Author's Notes: Well, I've updated all my other stories, so now it's time for this one! Yes, shiny is good... MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Now, on with the story!

It's My Baby

Chapter 7:
As My World Cumbles

Aquamarine's POV

3 weeks now had I been with Maelstrom, learning the ways and rules of the Rockets, not like it mattered, since I didn't have to abide by them. For the time I had been here, I was constantly showered by all the things I'd ever wanted and more, but it was all in vain attempts to win my allegiance over to the dark side of Team Rocket. At the moment, I was relaxing on a plush cushion in the middle of the room after taking a dip in my jacuzzi. Maelstrom was kept in close contact with me in the provided apartment, which was really a pain, due to his constant ramblings on things like "how I saved a litter of Eevee from a fire", or "how I nursed a Stantler's broken leg", or "the time I fought the legendary Ho-oh" and other wild stories that made no sense whatsoever. He reminded me of Lightning in his ways... and now, I was really beginning to regret what I did to him, making me miss him all the more...

Normal POV

Nudging the door open, Maelstrom appeared in the apartment's doorway, smirking at Aquamarine, who only rolled her eyes.

"So, how's the future mother doing today?" he asked, laying down on the floor, next to Aquamarine's pillow.

In response, she moved away and turned her back, looking over shoulder. "Fine, thank you, Maelstrom."

Not satisfied, Maelstrom walked over and rubbed against his female counterpart. "Why so tense, my sweet? He cooed. "That's no way a beauty like you should act."

Aquamarine pulled away again. "No, Maelstrom, I'm not in the mood..."

"You're never in the mood." Maelstrom stood up. "You're given everything you could possibly want and act as if you could care less about it."

"That's because I could."

"Come on, let's just cuddle..."

Aquamarine grunted and slowly stood up, walking over to the couch. "Look, Maelstrom, I'm not happy here. I was taken from my trainer, my home, my life, and for what? To spend the rest of my days here?"

"Yes, because this is your home now, and there's nothing you can do about it." Maelstrom narrowed his eyes.

"You're starting to sound like Marcy and all the other lowlifes here."

"That's because I've been here my entire life and you're staying here with me," As he spoke, he inched closer to Aquamarine. "whether you like it or not."

Marcey sat in her office, grooming Inferno in her lap as she looked outside her window at a dingy cage full of Farfetch'd wheeled by her. She smiled and turned to her desk, Inferno hopping off her.

"Inferno," she said to the Houndour, "I want you to fetch Lucas for me and bring him here so I can ask him about Mizu."

Nodding to her master, Inferno darted out the door and ran out of sight. She knew who Marcey was talking about and was glad she was finally taking action. "Mizu" was Aquamarine's name to the Rockets.

"That pesky Suicune is finally getting what's coming to her for ruining my relations with Marcey! I just hope it's enough to get her out of my hair for good!" she turned a sharp corner and proceeded down the hallway, knocking over a Grunt with a box full of Quilava.

Back with Crystal, the search for Aquamarine was a total disaster, with the trail running cold. Crystal and Sam searched all over Jotho and Kanto and Team Rocket was nowhere to be found. Little did Crystal know about the secret base in Mahogany Town starting up again.

"It's just impossible, Sam. How could an organization as big as Team Rocket just disappear like that?"

"I don't know...maybe they left these regions and went somewhere else."

"Maybe so..." Crystal mused as she stroked Lightning. "I think we should keep looking, though."

"Right."

By now, it was starting to get late, so Crystal and Sam called it a day and decided to look again tomorrow.

"This is all my fault," Lightning vented to Blaze upon arriving home. "If I hadn't gotten everyone drunk at the party, none of this would've happened! What was thinking?!"

"You have to admit, that WAS pretty idiotic of you..." Blaze trailed off as Springleaf joined the conversation.

"Oh, hush up, Blaze!" she scolded. "You're just making things worse!"

"Well, it's not my fault for what he did!" Blaze shot back.

"Stop it, you two! This isn't going anywhere!" shouted Terror.

"Hmph!" Blaze pouted. "She started it!"

"I did not!" Springleaf retorted.

Before Blaze got a chance to make a comeback, Torture drenched him with a Hydro Pump.

"Dad's right, guys," Terrence said, stepping forward. He was a Totodile, Torture's son. "You guys get a grip!"

"We need to find Aqua soon before she has her puppies. If Team Rocket has her, there's no telling what she'll do to them..." Springleaf said.

Lightning nodded in response, then looked outside to the moon. "I'll find you, Aqua... and I'll bring you home."

Author's Notes: Ah, plot thickness... Anyway, just R&R and I'll work on some other stories and stuff!