-Chapter Ten-


(New Team Rocket HQ, Agent Morgan's Room, Viridian City)

The room was silent. By this time, Meowth and the other pokémon had come inside and were all sitting at the foot of James' bed. Jessie was standing at the window, watching the lights go out all around the city. Dr. Brown stood to leave, but stayed there, just standing, for several minutes. Meowth cleared his throat to speak.
"Gee, Doc…I didn't know your name was Devon, heh."
Even though that was not the thought plaguing their minds, everyone in the room felt a little bit of relief at the comment.
"I should be going," Dr. Brown said. "It's late."
"Doctor?" Jessie called, turning from the window. "What happened to the relics?"

(Professor Ivy's Laboratory, Valencia Island)

"Well, no one can say what happened to them exactly," Professor Oak explained. "We never saw where they went. We have an idea of the general location, but there had never been a reason to actually go and find them."
"Until now," Professor Ivy commented.
Samuel nodded at her.
"Yes. Now I believe is a good time to find them."
Misty looked up at him from her hands, which were clasped, tightly in her lap.
"Professor? How many were there again?"
"Not including the chalice, there were five, or six, really."

(Blaine's Residence, Cinnabar Island)

"An urn," counted Blaine.
"A pendant," added Koga.
"A ring."
"A flask."
"And two spoons."
Blaine looked out at the faces of his guests.
"Now, I have called you all here for a reason besides just listening to us reminisce. I am planning on finding the relics. And I knew Koga would help. But we two can't do it alone."
The others exchanged looks, all uncertain, but all knowing what they would do.
"Is that a yes, then?" Blaine queried, a hint of his trademark grin pulling at his mouth.

(New Team Rocket HQ, Agent Morgan's Room, Viridian City)

"Yes. We'll go."
Dr. Brown beamed.
"I thought you would."
The pokémon looked a little apprehensive. Meowth nudged them, smirking.
"Come on, think about it—free vacation," he joked.
They smiled a little bit. Dr. Brown took out a map from his clipboard.
"We'll be heading for a land much different than our own. It's a place called Venice. Venice, Italy."

(Professor Ivy's Laboratory, Valencia Island)

"Us professors will be one group. Ash, you and your friends will be another."
Everyone nodded in agreement. Ash smiled at Pikachu.
"Are you ready, Pikachu? This could be the biggest adventure of our life!"
"Pika! Pika!" Pikachu cheered.
Professor Oak held out two maps.
"Ivy, Elm, and I will be going to a place called Lapland. Pack warm clothes, my colleagues, warm clothes."
Ivy and Elm exchanged glances.
"Ash, you all will be going to another place named Bahamas."
"Will we have to pack warm clothes too, Professor?" May asked.
"No, May, no," Samuel chuckled.

(Blaine's Residence, Cinnabar Island)

"We're all splitting up into two groups. The first group is Me, Whitney and Gary, and Lily. And we are going to Kenya!" Blaine exclaimed, passing out maps.
Koga handed his team their maps.
"And the rest of us will be heading for Brazil."
Blaine extended his arms and grinned.
"We're all going to have such a good time!"
"And if we die, we die with honor," Koga added solemnly.
Blaine punched him lightly in the arm.
"You're such a card!"
Gary's eyes were wide as he stared at the map. Whitney looked at him sympathetically.
"You know, Gary, you don't have to go. It does sound a bit dangerous. I could pay for a ticket back to Pallet if you wanted…"
Gary shook his head.
"No, no. That's okay."
He reached over and took her hand.
"I want to go where you go."

(Ketchum Residence, Pallet Town)

Delia lay on her bed, her eyes closed and her breathing steady as she slept. Oakley sat beside her and brushed some hair out of her face before leaning down and kissing her lightly. He stood and left the bedroom, passing by the sleeping Mimey. In the living room, he saw Max sprawled out on the couch, snoring peacefully. Oakley got a blanket out of the closet and draped it over the young boy. He then left the Ketchum house, pulling on his red TR jacket.
Max awoke at the sound of the door being closed. He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes, pausing to wonder where the blanket came from. He gave out a little yelp, realizing he had fallen asleep. He opened the door and looked out. He saw Oakley walking briskly down the road. He gritted his teeth and walked out, following the Rocket member.
"Oakley!" He called out. "Where do you think you're going?"
"Go back to the house, kid," Oakley said over his shoulder. "I have something to do, and I can't have you tagging along."
Max caught up to him and frowned at him.
"What are you going to do? I know you're in Team Rocket, so it must be something no good!"
Oakley ignored this comment and made a swift turn with his heels off the road. Max stopped.
"Hey! Where are you going? The road goes this way!"
"I know. I'm going to the river."
Max blinked.
"The river?"
He watched Oakley's back before deciding to follow.
"Go on back, kid," Oakley said again.
Max didn't say anything, just kept walking beside him. Oakley sighed.
"Fine. Look, I'm going on a rescue mission, okay? Two of our agents are being held prisoner up in the mountains, and I'm going to get them out."
Max looked up towards the shadowy mountains.
"Huh? You mean that isn't some big Team Rocket scheme going on up there?"
"No. Not everything bad that happens in the world is Team Rocket's doing."
"Oh."
Max remained silent all the way to the river. A raft had already been prepared. Oakley began to push it out into the water. The two didn't say anything to each other as they both jumped onto the raft and began to sail towards the Indigo Mountains.

(Midas' Fortress, The Nest, Indigo Mountains)

Midas lit a match and brought it to the shining chalice.
"I hunger for more freedom, Midas. More space."
Midas threw the used match over his shoulder.
"I knew, my Lordship. Do not worry. Now that we have Ni Muchiwa we have enough members in our little family to begin searching for the other relics, as you called them. Soon you will be free. And then you will help me destroy my cousin and his dynasty."
"Yes," the Lord of Darkness said smoothly. "And you will help me to destroy this whole world and rebuild it all, rebuild everything to our liking."
"And, as promised, I will have many queens for you."
He smiled evilly.
"My cousin's daughter—Jessie—she will be your first."
"Wonderful. Delicious."
Midas closed his eyes and nodded as he fell into a deep sleep, dreaming wonderful, delicious dreams of the day Giovanni would realize that Midas Ranielli was by far the greater of the Raniellis. It was only a matter of time…just a small matter of time.

End of Book One: Dark Days