(a/n: I do not own Pokemon or whatever, or Nintendo Gamecube (although I am in possession of a gamecube and a nintendo 64. So sue me! Sheesh!) And Xifa helped write this story. She is Aera, Megumi, Brock, Cameron, Dennis, Edwin, and Frankie. I am everyone else. So please read and review!)
Iris
By: Xifa and Sefie Lynne Tilmitt
Chapter 5
I openned my eyes, in a totally unfamilliar place, with lots of people I coukdn't identify. My mind was blurry, and they were speaking but I could understand them.... I spoted aera and tried to stand up, but I fell, darkness everywhere, enough to cover the entire world. I reached up, hoping for Aera to find me and to pull me out of the nightmarish place. It was hot, burning hot, and I couldn't find my way. I stumbled through the pitch black, looking for something, anything to help me escape....
Where was I? And for that matter, who was I? And what was I looking for. A felt a slight pain in the center of my mind, throbbing and growing until i couldn't stand it anymore, my eyes openning quickly. I was back in the oh-so familliar room that haunted me so often. I yelled, struggled, tried to get away. What was I doing there?! Magumi stood in the backgroun, looking aplogetic. What did this mean?!
I woke up tangled in every way possible in my coat. I sighed, and no matter how hard I tired I couldn't get back to sleep. Maybe it was that disturbing dream. I tried to recall it, but it was like trying to hold water in cupped hands. It just slipped away. I looked at my watch. 4 a.m. at, about, or around. I wearilly got up, climbing down the tree quickly, digging in my pack for a flashlight and a notebook. Sometimes writing helped. I also puled out my walkman. I popped the headphones on, turned them as loud as they would go, and listened to Iris on repeat as I wrote.
My eyes stung with tiredness by the time any sane person was up, so I stood up, yawning, and going over to the fire to start cooking breakfst.
"So why don't we just go bum borrowing the stove from Aera? C'mon, she's not gonna mind...doesn't she live with her grandparents? Grandparents cook so well...I'll be they're having a huge breakfast, complete with home-made pancakes, crispy bacon, warm, sizzling eggs..." Megumi looked up at me. "And old people love people! Surely they'd let us eat with them, just one day...yum...I'm so hungry..."
"If you like eating all things that require using no teeth, then fine, you go eat with then."
"She's got five little brothers, Storm. I betcha they have to cook some form of solid food."
"As far as I heard Aera doesn't get solid foods. Just mashed potatoes and stuff. Besides, do you not trust my cooking?" I smiled evilly.
"Ah, you've seen straight to the root of the problem."
"Fine. You go in." I shrugged. "I'll have my own stuff."
Aera walked up, followed by the midget brigade.
"Good morning," she smiled pleasantly.
"Are ?" Brock asked.
"Cooking? Yeah, cooking?" the other four echoed at random.
"Yes." I smiled at them, then smirked at Megumi. "Problem eliminated."
She glared back at me, then smiled at Brock, who blushed scarlet. Aera glared at Megumi, but she was too busy trying to silently embarass Brock to catch the look. i rolled my eyes. Moron. I swear, she sure as heck didn't -act- like her heart's door was closed... I handed aera, the midget brigade, and Megumi all plates then got some for myself.
"Thank you," they all said, except for one of Aera's brothers...I think this was the one named Edwin. He just sort of nodded at me.
I decided I liked that one best. Not nessicarilly the most outspoken, but possibly the nicest. You never knew, didja? I plopped down by the fire. I would try to be friends with Edwin. He seemed like a good enough kid to me.
"So, when are you all leaving Agate?" Brock asked.
"Probably soon," Aera was staring down at her PDA. "Breaking news just in--"
"--you programmed your PDA to get the news, too?" Megumi looked up, shocked.
"Yeah. I'm kind of obsessed with knowing everything that's happening," Aera admitted sheepishly.
"Me too," Megumi blinked.
"Anyways, breaking news is that people with strange, 'evil' pokemon have taken over Mt. Battle. Maybe my Pichu's there, and...maybe we'll head there next, if it's okay with Megumi and Storm."
"That works for me." I nodded.
"Well, looks like I'm outnumbered! Sorry, Brock. I was looking forward to another day with you," she winked.
"God, would you quit flirting with him?" Aera mutted, rolling her eyes. "He'll become way too obsessed with you."
"Too late, Aera, I think he already is," Megumi whispered back, laughing.
"You all still have my PDA number, right?" Aera looked to the boys.
"Yeah," Brock said, and the other four echoed their affirmations. Except Edwin. He just nodded.
"Hey Edwin, would you like to be my PDA buddy?" I looked to him.
He nodded, smiling.
"Alright." I smiled, scribbling down my number on a peice of paper and handing it to him. "Thank you."
He pulled out his own PDA and sent his number to mine, the message "You're welcome and thank you" underneath his number. I smiled at him. He was a pretty cool kid, dspite how young he was. He kinda reminded me of myself when I was little. Maybe that's why I liked him. Who knows.
"We probably should get back home before Grandpa gets mad," Brock sighed, as did the other four. "Thank you very much for breakfast, sir."
"No problem. And you can call me Storm." I smiled cheerfully.
"Okay, Storm," he grinned. "Thanks again. Hopefully we'll see you again sometime, if you ever come back to Agate Town."
"I'm sure we will, sometime," Aera said. "Agate Town's a pretty important place."
"You heard her," Brock grinned. "And make sure to bring back Meg whenever you do come!"
"No problem, kid, I'll come just for you," Megumi beamed.
I rolled my eyes. Megumi was really a peice of work....
"Okay, bye," Brock waved.
"Bye," the other four chorused, save once again for Edwin, who just waved. They all walked off except for Frankie.
"What is it?" I asked uncomfortably.
"Don'tchu make fun of Edwin," he frowned to me.
"Why would I do that? I think he's cool."
"Lotsa people make fun of Edwin 'cuz he can't talk. You better not make fun of him!"
"Frankie, whatever you're saying better be nice..." Aera warned.
"It is!" Frankie turned around to beam at her, turned back around, and glared dangerously at me.
"I think he's awesome. It doesn't matter to me whether he can talk or not."
"Okay then," Frankie nodded. "That's just fine."
"Frankie!" Brock called. "You comin'?"
"Coming!" he echoed, running after them.
I stared after them. I liked Edwin, In really did. I would never make fun of him. I was glad he had a brother that'd stick up for him though.
"Don't take whatever he said personally," Aera said. "He doesn't think before he speaks."
"Hey, he was just telling me not to make fun of Edwin, which i won't. To be honest, Edwin is my favorite of your little brothers."
"Frankie sticks up for him," Aera smiled sadly. "Which is good, because Dennis and Cameron most defenitely don't."
"If you mean they tease him, then pardon me be they're very rude. Edwin seems like a really sweet kid."
"He is. And they're not doing it to be mean...it's just...whenever everyone else is doing it, they just join right along. I know deep down they love him, but...they're just being little kids, I guess," she sighed.
"Yeah," I nodded. "I look forward to being Edwin's PDA buddy though."
"I do, too. It's good for him to make some friends who don't have the last name of Rose," she smiled.
Yeah, I want him to like me for that reason, cause hes a sweet kid, and since I am now, I guess, Aera's boyfrind then I did not want to get on the midget brigade's bad side.
"Yeah..."
"Well, where's Mt. Battle at?" Megumi asked. "I'd like to see the latest breaking news."
"As would I," Aera nodded. "But I've no clue where it's at..."
"This should be interesting.... Aera, do you want to ride behind me and Megumi ride in the side car or what?"
"I call dibs on riding behind Storm!" Megumi laughed.
"Sorry, asked Aera first." I said ceerfully.
"Where will Espeon and Umbreon ride?"
"In pokeballs I guess."
"Maybe Megumi could ride in a pokeball?" Aera looked over to the girl.
"Hey!" Megumi laughed, hitting her playfully. "Maybe you should!"
I rolled my eyes. Girls.
"I've got it. How about I drive, and you can ride in the side-kick car?" Megumi looked to me.
"No."
"Whatever," Megumi rolled her eyes. "I'll let Aera ride behind you, but you'd best know it's typical protocol of the Storm fan club to take turns!"
I smacked my forehaead. "Not this again..."
"I got promoted to secretary last night. I wanted the position of dictator, but Aera already got that," Megumi stuck her tongue out at her, "and VP was taken by Espeon, so I settled for secretary. But I am gonna beat you, Aera!"
"I've already got ten points," she smiled faintly.
"...because you wore my goggles. Right?" I laughed.
"Right on," she smiled.
"I get 'em next!" Megumi giggled.
"Whatever." I rolled my eyes. Goodness, this was getting rediculous.
"Let's just leave," Megumi grinned. "Last one to the motorcycle's a...um...snorlax or something...."
I jumped on quickly. "Not me."
Megumi scrambled in the side-car and Aera hopped in behind me.
"...tie..." Megumi sighed. "Maybe next time?"
"Maybe," Aera nodded.
"Guys, c'mon." I shook my head, starting the engine. It spluttered to life. It wasn't used to this much weight. It had only carried Espeon, Umbreon and I.
"We're ready," Aera said from behind me.
"Are we there yet?" Megumi asked.
"Do we look like we're there yet?" I started to drive quickly.
"Let's sing car songs!" Megumi suggested. "What should we sing? What's a good song, Aera?"
"Um...oh, I know a good song...The strands in your eyes--"
"I know that one," Megumi grinned. "Colored and wonderful--"
"Stop me, and steal my breath..."
The two started singing at the same time, Aera harmonizing wonderfully, surprisingly, with Megumi. Wow. Amazing how much they argued but how well they seemed to work together. Sometimes. A little. I think I liked it better with just Aera. In Magumi's words, it was 'fluffier' that way.
"Ah, look, a huge mountain," Megumi smiled, pointing at it.
"As long as we don't have to drive up it," Aera mumbled, "I'll be just fine."
"That's Mount Battle."
"I bet it'll be pretty, up at the top," Megumi commented.
"I won't make it that far," Aera mumbled.
"Why not? Are you alright?"
"I will NOT go that far off the ground," she said indignantly.
"Whoa, what's she babbling about? I can't hear!"
I glared at Megumi, then turned to Aera. "...Do you even wanna go?"
"N--"
"--Pichu might be up there," Megumi interuppted her, apparently figuring out what the conversation was about.
"...yeah...I'll go up there..." she sighed.
"It'll be fine. And Megumi's right. Maybe your Pichu is up there."
"Maybe," she mumbled. "She didn't like heights either, though. Poor thing..."
I nodded. "We'll hurry then."
"Hope we don't fall off of the mountain," Megumi smiled to Aera. "I heard it was hovering platforms suspended over a huge pit..."
Aera just buried her head in my shoulder. I glared unhappilly at Megumi.
"That was mean." I said quietly. "And there's no reason to be rude."
"I was just jokin' with her...didn't realize it was such a big deal," she shrugged. "Sorry, Aera..."
"It's alright," she mumbled, but still didn't look up.
I reached back, grasped her hand for a moment, and then drove in silence. I didn't like to hear them arguing.
"Look, we're there," Megumi smiled. "I'm excited! I've heard this place is awesome...except some evil people have infiltirated it and therefore ruined my fun...hopefully we'll find your Pikachu, right, Aera?"
"Pichu," she corrected her glumly, staring up the mountain. "Let's get going."
I got off my 'motorcycle' and lead the way in. I didn't like the looks of this place.... not at all.
"There's the enterence!" Megumi ran up to it.
"I'm sorry, but you can't go in...people with--"
"--we know, and we're here to save the day," Megumi grinned. "Isn't that right, Storm?"
"Well that's one way to put it. Cheesy as it sounds, yes, I guess we are."
"By all means, then," she opened the door to the elevator. "Please proceed. Take extreme caution when on the platforms, however. No telling what these crooks are low enough to do. Good luck, and feel free to come down and heal anytime you need to. Good luck," the lady said again, opening the door for us.
I walked in first. Just in case. I gingerly tried the platform, whihc semed to be stable, and I walked out and onto platform number 1. Megumi ran out behind me, and Aera was sticking very close to me.
"No railings," she said, voice unnaturally high.
"Ooh, Aera...I know you hate this shizz, but this is so pretty...isn't it, Storm?" she commented.
"I guess." I held Aera's hand, looking cautiously around.
"Yo! Your'e not here to enjoy the view, you're here to fight me!" Number One called out from where he stood, arms crossed.
"Bor-ing. I'm going up to the second platform," Megumi scowled.
"But, you can't go up there until you've beaten me!" number one protested.
"So? Storm'll pound your scrawny butt, and I shall go ahead and clear out number two to save time. Problem solved!" Megumi grinned, running up to the next level.
I shook my head. Annoying as she was, she was reliable somewhat and was quite smooth. Years of practice, not doubt.
I called out one of the Shadow Pokemon I caught and my Esepon.
"Fear the power of my...bugs!" he called, sending out a weedle and an oddish. "Well, my bug and my plant..."
"Whatever." I chuckled.
"Poison sting and stun spore!" he yelled, sounding hyper.
I simply rolled my eyes, used my strongest attacks, and moved on through the ranks. I had to admit, they were a little tougher the more of them I went through, and I had to go back and heal frequently. I finally ran up to number ten expecting another Bug-Idiot. How wrong I was. I stood there in horror, but there was no way I could turn back now. I had to face what haunted me.... D'Atri.