting. Riches didn't matter at the moment.

Lindsey wasn't too much of a problem. She didn't have anywhere to go, so it was only natural that she join them and stay with them. The Master Six was the only family Lindsey had. The real question was with Zak.

They never talked about it. Face-to-face. Heather to Zak.

What could Zak have accomplished if he remained by himself instead of joining Heather's team?

He, after all, had the most powerful pokemon in the world. He could win almost any battle. He was a psychic pokemon master. He had other psychic pokemon, and he was good with all of them. Zak could have become so much without The Master Six. A gym leader, Pokemon League, the Elite Four. The sky could have been the limit.

Could have been.

But wasn't.

He never talked about it.

Heather never brought it up.

Why had Zak joined her little "renegade pokemon team"?

He could have had everything, but he chose her petty attempt at revenge.

Why had he joined?

What was in it for him?

Wha...

"Hey Heather!" Amber Lynn's excited call interrupted Heather's thoughts, "wanna go out on the town?"

"Wha..., oh, sure."

So Heather went to her room, took a shower, got dressed, and joined Amber Lynn, Gavin and Jackie at the front door.

"Everybody ready?" Amber Lynn asked the little group, "then let's go."

So they went.

They went out into the world of Vermillion City. It was not an incredibly large city, but it was okay. It was a harbor city, and usually catered to the large-scale cruise ship the S.S. Anne. But the Anne was gone for now.

They mostly went shopping, especially with three girls in the group. They bought some rather unnecessary supplies in the PokeMart. All four of them found some trainers mulling around and fought with pokemon. The members of The Master Six actually got to sign an autograph of one of the trainers who recognized their "powers". That made them feel pretty good.

They visited, but didn't go into, the Vermilion City Gym. None of them had the Thunder Badge, but they really didn't want to get it today. All in all they had a fun day. They returned to the Mason home around 5pm, and were met with a delicious supper.

And of course, what was an evening without a startling surprise.

"Miss Lapier," Mr. Mason said after supper when everybody was lounging in the living room.

"Yes?" Heather asked looking up from the board game the kids were playing.

"Well," the father started, "this may sound kind of strange, but you got a letter in today's mail."

"What?" Heather asked, how had she gotten a letter in the Mason's mail. This was only the second day of her visit.

"Huh?" Amber Lynn and Gavin both said, getting up from the game.

"Here," the father said handing the envelope to Heather.

She took it, and ripped it open. She pulled the one-page letter out, and read it silently to herself.

Dear Heather Lapier,

Your father is alive, and we are close to finding him. We offer you the chance to join us in meeting your father. If you are interested, meet us on the roof of the Celadon City Department Store.

Signed,

A Friend

After reading the letter, Heather stood open-mouthed and stunned.

"What does it say?" Amber Lynn asked impatiently

"My father," Heather whispered.

"What?" Gavin asked.

Amber Lynn grabbed the letter out of Heather's hands and her and Gavin started reading it. It was short, they understood Heather's mood. They too stood open-mouthed and stunned. In unison they raised their heads and looked at Heather.

"Heather..." Gavin urged quietly.

"What is it?" the mother asked, "what does it say?"

"We're going to Celadon City," was all that Heather said.