Author's Note: So sorry that there has been a lack of updting...If I had more reviews, I'd feel more encouraged to write faster winkwink.... By the way, This chapter starts at the end of the day of the last chapter...things have transpired that I didn't feel like writing. Now, if anybody flames me for the inconsistancy, tough. I told you. Go home and cry to your mothers. Oh, and watch out for red dots on your chest. Teh Sniper

NAME: Reynolds

AGE: 47

HOME: Route 32

HAIR: grey

EYES: black

CLOTHES: White shirt, red overalls

FUN FACT: He is a fisherman and enjoys talking about anything

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Krysta yawned as she approached the Pokemon Center and entered with Zell. Both were exhausted from the day's events and needed to heal their pokemon. Krysta also wanted to talk with her new pokemon: Gastly, Bellsprout, Ekans, Wooper, and Rattata.

She had had to return to Violet at least once today, but she wasn't sure how many times she went back for more pokeballs, healing, and various other errands that trainers in the field needed. All of her team was thoroughly tired from the seven battles they participated in after leaving Violet.

While Krysta went and withdrew her new pokemon and deposited her freshly healed and tired ones, Zell inquired about rooms for the night.

She released her five new pokemon and Aqua. The Gastly was barely visible in the stark white lights of the healing center. The Ekans glared at Krysta and slithered around, the tip of his tail twitching slightly. Tide, the Wooper, and Aqua started playing together rather cutely while Rattata tried to curl up and go to sleep.

Krysta tried to round up all her pokemon whe Zell returned, but it was like herding cats. Finally, she recalled all of them and trudged gratefully off to the room that she and Zell had to share.

At least there's a bunk bed she thought as she sank into the matress.

The crowing of a Fearow outside woke her. Glancing out the window, she noticed that it was well into the day. She rolled out of bed, ready to start the day. This was rather painful because she forgot that she had taken the top bunk.

Wincing, she headed towards the complimentary showers to freshen up for the day. She froze when she saw Aqua and Tide playing tag in the misty room.

Somehow, the pair had managed not only to turn on and flood the room, they had also gotten every water type pokemon to empty the soap containers and get all the standing water foamy.

Krysta's mouth hung open as she saw a Wartortle shoot from the flooded depths and perform a near flawless front flip before diving back into the murky water. Vaguely, she felt water flow past her ankles. She turned and watched the wayward flow rush down the corridor. Her mind didn't register the panicked shouts and the pounding, sloshing noise of feet running towards her.

Nurse Joy frowned unhappily at Krysta, and then saw what had actually caused the mess. The nurse tried to hold in her giggles, but failed. Finally, she just shook her head and went to fetch several grass type pokemon.

All the plant pokemon stood in the water apprehensively until all of them were ordered, by trainers and nurses alike, to use absorb. Every misplaced water droplet dissappeared.

Krysta was thouroughly embarrassed to know that her pokemon had been the ringleaders of the morning's misadventure, but was glad that they were feeling better after the previous day's battle. While she showered, she planned on what to do today.

She combed out her hair and put it up into her traditional ponytail and then tied her new headband around her forehead. Gently, she pulled two strands of hair from her ponytail and had them drop around her face over the black band. Satisfied with the look, she packed her brush away and returned to the room she and Zell had shared. Looking at the lower bunk where the older teen was sprawled, she shook her head.

He was most definitely odd. She remembered the way he treated a salesman yesterdaty, going ballistic on the man who was trying to sell Slowpoke Tails. Krysta personally didn't believe in the practice, but that's no reason to punch a guy in the face....

Walking over to the bunk bed, she tapped Zell on the shoulder. He grumbled in his sleep and curled up tighter.

She grinned and said to Echo, who was hanging from the ceiling fan, "Aww...he's so cute when he's sleeping."

Grabbing one side of the matress, she heaved it over just enough that Zell fell out of bed and onto the floor. Still he slept.

Growling under her breath, she pulled the blanket off of him. She tried not to stare too long as she called out Gastly.

"Okay Gastly, Lick his ear."

The ghost pokemon chortled and floated over to the still sleeping half-dressed Zell. The long pink tounge reached out for Zell's ear but got trapped when Zell rolled over. Mumbling noises could be heard when Gastly tried to free itself.

"GATHT! GATHT!" Echo squeaked and flew down to help its teammate. Somewhat meanly, he bit Zell's other ear.

Zell jumped straight up, freeing Gastly, scaring Echo, and making people in the hallway wonder what was wrong.

Needless to say, he was in a grumpy mood for the rest of the day.

As the duo headed downstairs, an older man in a white shirt, red overalls and a fishing cap stopped them. He smiled broadly at Krysta.

"Say...aren't you the one with the Poliwag and Wooper that trashed the showers this morning? All my Magikarp somehow made its way there and joined the party. One of them was so happy about it he evolved when we were fighting earlier. I guess I owe it to you that Kipsy is now a Gyrados...Here, you can have this rod..."

He rummaged in his pack and pulled out a collapsable fishing rod. It looked rather battered, but Krysta decided to take it anyway.

"Thank you, sir." She said, taking it from him.

"No no, little lady, thank you."

Zell looked at her oddly as they left. Krysta looked back at him with a questioning look. She never failed to be startled by his purple eyes.

He shook his head slightly and they continued on their way. Shortly, they came to a rocky outcropping. A boy lounged on one of the rocks, half way asleep and not paying too close attention to his surroundings. Krysta and Zell had almost slipped by him and into the cave opening before he awoke.

"Wha? Oh...Hullo. I see you have the Zephyr Badge. Would you mind battling?"

Krysta almost agreed before Zell beat her to it. "Krysta, please let me...I haven't battled in a while due to helping you train..."

Krysta nodded and sat down to watch the fight.

The boy sent out a Pidgey and commanded a Sand-Attack.

Dust flew as Zell's pokemon came out of its ball. Krysta couldn't see it but she heard its low voice clearly.

"Ka...Dabra!" A set of eyes glowed purple through the sandy haze.

Suddenly, the Pidgey started glowing as well. It was flung backward into a rock. Krysta could distinctly hear something crunch. She winced as the bird pokemon shrieked its pain.

The trainer withdrew his injured pokemon and sent out a healthy looking Fearow.

"Fearow, Fury Attack!" the boy yelled desperately as he looked around for the still unseen Kadabra.

The large, aggressive pokemon launched itself into the air and looped over to transition into a screaming dive for where it thought its opponent to be.

It came as a surprised to both the Fearow and its trainer when Kadabra Teleported behind the Fearow and performed a powerful Psybeam.

The pokemon fell into its trainer's arms.

Silently, the boy shoved over Zell's winnings and ran to the Pokecenter.

Krysta dusted herself off after standing and grinned impishly at Zell, who was giving his Kadabra a treat.

"You didn't give any verbal commands, but it knew what you wanted it to do...how was that?" Krysta asked as they picked their way through the dry, sandy, dimly lit corridors of Union cave.

Zell thought for a bit. His amethyst eyes were darkened by the shadowy path, making them look like animate obsidian. "Eryth, Kadabra, and I don't need to talk to understand eachother. She kinda reads my thoughts on what I want her to do...We've been partners for a while now...She was my second pokemon.... Flame was my first...He's my Charmeleon, then Eryth, then Ivysaur...Wartortle...then Spark...and Darkness. Those are the six I'm traveling with right now...I've got others, but I just wanted to travel with my original team."

Krysta felt intimidated by all of his evolved pokemon. "What's Spark and Darkness?"

As if to answer her question, two of Zell's pokeballs popped open.

"Pi..Pika. Pipi...Chu?" A cute little Pikachu sat on Zell's head. Heaving a sigh, Zell picked it up off of his head and started carrying it like it was a baby. "This is Spark." He told her, though she was able to figure that out.

"And Darkness...Hey, boy, where are you?" Zell looked around for a pokemon that Krysta was sure he had made up.

Suddenly, up ahead, two demonic red eyes glared at them from atop a boulder. A body blacker than the gloom surrounding it sat on the rock as if it were a throne. Purplish grey anklets, collar ring with skull, back crescents, and horns finished off the imperious Houndoom.

Darkness lived up to his name, because he fluidly moved from rock to Zell's side with Krysta losing track of him save for his eyes. He was a creepy pokemon.

Krysta was enamored with Spark, but thought, and told Zell, that 'Spark' was an unoriginal name for a Pikachu.

Zell shrugged and told her that Spark was named by someone else and given to him, so he couldn'tchange his name.

Suddenly, Darkness raised her head and gave an eerie, wavering howl before coming over to Zell's side. The team stopped when a dirge-like wailing echoed back at the team.

Together, they decided to hustle on out of there. Emerging from the tunnel, they found out that it was night and it was raining. Turning back around, they decided to camp in Union cave until daylight.

Still too awake to even think of trying to sleep, Krysta decided to work on her gym design.

Zell peered over her shoulder at her drawings. "Whats this?"

She slammed her notebook shut and gasped. "Zell! It's not polite to read over someones shoulder!"

Gently, he took the notebook from her and thumbed through the pages. She only made half-hearted attempts to get it back.

"This is really good..." he said at last. "But theres only one problem...theres already a Storm Badge..."

Krysta stared at him, aghast. The storm outside shrieked in its fury. Krysta looked out the entrance to the cave for inspiration.

"How about 'Tempest'?

Zell looked at the plans again and thought for a moment. "That sounds good..."

The storm outside raged on.

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Okiday people, MAJOR AUTHOR'S NOTE: I'm sorry I haven't updated in a while. My comp had to be killed and reincarnated and that took a large chunk out of my time. I am sorry about that. To the dedicated few who read this, fear not. My muse is with me, and Simon has been begging to be heard. Things will be exciting in 3 chapters. I garauntee it.

By the way...

Thanks to Chill the Great for your special attention, but Zell is mine. I have never played FF8, though I plan on it. The Storm badge coincidence, as read in this chapter, did have a plan to take care of it. Besides...Tempest sounds cooler. Also, very good with the type recognition, but you forgot ice. Yes, ice. If you live in Midwestern America, you know why. Hail hurts. A lot. I don't recommend playing in it.

Lunar Sphinx: Luv ya lots, thanks for the support!

Anyway...as my cats say when they want something: MRAOW!? (cats need food, authors need reviews, get it?)

Sniper