=Chapter 39, Lead Scientist Anita Rig=
*Dear Father,*
*Today we shall do battle, this Trainer with the wild Kirlia against myself.*
*May your gift guide me through this battle, for I will now see if he is anything worth fearing.*
*Darkness and Light, good and evil, both sides of the same coin, yet all favor one while fearing the other.*
*That is what you've taught me.*
*Your loving Daughter, Anita Rig.*
(Jacob's PoV)
"So this place came under attack by one of those Team Aqua groups?" Karen asked as they toured the Weather Institute of Route 119.
"That's right, my aunt was working here at the time it happened, she was a professional in dealing with situations so she didn't panic at all when it happened." The clerk said as she showed them the bottom floor. "Here at the Weather Institute we observe the weather patterns of Hoenn to forecast the news and tell what kind of conditions people can expect in the coming days. We can safely say that over ninety percent of our predictions come true."
"Well that's nice, now if only my salon had that high of a rating when it came to opening on time!" Segan said out loud, causing everyone, especially Glace to burst out laughing.
Jacob and his friends were visiting the Weather Institute because it was a local tourist attraction, and because Latias wanted to see what the inside looked like. What made it such an attractive place was not only the work they did there but also the scenery, as next to the Weather Institute was also a water fall in perfect view of a bridge that allowed travelers to cross the river. So now they toured what they did at the Weather Institute. However for Latias to see the inside, without being in her Pokemon form, she had to be in her disguise, which spelled more problems for her as that meant boys tried to hit on her.
Fortunately for her though, the tour was for small groups of people, and since they were the only ones there, the most she got were the few adults ogling her while trying to stay focused on their work. Karen and Segan got a good chuckle when one scientist was caught staring at Latias' backside by the clerk, and swiftly gave him a death glare, causing him to instantly go back to work without another glance.
As they left the main lobby where mostly it was just computers with complicated looking images of weather patterns and temperature descriptions, they went upstairs to where the real work was done. On the second floor of the building were a few rows of computers, where scientists were examining data, but around them also were strange, cloud like Pokemon that were mostly all grey and were about one foot tall.
"This is the second floor, where our Meteorologists study the weather patterns of the region with the help of these Castform." The Clerk said. "For those who don't know, Castform are Pokemon that are capable of reading the weather, and even use it to change their form to suit their environment."
"Now that's handy." Karen said.
"Yea, imagine being able to know if the day is going to be sunny or rainy depending on what one Pokemon transforms into." Jacob said as Sara walked around behind him. "What do you think Sara?"
Sara was silent for a few minutes as she looked around in worry. (Yea, I think it's really cool Jacob.) She said, not really paying attention to what he was saying. (Forgive me Jacob, but that boy from earlier has me on edge.)
"He always does that to you Sara." Jacob said as he bent down to pick her up, which she gratefully and gladly accepted the invitation to. "Why can't he just accept that some Pokemon don't want to be with him?"
(Are you talking about that boy from earlier again?) Latias asked from behind him, peeking over his shoulder to look at him with a curious expression. (You seem to not like that human Master Jacob, what is it about him you don't like?)
"Well for starters Latias, stop calling me 'master', makes me feel uncomfortable." Jacob said under his breath, asking himself if she was calling him 'master' on purpose to annoy him. "Second, we've run into him a few times in the past. The last time we were on the ferry to Slateport City, and he tried to capture Sara because she was still technically wild."
Earlier that day they ran into the same boy that tried to capture Suicune when she was weak in Petalburg Woods, and tried to capture Sara behind Jacob's back when she didn't want to. Both times he called Jacob an idiot and complained that he was just trying to win in the Pokemon League Challenge. This time was no exception as while Jacob and his team were eating alone while Karen went to the river to clean off some of her clothes, the kid stumbled upon him and his team, and of course had to spot Latias out of the group.
The first thing he did was try and challenge Jacob to a battle to keep Latias, which of course Jacob refused. Then he tried to get him to trade Latias, which Jacob refused as well. Finally out of frustration, as well as seeing that the longer the boy was there the more it upset Jacob, Latias challenged the boy to a battle. If she won then he had to leave, if she lost then she'd tell him where she came from.
The battle only lasted a few minutes as Latias demonstrated her powers for Jacob by putting on a show for him, using her Mist Ball to expertly defeat the boy's Linoone, and then demonstrating her Dragon Breath to defeat a Swellow he sent out after. Finally out of frustration he sent out three Pokemon at once, a Graveler, a Mightyena, and finally a Houndoom. Jacob would have sent out help, but she insisted on being the only one to battle, saying that she wanted to keep Jacob's 'honor' as a Trainer intact.
So she took on the three Pokemon at once, and despite the odds, managed to sneak out a win by taking advantage of the boy's mistake in judgement. He ordered his Graveler to use Earthquake, but Latias avoided it entirely by simply flying higher, before soaring down to swipe at both Mightyena and Houndoom with a Dragon Claw that she learned to do thanks to her dad. Finally the Graveler was all that was left, and with the help of yet another Mist Ball, she easily defeated it and the boy.
With that, he stormed off, shouting about how some people don't deserve such cool or strong Pokemon. Ever since then Sara has been worried about him coming back to try and steal her again. Despite Jacob's assurance that he would keep her safe, she was just constantly afraid he would return.
(He wasn't the most pleasant human I've ever met, not compared to you Master Jacob!) Latias said, giving him an affectionate smile, before suddenly blushing in embarrassment. (Oh, did I call you Master Jacob again? Apologies, I'm still not used to this whole Trainer relationship.)
"You really need to work on that Latias." Jacob said as the tour reached its conclusion with two Castform and their Meteorologist partners predicting the weather for the rest of the day and tomorrow.
(Ya you really…) Sara said before going quiet as she clutched her head. (Jacob, something's going on outside. I'm sensing tension and fear, it's that boy from earlier!)
"Wait what?" Jacob asked.
Suddenly a loud explosion captured everyone's attention. "That sounded like it came from the bridge outside!" Someone yelled.
"Jacob, let's go check it out." Karen yelled, her and Lance reacting instantly.
"Right behind you!" Jacob said as he, Sara and Latias followed behind her.
"Right behind you two!" Segan said as he and Glace followed as well.
Out of the institute they ran, down the flight of stairs, through the lobby and out the front door. Instantly they headed toward the bridge, expecting to see a huge trail of smoke coming from it. Instead they were met with that same trouble making kid as he coward at his feet before his own Pokemon, who were exhausted and bearing the scars of battle.
"How did you… how could you…?" He whimpered to his opponent.
His opponent looked to be a young girl of about Jacob's age, twelve years old and wearing what appeared to be a heavily stained lab coat with black pants that showed signs of burns, stains, discolorations and a host of other things that put even Segan's dirty jacket to shame. She wore a pair of spectacles on her eyes and her hair flowed behind her, divided into three different colors, red, white, and yellow. One of the lenses in her spectacles was oddly colored, and the material it was connected to was thicker than the other lens was. She had red eyes and had a frown on her face as if she had just stepped in something foul.
"Really, you ask me how I did what I did or how could I have done what I did?" She said, and her voice reminded Jacob of a bitter woman. "I gave you two warnings to get out of my way, but no you insisted on challenging me to a battle. You have nobody to blame for your failures but yourself. Such a pathetic excuse for a Trainer, pitting his Pokemon against odds he knows he can't win, for nothing more than monetary gain or personal fame. Well sadly you get nothing from me but a humiliating defeat."
As she finished her declaration a pair of Pokemon stood beside, one was three foot tall with black fur and gold rings as well as deep red eyes with black irises, a Pokemon Jacob recognized as an Umbreon. On her other side was a smaller, two foot tall Pokemon with pink fur, a red jewel on its forehead, and had purple eyes with light purple irises, a Pokemon he also recognized as an Espeon. Both of them looked at the kid with something like boredom, as if they had just ended a battle that was far from satisfying.
"Now, do yourself a favor and get out of my sight, pathetic excuse for a Trainer." The girl said angrily. "Next time humble yourself and know your limits. Your Pokemon were exhausted and far from optimal fighting condition. How a pathetic excuse for a human being like yourself became a Trainer is a mystery I wouldn't waste my time solving. Now get out of my sight!"
The kid nodded and quickly recalled his Pokemon before running past her across the bridge.
"Wasn't that the brat you told me tried to get Suicune and Sara for himself?" Karen asked as they watched the girl observe the boy running and crying.
"Yea… but who is that girl?" Jacob said. "Sara do you sense anything from her?"
Sara shook her head as she watched the girl with worry. (Nothing, she's blocking me, I don't know how but she's blocking me. I can't even sense her most basic emotions.)
After the cries of the boy had vanished, the girl turned and stared at Jacob's group. She looked over them all once, before focusing her gaze solely on Jacob. Her eyes seemed to be trying to study Jacob, as if he were a prized jewel she couldn't help but gaze at. "It's about time you and I became acquainted with each other." She said with a smirk. "You, boy, the one with the Kirlia, what is your name?"
"Me, why do you want to know?" Jacob asked.
"Isn't it obvious, if I'm going to challenge someone to a battle, shouldn't I at least know the name of my opponent?" The girl said. "You and I have business to discuss, and it's only fair that I know your name."
"Hey, listen missy, I don't care if you think your hot stuff, you should show some respect to others around you." Karen said angrily. "What gives you the right to go around making demands like you're the queen of Hoenn?"
At this the girl smirked while she reached into her pocket with one hand and pulled out a purple Pokeball, with the letter 'S' on it. "This gives me the right, I believe you are fully aware of what this is, are you not?"
Jacob's eyes widened as he recognized the Snag Ball in the girls hand. "You're with that group that Viridian works for aren't you?" He demanded.
"Correct, now I'll ask one more time, your name please, or I'll start chucking this at one of your Pokemon." She said, eyeing Glace behind Segan with a glint in her eyes.
As she waited for Jacob to respond, Sara and Jacob began talking to each other as quickly as they could. *What does she want with us, how does she know who we are?*
(What difference does it make Jacob, she knows it's us who saved Latios, what we need to figure out is why she wants to battle you!) Sara said back. (She knows one Snag Ball won't stop all of us, so why does she deliberately reveal herself?)
*Either way, we have to stall for now, we can figure out who she is later.* Jacob thought back, before returning his attention to the girl. "My name is Jacob, that's all you need to know."
The girl smiled and nodded as she replaced the Snag Ball in her pocket. "Very well Mr. Jacob, my name is Anita, Anita Rig." She replied, pushing her glasses up and bowing to Jacob. "Now then, you and your team will follow me, alone! That includes your Latias behind you, if you don't agree to follow me, then I will have no choice but to take more drastic measures than simply threaten you with a Snag Ball." Just as she turned around and began walking away, she also snapped her fingers and pointed at Jacob's backpack. "Oh and as for your bag, don't even think of leaving it behind."
Jacob was shocked that this Anita saw through Latias' disguise, but silently nodded in understanding. "Karen, call the police and let them know what's happening here." Jacob whispered quietly as Anita turned to leave. "I'll see what she wants."
"Careful Jacob, this girl seems like a tough customer!" Karen said seriously.
"So is Viridian Karen, and whoever these guys are working for." He replied, following Anita as she walked onto the bridge and away from the Weather Institute.
They only walked for a short period, once they were out some distance on the bridge, Anita turned to face Jacob with her two Eeveelutions beside her. "So Jacob, we meet at last." She said with a calm smile. "You've caused quite a bit of stir in my organization, let me say. Three legendary class Pokemon have slipped through our fingers, all because of you and your friends." Before Jacob could respond she laughed and smacked her forehead. "Oh but where are my manners, I forgot to fully introduce myself. I gave you my name but not my rank, I am the Lead Scientist of Project Dark Aura, Anita Rig at your service."
"The lead scientist, but how can you be, you only look twelve years old?" Jacob asked.
Anita smiled as she stroked a necklace she was wearing, which looked like a golden jewel. "So I look twelve to you, and how does that reflect your image of me being in charge of advancing and creating the Shadow Pokemon that you are familiar with?"
"You mean my image of you ruining the lives of so many people and Pokemon." Jacob said angrily as he dropped his bag. "You're the person in charge of slaughtering innocent Pokemon for your own gain, aren't you?"
Anita frowned at that, but nodded in acceptance. "That is correct, I am that butcher." She said with an even deeper frown. "If there were any other way, I would use it. But alas I exhausted those options quite quickly. In order to proceed with the research to advance my theories, I had to increase the amount of stress the Pokemon were under. But I am not here to explain my reasoning, I am here to ask for your opinion and to test our ideas and my theory."
"My opinion, the only opinion I have is that whoever you are working for are going to pay for the lives they've destroyed!" Jacob said angrily as he put Sara down and Latias returned to her true form.
-Please play Colress Battle Theme to get the feeling of this particular battle, 10 min one should do-
Anita smiled as she pulled out a Pokeball in preparation for battle. "Ah yes, of course you'd say that, but it's understandable, you have your reasons." She said. "However my boy, tell me what do you think is stronger? The bond that grows naturally between Pokemon and Human, forged through time and tested through trials? Or the simulated bond that I have managed to create that turns Shadow Pokemon into creatures more powerful than any you've faced before? Having seen my work first hand, surely you have formed your own opinion have you not?"
"I don't care which one is stronger, but I know that whatever your 'simulated bond' is, it's more painful to both the Pokemon and the Trainer!" Jacob said as he held Roran's Pokeball. "You can't just force something like that on a Pokemon. There's no trust between the two, you can never truly achieve such a bond without that trust! Without it, all you do is force the two into something that will eventually destroy them both!"
"In that case Jacob, teach me, teach me the true strength of your Pokemon's bond with you!" Anita said with a smile, and in her red eyes Jacob saw something that sparkled the moment he made his declaration. "Show me the power your Pokemon have under your guidance, prove to me that you have what it takes to defeat my Shadow Pokemon. Do not hold back and give me no quarter for I will show you no mercy either and I will give you no leniency!"
"Roran you're up!" Jacob shouted, sending forth his Swellow and second fastest Pokemon.
"Swellow!" Roran cried as he took to the air and waited for instructions.
"Now it begins, go forth Pidgeotto!" Anita yelled out excitedly as she released her first Pokemon.
"Pidgeottooo!" The Pidgeotto cried as it landed in front of Roran and eyed the Swellow with a purple glint in its eyes.
"Now Jacob, show me just what kind of Trainer you really are!" Anita yelled as she and her Pokemon stepped back to give Roran and Pidgeotto room. "Pidgeotto, use Quick Attack!"
"Roran use your Quick Attack!" Jacob yelled out.
"Swellow!" Roran cried as he charged forward, becoming nothing more than a blur.
"Pidgeo!" Pidgeotto replied just as loudly as he too became nothing but a blur.
Both Pokemon collided in midair, and both Pokemon were so determined to overpower each other that neither stopped in their shoving match to win. Yet the Pidgeotto had the weight and height over Roran, and after a minute of effort on both sides, Roran was knocked away with an injured wing. Yet the Pidgeotto wasn't unscathed either, as he too retreated temporarily with an injured wing.
"Roran use Focus Energy!" Jacob yelled, hoping he could take advantage of the momentary pause.
"Pidgeotto use your Double Team!" Anita responded.
"Pidgeotto!" Pidgeotto yelled as he started flying in a circle, making after images of himself to confuse Roran, who was taking deep breathes to focus himself to deal a critical blow.
"Alright Roran, now use Aerial Ace!" Jacob said.
Roran nodded as he took to the air and started gaining speed to keep up with the patterns of the after images of their opponent. Aerial Ace was not affected by Double Team or other such moves to inhibit accuracy of a Pokemon. Sure enough, Roran hit Pidgeotto right in his other wing, causing the bird to temporarily spiral out of control, yet the Pokemon made a quick recovery and soared right back, only angrier at being attacked in midair.
"Pidgeotto, use Feather Dance!" Anita yelled out.
"Geotooooo!" Pidgeotto yelled as he started flapping his wings at Roran, sending a cascade of loose moisture from the air that hit Roran's wings and body.
As he watched he saw that Roran lost the sharpness in his wings, and his talons seemed to have softened with the added moisture. "She's weakened Roran's attack, he can only do physical attacks, we have to end this fast!" Jacob whispered as Roran tried and failed to rid himself of the water. "Roran, use Steel Wing!"
"Swellow!" Roran replied as his wings started glowing and hardening to the point of becoming solid steel. "Swellooooooow!"
"Pidgeotto counter with your own Steel Wing!" Anita shouted.
"Geottoooo!" Pidgeotto yelled as his own wings became as hard as steel, before he too soared at Roan.
Both Pokemon struck each other again and again in the air, trying to knock the other out of the sky, but because their Steel Wing attacks had increased their defensive abilities by hardening their soft feathers, neither could overcome the other.
Finally both Pokemon stopped fighting to rest as they landed on the bridge in front of their respective trainers. Roran breathed heavily as he glared at the Pidgeotto, while the Pidgeotto merely glared at Roran with that purple glint in his eyes. Yet Jacob could see the real difference between the two Pokemon. Roran was fighting his hardest to live up to Jacob's expectations, he simply refused to give up against this Pidgeotto, despite being at a disadvantage. Yet the Pidgeotto didn't seem to care about Anita at all, it merely obeyed her, there was nothing that even remotely resembled the same bond between Jacob and his team between this Pidgeotto and Anita.
"Roran, are you okay?" Jacob asked his Swellow, who nodded as he looked back at Jacob.
(He's really exhausted Jacob, maybe we should send someone else in!) Sara suggested from beside him.
"No, if Roran says he's okay than I trust him." Jacob said as Roran nodded in gratitude for letting him remain out. "But if anything bad happens I'm recalling you instantly, alright Roran?"
"Such care you give to your Pokemon, I have to say I admire it." Anita said as she pulled out a small notebook and started jostling down notes. "I guess with the care you show your team, it's no surprise that your bond is as strong as it is. Pidgeotto would have ended the fight by now, but I guess your bond is just that strong that even mighty Pidgeotto is having a hard time."
"What do you think this is, an experiment?" He asked angrily.
"Of course it is, for me at least." Anita said as she observed Jacob and his Swellow. "You see, there's a reason why I became the Lead Scientist for the organization I work for, but enough of that for now. Let us resume our battle, my Pidgeotto is getting restless."
It was true, while Roran looked like he would have rather rested longer, the Pidgeotto was shuffling his wings impatiently as he waited for more aggressive commands. "Alright Roran, let's not keep that Pidgeotto waiting, Double Team!"
"Swellow!" Roran cried as he took to the air and started creating after images just like Pidgeotto did.
"Pidgeotto, it's time we ended this, SKY ATTACK!" Anita ordered.
"Pidgeottooooo!" Pidgeotto yelled out as he spread his wings and his body started glowing.
"Sky Attack… I know of that move…" Jacob whispered as Roran continued his Double Team attack. "That move envelops the user in a great energy, than the user flings itself at the enemy to deal incredible damage. If it hits it can deal extreme damage, but its weakness is that it takes time to use."
(So in other words, Roran needs to avoid it or go on the attack!) Sara finished for him.
"That's right, so Roran, use Double Team once again!" Jacob ordered his Swellow.
Roran nodded and redoubled his efforts to create fake images in the hopes of confusing the Pidgeotto into hitting the wrong one. "Don't be intimidated Pidgeotto, hit that Swellow with all you've got, use Sky Attack now!"
"Pidgeot!" Pidgeotto screamed as he wrapped himself in golden energy and flew forward at the swarm of Swellows.
Jacob could only hope that Roran's Double Teams worked, if he got hit by this attack it was over. In a flash the Pidgeotto flew into and threw the swarm of fakes, but apparently he missed because moments later none of them disappeared. "Roran, finish off that Pidgeotto with Aerial Ace now!"
"Swellow!" Roran yelled as he flew back and drove himself into the Pidgeotto, sending it spiraling out of control back in front of Anita.
As both Roran and Pidgeotto landed in front of their Trainers, yet again Jacob noticed the stark difference between the two Pokemon. Roran landed, still exhausted but relatively calm and with respect to Jacob for giving him good instructions.
The Pidgeotto however, only glared more angrily as it tried to stand up with an even more injured wing, having landed heavily on it. Yet it still looked ready for battle. "Why does your Pidgeotto wish to continue fighting, doesn't it see it can't go on?" Jacob asked.
Anita regarded his question with curiosity in her eyes before answering. "Do you actually care about what happens to your opponent's Pokemon?" She asked him. "I find that quite an interesting trait that you'd actively ask about the health and concern of my Pokemon. Well to answer your question Mr. Jacob, the reason it doesn't want to stop fighting is simple, because he's a Shadow Pokemon." At this she returned the notebook to her pocket before looking at Jacob with a serious look. "Shadow Pokemon do not care about how they feel, nor do they concern themselves with the condition of either their own health or their opponent's. To them, all that matters is if they have thoroughly ground their enemy into the dirt. So you can understand why this Pidgeotto isn't at all prepared to lose."
"How can that be, every Pokemon has its limits, how can yours simply ignore its injuries?" Jacob asked.
"Maybe… but not a Shadow Pokemon." Anita said with a grin. "Funny thing about the Shadowfication Process, this Pidgeotto isn't really stronger than he actually is. He's only as strong as he is because he thinks he's stronger, his strength is entirely mental. In fact he's probably about to feint from exhaustion, one more hit should end his fight."
Hearing this all Jacob could do was feel pity for the poor Pokemon he and Roran were fighting, the Pidgeotto thinks it's invincible, but in reality it's all just a façade. "Why do you do this to them?" He whispered.
"Do what, advance the science of what I'm trying to discover?" She said with a sad smile. "It's an unfortunate habit of mine. Being a genius that I am, I find myself asking puzzling questions that I haven't the answers to. When I read about the Shadow Pokemon in Orre, I simply had to know if Shadow Pokemon were stronger to regular ones. This led me to asking about bonds and seeing if there was a way to perhaps simulate such a bond. Yet again one question led to another, and this is why I am the Lead Scientist."
As she spoke the Pidgeotto wearily turned around to stare angrily at her. Noticing this she raised her eyebrow at the Pokemon. "Why are you staring at me?" She asked. "I gave you no instructions, what do you want?"
"Pidgeotto… geotto!" The Pidgeotto said, flaring his wings angrily at her and advancing one step at a time.
"Shadow Pokemon rebellion?" Anita said in surprise, taking a few steps back. "You are only a stage two Pidgeotto, I should have expected this. But why only after one battle?"
"Rebellion, so that's what the data disk was talking about when it said Pokemon rebelled." Jacob said as he and his team watched the scene unfold.
(He really doesn't like her, he says she's too weak to control him and he won't serve a weakling any longer.) Sara replied.
(I thought all Trainers had obedience and respect from their Pokemon, how come this one wants to rebel against her?) Latias asked out of curiosity as well as worry.
"I guess not when it comes to these Shadow Pokemon." Jacob whispered.
Meanwhile Anita was slowly backing away with her two Pokemon standing in front of her, hissing and glaring at the Pidgeotto, trying to force it to back off. Yet the Pidgeotto was not impressed and continued to advance on them with talons primed and ready.
"Don't move another inch, I'm ordering you to obey me!" Anita yelled as she pulled out the Pidgeotto's Pokeball and attempted to recall it, yet as the beam hit the bird's wing the Pidgeotto simply knocked it off, refusing to be recalled. "Impossible, openly resisting your Pokeball return mechanism, I didn't think a stage two Shadow Pokemon could achieve such a level of strength."
As she Pidgeotto continued to advance, preparing to take flight, Anita became angered and took action at last. "Enough of this rebellion, you will obey your master and creator unless you wish to feel my wrath." She yelled. "Dark, Light, subdue that Pidgeotto!"
"Umbreon!" The Umbreon shouted as he jumped at the grounded flyer before he could get airborn.
Meanwhile the Espeon's eyes began glowing, and while the two wrestled it slowly aimed its gaze at the Pidgeotto. Seconds later the Umbreon forced the Pidgeotto to look into the Umbreon's eyes, and it soon began to fall under its hypnosis. "Snag Ball Go!" Anita yelled, pulling out the Snag Ball and throwing it at the Pidgeotto.
After a flash of light, the Pidgeotto was pulled inside the Snag Ball, and soon it was re-captured, causing Anita to breathe a sigh of relief and frustration. "Light, make a note that Experimental Test Subject PD-314-K rebelled against me after one battle." She said, taking the Snag Ball that the Espeon levitated to her and putting it in one pocket. "Schedule it for re-shadowfication to stage three upon returning to the facility and note that if it continues to rebel to schedule it for termination."
"Termination?" Jacob yelled. "You're going to kill that Pidgeotto?"
Anita pulled a small jar out of her pocket which had some purple liquid in it, ignoring Jacob's outburst. "Yes, while I hope it isn't required, I can't allow any Shadow Pokemon to threaten my life." She said. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to return to my field unit to continue testing our Shadow Pokemon."
"Not on our watch!" Jacob yelled angrily, and he could feel Sara and Roran getting ready for battle, with Latias joining them. "You're going to answer for what you're doing, I'm taking you to the police to answer for your crimes."
Anita only turned to look at him with a smile. "I see, now that isn't going to happen, you see while I don't care about my field unit, my own capture is unacceptable." She said, nodding to her Espeon and Umbreon, whose eyes glowed at the same time.
"What the…" Jacob said as a tingling sensation flowed through him, paralyzing him as he tried to move but was unable to.
At the same time Sara was picked up and levitated toward Anita, and her eyes were wide in terror as she struggled to free herself. (I can't use my powers… her Pokemon's overpowering me!) Sara yelled fearfully, unable to get away while she placed the jar she was holding on the edge of the bridge. (Help me Jacob!)
"Now I can't risk you following me, nor can I risk being captured by you." Anita said as she took the struggling Sara in one arm while pulling out a second jar of purple liquid in the other. "Now this Jar contains a special dose of Seviper Poison, highly toxic and contagious. If this spreads into the water of this river system it will spread and contaminate the river and infect all of the water Pokemon. Knowing your Kirlia's species aren't very decent swimmers, means she won't be able to stay afloat in the rapid current of Route 119. Furthermore Light my Espeon just used the move Imprison, meaning neither can use the same moves she knows. And since between you and your friends, you only have two Pokemon capable of swimming, Latias and your Milotic that means you can't have them chase after all three without letting one slip away."
"No, don't!" Jacob yelled in horror. "Sara can't swim!"
"Two glass jars of poison, one Pokemon, your two swimmers can't save both the Kirlia and stop the jars from smashing against the rocks, and your flyer is in no condition to give chase after me while I have my Dark and Light." She said as she slowly held out both Sara and the glass jar over the edge. "Let's see how fast you and your team can swim."
She let go of both Sara and the glass jar, and kicked the third Jar over the edge and into the water below, just as the paralyzing feeling vanished. Instantly Jacob forgot all about Anita as he jumped off after Sara with Latias and Roran flying after him. As he jumped off instinct drove him to pull out Coral's Pokeball and release his Milotic midair.
With a resounding splash he fell under the water, and moments later Coral splashed as well. But unlike Coral who easily resisted the current, Jacob was swept up with it as he tried to swim after Sara, who was struggling to stay afloat with her small figure. Meanwhile Latias and Roran were keeping up with Jacob as they watched him swim to catch up. "Coral… Latias… stop those two glass jars before they hit the rocks!" Jacob sputtered as he edged closer and closer to Sara.
"Latias!" Latias yelled in understanding as she forgot to use telepathy in the rush.
"Milo!" Coral replied as she swam ahead to chase after the two glass jars that were further ahead and gaining speed.
Meanwhile Sara was treading as best she could, but every time the current shifted slightly, her small green hair went under the water, causing her to desperately try and stay afloat. (Help me Jacob!) She begged as she tried grabbing onto a low hanging branch but was too small to reach it with her arms.
"Hang on Sara I'm coming!" He yelled as he dove under and kicked as hard as he could to catch up to the Kirlia, seeing her small form go under again as she tried to stay above water.
A few seconds later, she was within arm's reach, and he used all of his muscles to propel himself forward and grab Sara with one hand, while treading water and moving closer to the shore with just his legs. He managed to grab a branch before the current pushed them further away, and with all the strength he could muster, pulled himself and Sara ashore. Once they were safely ashore he tended to his terrified Kirlia.
"Kirl… Kirl…" Sara moaned feebly, shaking in terror as she clutched Jacob as tightly as she could.
"It's okay Sara, your safe now." Jacob whispered as he gently rubbed Sara, trying to warm her up as she shivered in cold from being in the water for so long.
(Jacob…) Sara cried into his mind. (I was so… scared… I thought… I thought I was… going to die!)
"Shh… it's alright now Sara, you're safe and sound." Jacob whispered as he held her close to him.
(I thought… I thought I'd die… just like my parents… and I'd never see you or them ever again!) She moaned as she buried her head into his chest.
"Don't worry Sara, I won't let anything hurt you." He whispered to her. "I'll protect you from that girl and whoever she and Viridian are working for. They won't hurt your or Harold or any of the others as long as I'm around."
Sara could only hiccup in her native language while she felt the conviction of his words. (Thank you… thank you so much… for saving me that day…) She said, referring to the day they first met.
They stayed that way for a few minutes before he saw Latias and Coral as well as Roran heading for him, Coral with a glass jar in her mouth while Latias had the second in her claws. (Jacob, we got the jars!) Latias said with a smile as she flew over to him while Coral wormed her way onto the shore. (How is Sara doing?)
"She's alright, seriously shaken but fine." Jacob said as Sara refused to look up from her position, instead choosing to clutch Jacob as though she feared he might vanish. "Let me see those Jars of poison."
(Uh… about that Master Jacob…) Latias said as she handed her jar to Jacob while Coral placed hers next to him. (I wasn't fast enough to catch this one, and the top cracked opened.)
"What?" Jacob said in fear."
(It's strange, I thought it was poison from what she said…) Latias said as Jacob opened the jar. (But it doesn't smell right, in fact it smells like…)
(Anita's PoV)
"That went exactly as planned you two." Anita said as she casually strolled down the path. "I'd figured he'd act that way, and act he did. Like a marionette performing before a stage, and I his puppeteer. Yet he's more than just a simple puppet, he's obviously much stronger than a simple kid we've stumbled upon. To be able to command the respect of a Latias and have the loyalty of his entire team, that is no small feat for some 'minor nuisance' my colleague's portrayed him as."
"Umbreon?" Dark asked her from her left.
"Hmm, oh yes I know, he's not like the other Trainers we've seen around here." She said thoughtfully. "He's different, caring about his opponents Pokemon, even though they might rip him and his Pokemon to shreds if given the chance. A nice trait for any Trainer and a truly worthy quality worth studying. He's also protective of his own Pokemon to a fault that he'd switch them out of a fight the moment things look bad, rather than let them fight it out and exhaust themselves and their opponent. All in all, a pretty worthy study."
"Espeon?" Light asked calmly.
"Yes Light I know girl, we still don't know everything about him." She said to the Espeon on her right. "What we need to do now is prepare our next test for him, and find a way to get a look at his personal affects. I saw what looks like a very interesting book in his bag that he wrote in when he was alone over the past three weeks, and I want to know what's inside it."
"Umbreon!" Dark said, bringing her attention to the river as they prepared to enter the forest.
"Oh yes, that little incident on the bridge." She said with a chuckle. "I'm sorry about losing those two jars, but it was necessary. By now though, if he and his team are anything like what I'd expect, they'll have gotten the jars and made quite the discovery. Oh how I wish I could see the look on their faces when they discover that those two jars of Seviper Poison are really nothing more than two jars of…"
(Jacob's PoV)
"It's Jam… Bluk Berry Jam!" Jacob said as he sniffed the jar and took a tentative lick to confirm Latias' suspicion.
(Jam, why would she throw Bluk Berry Jam into a river and play it off as Seviper Poison?) Latias asked with a curious expression. (Doesn't she know the difference between the two? Bluk Berries are sweet and have a dry taste to them, making them really tasty to a Pokemon that normally can't find them. Seviper Poison is deadly dangerous and could kill a Pokemon if it isn't treated quickly. Why would she pretend these jars were poison?)
"To get us to chase after them instead of her." Jacob said as he closed the jar. "She knew I'd chase after Sara if her life was in danger, and she knew that I'd send you and Coral to chase after these jars if she played them off as poison. She wanted me to chase after them and forget about her so she could get away."
Coral and Roran both looked angry that their trainer had been tricked with such a cheap distraction, Roran looked angrier though, and Jacob didn't need to be told by Sara why. He had battled ferociously against a Shadow Pokemon to emerge victorious but wounded. If he hadn't chased after the jars with Latias and Coral, he might have been able to track Anita from the sky.
"She's good you guys, she's really good." Jacob whispered as he rubbed Sara's head to cheer her up. "She knew how I'd act, she said it was just an experiment for her. Somehow she knew exactly what I was going to do before I did it."
He stared upstream at the waterfall which was quite a distance away from where they were. "Anita Rig, she's different than Viridian." Jacob whispered to them. "Viridian was strong yes, but he's so confident in himself that he can't imagine being defeated. Anita however, she's a scientist and expects failure over success." He wondered what organization could possibly bring such contrasting people to work for them. "What are they trying to accomplish, what is Anita trying to do? What does she hope to gain by creating Shadow Pokemon?"