Gardevoirite Arc: The Rescue Mission
When it was deepest night, Mari was shaken by the shoulder. "Hey. Mari. Wake up!" Jacky prompted. Mari slowly opened her eyes and looked up at her. Sayuri was standing behind her. "Uh... Time already...?",
"Kaze and his people are ready. They're waiting for you," Yuna's mother informed her.
"Oh... Alright..." Mari stood up yawning and rolled her shoulder before heading to a group of ninja waiting outside the hut with Jacky and the ninja woman. When Kaze noticed them, he crossed his arms. "Now, we are complete," he stated. "I expect each of you to do your best to free Yuna from Saizo's clutches. Not only for her own good...", he looked at the girls, "...but also as a part of something much bigger.",
"Why are those two coming along?", Shiro wanted to know suspiciously. "In the end, they only hinder us.",
"He's right." another ninja interfered. "We don't know them at all. What if they stab us in the back in the middle of the raid? What then, Kaze?" Kaze gave him a nondescript look- as if he knew something the others had no idea about. "Knock it off! It's not fair!" Haruka joined the group and puffed out her cheeks, grumbling. "Why are you picking on them like that?",
"Could we just, like... go...?" Mari asked cautiously. She was more than uncomfortable with the whole thing. "Yeah," Kaze returned curtly, and the troop started moving. A girl walked up beside Mari and Jacky. "I apologize for Shiro. He can be obnoxious sometimes...",
"Oh, he's not alone in that", Mari replied, thinking of Dino. That dumbass...
"I'm Hana, by the way," the girl introduced herself. "I hope we can make it...",
"I'm sure we can", Mari encouraged her before giving Shiro another uncertain look. He walked up beside Kaze. "That guy is creepy...",
"Mh, I don't want to mess with him..." Jacky muttered. "Good thing he's on our side.",
"Is he though...?",
"I mean, he's fighting in our group and we're helping them get Yuna back so I doubt he'd attack us...",
"Well... let's hope." Mari sighed and pulled her shoulders up tensely. "Gardevoir is still a bit banged up... I hope it's strong enough to fight again.",
"I'm sure it will be," Jacky said. "Even if Jayden is a real weirdo, he took good care of it.",
"Yeah, I guess so..." Then, she looked at Hana. "How far is it?",
"The area is just up ahead..." Hana pointed straight ahead. "It won't be long now. Once we get there, there's no turning back... so be careful and stay with the group until Kaze gives orders.",
"Alright..." Mari nodded. She heard soft rustling in the undergrowth and became nervous. "Don't worry...", Hana reassured her. "What you hear... are our Pokémon. They're following us...",
"O-Oh... Good... I was starting to get nervous for a second there."
"We've arrived!" Kaze called to the back, stopping in the shade of some trees. "Their village is in the ravine right in front of us. I will divide us into three groups. I will lead the first group, we will storm the gorge together with Saoko's squad. We'll distract the ninja while the second group guards the exits and prevents anyone from escaping. The third group will be the smallest, sneaking up to Saizo's hut where Yuna is being held captive. Make use of the heat of battle and free her. Shiro!" He looked at the ninja being addressed. "Pick a few of us and guard the exits. Hiroko, make sure your group doesn't exceed five people and that Mari is with you."
A ninja with dark hair nodded. Shiro picked a couple of strong-looking ninja, Haruka and Jacky, while Hiroko pulled Hana, Sayuri and another ninja to his side that Mari hadn't seen before. She looked at Jacky. "Take care of yourself. Don't let me down.",
"Count on me." Jacky nodded. "Absol and I will handle it.",
"Good." Mari patted her on the shoulder before joining Hiroko.
"We'll try to stay out of the way of fights if possible," the ninja leading her group said. "Our task is the most important of all.",
"But Yuna must be guarded, right...?" Mari asked. "I mean, they sure expect an attack of this caliber, and they won't leave her out in the open to get picked up by you if they're in such dire need of her intel.",
"Yes, you're right." Hiroko sighed. "I guess we can't avoid that... Come." The ninja ran quickly and quietly. That was a problem, because Mari barely saw them. Then, however, Sayuri reached for her hand. "I'll help you," she whispered, and almost dragged her behind her.
When they reached the gorge, Hiroko signaled them to stop by hand. "We'll wait," he said. "Be quiet."
Mari felt her heart racing and took a few deep breaths to keep calm.
For a while, it was silent and only the rustling of the trees in the night wind could be heard, until suddenly, nimble shadows ran into the gorge and frightened screams and angry shouts filled the air. "That's our sign!" Hiroko murmured. "Let's go!"
They charged down into the gorge, Sayuri still holding Mari's hand so she could keep up. Next to Hiroko, his Crobat appeared and he lead the raid. Jacky, meanwhile, doggedly defended the exits with the others. Mari took Gardevoir's Pokéball from her belt. It gave her a sense of security. "Is it possible that we'll run into Saizo himself...?" she asked.
"It's not only possible, but extremely likely..." Sayuri muttered beside her. Strange ninja suddenly blocked their way and Sayuri let go of Mari. Her Liepard appeared next to her and Hana and her Serperior also got in their way. The third, strange ninja and her Weavile also joined the defense line. "Keep them away from us!" Hiroko shouted. "Mari and I are going on! Don't lose sight of me, Mari!" He kept running and Mari charged after him somewhat overwhelmed. She had trouble spotting him in the dark, but she followed as best she could. "How much farther?",
"We're almost there!" Hiroko's Crobat was attacking enemy Pokémon when they reached the hut. The ninja entered it and Mari followed him.
"Hiroko! It's really you!" a familiar voice called out. Yuna sat on the wooden floor, tied with thick ropes, looking at them in delight. "Oh... Mari! You're here too!",
"So is Jacky," the black-haired girl replied. "We're... practically the extra faction that got accidentally dragged into this mess..." Hiroko pulled out a kunai and cut the ropes, and Yuna stood up. "Be assured of my eternal gratitude, Mari. You and your friend, I owe you one.",
"It's nothing. Like I said, it was kind of unplanned. We should get the hell out of here!"
Yuna nodded. "Yes, I understand. You're here for our clan's treasure.",
"How do you...?" That's as far as she got, because the next moment, a growling voice interrupted her: "You're not going anywhere!",
"Saizo!" Hiroko whirled around and Hana, who had been able to successfully fight her way through, held her breath in fright.
"What do you think you're doing?" Saizo spat at them. Hiroko stood in front of Mari and Yuna. "You two go. Now. And that's an order!",
"Can you do this by yourself?" Mari asked.
"Trust him," Yuna said. "Hiroko is stronger than you think. There's no time to lose, come now!" She grabbed Mari's arm and ran off with her without letting go. "We have to get to the Endless Meadow right away. It's important that you get the Mega Stone... Once you have it, you can stop the fighting!",
"What does all of this mean? Honestly, I am kinda lost here! Why are you doing all of this?",
"Satsuki foresaw your arrival! I'm the only one he's told about it so far...a bout the heroine of our clan showing up.",
"Heroine...?" Mari didn't understand a single word of what Yuna had said as the trees cleared and they arrived at a seemingly never-ending meadow. "We're here. This is the Endless Meadow."