Maxie's Real Plan

Disclaimer: both hold up signs that say "We don't own Pokémon."

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Karania woke up the next morning to a burning sensation in her neck. She climbed out of bed and walked over to the mirror. Once in front of the mirror, she saw at once that the skin around her neck was beginning to blister from where the collar had been the day before. After finding that out, Karania changed into her only set of clean clothes. Then shortly after she had changed, there was a knock on the door. Karania walked over to the door and opened it, and Archie came to check on her.

"Ah, Karania, looks like you're okay, that's good news." Archie said.

"Yeah, but the skin around my neck is starting to blister from where Maxie put that collar around my neck....." Karania replied, hissing as she moved her fingers over the blisters.

"Ouch! That probably isn't too comfortable........ Come with me, Karania, we'll need to get your neck checked so that the blisters won't get any worse." Archie said, while taking Karania's hand. Then they both walked up to the infirmary.

Edgar rubbed his eyes as he looked around the room drowsily. "....Mmm...g'mornin'..." He droned with an exhausted tone. He drssed quickly and then barged out of his room, into the main hall of the base, where most of the team was enjoying a quick breakfast before getting to work. He sat down next to Matt, an admin, and served himself a helping of eggs and sausage. Matt turned his head to take a quick look at Edgar, then gave a quick greeting and continued eating.

Mal's Poké Gear buzzed as she woke up.

"Hello...?" She asked drowsily. The device scratched for a minute, and some faint talking was heard.

"Mal, it's me."

Mal rolled over in bed and stared at the ceiling. "Urrgh....it's too early..."

"Come on, talk to me."

Mal finally sat up, and raised her wrist to her face. "Hi dad... how's Vermillion?" She asked drowsily.

"Perfectly fine. I'm sorry I din' get a chance to talk to ya last night,"

"It's okay, there was no point really, either. We had been captured by Team Magma."

"Say what!?"

"Yeah, it's true...."

"I'm so sorry, are you awright?"

"I'm fine."

"Good to hear. Does there happen to be a video phone nearby?"

Mal looked around the room. "....Ummm.......yeah, here's one!" She turned it on, then clicked her Poké Gear off and dialed her number. Lieutenant Surge's face was seen on the other end, and vice-versa in Vermillion City.

"It's been so long since I've seen you!" Surge exclaimed.

"Yep...Anyways, has anything exciting happened?"

"Well, I've noticed these suspicious men wandering around. I've also noticed at night that six green lights dart across the sky. It's very strange..." Surge said, and grimaced.

Mal frowned. "...I see." She put on hand over the phone and looked away. "I hope this has nothing to do with me..." She thought, then turned back to her father.

"How's Raichu?"

"He's perfectly fine, he sure misses you, though..."

"....Can I talk to him?" Mal asked.

"Sure," Surge said.

Mal watched as her father put the phone down and called the electric rodent. A thumping sound was heard as Raichu bounded down the steps of the Gym.

Raichu scrambled on to the video phone table and picked the phone up, a silly grin on his face. "Rai?"

Mal laughed at Raichu's appearence. "Looks like you're happy to see me," She said, still snickering. Surge picked Raichu up and sat him down in a chair.

"Rai! Raichu!"

"I'm fine, Raichu. How are you?"

"Raichu!"

"Good." Mal replied, a lopsided grin still planted on her face.

Surge came back to the phone. "We have to go, see you." He said, and hung up the phone.

A bright light flashed as a Poké Ball appeared on the video phone table. Mal, grinning from ear to ear, let the Poké Ball drop to the ground.

"Raichu!" Raichu waddled over and smothered Mal's leg. Mal laughed, then picked Raichu up and off of the floor.

"Raichu! Yay!" She exclaimed, twirling around in circles.

Karania was helped into the infirmary.

"She appears to have blisters on her neck from some nasty electrical shocks," Archie said.

"I see. I'll get it taken care of." The doctor said, and took Karania by the hand and led her to a room. He gave her a nightshirt to change into, then left the room. He came back in about five minutes later, with a small bottle of ointment in hand. He carefully applied it to Karania's neck, then left the room.

Archie entered a few minutes later. "Hello, Karania, feeling any betta?"

"A little bit," Karania replied.

"That's good enough for meh ears. Question, why would Maxie do such a thing to you? I never expected Maxie to do this to you...... I knew he wanted you, but I never thought he would really hurt you........"

"I don't really know." Karania replied.

"Tch. Oh well. I'll go get something for you to eat," Archie said, and left the room.

Edgar, Mal, Kyo, and Raichu entered a few minutes later.

"Hi," They both said in unision.

"Rai."

"Tortle."

"Hello, everyone. Where'd that Raichu come from?"

"Dad." Mal answered. "Birthday present, I guess."

"It's your birthday?" Edgar and Karania asked.

Mal shrugged. "Yeah. Big whoop."

"Well, happy birthday..." Karania said. "So what's happened while I was gone?"

"Nothing much," Edgar replied.

"Oh," Karania replied. "Anyways, the doctor said I would have to spend a day or two here, and then we can get a move on."

"Great news," Mal said, and left with Kyo and Raichu at her heels.

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