Gaby Stones – Thank you for reading and reviewing even if you only understand some English. I love Eliteshipping! If you continue to read I hope this doesn't confuse you too much as I love confusing people.
Lightning-Strike – Grammar has never been a strong aspect of me. But the battle on St Anne? I'm trying to improve on the battle scenes for when the Legendaries really get into it. Oh, and when you read Vance's dialogue and click you should scrunch up your face too… just for effect, heh.
Redemmo – Getting rid of Jayshow shall be fun… but he is an important character…
A/N: Eep! I was going to update this sooner but I wasn't in the writing mood, more of an arty mood, so sorry if anyone was waiting. If people still like it I'll strive to get the next chapter up within a week, maybe? Boy, I'm really starting to like Vance, really am! Well, just a couple more chapters and the deep plot finally begins! I also noticed this is in a C2 category, good thing?
Aha! And I'd like to thank Lightning-Strike for the super Beta! Cut all my mistakes down… but if any are left they'll be mine. Thanks again!
Onwards!
Notes
"Talking"
Thinking
((Psychic communication))
Pokemon speech
'Phone calls'
The Dragon Homeland
Chapter 6
"The boss's gonna take you to Master," Crum explained as he dragged Wes up the spiraling staircase from the dungeon. "You'll be glad to see that little girlfriend of yours."
"Rui is not my girlfriend."
"What? But she's a girl… and your friend," Crum snickered in his mousy way.
Wes sighed and hung his head lower, "don't try to lighten the mood with stupid puns." Crum shook his head and changed the subject.
"All this stuff I hear about you Orre scum is true is it?"
"Why do you insult me then ask me to agree with you?"
"I'm just making small-talk, jeez." Crum trailed off and shoved the Orre trainer up against the door to Vance's study. "You listen here you… thing. The Boss knows what your girlfriend can do so, I'd say to just go along with what the Boss and Master say… for your own good of course." He warned, and after receiving no response pushed Wes through the huge double door so the boy landed on his back.
Vance looked up from the far side of the room with Rui. "Took your time."
Crum bowed slightly, "Sorry, Boss."
Rui screeched when she saw her companion and made a dash for him but Vance caught her around the waist and tossed her back against the wall. "What did I tell you?" He shouted then grinned at the pained expression the girl held.
Xanthe pushed herself off the wall. "You know, you shouldn't beat up women, Boss, much less a small girl."
The Tatsu whipped around to face his peon. "Out! Get out! I want to talk with these two in private." Xanthe held a hand to her heart in mock hurt and trudged out of the room dragging Crum by the collar of his shirt after her.
While waiting for the two peons to stumble through the doorframe Vance idly fiddled with his trusty pocket-knife like it was a normal thing to draw circles on your palm with the blade. Once he was sure they'd left hearing range he began pacing the length of his study. He looked up from the far end of the room towards Wes and began to say something before the snagger cut him off.
"Cut the damn crap and tell us what you're gonna do!" He demanded.
Vance chuckled and tilted his head to get a better look at his index finger as he ran the blade across it. "I'm afraid I'll not have the pleasure, tch, of explaining it to you. No, Master will tell you, tch, what will happen in your future with us."
"I said cut the crap!" Wes shouted, slightly winded, and struggling to his feet in his malnourished state, Vance chuckled again.
"My, my. And here I was under the, tch, impression the trainers from Orre were, tch, more rugged. I guess not all stereotypes are correct; you can't even, tch, handle a couple of days in the dungeon." The Tatsu shrugged.
"How can two people who look so much alike be completely different?" Wes hissed.
"I assume you are referring to my brother" Vance mumbled and stabbed the small knife in the wall violently as he said "brother," making Rui whimper on the floor. "Well tell me this!" He twisted the knife out as he spun around to face the boy. "If he's completely different and so trustworthy why did he send you out to me? Surly he knows I'm a danger, hm? And without Pokemon? Heh, you are so naive."
"Don't listen to him!" Rui shouted, "the Masters are good!" Vance whipped around and she screamed as the metal heel of his boot connected with her chest.
"STOP THAT!" Wes thundered and dashed to Rui.
"Oh no you don't!" Vance whispered throwing his arm out and slashing across Wes' face with the pocket-knife. The Orre trainer stumbled back holding his face in shock while Rui whimpered in pain. "You just don't get it do you?"
Wes brought his hand away from his cheek to find blood smeared across his sleeve and face. He stared at the copper-red substance on his hand before slowly lifting his head up to meet Vance's glare. "You really are a sick twist!"
"I try." The eldest Tasu remarked, examining the blade tarnished with blood and wiping it across his own hand. "Thank you for the blood mister Grammar. It will help with the… process…"
Rui shifted her position on the floor to get a better look at her companion. "D-don't listen t-to any-anything they… say. Don't!" She moaned.
Vance scowled down at her; "You are a whiny brat aren't you?" He turned fully around and placed his booted foot on her neck adding little pressure but enough to make her panic and struggle against her bonds more.
Wes flicked his hand to one side spraying droplets of blood across the carpet and wall. He growled at the action then stormed up behind the other man raising his Snag Machine fist. However, just as he was wishing he still had the Snag machine on him to clobber this dragon, Vance hunched forward slightly and burst his wings out to full span from his back and caught the Snagger sending him skidding across the floor.
The eldest Tatsu flexed his wings as they expanded to full span. He folded the knife back in on itself then brought the metal tinged wings forward to cover his torso as he scowled at the girl under his foot.
"Never come up behind a dragon, whelp!" He exclaimed to the air and pushed Rui up onto his shoulder, her screaming all the way, and stalked over to Wes grabbing his upper arm and storming out the double doors to his Master's chambers.
The old Ghost Master shuffled into the Karada meeting room to find Will circling the Machine like he was stalking his prey.
"Let it be, William" she shook her head.
The first Elite halted his fierce pacing but turned his back to Agatha. "I can't. That psychic dragon creature is planning something… I can feel it."
"I'm sure you are just paranoid, William. Neither Lance nor Clair seem to be affected in any way; I assume it is safe for the time being."
Will shook his head and began his circling again examining even the smallest detail of the Machine as if it would reveal all the mysteries of the Tatsu race to him if he stared at it long enough. He glided past the seat brushing his hand across the headset while running his other hand across the dials and controls.
"It really is an outstanding piece of technology" he whispered continuing his circling and examinations whilst Agatha watched him with a wary eye.
"It is… are you perfectly certain you are in… good health, Mr Morag?" She ventured, as the man never ceased in his stalking of the Karada Machine. "All the radiation could be affecting you in ways we may not notice."
The psychic sighed wistfully and halted his pacing but never removed his hand from the Machine; "fine, fine I'm sure."
Agatha backed away from her young friend with caution as his face turned blank. She gripped her cane in front of her to steady her shaking hands and racing heartbeat and spoke to which she believed to be in the room; "maybe you should step away from the port, Mr Morag."
"Or maybe I shouldn't, Miss Witchout."
Agatha gasped and backed herself up against the huge oak meeting table in shock as she continued to watch the psychic. She pointed a shaking hand at him; "you have no right to be here!"
Will jerked his head to the side and laughed. "I have every right to be here, and I believe I'll stay for a little while longer if you may." He turned his back to her and braced both hands on the control panel of the Machine. "Oh if only I could use this body… to… ah well." He turned back to the Ghost Elite. "Tell me, how are the young dragons fairing?"
"If you are referring to Mr and Miss Anson I refuse to answer your question."
Will laughed lightly again. "You always were stubborn, and I'm sure you will be up until the day you depart from this planet. And believe me, if I did not have to maintain a connection with this port you'd find yourself departing much sooner than you'd perhaps like." The psychic lifted a hand to his face and clenched it into a fist; "I can feel the power flowing through these veins. Begging, pleading, to be unleashed! And now, now it's only a matter of time."
Agatha growled and clutched her cane in anger. "Leave now, Ryuin!"
Will smirked at the woman and sat down in the seat of the Karada Machine crossing his legs at his ankles. "I'm honoured you remember me, Miss Witchout, truly honoured." Agatha growled again as Ryuin controlled the psychic's body to twist in the seat for a look around the room. "This is a disappointment. When I first discovered the Machine in the Plateau I had originally believed that it would be heavily guarded… but know I see it in the basement? How easy it will be to take." He shifted to look back at Agatha, "so, why haven't you told your little naive disciples about me? You know I have a terrible ego."
"When the time comes I shall – "
"Agatha!" A voice shouted from down the hall.
The psychic smiled, instantly recognising the voice, "looks like I shall have to depart far earlier than first anticipated. So long."
The Ghost Master watched with nerves on the tethers as Will leaned back in the seat then fell limp against the headrest as the owner of the voice ran in through the door.
"What the 'ell is goin' on? I felt summat from the Machine!" Lance said as he stopped next to Agatha. "Agatha what… Will?" He looked at the Elite first for a short moment then back to Agatha, "what 'appened 'ere?"
The elderly woman scuffed over to Will as she spoke; "I'll explain later…"
The Indigo champion tilted his head to one side. "Cheers… I guess…"
"Crum you moronic fool, open the door!" Vance ordered of his peon as he struggled under the kicking feet of the girl on his shoulder and the struggling boy he grasped by the arm.
The lanky man dived for the door leading into their Master's chambers. Unlike the rest of the castle in the godforsaken ruins of Tatsu this small section had the décor of a king. Strange murals covered the walls all depicting the same thing; dragons slaughtering knights. A fine red carped adorned the otherwise cold stone floor and elegant chandeliers hung from the ceiling sparkling in the light given from the many candles they held. Finally Crum unlocked the huge double doors and followed Vance in, keeping his distance from both the man's wings and the woman behind him; either one could seriously injure him in his opinion.
Vance dropped Rui on the floor and yanked Wes down with her and stood over them, wings outstretched, blocking their escape towards to doors as Crum and Xanthe closed them. He bowed, "Master, the Orreish as you commanded," he presented them with a wave of a hand and a flap of wings.
A shadow in the far corner moved as two bright green eyes fixed themselves upon the two Orre companions. "As I see, good work."
Vance actually beamed at the shred of praise and folded his wings down, feeling less threatened. After all, the boy had given an enormous amount of trouble when faced with the small pocket-knife, not nearly the reaction Vance would've thought a boy to show when threatened to within an inch of his life. However, a Tatsu with their wings had little to fear from anyone other than the Ice people up on Mt. Kori.
The shadowed creature sauntered out from the shadows revealing itself to the room. A pure black dragon walking on hind legs swishing it's long tail to-and-fro as it marched down the steps of its pedestal. The torso of it matched that of an average man's while its head was elevated much higher by a long thin neck to tower over people. A long ponytail of black hair protruded from the dragon's forehead and tied neatly in two long braids both at the end and the roots, two swept back horns curled around on themselves while a small single horn pointed up from the snout of the Pokemon.
The piercing green eyes explored the two Orre trainers as Ryuin came to a halt in front of them. "I assume the task was not too difficult?" it asked Vance.
The Tatsu jumped at the voice. "Oh, tch, no not at all… though, tch, the boy did…" he trailed off with an insecure whimper as Ryuin held up a three-clawed hand to silence him.
"Then we shall begin the process. Come." He motioned with his hand and a hue of orange light surrounded both the Orre natives as he moved back up to his pedestal, the pair floating after helplessly.
Vance rung his hands in a nervous fashion and watched. "If I may, I'd like to, tch, know how your, tch, experiment went."
The dragon grinned a toothy smile; "You have no need to be so nervous around me, old Tatsu."
Vance winced at the name. Since he was the oldest of the three remaining Tatsu, Ryuin always referred to him as the 'old Tatsu,' while Lance was the 'middle' and Clair the 'young'. "No Master."
Ryuin dropped his hand and Wes and Rui fell to the floor at the foot of his pedestal. His long ears fell back against his neck. "And besides, when you get too nervous you click more, and I do have trouble trying to understand you."
Crum snickered behind his hand but was silenced by a glare from both Vance and Xanthe. Vance hated it when people talked about the click in his speech like it was "okay" when he knew it was not normal. And Xanthe didn't like it because she knew Vance had a very fragile sense of normality… not to mention she thought it was a cute character definer.
"It went well in most aspects" Ryuin started. "I was able to take full control over that psychic and had a nice little chat with the witch… of course then your brother," he pointed at Vance, "just had to come running when my presence was detected." Green eyes grazed over Wes and Rui. "Of course, soon even that will change. I will be free to travel the System in search for Giovanni's mind."
"We have Master Kravos' map of the System, but it doesn't say where the prison of Giovanni's mind is." Vance said.
Ryuin gave a throaty laugh as he pulled Rui away, despite her screams, from Wes and held her against the wall with only a sliver of his psychic abilities. "Of course it doesn't, only a fool would write such important information down for future generations to use. No, I only need the secret routes not used by the numerous bonded trainers, and to keep away from that infernal psychic."
"If only you could possess more den one body at a time." Crum said from the door.
"Quiet!" Xanthe hissed and slapped him; she grabbed his hair and looked over at her Boss and Master. "Sorry, sirs. He just doesn't know when to shut up, do you Crummy?" The man squeaked when she pulled his hair but otherwise stayed quiet.
"Yes, well," Vance stumbled for his words and clicked again, "I wonder how, tch, Lawrence is doing with the Legendaries…"
"The man has an obsession!" Ryuin cackled, "of course he'll find them! Now shut up! I need quiet for this."
Wes rubbed his arm across his face smearing the blood and got to his feet. "What do you want with us!"
The dark dragon loomed over him. "I want a body!" He stated as Rui sobbed against the wall, "and I'm using yours."
The snagger paled at the answer to his question. "Y-you want… what?"
Ryuin clasped his hands together and moved closer to the teenager. "I want a body familiar to William Ira Morag the Elite first of the Indigo League.
"I know who Will is!" Wes spat.
"Very well," the dragon spoke. "My… associate… Nascour of Orre has supplied me with the information that you, Wesley Grammar, are a bonded trainer. That your friend is a psychic. That I can use her to take your body."
"Y-you're insane!" Wes exclaimed as he backed up against the wall near Rui. Ryuin matched every single backward step of his with a forward one of its own. "Nascour, that scum. Nothing he says is ever, ever true!"
"No matter," the dragon stared more, "he'll serve his purpose eventually." And with that the dragon lunged forward and seized the snagger in an iron grip. "Just as you'll serve yours!" Spinning around the dragon tossed the boy to the ground across the room narrowly missing Vance.
The Tatsu jumped to one side to avoid anymore possible harm as Ryuin trekked down the steps of his pedestal again to reach Wes. The Orre native gritted his teeth and rose to his hands and knees as he coughed out the pain of the impact with the stone floor hardly softened by the red carpet.
"You see, if I am to obtain the Earthly Orbs, or as you know them: the Red and Blue orbs, from the Cave of Origin I will need a disguise. I will not trust such an important task with another person as all you humans are untrustworthy and vile!" Wes gritted his teeth again as Ryuin cast him into a wall with a little psychic attack. "You see, it is guarded by a competent trainer, Wallace Riverer I believe. He is in strong contact with the Ever Grande League and they are in complete alliance with the Indigo League no matter what the Indigo President believes." He tossed the snagger to the floor once more and held him there with the orange light. "The Karada Machine is in the basement of the Plateau surrounded by numerous Master trainers… and yes, I do believe the Chosen one is also present. And while it may not be actively guarded I cannot risk setting off alarm bells. So I am using your body to do this."
Wes growled under the pressure, "so what do you need Rui for?"
"I need a psychic capable and experienced enough to perform the transaction, and while Morag would have been a more suitable candidate, I could not just take him without people noticing. She, however…is disposable."
Wes chuckled, gaining surprised expressions from Ryuin's peons but not the dragon himself. "Awfully long winded aren't you?"
Ryuin swished around to face Rui catching Wes, deliberately, with his tail knocking the boy to the side. "Ah, the more I explain the more open your mind is. The more open your mind is the easier it is to get inside."
"So, what? We're just gonna share my body?"
Ryuin hung his head and clenched his fists, "no. Your mind will inhabit my body, unfortunately." When the dragon saw the smile creep up onto the boy's face he continued; "of course, you will not have my powers. A Psychic's power is all in the mind; I will be taking that with me." He walked back up to the female Orreian; "you will do this now!"
"No!" Rui shouted as she struggled against the orange light holding her.
The Ancient dragon gave a sadistic smile, "then I shall enjoy forcing you." Rui snapped her eyes shut as she awaited the blow but jumped, as much as her bonds would allow, when she heard a cry of pain.
Ryuin had turned back to Wes and thrashed the boy with his tail. Rui screamed and Vance ran up to her and slapped his hand over her mouth to quieten her so his Master could enjoy the cries of pain as he thrashed the boy with his tail again and again. Crum and Xanthe backed themselves further up against the double doors ready to bolt in case the dragon got carried away and injured them too.
She screamed for her companion again as Ryuin brought his tail down vertically on Wes then stepped back to admire his work. "How terribly fun." He stated to the boy.
Wes lifted his battered body from the floor and kneeled, struggling to stand but held back by the pain. He shuddered as he felt the copper taste of blood in his mouth but swallowed it back unwilling to show weakness and yield even as his body betrayed him and grew weaker by the second. To add insult to injury Ryuin held out his hand down to him in a gesture of help.
Wes slapped the clawed hand away and finally spat out some blood. "Have it your way." Ryuin remarked and spun around to thrash the boy with his tail again when Rui screamed through Vance's hand causing the dragon to stop. "Let her speak," he ordered Vance never once taking his eyes off of Wes.
Vance pulled back his hand and stood aside as Rui glared death at him. "I'll do it! I'll do it as long as you leave us alone after."
The eldest Tatsu looked at her with an amused look. "Hah! I really don't think, tch, you're in the position to bargain."
"No you won't!" Wes shouted as he struggled to his feet. "We'll find a way out of this without doing anything they want!"
"You're too confident" Ryuin said, "far too confident." The dragon stood back and threw his arms behind to unsheathe two blades from the back of each of his hands respectively. Rui shrieked as the blades came into view and Vance slapped his hand over her mouth again.
The dragon stalked forward dragging the tips of the blades across the floor where they cut through the carpet and screeched as they scraped across stone.
Wes' eyes turned wide as he noticed the long blades protruding from the dragon's hands. "You can't - " he mumbled. Surely Ryuin couldn't kill him if they were to switch bodies, putting a lifeless mind in another body could kill that particular body too.
Wes curled his arms around his chest as Ryuin jabbed a blade forward and pierced his left shoulder. The dragon laughed at the howl of pain from the boy and the wail from the girl as he lifted Wes up from the floor with the blade.
"Feel good?" He asked as the boy battled the pain and hoisted him even higher. Rui screamed and tried to break free from both Vance and the psychic power but came away fruitless. Ryuin whipped around and hurled Wes back down to the floor, this time facing Rui, and pinned him with the blade through his shoulder to the stone splattering blood everywhere. "As for your assumptions, no I am not going to kill you, but this has served its purpose." Ryuin said as he looked up at the sobbing Rui then scowled.
Was Vance trying to comfort her? No, never…
"I believe your friend is willing to help… and you are in no state to provide conflict so we may begin."
The Orre trainer moaned and feebly rested his spinning head against the cold stone and watched the room spin before dying down into a black blur, Ryuin's intelligent green eyes studying him as he fell from consciousness.
Isaac wandered the halls of the Indigo Plateau content with the empty corridors as many people, both workers and trainers, had left to see the most recent battles the League was holding. He smiled down at Icemist's egg as he walked down to the canteen with a slight skip under step; after all it wasn't every day an average citizen of Kanto got to meet the Prime minister. The Prime minister!
Do you think he'll shake my hand? He thought.
((Sure!)) The egg wiggled slightly; ((he'll shake everyone's hand.))
Hm, I hope he will. The young boy continued to pace down the halls and began whistling lightly. Apparently the Prime minister was hopping in his personal helicopter post haste to further examine the many complaints filed against President Jayshow. He wasn't sure, but he thought the Hoenn trainers May and Brendan had something in store to further incriminate the President, and even though he'd only been in the Plateau for a couple of weeks he'd be glad to see the racist idiot gone. Icemist wriggled in her egg again.
((Master is happy.)) The Lugia stated, ((but Master should be careful too.))
Isaac stopped immediately. "What do you mean?" He asked aloud startling a passing worker. He smiled an embarrassed apology to her and started off again to talk with his Legendary privately.
((I can feel something, something coming)) she started, ((Mummy does too, and Sheen and Mistie.))
Isaac gulped. Why was it Icemist could make him feel so nervous when he was generally nervous all the time? "S-so what is it then?"
((Don't know… but it's coming))
Isaac's eyes darted around the hall as he trudged along, mood dampened. It was enough he felt out of place in a building full of Pokemon trainers all competing for Master status like their life depended on it, but to mix with them then told something bad was coming! He felt overwhelmed. Everyone had hard-trained worthy Pokemon and he had a Vulpix, Pichu and Bulbasaur – not that there was anything wrong with the actual Pokemon – they just weren't the battling types. And then there he was; with a Lugia egg!
He jumped at a sudden bang down the hall but heaved a relieved sigh when he spotted the Orre trainer. "Whoa, you almost gave me a heart attack." He said and covered his racing heart with a hand. Wes looked up at him with a blank expression. "Eh, what's up?"
"Nothin'" the trainer mumbled. Oh what's this? A Lugia? The Orre trainer stumbled up to the other boy and looked deep into his face.
Isaac shivered being stared at so intently and backed up slightly, only then noticing the other was injured. He jumped forward and waved a free hand over the boy's left shoulder feeling the heat of a deep cut and blood.
"We have to get you to Mercury, quick!"
Wes knocked his hand away and stared at the egg, "Don't bother." He croaked. Ryuin winced; damn vocal chords… damn humans! A squeak cut through his thoughts and he scowled.
((You're not Wes!)) Icemist accused the mind. ((You're in the wrong body!))
Isaac jumped when he felt the baby Lugia move violently in the egg making it jump. What's the matter!
((That's not Wes! I-it's that… thing!))
Ryuin scowled at the boy then the egg, deciding on what to do. This was not part of his plan, to get caught! But to come across a Legendary with a practically useless human was too good an opportunity to pass up and it meant one less for that collector Lawrence to obtain. And after all, this Wes character originally stole Pokemon for a living, before he turned clean, so the Masters would just assume he'd reverted to his old ways and ditched the girl. Yes, that'd do.
Ryuin grinned at the pale boy and lunged for the egg grabbing it with his good arm and running down the hall. Isaac held his position hands poised as if he were still holding the egg before he blinked and chased after the snagger yelling obscenities.
"Hey, give that back!" Isaac barked as he chased the trainer down the halls.
((Master, Master Isaac!)) Icemist screamed in his mind. ((Help me!))
"Heeey!" He shouted again and growled at the lack of people in the halls to help. Fine, only one thing left to do! Fumbling for a Pokeball while trying to keep up with the snagger he managed to select Bulbasaur's. "Come on, Bulbasaur. We have to get Icemist back." A small flash of light and soon his Pokemon was running at his side, "we have to do something!"
The grass Pokemon huffed at the vague order and cast two long vines to catch the snagger's ankles. Ryuin, however, hopped over each whip and made a sharp turn into a side room. Isaac and Bulbasaur skidded to a halt on the highly polished floors and ripped the door open to the deluxe suite for guests of the Plateau. Slowly stepping across the threshold the room appeared empty of other people as they scanned around.
Bulbasaur sniffed the air catching the distinct sent of blood and pointed a vine behind then and behind the open door. Isaac carefully turned around hauled the door shut to reveal Ryuin stood flat against the wall. "Aha!" He held out his hand, "give Icemist back!"
"Close" Ryuin smiled, "but not good enough!" He clutched the egg and bowed his head as Isaac glared, suddenly his head shot up and his eyes glowed a vivid orange knocking the wind from Isaac.
Ryuin jerked his head right and Isaac flew in that direction against to collide with a bookshelf scattering books everywhere. Releasing a hand from the egg Ryuin shot a baseball sized attack at the Pokemon and hit it with enough power to toss the grass type across the room as well as blowing a small hole in the floor. Ryuin chuckled when neither the boy nor the Pokemon moved.
((Master! Bulba!)) The baby Lugia wailed in distress.
((Don't worry little one,)) Ryuin spoke telepathically, ((I'm sure we can find another for you to bond.))
((I want Master!))
The dragon in human clothing ignored the further wails of the Lugia as he checked the halls. Now, to find the machine.
Leaving the room, leaking wisps of smoke from the burning carpet, he jogged down the still empty halls recalling his instincts to track the Karada Machine. Left, right, right again, then left; the corridors of the Plateau were like a maze to those unfamiliar with it. Still not passing a single soul he descended the steps to the Karada meeting room.
The door was open a crack as he peered through with the limited perception the human eyes possessed to spot the Ghost, Dragon and Psychic Master still crowded round the Machine. Ryuin scowled yet mapped the route to the room out in his memory and turned to leave; now was not the time to liberate the Karada port from the Plateau.
"Maybe you should go t' Mercury anyway, ya know, for a check up."
"No, no. I'm sure I'm fine. But… but what did it say?"
"Nothing in particular. But Ryuin has always been very ambiguous."
"How come you never told us, Agatha?"
"I didn't believe the time to be right. You and Clair should not be burdened with this at such an early stage. And you William, it seems, also play an important role in this plot Ryuin has shaped."
Ryuin halted his steps away and turned back to peep through the crack again and listen to what they were saying about him.
"I believe another meeting is in order" Agatha stated. Both Lance and Will groaned and the woman scowled. "Well I'm sorry, but the truth has to be told. Lance, get Steven and organize a meeting."
"Right-o!" Ryuin jumped back from the door as the Dragon Master left the Machine and headed in his direction. "Oh! Ey up, Wes. Back already?" He asked after he opened the door and noticed the boy stood in his way.
Wes sighed with relief, apparently he didn't sense anything. "Ah, yes. For now. We, um, couldn't get much information and Vance's traveling to Ecruteak City for an apprenticeship and I jus' came back to collect my Pokemon."
Lance tilted his head to one side and hummed. "Okay… in't that Isaac's egg?"
"Oh, yes, it is. We where discussing the legend of Lugia and Ho-Oh and the connection with the Dogs. He let me take I-Icemist to get a feel for her – he has contact with the three Dogs." Wes explained.
"Sure," the Tatsu breathed, "I'll get ya Pokemon then. Just don't let 'em near Vance."
"Got it" Wes said and looked back at the Machine. If this Tatsu hadn't noticed him then surly no one else would as he's sent the other Tatsu on a phony mission to Johto. "Oh, I was thinking…"
Lance stopped halfway up the stairs and turned his head back to look at the snagger, "yeah?"
"Well, I know everything about Lugia, Ho-Oh and the Dogs now but… is there a time when I can take a look at the Cave of Origin to learn the Groudon and Kyogre legend?"
"Hm, if you want to get into the cave you'll 'av to 'av Wallace take you. So… you'll have to catch 'im late afternoon, I think." Lance tilted his head back, "I think Steven said he teaches piano in the evenings so yes, you'll have to catch 'im when 'e's in the Gym. Why? When are you plannin' on goin'?"
Wes smiled, "some time after this is over, I guess."
Watching the dragon turn the corner he felt more confident to enter the Karada meeting room with Agatha and Will. The Psychic Master was still studying the Machine while Agatha kept on the vigilance for anymore strange behaviour on his part.
"Good afternoon, Wesley" the woman greeted. "Where is you companion?"
"In Ecruteak, I came here for my Pokemon." The psychic Master gave him a sideways glance but other than that ignored him; he didn't trust strangers. "I was wondering if I could use the System to get there?"
Will muttered something inaudible under his breath while Agatha smiled down at him. "You'll have to wait a while longer, we're trying to track a being in the System. All transportation through has been halted, only communication lines are still active."
Wes scowled, "but I can't leave Rui too long, she'll panic."
"I understand your dilemma, Wesley, " Agatha assured, "but we do not need the hassles of others within the System. Please wait."
The snagger stalked over to the meeting table and sat on the surface waiting for his Pokemon. As he watched the Masters fiddle with the Machine he couldn't help but smirk. Checking the Memory or the Trade-Link weren't going to help find him… or the paths he'd traveled. No, only doing that while he was still in the System would work. He rapped his fingers across the wooden surface, he just wanted to get into the System, get to the Cave of Origin, obtain the Earthly orbs and waste the city - Gym Leader or no.
It was highly aggravating he could only travel to the Machine from Tatsu. Only the Machine could send a person away to another destination of their choice.
The door opened and interrupted his musings as Lance brought forth his Pokemon, he counted them. Espeon, Umbreon, Plusle, Meganium and Ampharos – all there! Couldn't leave any details out and arouse suspicion… now all he had to do was wait patiently for the Masters to finish with their vain attempts of tracking him before he could use the System.
Abruptly all the small blinking lights of the Machine popped on as a broad screen materialized above the initiation platform and the youngest Tatsu's face appeared.
'Karen's in the 'ospital!' Clair greeted with.
"What?"
'Karen, she's in the 'ospital! H-o-s-p-i-t-a-l!'
The Ghost Master noticed the panicked state the Gym Leader was in and spoke for her young friends. "Calm down, child. Now, you say Karen is in the hospital? What happened?"
'Yeah! Yeah, we're on the boat an' these Pokemon attacked an' Karen fell in the sea… and now she's in the Cherrygrove town hospital!'
"How are you and Abby?" Agatha asked with concern as Will and Lance just stared at the translucent screen, not blinking.
'Fine, fine! We're fine. But what about Karen? She's seriously injured an' the 'ospital doesn't have the apparatus to help her!'
"Calm down, " Agatha soothed. "We'll send William through the System to get her."
Will finally snapped his attention from Clair to look at Agatha, "we will?"
"Yes! We can track Ryuin at a later date; right now our new priority is Karen. We must get her to Mercury."
"Right yes!" Will agreed and stepped up onto the platform ready to travel the System to Johto. "Ready, Lance?"
"Of course!"
Ryuin watched as the panel under the Tatsu's hand lit up with light and hundreds of tendrils of the same light ran across the surface of the port to gather on the large platform the Psychic stood upon. A small ring of light accumulated at his feet and rose up slowly as it consumed his body and mind taking him into the System. Lance breathed through his teeth as he wrenched his hand away from the control panels as the Machine began to feed from him again.
Ryuin scowled once more. Now he'd have to wait even longer to use the System. "Damn it."
Lorelei and Lance sat in the Elite common room whilst everyone else ran around in un-choreographed panic around the Dark Master while Mercury treated her in the hospital wing. The Ice Master sighed, it was eating her up inside that she couldn't be with her friend during one of the most important times she needed her. The heavy pregnancy depleted her energy and the emotional stress of her best friend's current condition didn't help; so they sat in a comfy silence while she rested.
Lance rolled his head back to look at the ceiling and whistled lightly. Just as he was dozing off in the silence of the room Lorelei hunched forward, "Oh!"
"Hm?" He mumbled without moving or opening his eyes.
"Oh! Oh, dear…"
"Oh you aren't thinking about Karen again are ya? Everyone knows Mercury's the best doctor around." Still not moving he continued; "Speakin' of which, she told you not t' worry 'cause you're due date is soon."
Lorelei glared at her feet, "scrap the due date."
The Tatsu grinned with his head back. "You're not nervous again are you?" He asked turning his head to one side and trying to doze again.
Lorelei sighed and looked back at him, "Lance, my waters just broke."
"That's nice…" He murmured trying to sleep and not paying attention. The Ice Master groaned and cracked his knee and he shot forward, "ow! What?"
"My waters just broke!"
"Eh?" He mumbled in shock.
Lorelei hung her head and held her hands out to him. "Water broke. Baby coming" she explained.
"Oh… oh! Oh Lugia!" He jumped to his feet panicking, "bu' we can't go t' Mercury! We'll 'av to go to the public 'ospital!"
Lorelei watched him as he jumped over the back of the sofa and ran out of the room completely forgetting her. She leaned back in the sofa with her hands on her abdomen and waited with a bothered expression. A few moments later the Indigo Champion came running back in and jumped over the sofa again to look at her.
"Come on we 'av to go!" He exclaimed and held out his hands to help her up. She gripped his hands and he led her out to go to his car and then the hospital.
A/N: Well, this was mostly a little set up to show some of what Ryuin can do and keep Wes and Rui in Tatsu where they shall stay! Anyhoo, would you mind reviewing? It always brightens my day and if I know people like it I get on it faster. Even though this chapter was rather late, eee.