Hazy Aurora: I'm Back! I just had a little break...

Azure: Little wouldn't describe it...I would say, BIG!

Icefire: Readily Agree.

Hazy Aurora: My muses never side with me...Supposing they are always negative...

Both: HEY!

Review Replies (Have to make them short and sweet):

Thanks for the Reviews. Lugia is appearing in this Chapter, his name is Kanshinin. It means 'Guardian' in Japanese. (Thanks to my new English/Japanese Dictionary) Grant is appearing in the Chapter 'Mt Mortar-A-Mazing Days' On with the Fic!

Both: That's our line!

Hazy Aurora: I wanted to say it so there! ::Pokes out tongue::

Chapter 9- Lost in Goldenrod

Azure glanced quickly left and right before wandering into the deserted intersection of paths. Laura trailing after her, muttering curses softly. Her ankle was large and inflamed and it was clearly giving her a lot of pain. Her brown eyes held a worried frown.

"Are you sure we are going in the right direction?" Laura whispered hoarsely. She shook a lock of red hair out of her flushed and sweaty face.

"Am I sure of anything at the moment?" Azure snapped crossly. "I hate it when it is dark. And when I'm lost." She stormed down the northern path and Laura hurried after. The golden lights of the Upper City flowed over the cobblestones, making everything a mismatched blur. Azure felt furious. She had led both herself and her best friend into a maze and she had no idea how to get out. There was a thump, and a large, bulky figure landed swiftly in front of Azure.

"What yer doing out this late? This city's dangerous at night." He looked at her pockets in a swift glance. "Especially when I'm on duty." He drew a Pokeball from his pocket. It snapped open with a sharp motion and the path was flooded with white light. A Pokemon with two sets of arms and large muscles flexed itself once before assuming a fighting stance.

"Machamp! Champ!" I roared and thumped its fists together.

Azure automatically reached for Mystique's Pokeball. Mystique appeared in an equally bright white light and flexed her long mermaids tail. Her fin like ears twitched.

"Vap!" She barked.

The thief frowned. "I didn't know you were a trainer..." He shook his head. "What the bother. Machamp! Finish it quickly with Focus Punch!"

Machamp closed its eyes. A brownish haze built around its four fists. It seemed to be concentrating hard, which was difficult to believe such a bulk could.

"Myst! Use Hydro Pump!" Azure yelled. Mystique opened her mouth and sent a jet of fast moving water to crash into Machamp. The water seemed to wash the brownish haze away and Machamp reeled backwards. It flinched stiffly. Azure took the opportunity with a flourish.

"Myst! Finish it with Take Down!" Myst roared forwards on her paws and sent Machamp flying back into its Trainer. The impact caused the thief to fly back with his Pokemon into a hard brick wall behind. A trickle of blood flowed clear of his head and his eyes went out of focus. Azure called Myst back into her Pokeball before rushing over. Taking out her water flask she cupped her hand and poured some water into her palm. She splashed the water onto the thief before standing up and running towards the next corner. Laura followed suit.

An hour later the maze was still stretching far in front. Azure and Laura trudged around each bend and kept their eyes firmly on the ground. Next to them, the Radio tower stretched up high into the sky. There were more houses now than ever, but all the lights were off. Only one light was gleaming brightly. Outside, a 11-year-old boy with longish, silver hair was playing a small pennywhistle in a strange tune. The tune lilted often, its tempo smooth and unearthly. When the boy turned his violet eyes up to the curious strangers, he immediately stopped playing. He stumbled to his feet.

"I..." He looked lost for words.

"Do you have any idea about how to get out of this city?" Asked Azure desperately.

"Sure. Been around here ever since...I appeared." He looked confused for a moment. Then he shook himself and continued. "Where do you want to leave? The south entrance or the north entrance?"

"North."

"Here. Lets take the shortcut." He opened the door and walked inside quickly. Azure followed and Laura soon after.

"'Name's Kanshinin." He explained as they walked along a dingy passage to a rickety flight of stairs that led into darkness.

"Kanshinin? What a weird-" Azure began but was cut off sharply when Kanshinin pressed his fore-finger to his lips. A cool breeze had started to blow.

"They know." He moaned. "Just great." Kanshinin hurried down the stairs as if trying to escape the wind. Azure felt part of her mind tear away in the breeze and a flood of memories...almost came. With a jerk, Kanshinin tugged the dreamy-eyed Azure down the stairs.

"I need you in one piece." He looked worried. "There are some very harsh..."

"We are not harsh." A rough voice said smoothly. "We will make deals. Give us your money, your valuables and most importantly...your Pokemon." He held out a hairy, smelly hand in front of them. It was roost to a small device. It looked very like the one in Azure's pocket...

"A Pokedex?" Azure gasped.

"You need to pass a test." He snapped it open and started to point it at Azure.

"But we're human..." The Pokedex's voice spoke to the man and his grin widened. He pointed it at Laura, it broadened, and when he pointed it at Kanshinin it was a sneer.

"You lie." He closed it with a soft motion as if trying not to startle them.

"But we aren't Pokemon!" Laura shrieked in fright. This was freaking her out. Big Time.

"I can tell you of your past..." All three started to look hopefully at the man. He produced a Pokeball from his jacket. The other men around him did the same. "You can fight for your freedom. Or you can come with me willingly." He grinned slyly. They threw the balls and three Pokemon emerged. One was a hardy bird type, with crazy eyes and yellow claws that was Taillow, a Pokemon that had three whipping tails and sharp horns; a Tauros. The last was a huge Venusaur. It's fronds swaying in a breeze that wasn't there.

Azure yeaned to find out more about herself but she wanted her freedom more than anything. She produced both Mystique's and Azumarill's Pokeballs. Kanshinin produced a Pokeball that sparked an electric yellow. They threw the balls with swift deftness.

Azure's two hit the ground and burst open with the usual bright white light. Myst uncurled herself and Azumarill assumed its normal fighting stance. Kanshinin's Pokeball, however, burst open in a flash of YELLOW light and a huge lizard emerged from the depths of the flash. Its scaly skin was a fearsome Jet Black, and the scales sparkled like black glass. Its body was long, and it had jagged, ripping claws and horribly sharp teeth. Its eyes...Its eyes were a cool blue. But when it spotted Pokemon in front of it, its eyes turned the fierce yellow of the Pokeball.

The Pokemon in front froze, and bolts of jagged lightning ripple over their flesh as they were immediately paralyzed. Azure looked at Kanshinin questioningly. The violet eyes stared furiously at the men, and he shouted a command to the lizard.

"Dragona, use Dragon Claw!" He yelled. The black lizards claws front-right talon flashed scarlet. Dragona's claws whipped out so fast to strike Taillow that Azure hardly saw it. Taillow dropped like a stone, a huge, bloody gash ripped in its side. One of the men grimaced and returned the bird to its Pokeball.

"Use Hydro Pump!" Azure shouted. Mystique and Azumarill shot water from their mouths to hit the startled Bull Pokemon. It fell like a stone to the floor. Venusaur was left shivering in its paralysis, last to be taken down. Its trainer snarled a curse at its defeat and recalled it.

"Rollout, Azumarill!" Azure yelled. Azumarill rolled forwards to hit the duo Grass/Poison type with a roaring anger. Venusaur lurched backwards, and managed to recover itself in time from hitting its trainer, the leader.

"Use Take Down!" Yelled both Azure and Kanshinin in unison. Azumarill, Myst and Dragona hurtled forwards to hit Venusaur for the last, and most painful time. Venusaur promptly dropped down into a dead faint, only to be recalled by the leader angrily. He produced three balls, each glowed a sickly black.

"You'll be mine." He panted, his eyes going mad. "I'll be the most powerful person in the world!" He cackled loudly. "Soon I will defeat Giovanni with you on my side, and I will conquer the whole world!" He pitched the balls forwards towards the three startled kids. Kanshinin took out his whistle. Time slowed and Kanshinin seemed to radiate with a violet glow before the world swam in front Azure's eyes, and went a blinding, dazzling white. Then, the whiteness became black as Azure fainted.

Hazy Aurora: Review Review Review! And adios till next time! :)