AN:

Before we get started, I'll just say this chapter's pretty short, since I split it in half, since it may take a while to finish the second half (I'm banned from the computer except for on Saturdays _)

*looking over the reviews* Wow! I've gotten so much feedback! And you like the story, you really like it! ^____^ *full of happy juice* I think this is the most I've ever gotten, actually. It look like what's keeping you reading is Ozaki herself, along with all the other characters…which doesn't surprise me. I tried really hard to match the personality and- I'm getting way ahead of myself here. Anyway…where was I? Anyhoo, I'll also try and keep the paragraphs a little easier to read (it looks a lot different uploaded than it does on Word), I know how frustrating it can be. (and the headaches it causes! _o) So…in short, thanks a lot for reading, and stay with us, there's still a lot of ground to cross!

KEY

"blah" - speech (pokemon and human speech are written the same way)

'blah' - thought

blah - telepathy

(AN: blah)- author's note

~~~~~~- time passes

"Are you taking over

Or are you taking orders?

Are you going backwards

Or are you going forwards?" - White Riot; The Clash

Ever had a dream that kept coming back each and every night? Mine was always the one about frolicking in sushi, miles upon miles of sushi. Then after what feels like hours of frolicking, I start to eat, and of course that's when I wake up. When I do, something bad usually happens, like the time that flock of pidgey attacked my head (I think because there was food in it), or getting captured. So now for me, sushi means my subcon's telling me "wake up you imbecile or prepare for some pain and badness!" The morning after I met the inkblot I felt the soft warmth of the sunrise cascading across my face. I yawned, stretched and awoke with memories of the sushi dream swimming about in my head. 'That can't be good.'

I looked up to discover a solemn looking geodude floating above my head staring down at me with a stern, steady stone faced expression . His arms were crossed and tapped a finger impatiently, as if he were a teacher waiting for a student to admit they didn't do their homework.

I scratched an ear and gave him a smug look "Well, good morning mister sunshine." The geodude's frown seemed to sour even more and mumbled to himself. "Ordalphus wishes to see you." he said in a low grumbling voice and led the way. We trekked down a labyrinth of old hallways and tunnels all winding and turning, they seemed to go in endless directions over and over. The smells of linoleum glass and lemony-fresh floors filled the air and fiddled with my sinuses.

The morning's golden rays were stirring the others around us as we traveled. Fur, skin and scales stretched out and twisted in liquid-like fashions as backs arched to greet the sun and an array of bright feathers shone and glinted in daylight. They were huddled about talking, whispering, gossiping about the events of last night, some pointing a paw or talon in my direction as they whispered in hushed voices and trying to stare without me noticing. But of course, I noticed everything. Their faces were clouded with suspicion and doubt for the newcomer from shadows and darkness, the strange one that said nothing to no one, the one that talked with the other strange darkling with the gray fur, the one who had the nerve to laugh at the events last night, laughing at the flaming frightened pokemon , laughing at their panic, laughing at them. All of them. Their collective and different faces all saying everything while saying nothing. I sighed and nipped at an itch on my hind leg casually. Let them think what they want. It was no business of mine if we didn't share the same sense of humor.

The geodude stopped at a doorway and gestured I should go on in. I poked my head in the room and sniffed cautiously. Nothing smelled or out of place- and the irritating cleaner smell was scarce as well.

'Well, I suppose I've nothing to lose' I strolled in head high and tail erect in the classic confident manner of the umbreon. Ahead I could see the silhouettes of five pokemon in the middle of the large room in a semicircle, all sitting on fancy pillows sitting in the light of the sun that shone down from a skylight, the only source of light in the large room. I stood before all- stood in the shadows of course, out of the direct sunlight. In the blazing light of the sun I regarded the five pokemon curiously, now that I could see them all clearly: a combusken, magneton, zangoose, numel, and gardevoir, all seated comfortably on pillows- satin pillows that shined brightly. Their faces were for the most part, emotionless, but I could sense feeling of excitement coming from them. The figure in the middle- the numel- gave me a soft welcoming smile. To the eyes of the average pokemon, he appeared harmless and more than a little sleepy. But a closer look revealed a pulsing aura of power, importance, and cunning. He had the strong scent of volcanic ash around him, as well as a hot blanket of air that seemed to stream out from inside of him. He was one of those pokemon that can't be judged on looks, or species alone. Immediately I knew who I was face to face with.

I half smiled at him "Good morrow, Ordalphus."

He blinked his half-lidded eyes curiously "Who told you what I looked like?"

"No one. It wasn't that hard to figure out. Now, will somebody please inform me as to what in Raiku's name is going on?"

The gardevoir sitting next to Ordalphus put her hands of her hips sourly "You show some respect! What gives you the right to speak to the great Ordalphus, master of the infernos, commander of light and righteousness, in such a snide manner?"

"What gives you the right to call me from halfway across Rustburo in the rain with your fancy-pants psywave and then keep me waiting all night?" I snapped back.

The gardevoir's face was the very portrait of shock. Obviously, no one had spoken to her in this way before. This got me to wondering just how much influence these five had around here after all. I had a feeling it was a lot, judging by the look of outrage on the psychic's face.

She glared daggers in my direction, psychic energy going up and down in excitement "You- you dare-?! You cannot address me like that, you insolent darkling!"

"Hmm. That's odd, seeing as how I just did."

The gardevoir's sides heaved with pure outrage, emerald hair quivering violently. I was getting the feeling she wanted to blast my head off with a Psywave, and judging by the look in here eyes, she most definitely would if not for the fact it would be useless against me. The zangoose and combustien exchanged amused looks as I flashed her the long eerily smug sharpedo smirk I learned from Namir. The combusken and zangoose to chuckled under their breath. The gardevoir began to say more, but was stopped by a yellow paw.

"Calm yourself, Winterleaf." said Ordalphus.

At his order, she settled into silence, arms crossed and mumbling grouchily under her breath and sulking on her fancy blue-violet pillow.

"Now then." said the numel, settling himself on his own pillow of fiery gold and ruby "Before we get down to business, I should think we five should make ourselves known. I, as you know am Ordalphus. The charming creature you spoke with a moment ago is Winterleaf, my consultant"

Hearing her name, she gave me an ugly sneer and continued sulking. Red eyes rolled in my sockets. Psychics.

"The fellow to my right" continued the numel "Is Daskar, our most talented battler, strategist and chief of combat tactics, to put it simply."

The zangoose nodded in greeting, a calm collected gesture. I noticed the scars- fang scar it looked like- on his face sides and neck. Daskar reminded me of the stereotypical action hero: the strong silent muscular fella. Not exactly the lighthearted sort of pokemon, very serious. All the time. As I said- like a stereotypical action hero. I can bet by rings Daskar had a mysterious past to go with him.

"Beside him" continued Ordalphus, motioning to the combusken "Is Hotstreak the Swift. Captain of air and agility squadron"

Hmm, Hotstreak. Obviously a trained name. To tell you the number of "Firefoots", Blazeclaws", "Deathflames", and "Wildfires" I've seen on forest trails with their trainers (usually battling, taunting, and trying to look cool for their masters at the same time) would take at least five eternities, and that's just the fire types. Honestly- the names some humans can come up with! I again found myself grateful the human that caught me at least had the sense to not name me something so idiotic and cliché I'd heard stamped on the other dark-types. Shadow. Midnight. Yuck.

I shuddered. I mean, really- Midnight?! You'd think a species that could make themselves fly and build structures that touched the stars could at least come up with a half decent name. But, then again, I suppose it's better than being referred to as your species alone. At least you get some acknowledgement, instead of some guy yelling "Umbreon, go!" But I'm getting way off track here.

Hotstreak made a little wave with his wing and smiled with a welcoming "How ya doin'?"

I smiled back at him "Tired, frustrated, and still wondering why exactly I'm here. And I also think miss Winterleaf here could use a few lessons in poise."

The combusken 's smile grew winder (I swear, one day, I'm going to learn exactly how one smiles with a beak) an gave a small chuckle "I'm afraid I can't argue wit ya there."

Ordalphus, somewhat pleased at our smooth encounter, turned to the magneton "And lastly, our master of distant communication, Cy"

"Cy?" I repeated "As in- Cyprus? Cyber? Cyrus?"

"Negative" a cold, metallic voice answered "Only Cy"

Ordalphus rose to his feet majestically, letting the morning sun cascade over his goldenrod skin. The warmth that burned inside all fire types seemed to grow stronger at this sight. I could've sworn the temperature had actually risen a few dozen degrees. "Together, we five are the Flamemasons of the Rustboro district."

I cocked my head "District?"

The other masons directed a rather unfriendly glare at the interruption while their leader continued, as if I had said nothing.

"We five represent the glorious, the eloquent , the masterful, the righteous, and the magnificent Team Magma!" said the numel proudly. Then he and Hotstreak shot a stream of fire in the air while Daskar and Winterleaf struck poses and Cy shot fancy looking sparks all over the place. Apparently the Flamemasons wasted no time in proving their point in the flashiest, fantastical way as possible. I had to admit, it was nice touch.

"And representing Team Magma" continued proud Ordalphus "We, along with other loyal servants of Team Magma gather new recruits in each and every city in the Honen region. Our sector's the biggest in Honen, excluding the volcanic sector of course."

I cocked my head to the side "And this Team Magma would be…?"

Hotstreak picked at the fringes of his pillow with his sharp talons as he answered "Why, dear lady the great Team Magma is a group dedicated to the very salvation of the earth! They travel to the ends of the country, to every town, every village, every suburb they find, spreading the message of the awesome Groudon and freedom's fire. They prepare, we prepare, for the fateful day Groudon shall arise from the volcanic bowls of the earth and rise to smite the evil one, bringer of torment and torrent Kyogre!"

I blinked at him, not sure what to make of it all. He brought to mind the overly religious pokemon that some times passed through the woods, waving their paws, arms and tentacles shouting at the top of his lungs about Ho-oh and how he was angry at our actions in not being friends with humans. At least I think that's what they were all saying. I usually made the effort of putting as much distance between them and myself as possible.

To be perfectly honest, overly religious pokemon sort of made me nervous. They seemed….a more than a little off the track, some seemed to have missed track completely and was now heading for the reservoir.

Now, this combusken was certainly not insane (at least not at first glance), but all this passionate talk about the poke-gods rising up from the earth and such made my dark self more than a little uncomfortable.

The Firemasons seemed to sense my unease and exchanged what they assumed were secretive, amused glances. Ordalphus gave me a beguiling, undermining smile. A smile that silently, politely laughed at my apparent ignorance, a sad confused little child before the grand and knowledgeable kings. A smile that said I should be grateful to be here and take in everything they had to said happily, no matter how odd it seemed, it was for the best in the end. "We see" he said "that an event of this magnitude may be too much you. Winterleaf will take you for a walk and try to make things seem a little less… overwhelming."

Of course what he really meant was "You're much to stupid and ignorant to possibly understand. And since I my time is wasted on you, I'll make my assistant do it for me and save the headache.

As if to prove my thoughts correct, the gardevoir eyes bugged out at the suggestion. She looked anxiously from zangoose, magneton, to combusken, to numel in a useless effort to pin the job on someone, anyone but her.

"ME?!" she shrieked

Ordalphus nodded calmly, as if she were reciting a happy poem "Yes." the look of serene calm hadn't left his face for an instant.

"Me?! she repeated Why can you not make hot streak do it?1 Or Cy, or-"

"Lady Winterleaf, you know as well as I it is your appointed task to welcome newcomers, you were the one that asked to summon new recruits, and therefore your job. Besides, you were the one that called the darkling in the first place" said Daskar in a subject-is-closed voice.

Winterleaf put out her arms in exasperation "But...but….but…"

Hotstreak chuckled "the lady Winterleaf sounds like a motorboat"

At this, everyone else (excluding Winterleaf) broke into a grin.

The angry psychic shot him and I a fuming glare and shuffled grumpily into the corridors, muttering to me something along the lines of "follow me".

As I trailed off after her, the stifled chuckling of Hotstreak followed us.