A/N: Wow...I'm a total bum. GEEZ, I'm so insanely lazy! xX Well, here's the next chapter...It's not so great, but I suppose it's not as horrible as some of my stuff is. Aside from that, not much to say. Have fun...
Pants, shirt, belt, shoes, hair, face, bag, Pokemon. Checklist done. Eevy wandered down the hallway of the Pokemon Center, sipping on a bottle of grapefruit juice and holding the loop of her backpack over her shoulder. She looked to her left into one of the side rooms, grinning slightly at Ash, who was asleep with Pikachu's tail draped over his face, and at Richie, who was sleeping on the floor with his legs up on the couch beside Ash's head. She continued down the hallway, waving out the next door at Nurse Joy, who was working away on her computer. Pausing a few feet farther, she sighed and watched Gary sleeping on the bench, only half-covered with his coat with his left arm under his head as a pillow. Evo had since retired to his Poke'Ball, which sat atop Gary's backpack at the side of the bench.
Eevy turned and stood in front of the window Gary's Arcanine rested on the other side of, watching as he slept. Arcanine's ear twitched, and his tail wagged twice. The Chansey standing beside the bed jotted something down on her chart, waddling off without a sound to hang the clipboard on the end of the bed. Eevy put a hand up on the glass. I know you're going to be all right, Arcanine. It was just a few bruises and some bad bumps. Wake up soon, if not for yourself for your master. Next time, you'll do it. I promise. Turning back around, she quietly crossed the hall and crouched down in front of Gary. I know you wanted to come, especially after what I said last night. But you need sleep, and you need to be here when Arcanine wakes up. She leaned forward and pushed his hair up, kissing his forehead. Sleep well, kid.
He stirred a bit, and she quickly stood and backed away. Stretching both arms above her head, her fingers locked together and her palms upwards, she stepped out the door and stopped beside Nurse Joy's desk. The nurse looked around the monitor and smiled at her, pleased that she wasn't the only one awake already for a change.
"Good morning, miss," she said, "Would you like something to eat?"
"So, I understand Roxanne went to school at the Pokemon University here in Rustboro."
Nurse Joy nodded across the table at Eevy, scooping more omelet onto her fork, "Yes. She teaches there now. She's very strict, but she's an exceptional trainer. She was Gym Leader here when I first came to work here at the Center."
"She seemed to not like the idea that I might have been using Gary, Ash and Richie as sightseers into her strategy."
"Yes, she's always that way. She found out quite some time ago that there was a group of trainers out there who were doing that," Nurse Joy shook her head, "She doesn't really trust any new people now."
"Well, she has nothing to fear from me."
"I'm sure she knows that. She's just like that. She has a need to keep up the rules of battling, being both a Gym Leader and a teacher. But, I see now, you have even more reason to do the same."
Eevy stopped chewing, half a slice of bacon hanging from her mouth, "Excuse me?"
"You were on the news today," Joy smiled weakly, "Well, not really on the news…On Early Birds with Gabby and Ty."
"Who?" Eevy narrowed one eye.
"Gabby and Ty are independent reporters. Ty works the camera, and Gabby reports on what they see. They wander around Hoenn sometimes, searching for new trainers to cover. You were on earlier this morning, and they thought they liked the looks of you and your friends. Someone called in to them, and told them who you were. Your name is Evangelina, correct? You come from Gertan Rin, across the sea, west of Kanto and Johto."
"I do," she murmured.
"You're the Champion over there. You own our Hoenn League. You're here to attempt to conquer us, aren't you?" she grinned as Eevy paled significantly, "It's all right, I'm not going to start spreading things about you. I was just interested to know if what their informant said was right. Your brother is Master Morty of Ecruteak City, yes?"
"Good ol' Mortimer…" Eevy snickered, "Yes, he's my brother."
"And Eusine, the Legendary Pokemon Researcher. He's your cousin," she clapped as Eevy nodded, "Wonderful!"
"Why so wonderful?" Eevy asked, raising an eyebrow, "Is there something I'm missing?"
"This," Joy pulled a piece of paper from the pocket of her apron, sliding it across the table to her, "I think you and your brother and cousin, and possibly you, may be interested in meeting this young man and this young woman."
"Who are they?"
"They come from a place called Orre," Joy explained, "They passed through here a while ago, and left this paper with me. They requested that I give it to someone who could pass it to anyone with the last name Hikoboshi, so that it would find it's way to you three."
"What were their names?" Eevy asked, picking up the paper and looking it over.
"Wesley Keel and Mirei West, if I remember correctly," Joy scratched her chin, "I wish I could have read that, to tell you what it says, but it's all a bunch of shapes and symbols. I'm sorry I can't be of more help."
"It's all right," Eevy murmured, dazedly staring at the paper, "I can read it just fine, thank you."
"You can…Read that? Oh my…"
"Thank you for getting this to me. It will be of great help in the future," Eevy nodded, finally managing to tear her eyes off the note, "I'm afraid I'll need to cut our conversation short. I need to be getting to the Gym. If my friends wake up before I get back, please tell them where I went and to stay here and wait for me. If I get any calls, please hold them for me."
"Absolutely," Joy nodded, standing as Eevy did, "Good luck at the Gym."
"Thank you, Joy," Eevy smiled wide, peeking over the back of her chair, "Boys, let's go."
All six of her Pokemon looked up from their plates, "Ee!" they grinned.
Eevy slowly wandered Rustboro City's main street, looking over the small white piece of paper Joy had given her. It was unlined, but had perfectly straight and even pen strokes, and was written in plain black gel ink. Judging by the smell of ink on the paper, which was pretty weak, the letter had to have been written a few months before. There were no signs of aging on the paper; no yellowing or fraying. Perhaps, however, the letter had been written months before, but delivered only a week or so prior to her arrival. No…Joy had said it had been some time since they'd passed through.
Who else, besides Kratos and herself, knew she'd been planning a trip to Hoenn? Only head of League security Ensign Treaty, as far as she was aware. Maybe Vic and V, but she doubted Ensign would have bothered sending them memos on it. Eevy looked up at the street light. Red. Maybe it'd be a better idea to read this letter fully, instead of just glancing it over. It was still early; she had time. The strange symbols on the paper were familiar to her; a Prophetic language she'd needed to learn to read the small blue book Raikou had left on her pillow one night. Who other than herself knew how to read and write it? Now she was suspicious, so she leaned against the building nearest the light and proceeded to read.
My most respected Mistress of Gertan Rin,
You must pardon the informal means by which this letter is to be delivered to you, and also the language in which it has been written. Sources indicate to me you have learned the Prophetic script, and will easily be able to understand what I am telling you.
I am Wesley Keel, from a continent to the east of Kanto, called Orre. There I work against Team Snatch and Team Shadow's special division Cipher. They are currently building on the idea of creating shadow Pokemon, which are incapable of being reawakened to their former selves. My partner here is Mirei West, and together we are doing well against Cipher.
However, this is not the reason I have come to call your attention. It is my understanding that you, it is known by people such as Mirei and myself, are the vessel for the soul of Amatsubikei of Ho-oh's Prophecy. As is Ensign Treaty, Mirei and I are mortal guardians to your Prophecy, and have been called by said security officer to aid in your stand against the one known as Rubeus.
I have left this letter with Nurse Joy of Rustboro City, knowing by my latest correspondence with Ensign that you will soon be passing through on your latest work in the Hoenn region. Mirei and I are, however, currently stationed on Scissor Island off the northeastern coast of Hokubu. It would do me great honor if you would be kind enough to give us the pleasure of your presence when you have returned from Hoenn.
Should our services be required beforehand, Ensign has been instructed to notify us if need be, therefore, contacting him would be the fastest way of establishing communications with us if the situation should dictate as such. We truly wish this does not come to pass, and wish you the very best of luck on your current mission. Thank you for your precious time.
Most sincerely,
Wesley Gordon Keel & Mirei Li West
League Security; Outer Limits Division
"So…They work under Ensign. Seems the little chain-smoker knows a few things he neglected to tell me," Eevy sighed and started slowly across the street just as the light turned green, "Wesley Gordon Keel and Mirei Li West, of the Orre region. I remember Ensign saying he had people stationed out there, to counter Cipher. Are they it?"
Eevy stood outside Rustboro Gym's front entrance, her arms crossed behind her head and her eyebrows raised. The place was strangely active for the early hours, unlike most of the Gyms she'd seen in Kanto, Johto and Gertan Rin. The Orange Islands Gyms were typically kept up well, and probably only because Drake had been instructed to keep them so, but everyone in Rustboro seemed to be awake, and the Gym appeared to be the most active building. Aside, that is, from Devon Corp. She glanced off in the general direction of the towering Devon Corporation head office, at the large stained glass clock face on the front of the tower. Just a few minutes to quarter to seven. Time to get to work.
Yawning lightly, she brought her arms to her sides, raising one to open the door of the Gym. Stepping in, she winced at the cold rush of air that wafted from inside. She did, however, understand why it was so frigid; Rock-type Pokemon favored better in cold air, hence their love of caves. In light of this, she decided to tolerate it and finish what she'd come to do.
"Come out, come out, wherever you are…" she murmured, looking about in all directions, "Oh, Roxanne…"
"Back again, I see, miss."
Eevy turned off to her right, to a trainee leaning on a shovel, "Again?"
"You came here yesterday when your friends called you, isn't that right?" he questioned, standing up straight and plunging the shovel into the ground to stand it up.
"Yes, I did. I came back on my own to challenge Roxanne."
"Mistress KornerStone should show up any minute now. She went out to get her Nosepass out from behind the building."
"What was her Pokemon doing back there?"
"She lets her Nosepass sleep underground overnight sometimes, to help strengthen its rock armor. She perfected the technique herself, and all of her students who use Rock-type Pokemon do the same. Including me," he looked up as a light bell rang from the back hallway, "She's just come in now."
Eevy turned toward the hall, waving her fingers at Roxanne as she stopped dead in the middle of the doorway, "Good morning," she grinned stupidly.
Roxanne stared at her a moment, then laughed once, "It's good to see you're up early and ready. I was expecting you to come today, but I didn't think you'd come now. It's not even seven yet."
"I was up at six," Eevy shrugged, "I'm a night owl and an early bird. You know why I'm here though."
"I'm sure," Roxanne nodded, "I must apologize for my behavior yesterday. I had just had a horrible battle just before your friends arrived, and it left me feeling pretty disagreeable."
"A loss could do that to anyone. No need to apologize."
"It wasn't the loss that bothered me. It was the person I battled. I'm not normally a violent, or even a hateful person…But by the end of the battle, all I wanted to do was strangle him."
Eevy blinked twice, "Was his name, by any chance, Daemeon?"
"Do you know that disgusting creature?"
"Know isn't quite the word…More like hate."
Roxanne nodded, "Yes. Much," she crossed her arms and smiled slightly, "How would you like to battle? Would a two on two be sufficient?"
"You're the Gym Leader," Eevy sweatdropped, "But a two on two would be fine."
"Good," Roxanne turned to her trainee, "Craig, would you please referee for us?"
"Certainly, Mistress KornerStone," he nodded, rushing off to retrieve the flags from the corner of the room.
"You seem to take good care of your trainees. I hope you're the same way with your students," Eevy noted, watching Craig running around to set up the arena.
"Most of my trainees are my older students," Roxanne turned and took but a few paces to step into her trainer box, "And they're very important to me. Perhaps you'd like to see one of my classes sometime?"
"I'd enjoy that," Eevy agreed, backing up into her own box.
Eevy looked down as the railings raised from the floor, and the podium raised maybe two feet. Roxanne recalled her Nosepass, setting two Poke'Balls down in the tray in the corner of the railing. Eevy shrugged, doing the same, and straightened her belt after doing so. Roxanne crossed her arms again.
"You catch on quick."
"I'm used to having to learn things quickly," Eevy sweatdropped, clearing her throat, "Shall we begin then?"
"Most surely. Craig, please open the battle."
Stepping up onto his own podium as it began to rise, the trainee turned and took hold of the controls. Flicking on the overhead lights, he maneuvered the top of the podium out a few feet closer to the arena. Eevy liked the setup here. It was advanced in a technological nature, but still classic enough to suit her needs. She'd have to suggest such things to the wonderful Kratos.
"This will be a two on two battle between Mistress Roxanne KornerStone of Rustboro City, and her challenger currently holding no Hoenn League badges. During the battle, the challenger will be permitted to switch between the chosen two Pokemon, and the Gym Leader will not. Please battle under accordance of the Hoenn League official rules, and let the battle begin."
"Graveler," Roxanne tossed the left Poke'Ball in the tray down onto the floor, "You first."
"I figured you'd start with something like that. Novo, you can start for me," dropping the blue Poke'Ball over the bar, Eevy snatched it as it bounced straight back up to her, "Good luck, little buddy!" she chirped.
"A Water-type. A very strong choice," Roxanne nodded once, "And an evolved Pokemon, from Kanto. That must mean this isn't your first League trip."
"You got that right," Eevy grinned, "Let's show her what we mean. Go, Novo! Water Gun attack!"
"Graveler, use your Rock Throw to block it."
It disturbed Eevy how calmly Roxanne delivered her orders. Still, the Pokemon did as it was told, and dropped a series of rocks down in front of the Vaporeon's spray of water. Novo stopped and cocked his head, flicking his tail irritably side to side. Graveler pounded his fists on the ground, calling out once before sitting still.
"Graveler, use your Magnitude."
"Use Whirlpool!"
Slamming his tail to the ground, a large whirlpool shot up from the floor behind Novo. Whipping around his side, it crashed into Graveler's face, pushing him back. Grunting under it, his short legs gave way, and it bowled him full over, and he rolled twice before digging his thick fingers into the ground to stop. He stood up straight, cracking his fists together angrily.
"That was a good way to stop his attack," Roxanne conceded, "But try and stop Graveler's Rollout attack!"
Eevy choked, as she had actually just issued an attack, "Novo, Waterfall now!"
Again bringing water up from behind his back, Novo this time turned it to push himself up and over Graveler's rolling path. The Rock-type splashed through the wave that remained, using a rock on the other side to ricochet back and roll completely over the Vaporeon, from tail to head. Once more hitting a rock in his way, Graveler uncoiled and laughed, banging his fists. Novo got to his feet, teetering side to side with his tongue hanging out.
"Novo, do you need to come back?" Eevy asked, leaning over the bar, "Or do you want to keep trying?"
"Vapor…" Novo shook his collar fins out, puffing them up, "Vaporeon!"
"That's my boy," Eevy grinned, clapping, "Go, Novo! Aurora Beam attack, now!"
A beam swirling with shards of ice shot from the Vaporeon's mouth, smashing through numerous rocks and heading straight for Graveler's face, "Graveler, use your Rollout."
The boulder-like Pokemon coiled tightly up, bouncing once and rolling headlong into the oncoming attack. Rolling furiously against the ice, Graveler gradually began to spin more slowly, pressing the attack back on the Vaporeon with more and more force. Novo's tail whipped side to side angrily, and his Mistress noted his growing agitation by watching how hard, fast, and frequently his fins swished.
"Let up slowly on your attack, Novo! Let it get a little closer!"
Novo did as he was ordered, gently and steadily easing his pressure on the attack. Graveler began spinning faster again, rolling closer and closer each time Novo withdrew more of his ice. Roxanne watched silently. Why was she doing that? Any kind of Headbutt or Skull Bash attack that she might issue against the Rock-type when it got close enough would cause more damage to her Pokemon than Graveler, being that it was a Normal-type and non-effective attack. Oh well. If she wanted to be stupid about it, let her.
"Just a little closer, Novo…A little more…Little more…" Eevy pounded her fists on the railing, "There! Completely release the pressure of the attack and jump!"
Roxanne nearly choked on the nothingness she was able to bring in, as the blue Pokemon with the pink sheen pounced clear over her Graveler and hissed. The rock rolled forward, smashing into a rock and bouncing back in the complete opposite direction. Roxanne ordered for him to uncoil, but the force of his hit was far too much for him to stop at will. He'd need to slow down before he was able to unfurl.
"Novo, rotate descent and use your tail!"
"Graveler, Defense Curl attack, now!"
Graveler's body glowed slightly white as Novo plummeted into him with his tail. Smashing down atop the rocky Pokemon, the Water-type froze just that way. He stayed there, suspended by his tail, and waited. The force of his hit had stopped Graveler dead, and he sat there, still as the stone he was, and did not move. Roxanne's Pokemon's body rolled slightly under the Vaporeon hovering above it, and Novo hopped down. Spinning on one foot, he prepared to attack, should Graveler be ready for me. Rolling himself back out, Graveler groaned and laid on his back in the center of the arena.
"Graveler is unable to battle! Round one goes to Vaporeon!"
"Yay!" Eevy sprung side to side, "Stupendous job, Novo!"
"Vaporeon," Novo cocked his head and chirped, grinning sweetly back at his trainer.
"That was a very good battle," Roxanne said, recalling her Graveler, "I very much enjoy your tactics. I didn't think a simple non-credited attack could cause such damage."
"On your Graveler's already weakened Rock and Ground-type body, which was weakened even further by its constant rolling into the attack, a plain attack like that could cause a good amount of damage. Or at least so I've been told," Eevy shrugged.
"Those attacks were very well executed," the Gym Leader noted, taking the second Poke'Ball from the tray and placing Graveler's in the first empty slot, "You battle like a Master."
Eevy gave a kinked, sarcastic grin, "Really…"
"Now let's continue. Your turn, Nosepass! Let's go!"
Eevy watched intently the Poke'Ball that flew over the railing and crashed to the floor below. From it emerged a light gray light, which morphed into an odd, blocky-looking Pokemon. It let out a slow, nosey-sounding call.
"Nose…Pass…" it murmured, unhooking its magnetic arms from its sides.
"I really…Really…Don't like the look of that thing…Well, let's go, Novo! Waterfall attack, now!"
"Nosepass, use your Sandstorm."
There she goes again, speaking the orders instead of calling them. Novo scampered to a stop, sliding to slow down, and turning to pounce away and hide behind a rock until the storm subsided. He crouched there, wrapping his tail partway around the rock to hold himself steady.
"Nosepass, use Lock-On."
Eevy choked, almost facefaulting, "Novo, that's not going to work! Get out of there before he pinpoints you!"
The Vaporeon had just begun to move when a tight square of red light locked in around him. He shrieked, pouncing around in attempts to shake it off. Eevy winced. This wasn't going to be pretty.
"Nosepass, use your Rock Tomb attack!"
Eevy covered her eyes. Rock what? Oh, that sounded bad…Novo looked up and turned a pale, pale bluish white. He attempted to spring away, but a large rock dropped right in front of him, blocking his path. He shrieked and turned to run, but a second slammed down to his side, a third to his other side, and the last to his back. A fifth and final rock dropped down atop all the rest, sealing him in. There was a light whimper from within and Eevy prepared to jump the railing to go and remove the boulders entrapping her Pokemon.
"Nosepass, take the rocks away now, before you cause him anymore harm!"
Eevy watched as Roxanne pointed to the rock formation at the corner of the ring, and as her Nosepass raised both short arms. All five rocks lifted and crumbled in the air, and Novo lay where he had stopped, eyes spiraling round and round. Eevy sighed, taking his Poke'Ball from the tray.
"Novo, return now," tapping the top of the Poke'Ball after bringing him back, she sat it down in the tray and picked up her second Pokemon, "This is between just you and Nosepass now, buddy. I'll bet all my earnings on you, and tell you to do your best!" swinging her arm around from her side, she threw the half white sphere out over the arena, where it landed right in front of Nosepass.
Roxanne looked at it silently, her eyes then gone wide, "I…Must say…That certainly isn't what I'd expect someone to use against me, but…"
"Don't underestimate him. He's a very skilled Pokemon," Eevy retorted silently, "And he'll not be outdone by a big, immobile boulder."
"Jolt! Jolteon!" the Electric-type crouched, scuffing his right front paw, "Jolt!"
"If you say so, I suppose. Go, Nosepass! Double Team attack!"
"Lovo, use your own Double Team, now!"
Needless to say, it was quite entertaining to watch Nosepass making copies of itself, whilst Lovo was able to do the same at four, if not five times the speed. Both Pokemon finally stopped moving, one scuffing up dirt with his paw, and the other unlatching his arms from his sides. Lovo narrowed one eye at the large rocky Pokemon in front of him on the arena. Was this thing supposed to pose him a problem? It wasn't even moving!
"Your Jolteon's Double Team is quite impressive," Roxanne held her elbows across her stomach, "But I'm afraid even that won't save it from Nosepass's Sandstorm!"
Nosepass began to swing its arms around at its sides like propellers, turning them in opposite directions. From beneath it tore gushes off sand, beginning to swirl in the center of the arena. The winds that kicked it up collided, forming a good-sized twister. Nosepass managed to shift slightly off to the side, producing a second, larger twister to its left side. Lovo bounced left to right to avoid the oncoming attacks, then spun around on one paw and took off in a sprint between the two sandy tornadoes.
"Lovo!" Eevy leaned back and paled as one of the two spinning masses of sand whipped past her podium, "Lovo, use Thunderbolt!"
The small yellow blur that was Eevy's Pokemon shot toward Nosepass's unmoving body. Sliding to a fast halt directly in front of his opponent, the Jolteon fired up a hefty dose of electricity, which slammed straight into the bit of body showing beneath Nosepass's huge orange nose. Backing up, Lovo gulped and twitched. That…Hadn't done anything. Oh boy…The quills on his back shot straight up when Nosepass proceeded in dropping a pile of rocks down in front of him. He sprung away, gnarling angrily.
"All right, Lovo. Let's get started now!" Eevy cracked her knuckles, "Go and use Thunder!"
"Nosepass, use your Zap Cannon."
Eevy blinked twice, telling herself continuously that she had to have heard wrong. There was no way a Pokemon like Nosepass could possibly use an Electric attack, and especially not one like Zap Cannon. When she saw that the Rock-type was indeed charging for the attack, she clenched her fists atop the bar around her podium.
"Lovo, use your Agility!"
Just after releasing the very beginning of his attack, Lovo cut off the power to the string of electricity weaving through the air. Coiling up, he sprang quickly away from the sphere of thunder that erupted from Nosepass's spinning arms. He kept running, bouncing off standing rocks and scuffing up dirt from the crumbled ones.
"Lock-On and Zap Cannon again, Nosepass!"
"Lovo, keep going! The faster you run, the less damage it'll cause!"
After five complete circles around the arena, the Zap Cannon was finally able to catch up to the running Electric-type, catching him in the back and shoving him near the edge of the arena. Shrieking, Lovo dug in his heels and scampered quickly away from the outline. Sighing as he did so, Eevy drummed her fingers on the bar. Nosepass was only Rock-type. Granted, Electric attacks wouldn't cause much damage, but they should at least be doing something? Where was its weak point?
"Nosepass, use Rock Tomb attack!"
"Lovo, Double Team!"
The Jolteon slid left to right, leaving in his wake to either side slight copies of himself. He succeeded in duplicating himself about six times before he realized what was happening. Nosepass dropped a rock right down on top of each of his clones, and finally one flat atop his real self. He yelped and Roxanne threw out one arm.
"Rock Tomb again! Nosepass, go!"
Eevy winced, as Lovo couldn't move with that rock on his back. He couldn't go anywhere when he was unable to get off the ground. She had no choice but to let the attack hit him, and hope that when the rocks were removed that he was still able to fight.
"This is no good at all," Eevy murmured, chewing slightly on her bottom lip, "We've hardly had any chance to go on the offensive. She's had us defending the entire time. Maybe that's where I'm messing up. Ah, I've got it now."
Four boulders surrounded the Electric-type pinned to the arena floor, and a fifth one blocked him in. Knowing just by the way there was no sound from within that the Jolteon was still very much aware of what was going on, and was playing silent, Roxanne refused to remove the rocks just yet. She crossed her arms, suddenly aware of Eevy's slight giggling.
"Might I ask what it is you find amusing?"
"Oh, nothing," Eevy held her wrist behind her back, "Just thinking about something."
Roxanne looked back at the stack of stones concealing Lovo to find that the cracks between the rocks were beginning to glow. That was not a good sign. Beaming and cracking from within, the rocks were thrown away, and a sparking Jolteon crouched angrily inside. Lovo hissed, dragged his foot, and careened toward Nosepass at what even Eevy observed as fast.
"A Rage attack. An intense one at that," Roxanne murmured, "Nosepass, Rock Throw!"
"Lovo, use your Agility, and pull into a Pin Missile attack!"
Scuffing off to the side, Lovo leapt away from the rain of rocks falling from above. Crashing down on all fours, he crouched and raised his pins. No more mister nice Jolteon.
"Jolt! Jolteon!"
Firing off his back and sides, a hail of needles shot toward Nosepass's face. It began to spin its arms and hit them away, but it was unable to protect its face. Its nose was a more than free target, and that was exactly what Eevy wanted.
"Keep hitting it, Lovo! Don't let up any pressure! If you can, even give it more!"
"Nosepass, Magnitude!"
"Protect yourself!"
Firing up a wave of thunder, Lovo formed around himself a warping storm of electricity. When the shower of stones increasing his weight dropped down atop him, the waving lightning was easily able to dissolve them. Roxanne and her trainee stared at this, as that was…Very disturbing. How had she done that? How had she known to do that? Roxanne was drawn to look back to her Nosepass, as she suddenly noticed it was…
"Tipping! Perfect, Lovo! Now go, and use Double Kick attack right at its nose!"
"Nosepass, Explosion!"
Lovo wasted no time in cutting his attack and springing up above Nosepass's head. Gasping, Roxanne realized her mistake. There was no way her Pokemon was going to be fast enough to get its attack powered up and released before that Jolteon was able to land its attack. Lovo spun in the air, connecting both back feet right into Nosepass's face. Let out a loud grunt, Nosepass bowled over, landing flat on its back and sparking slightly. Its arms moved sloth-like at its sides, and it let out a flat chime.
"Nose…Nose…Pass…"
"Nosepass is unable to battle! Round two and the Rustboro Gym match goes to Jolteon!"
"Nosepass!" Roxanne hopped off the back of her podium and rushed around and out to her Pokemon, "Oh no, Nosepass. I've got to get you to the Pokemon Center."
"Lovo!" Eevy lifted herself over the bar of her box and caught her Pokemon as he scampered over to her, "You did so well, my little sweetie!"
Roxanne and her trainee assisted Nosepass in getting back on its feet, "Craig, please treat Nosepass with this Paralyze Heal," Roxanne handed him a bottle of yellow medicine, "And please see that he's in his Poke'Ball and ready to go to the Pokemon Center when I'm through."
"Of course, Mistress," Craig nodded, taking the medicine and nodding.
"Paralyze Heal?" Eevy tilted her head as Roxanne wandered slowly over to her, "How did it get paralyzed? Lovo didn't release any kind of attack that would do that, did you?"
"Jolt," Lovo shook his head, then tilting it.
"It could have been your Jolteon's Ability. Does it have the Ability of Static?" Roxanne asked, patting Lovo's head.
"I…Honestly don't know. I never knew about Abilities until I came here to Hoenn, and I've been here…Maybe a week."
"Well, Static is the Ability to Paralyze opponents about thirty percent of the time after either Pokemon uses a Physical attack. Perhaps that's what caused it."
"It seems probable."
"Now then," Roxanne reached into the small pocket on the back of her dress, drawing out a small golden badge, "This is the Stone Badge. You very much earned it."
Eevy took it carefully from her hand and nodded, "Thank you very much, Mistress KornerStone. It was a good battle."
"Yes, it most definitely was. But if you'll excuse me, I need to get Nosepass and Graveler to the Pokemon Center."
"Of course," Eevy nodded, "I'll be on my way there as well. Would you like to walk with me?"
"So you come from Gertan Rin?"
Eevy nodded, wandering slowly along the street beside Roxanne, "Yes. I've never really left there for any real extended amount of time until now. I went on one or two week trips to Kanto or Johto or the Orange Islands once and a while, but I've never been off the island for this long."
"That doesn't mean you're going to just go back, does it?"
"Oh, no, of course not!" Eevy waved both hands, "I'm very glad for the opportunity to come here and see how far I can go. I just…Miss everyone back home is all. And I miss the daily routine, you know?"
"Yes, I know what you mean very well. I came here from Pewter City in Kanto a long time ago. I think I've only gone back a couple of times."
"Pewter City, hm? Do you know the Granite family?"
"They run the Gym there, yes. What ever happened to the boy who ran the Gym?"
"You mean Brock. Well, if I remember correctly, he should be almost twenty now. He goes back to the Gym once and a while to check it out, and he runs it from time to time."
"I take it you know him? You seem to have a wide range of friends. You say your companions are from Pallet and Viridian, and now Brock from Pewter. Where else?"
"Cerulean, Celadon…Pretty much everywhere, actually. Which is…Scary, almost."
"I know a Gym Leader, who's from Johto. If I'm correct, he shares your last name. Are you, by any chance, related to-"
"Morty of Ecruteak," Eevy grinned, "He's my brother."
"Oh really?" Roxanne's eyes widened, "Then that would almost definitely make you-"
"Yes, that would make me that, wouldn't it?"
"Oh…My…Goodness…" Roxanne stopped and covered her mouth, staring at her, "I had no idea."
"Don't do that," Eevy groaned, "If I had known you knew who Morty's sister was, I wouldn't have told you I was her. I don't want people over here to know who I am just yet."
"I can understand why, quite easily," Roxanne nodded and rushed up beside her, as she hadn't stopped, "Between the fans and the haters alone, not to mention Pokemon thieves…I won't mention it to anyone. I give you my word as a Gym Leader."
"I trust that word is a well regarded here as it is in Gertan Rin?"
"Absolutely. Your name is safe with me."
Eevy nodded once, pausing to let the automatic doors of the Pokemon Center slide open, "Thank you, Roxanne."
Nurse Joy looked up at the door, "Hello, Miss Eevy," she nodded, "Oh, and Mistress Roxanne. How good to see you."
"Hello, Nurse Joy. Have my friends decided to wake up yet?" Eevy grinned, narrowing one eye.
"Actually, no. Not just yet," Joy shrugged, sweatdropping slightly.
"The lazy bums…"
"How did your battle with Mistress Roxanne here go?"
"I'm not here for nothing, Joy," Roxanne murmured, setting her both Nosepass and Graveler's confining spheres down on the counter.
"Ah, so you won then," Joy smiled and clapped once, "Wonderful!"
"Could you do me a favor, Joy?" Eevy asked, setting both Lovo and Novo down in front of the nurse as well, "Aside from healing all four of our Pokemon here, could you watch these two for me while I'm gone? I don't want them locked up in their Poke'Balls after such a rough battle."
"Oh, I could do that for you. I could feed them and take care of them, and maybe give them someplace nice to rest," Roxanne suggested, "I'd be more than happy to."
"That'd be great. This is for Lovo, the Jolteon. And this is for Novo," Eevy pulled two jars from the bottom of her backpack, "Just give them each two or three handfuls, and they'll be fine. That really makes things easier for me."
"And me," Nurse Joy grinned.
"It's no trouble. I'd rather like to see those two up close. They're very well trained."
"As are your Nosepass and Graveler," Eevy waved one hand and wandered off toward the door, "Tell them I'll see them later. Thanks again!"
Eevy wandered along the sidewalk, kicking a rock in front of her. Stopping and looking up when the rock hit a stone step, she examined the Devon Corporation building silently. Impressed by its structure, and by the sheer size of it, she started up the steps. She raised a hand to the guards standing on either side of the main door, and after she was inside they took the liberty of staring at each other blankly.
Eevy looked around the room once she was inside. Pillars decorated with hanging photos were scattered, seemingly randomly, around the room, and fern-like plants surrounded each one. She waved off to the side at Rita, who was waiting for one of the suits she was talking with to sign the form for the plants. Other people milled about the room, either reading pamphlets or talking to someone else. She noticed numerous people in lab coats, as well as others in suits. Hm. This place must have had one serious workforce.
She popped her neck side to side and stood at the front desk, "Excuse me, please."
The young woman looked quickly up from the stack of papers on her desk, "Hello. Welcome to the Devon Corp. main office. Can I help you somehow?"
Oh how formal, Eevy grinned to herself, "I'd like to see Mister Stone, if at all possible."
"Oh, I'm very sorry, miss. Mister Stone is incredibly busy today."
"I've very much been looking forward to speaking with him. I think he would be pleased to meet with me."
"As I said, I'm very sorry. Mister Stone is a very busy man. Perhaps next week?"
"I won't be in town next week. Isn't there any way I could see him today or tomorrow?"
She flipped open the dark blue book she unburied from under the papers, "He's already overbooked. You'd be lucky to catch him free for two minutes."
"Two minutes? Fine, then it'd be for two minutes. Tell me when and where and I'll be there. I'll even catch him on his bathroom break."
The receptionist giggled, "I understand your desire to meet with Mister Stone, but I'm afraid there's really nothing I can do."
Eevy sputtered and dropped her head, "Fine then."
"I'll tell you what. Do you have a Poke'Nav or a Poke'Gear or a cell number you can give me?" she winked, "If anything opens up, I'll be sure and give the first opening to you."
"I can give you the 'Nav and 'Gear numbers, but my cell refuses to work here in Hoenn. Do you have a piece of paper and a pen?"
"I remember when I first tried to get an interview here…" she shook her head as Eevy scribbled on the small sheet of paper she'd been given, "I never did get to meet Mister Stone, and I interviewed with one of his assistants. Still, when he found out I'd been hired and he hadn't met me, he made it a point to come down and see me. He's a good man, and I suspect you and he would get along very well…Miss Hikoboshi."
Eevy frozen in the middle of writing a 9, "Pardon?"
"Don't seem so surprised," she leaned down into her ear, "I'm from Willow Town. Your brother's cute. It's too bad he's married. Tell Master Lance to marry you. You're adorable together."
Eevy looked up and grinned, "Even if Mister Stone can't use those numbers, hang on to them," she waved a hand, "Thanks a million!"
Stretching her arms above her head, Eevy turned and headed for the door. She passed pillar after pillar, once more waving to Rita, who was waiting for the suits to return with someone else's signature. Pausing, Eevy wandered over to one of the pillars and looked onto the glass case hanging on it, the yellow gleam inside it having caught her eye. Within sat a piece of Old Amber, the backing to which was a yellowed photo. Looking to be a father and son, the boy sat on his father's knee, looking down at the same piece of golden rock. Cute kid, Eevy thought. Grinning as she read the tag and discovered that the Amber had been unearthed in the southern bogs of Gertan Rin, she sniggered and finished on her way to the door.
Sliding around from the back of the pillar, a young man watched her leave. Turning toward the Old Amber as she disappeared from sight, he stood in front of it and stared at it, in almost a daze. Around two fingers on one hand, and one on the other, he spun thick silver rings around and around. Reaching up, he fingered the red tie at his neck and tucked it tighter along the front of his pure white shirt, into his suit. Black and highlighted with violet, the elbows of which were surrounded with metal rings, it seemed something no…Ordinary person would wear. His aqua-ish blue hair obscured half of his right eye, which seemed a steely blue-purple, and his black boots with violet soles were snapped together at attention as he stood.
"Master Stone?"
He turned quickly off to his side, "Yes?"
"Your father has been looking for you, sir."
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE ALREADY LEFT?!"
Nurse Joy leaned as far back in her chair as she was able to without tipping it over, "Miss Eevy already left again. She was gone the first time early this morning."
"Where'd she go?" Gary asked, banging Ash out of his way, "Did she go to the Gym?"
"Yes, she was at my Gym," Roxanne noted from behind.
"WOAH!" Ash spun frantically around, patting his chest, "Miss Roxanne…Geez…"
"Did you say Eevy was at your Gym?" Richie asked, peeking over Ash's head, "How'd she do?"
"Miss Evangelina has won my Badge."
"Really?" Gary blinked twice, "Ah nuts…She beat us."
"Since you're here, that means your Pokemon needed to be treated," Richie crossed his arms behind his head, "When will you be ready for another challenge?"
"In an hour or so," Roxanne hoisted Novo into her arms, "I just need to feed these two, and wait for Nosepass."
"You have Eevy's Pokemon?" Ash tilted his head, "Why?"
"I have only these two," she petted Novo's head and listened to him purr, "And she asked me to look after them while she went out, if they were through being healed before she came back."
"Do you know where she was heading?" Gary questioned, "I have a good mind to rat her out when she gets back."
"I believe she was on her way to Devon Corp.," Nurse Joy put in, "Perhaps she wanted to see Mister Stone?"
"If she wasn't going there, I'm sure she probably went to look around route 116," Roxanne added, putting Novo down on the bench under the window, so that he could rejoin his brother in staring out and watching for their Mistress, "She said she'd be back before it was too late out."
"I really do wish she hadn't gone alone," Ash sighed, "She's going to get lost."
"I have…One shitty sense of direction."
Eevy spun a Poke'Ball on the tip of her finger, traipsing aimlessly along through the knee-high grass. She wondered how many brambles would be hanging from her legs when she got out of it. Kicking a weed out of her way, she stumbled out of the leafy mess and sighed. She turned around, looking back in the opposite direction and gawking at how far she had to have walked. Or…Was that the way back to Rustboro? Aww, crap; she was lost again. She sputtered, kneeling down to begin the ritual of plucking briars from her skin and clothes. She'd succeeded in removing three or four of them when the thin white line in her brain started to twang. She looked up and sniffed the air. She smelled smoke. And salt water vapor. She was heading for her feet when rustling behind her caused her to turn.
"Oh crap," she groaned.
She ducked down, and the suit-clad man who came running out from around the trees decided it would be fun to trip over her. With a series of screeches, shouts, curses and thuds, they were both laying flat on their faces on the ground. Pulling her face from the mud and spitting out leaves and dirt, Eevy proceeded in yanking him up as well.
"Hey, watch where you're running," she snorted, hauling him to his feet, "What would you have done if I was a Pokemon?"
"Sorry, sorry, I'm sorry. I didn't see you," he buzzed nervously, "You must excuse me. I absolutely must get back to town."
"Ho-ho-woah there, old man," Eevy grumbled, grabbing his coat and snapping him back, "What's the rush?"
"I need to get back to town. I have to get Officer Jenny."
Eevy rolled her eyes, pulling out her wallet and flipping it open, "I think this is just as good."
"Oh…" he held the wallet closer and pushed his glasses up to read it, "Oh, please do help me! They've…They've stolen my papers!"
"If it's just papers reprint them."
"You don't understand! These documents! They contain information on Legendary and extinct Pokemon, and on Stones! If Team Aqua and Team Magma can research them-"
"Did you say Aqua and Magma?" she raised an eyebrow as he nodded, "Wonderful…"
"Please," he clasped his hands together, "You must get the papers back from them!"
She released his collar, "Consider it done, old man. Tell me where they are."
"Inside Rusturf Tunnel," he pointed, "Just near the entrance. The pathway is blocked by rock, so they can't go much farther."
Eevy popped her knuckles, dropping a Poke'Ball to her side, "Come on, Vovo. Let's see what we can do, eh?"
"Eevee!" Vovo chirped, hopping along beside her.
Eevy stopped at the entrance to the tunnel, waiting for Vovo to catch up, "Stay there," she ordered back to the man, "I'll be out in a few minutes, and I don't need to go searching for you."
Stepping into the damp cave, she found Pokemon-shaped lanterns hanging along the walls to dimly light the walkway. There were no splits in the path that she could see yet, so it was nearly impossible for even her to get lost. As she came up a set of stairs, she saw the shadowed forms of two people and two Pokemon over the small rock beside her. Putting a hand down in front of Vovo, she halted them both and leaned silently around the corner.
"Listen, Miss Shelly," muttered the one clad in red and black, "You've got half the papers, and I've got half. What say we strike a deal?"
"I don't strike deals with any man with a woman's name, Tabitha," the woman in blue and white smirked.
"Damn you, woman!" Tabitha burst, "Give me the papers!"
"Hah! Go to hell!" Shelly snorted, "These papers are most important to Master Archie."
"And you living isn't exactly all that important to Master Maximus, so I suggest you not play games with me."
"You do not intimidate me, Tabitha James," she smiled wickedly, "You might think about switching those around."
He growled, clenching his fists, "If need be, I will burn these papers and all the information on them along with them."
"You wouldn't."
"Would you care to bet me on that?"
Shelly snorted, "You-"
"Perhaps she wouldn't. But perhaps I would. Put the papers down and get lost."
Tabitha turned his attention away from the Team Aqua Admin in front of him, "And who the hell are you?"
"I believe you know me already, Administrator Tabitha James of Team Magma. You too, Administrator Shelly Marone of Team Aqua," Eevy held her wrist behind her back and wandered slowly down the passage, "And I also believe you know better than to piss me off."
"Oh, it's you. The woman from the road outside Petalburg Woods," Shelly puffed, "How do you know who we are? What business do you have knowing our names?"
Eevy narrowed one eye, "How impolite of me. I've been sent here to battle through the League. And to demolish both Team Aqua and Team Magma."
"Demolish us? You? Oh please!" Shelly waved a hand, "You're about as intimidating as Tabby here."
"Shelly, shut your mouth," Tabitha snorted, "This woman isn't someone we should mess with. She's dangerous."
"How dangerous could someone with purple hair be?" Shelly shrugged, flipping her own bright orange locks, "Walrein, go! Ice Ball attack!"
Eevy snickered, lowering her head. The sphere of ice the huge blue seal released crashed into an invisible wall in front of her, shattering in every direction. Walrein tried twice more, with about the same success rate. Shelly growled, nearly crushing the Pokemon's Poke'Ball in her fist.
"What the hell are you?" she spat.
"One of your many nightmares," Eevy fiddled with the Bell hanging off her necklace.
"So it's true then," Shelly backed up a step, "You really have come here to Hoenn. You…The one who holds the Crystal Bell, and can awaken the gods."
"Awaken the gods, you say?" Eevy shrugged one shoulder, "I'm not too sure about that…But I do know one thing I can wake."
Tabitha backed away behind his Mightyena, "Shelly…Why did you have to do that? You always did act before thinking."
"And you should talk?" Shelly snorted, recalling her Walrein and tripping back beside him, "You're the one who joined Team Magma without asking me first."
"I don't need your permission, you damn bitch."
"I'd love to chat about just what you're talking about, but I'm getting bored," Eevy turned off to her side, to the white smoke that billowed there.
From the smoke formed a slight human form, which stood silently beside her. Vovo stood at its feet, looking up at it, and chirped. It stepped around him, and he turned to watch it walk as it stopped in front of Eevy.
"What the hell is that thing?!" Shelly raised both fists, "My meter…My meter's going nuts! What is that?!"
Tabitha backed up into the wall and held up both hands, "Master Maximus said it would be impossible for you to wake Amatsubikei already!"
"Your Master Maximus was wrong then, hm?" Eevy grinned.
"I'm out of here!" Shelly dug a smoke bomb from her pocket, "Facing disembodied souls is not part of my job description!" she tapped the earpiece she wore, "Master Archie? I'm coming back!"
Tabitha watched her kick her half of the box of papers over to Eevy and throw the bomb on the floor, "And what about you?" Eevy questioned, raising an eyebrow, "Will you face me?"
"I'd be more than happy to," Tabitha smiled wickedly, "Mightyena!"
"Tabitha!"
He winced, and his Pokemon stopped charging, "Master Maximus?" he held his own earpiece closer.
"Leave the papers. Evacuate the tunnel immediately. I have better business for you to attend to besides losing your soul to a bodiless spirit."
"Losing my soul? …As you order, sir," Tabitha recalled his Mightyena, "Well, it looks like you and I will have to settle this some other time."
"Guess so," Eevy shrugged, "Good day then."
"Good day."
He nodded once, smashing his own smoke bomb to the ground and throwing her his box of papers from within the smoke. She caught it over her head, watched him disappear, and turned to leave. The ghostly form followed Eevy and Vovo along the cavern, down to the corner, and down the steps. As Eevy stepped from the tunnel, she disintegrated like any regular smoke would have, and the Bell on Eevy's necklace flared in a pale white light.
"Old man?" Eevy leaned around the trees to find him curled up and whimpering on the ground, "Hey, I've got your papers."
His head shot up, "Do you? You do! Oh, many thanks, young miss!" he took both halves of the box from her and scrambled through them, "They're all here. They're all here! Oh, miss, whatever would I have done without your help?"
"Probably gotten fired," Eevy smirked.
"Yes, that's true," he nodded frantically, "Miss, please allow me to take you to my supervisor. I'm sure he'll have a way to thank you."
"I…Really don't think I-Woah! Hey, quit pulling me!"
"…You work…At Devon Corp," Eevy stood at the bottom of the steps, staring up at the person she knew only ask "Old Man", "You've got to be kidding me."
"No. Why? Is something wrong with Devon Corp?" he asked, turning to look back at her.
"No, it's just that I was just here earlier today," she shrugged, following him up and through the front doors, "So who's your supervisor?"
"I work directly for Mister Stone, but of course."
"You-Woah, wait a second," Eevy tripped to a stop, staring at him blankly, "You work for Mister Stone?"
"Of course. I'm one of his personal assistants," he grinned and nodded, "Please, follow me. I've already called and told him what you did. He greatly wishes to see you."
"Uh…Right," Eevy murmured, attempting to straighten herself out while she walked.
She waved to the girl behind the counter, who smiled wide at her and waved the paper with her numbers on it, then tucking it in her pocket. She followed her escort down the hallway to the right, then to the left and into an elevator. All the while he was jabbering his thanks, and she was pretty much ignoring him. She followed him out of the elevator to the right hallway and then to the left to follow it. All the way down to the end they went, and then into a set of escalating spiral stairs, which they skipped four or five floors of walking by using. Once they were at the top, he took her off to the left and down to a large door. He knocked twice, receiving the OK to enter.
"Young miss, I present you Mister Sullivan Stone, president of Devon Corporation."
-Chapter 8: End-
A/N: I am such...A lazy bum. If it wasn't for Allen's almost constant nagging for the past couple months, this chapter wouldn't even be up now. Lots and lots of personal issues to work through, yes...And yeah, I used part of R/S in this chapter. Why? 'Cause I can...Anyway, hopefully I'll be able to get back to my work now. I've got a lot of stuff to put up after this series, but if I don't get THIS done, THAT can never come. And that would completely suck because I like most of the later stuff better. ...Joy. Well, that's all I've got to say for now!
-ProV
I again, yet, still do not own Pokemon or any affiliates thereof. ...So there. :P