"Things Aren't Always As They Appear"
Thomas walked along the banks of a large river that was supposed to support a large Feebas population. Thomas hoped that this was true and that he wouldn't have to let Sakura down, especially on her birthday. After finding a good fishing spot, Thomas took out his fishing rod and cast it out into the water. The first two times Thomas cast out it, he reeled in two Carvanha, which were certainly not the pokemon he was looking for. Thomas continued fishing and it was a little over an hour before felt a medium sized tug on his rod. Thomas began reeling it in, and much to his surprise when he hauled it out of the water; it was a Feebas. Once Thomas saw this, he called out his Milotic and told it to use Water Pulse on the Feebas since he didn't want to accidentally faint it. Water Pulse was enough to lower the Feebas' HP to a low enough level, that when Thomas threw a Net Ball, it caught it without too much of a fight.
"Good…… Sakura should be really happy with this pokemon, plus it'll turn into a part dragon that'll be immune to ice due to its water characteristic as well. I hope that this pokemon will become one of her strongest pokemon……." Thomas thought, picking up the poke ball and putting it into his pocket.
"Now to get back to base and get it wrapped……." Thomas thought, starting to walk back to their base.
~*~
Meanwhile, Matthew was helping Sakura train.
"For a new girl, you're doing really well. If for some reason you can't go out with Thomas' group, I would willingly take you into my own for a while."
Sakura looked a little startled.
"Sorry, but I saw that you're a natural when it comes to raising your pokemon, and not many people have that skill." Matthew said.
Sakura's Marshtop cried at Sakura for her to pet it, which she did.
"Marsh! Marshtop!" Marshtop cried, nuzzling Sakura's hand.
"Aw…… You've only had that pokemon for two days now and it already adores you…… I don't have that kind of affection towards me with some of my pokemon…….." Matthew said, looking at Sakura with interest.
Matthew took Sakura's hand, and Sakura tried to pull away.
"Wait until I tell Maxie where you are!"
Arinia's eyes went wide, "What?! But I thought you were a part of Team Aqua!"
"I am, silly girl, but I'm also a part of Team Magma. I'm taking you back to Maxie now!"
Sakura fought Matthew, but Matthew restrained her. "Give it up, I'm not letting you get away!"
~*~
Thomas was walking down the hallway to the training room when he heard Sakura cry out in alarm. Thomas broke into a run, and burst into the training room a few minutes later.
Thomas quickly sized up the situation, "Let her go, Matthew!"
"No way! I'm not letting her go! Maxie will be pleased!"
"You traitor!" Thomas pulled Matthew off Sakura, "Run to your dad's office!"
Sakura nodded, recalled her pokemon, and ran to her dad's office. Archie saw her and ran to her, "Sakura, what's wrong? You're pale!"
Sakura stuttered and Archie hugged her, "Come on, sweetheart, you can tell me."
"Matthew grabbed me and said something about taking me back to Maxie, and he would have succeeded if Thomas hadn't burst in when he did!" Sakura started to cry and Archie held her tightly.
"I'll take care of this……." Archie lifted Sakura into his arms and carried her to his office, and walked over to a PA system microphone.
Archie set Sakura down and spoke into the microphone, "Every available member, please report to the training room immediately, a Team Magma spy has been found. Thomas is holding him off, but he needs help. The spy could endanger Sakura if he's not caught!"
Archie hung up the microphone back up and held Sakura tight, "Shh….. We'll catch him……. I won't let anything happen to you……."
Archie continued to hold Sakura as many members rushed to the training room