Chapter 8: Giovanni's Revenge

We took the stairs and exited the building as quickly as possible. It only took Matt about 5 minutes before he was awake enough to walk on his own. But we stayed close beside him just to be sure.

When we reached the first floor, Kim opened the metal door and Rattata poked out its head and peered both ways carefully, "RRR-Rattata," it said, scurrying into the hall. We followed and headed back down the hall we had first come in from. Sneaking down the hall, we came back to the back desk, where the mysterious man had opened the door just hours ago. He was gone now, and we dashed for the door.

The door creaked as it opened and we were shocked to see Giovanni standing before us just a little ahead of the bottom of the stairs. His hands were in his pockets and he still carried the devilish smile on his face.

"I see you've made it past my best team and the professor," he frowned, "Who shall be demoted, thanks to you. Frankly, I'm not surprised he allowed you to save your friend," he sneered, "But I've had enough of your little escapades tonight." he stepped towards us and glared at me, "Pika, if you would have only joined me... Now, you've left me with no choice. Because of your decision, these children will pay the price."

He was up to something horrible. I could feel it in my guts. Everyone else sensed this as well.

"What are you talking about?" Kim asked.

"Always the demanding questioner, aren't you?" he asked, not looking for an answer, "I loathe that quality," he paused and continued, "I have a deep love for fire pokémon - though I don't look it. I've always admired the powerful element that they possess and the rage with which they release it..."

"Get to the point," Kim half-yelled.

He again shot a look of anger at Kim, "One of my hand-raised charizards is at this moment destorying the thing you hold most dear..."

"What?" I asked, almost not wanting to know.

"Even if you were to run now," he said, stepping out of our way, "You will be too late. It will already be burnt to the ground."

Our hearts broke all at once, "You didn't!" Kim shouted, "...PikaPals... You couldn't!"

"I did," he chortled to himself as he pushed past us and went back inside. He caught the door and turned around, "I'll be waiting here for you Pika. You have no life with them now. Join me and I will show you how great the good life can be!" The door slammed as he disappeared within. Kim began to sob as her pokémon tried to comfort her.

As soon as he exited, Doduo appeared from the brickwall alleyway carrying a saddened Hunter. Doduo stopped just in front of us. Hunter carefully hopped down and greeted Matt with a hug, patting him on the back, "You okay, man?" he asked.

"I am," he answered, "But... PikaPals isn't," he stuttered, tears forming in his eyes, "This is all my fault. If I wouldn't have..."

"Don't blame yourself," Hunter said, "Let's get back and see what we can do. I can't stand this place anymore."

Matt rubbed his eyes, and helped Kim up, and Hunter hopped back on Doduo. Ditto copied itself into another Doduo and Kim hopped onto it, along with Itsy, Bitsy and Rattata, "We're going to try and stop the fire," Kim said, "You guys just try to make it back...And stay out of trouble this time," she said wiping a tear and trying her best to look optimistic.

"We will," Matt replied, "You guys better hurry."

With that last comment, they weaved back through the mini-maze of walls as Matt and I followed. Once we reached the street, they sped off at full speed, leaving us standing under a old streetlight in front of the grafittied brickwall.

"Let's get going," he sighed, and we started down the street.

We walked in silence for a few moments before Matt began to speak again, "Pika, I'm sorry I got you into trouble."

"You didn't... I brought this upon you guys," I sighed, kicking a small pebble down the sidewalk.

"Well, if I wouldn't have stopped, we would've been safe in the pokémon center," he frowned, "I put us both in danger."

"But you couldn't have known," I tugged on his pants leg to get him to look me in the eyes, "They were following us... Even if we got the papers, they would've jumped us."

He stopped and finally looked at me, "I guess your right."

"I have something to tell you Matt," I started.

"What?" he sat down on the ground.

"When you asked me who I wanted my trainer to be.. well..."

"Yes, what is it?"

"Well, because of everything that happened, I didn't get to tell you..."

"Tell me what, Pika?" He picked me up and set me on his lap.

"I-I want... you to be MY trainer," I cried, giving him a tight hug. I began to sob, I couldn't help myself. I hugged him like it was the only thing keeping me breathing. He sat for a moment, stunned.

"Me?" he said, "Me? Why do you want me? I've never even had a pokémon..." he turned his head away, "Why would you want a loser like me for a trainer?"

"Why?" I practically shouted, "Because you are the best trainer! You cared about me almost more than yourself... You've taken care of me - and you've taught me to believe in myself."

"I have?" he asked. His eyes swelled with tears, and he returned my hug, "Thank you Pika! You've made my dream come true. I've always wanted a pokémon... I just never knew I would find one like you - you're the best!"

We cried happily for a minute before Matt stood up and set me on his shoulder, "Friends forever?" he asked, his eyes fresh with energy, holding out his hand.

I grasped it, "Yep! You're stuck with me!" I laughed.

"Okay!" Matt called, "Then let's go! Maybe we can still save PikaPals... You've done enough tonight, pal. It's my turn to do some work," he began to race back towards PikaPals, as fast as possible for a human to go. I held on tightly as the wind rushed past my face.


END of Chapter 8