o-o-o- Chapter 9: Friends here in the future –o-o-o

I had thought I would be out of trouble once I teleported away, but it seemed that I was mistaken.

I did not return to Dusk Forest immediately after Grovyle, Leonna and Liam left. I had a feeling that Dusknoir would try to find me there, so I decided to let them get lost there for a while before returning. So instead, I teleported to the far northeast, where the Mainland was. You see, the Mainland is where the Planetary Investigation Team's headquarters was, and I thought I would be safer around comrades, although they weren't exactly friends.

I blinked, taking in the new surroundings. All around me there were huge apple trees, thick and tall, and their fruits seemingly out of place for the frozen planet. The luscious red apples where a sight to behold already, since everything else here was dull and gray. My stomach growled, asking me to feed myself, and I glanced at the apples once more. I needed to eat before heading for the Planetary Investigation Team's HQ. I flew up to a nearby tree and plucked an apple from one of its branches. The fruit seemed more delicious in my eyes, but as I was about to take a bite out of it, I felt a sudden force jump me from behind. I fell to the ground, scraping myself a little and letting go of the apple, with something – or someone – sitting on top of me.

"What the-? !" I glanced behind me and saw a Sneasel smirking down at me. "Ee-hee-hee-hee!" It – I mean, she – laughed, "No trespassers allowed, girly."

I glared and tried to squirm away from her. "Let go of me!" I yelled, as another Sneasel jumped from a tree. This one, however, had a blue feather on her ear instead of the normal pink. "What've you got there, Lulu?" the blue-feathered Sneasel asked curiously.

The Sneasel on top of me, whose name I assumed was Lulu, glanced at the other Sneasel, and answered, "I got us a trespasser, Lili. Let's get her to the Mistress, quickly." Lulu got off of me, but held me by the throat with her sharp claws. I could feel a cut around my neck already. "Argh!" I groaned, and unsuccessfully tried to pry myself away from her grasp.

"Good idea. But first," Lili fired a very weak Ice Beam at me, and froze my wings. "My wings!" I exclaimed in horror as I felt a suddenly weight on my back, like a bag, dragging me down. Lulu snickered, and suddenly let go of me, causing me to fall on the ground with a thud. "Oof!" I winced and rubbed my aching bottom.

"Get up, girly. You're going to be walking." Lili said, kicking my side. "Ow! I have a name, you know!"

"Like I care. You won't need it when Mistress decides your fate." My eyes widened, as I felt a familiar emotion engulf my heart. Fear.

"Wh-who's this Mistress? !" I asked in the bravest voice I could muster at the time. Lulu and Lili glanced at each other before answering me in unison, "You'll see."

The two Sneasel then began to trudge out of the woods, with me in between them. If I hadn't used up all of my energy teleporting here, I could've fought these two off. But… if I hadn't teleported here, Dusknoir and those Sableye probably would have captured me. It's a lose-lose situation, I thought bitterly.

"We're here." I heard one of them announce, and I looked up. What greeted my sight was astounding; in front of me was a tall cliff-like hill with stairs leading up to the top, where I presumed our destination was. Long and thick vines clung to the sides of the hill, indicating that the place was old even before time stopped. Right beside the bottom of the stairs was a small well with an old looking roof. There was a broken sign post beside it that had a rusty bell attached. The text on it was too faded to be understood, however.

I followed the Sneasel up the stairs, silently wishing I could've just flown to the top. As we walked, I noticed some window-like holes at the side of the hill, and wondered why they were there. Once we reached the top, I saw a small and plain tent with a steel gate and a hole with a grate on it. On both sides of the tent, there were tall torches lit with a small fire.

"Move it, girly." Lili nudged me as the other Sneasel stepped on the grate. I jumped a little in surprise when I heard a voice call out, "Identification and reason."

"Lulu and Lili, the Sneasel Sisters. We've a trespasser to bring to our Mistress."

"Very well, you may enter." The ground shook a little as the gate of the tent was lifted. I felt a shiver go up my spine as I entered the tent with the two Sneasel. There was a latch inside that led down. I felt a small push and I climbed down the ladder. When we reached the bottom, the first thing I saw were the various rogue-looking Pokemon seated on tables across the room. There was a Zangoose arguing with a Seviper, which had a scar that ran down from its left eye. A Blaziken sat near the corner with his feet on top of the table. Beside him was an Infernape drinking a shake. On another corner of the room, there was a lone Pokemon that I couldn't see very well, because it had a dark cloak on. But there were other, less intimidating Pokemon around, as well. A beautiful Gardevoir sat beside a shiny Gallade with his arm around her shoulders. Across them on the same table, a Luxray seemed bored, his eyes drooping ever so slightly.

Suddenly, I felt someone bump into me, "Oh! I'm sorry!" I glanced at the Pokemon, an Espeon that was using her psychic powers to levitate four drinks above her head. "I-it's alright.." I said, nodding my head. The Espeon smiled and left, walking over to the sleepy Luxray. She nudged his side to get his attention, and when the Luxray saw her, he seemed to brighten up a notch. The Espeon placed the drinks on the table as she hopped on the seat beside the Luxray, grinning at the said Pokemon.

I smiled a little at the sight and thought, How sweet, a double date!

"Hey, girly, stop gawking and move. We need to go down another floor." I heard the Sneasel behind me say. I sighed and went down another latch. We reached another floor that was deserted compared to the one above us. However, I could hear loud voices from a room on my left.

"Will you please cease those intimate actions and listen to me?"

"Calm down, Lassie. We were just having fun!"

"Yeah, Amphy's right, Fros! Learn to lighten up!"

"How many times have I asked you both not to call me those silly old nicknames?"

"Um.. I dunno, fifty-six..?"

"… that was rhetorical question, you fool."

"Look's like the boss is ticking her off again." Lulu muttered beside me. Lili sweat dropped, "Yeah…"

"Who?" I asked, my eyes wide in curiosity.

Lulu glanced at me, "Come on. You'll see." She knocked on the tall wooden door and yelled, "Mistress! It's us! The Sneasel Sisters! We're coming in!" The Sneasel kicked the door open and revealed a fairly large room with a C-shaped table inside. Two Pokemon were holding each other close behind the table, and occupying two of eight seats, a Typhlosion and an Ampharos. The open space of the C was facing the door and in the middle was a gorgeous Froslass, glancing back curiously at me. She looked at the Sneasel beside me, "Lulu, who is this?"

"A trespasser we caught in Apple Woods." She pushed me forward, and I boldly glared at the Froslass, who didn't seem at all fazed. "I'm not a trespasser! I was just hungry and picked an apple on my way to the headquarters of the Planetary Investigation Team!"

The Typhlosion raised a brow at me, leaning forward in his seat. "Oh? And why are you heading there?"

I glanced at him and decided to tell the truth, "Because I needed to escape a certain group of Pokemon I'm sure you're familiar with."

"And that is?"

"Dusknoir and his lackeys." Everyone's eyes widened at the mention of Dusknoir. I crossed my arms and waited for them to get over their shock. "Hang on, who did you say you were?" the Ampharos asked.

"I haven't, 'cause these Sneasel never let me. My name is Celebi, the Time-travel Pokemon." Again, everyone gasped, and the Typhlosion asked me slowly, "C-Celebi? As in, Grovyle's girlfriend?"

I blushed beet red and exclaimed, "I'm not his girlfriend!" I just wish I was… I thought to myself. "G-Grovyle is merely a friend!"

"Oh, okay." Typhlosion, leaned back on his chair and crossed his arms. "Well, welcome to the Planetary Investigation Team's HQ, kid. What can we do for ya?"

It was my turn to be surprised. "Wait, you mean, this is.. This is the Planetary Investigation Team HQ? !" I turned around to face the two Sneasel that brought me here. "How come you never told me? !"

"We told you we'd take you to our Mistress!" Lili yelled back.

I frowned, "Who is?"

"That would be me." I turned and faced the Froslass who had just spoken. She regarded me with her calm and cool gaze, "I am known as Froslass. The Mistress of these Sneasel."

"Oh."

The Ampharos laughed in her seat. "Boy, oh boy, what a misunderstanding you got yourself in, Celebi. I'm Ampharos, but you can call me Amphy."

I nodded as Amphy elbowed the Typhlosion, who then coughed awkwardly and introduced himself. "Name's Typhlosion, but just call me Boss."

"Boss?" I raised a brow at him.

"Everyone calls me that even though I'm not the only Boss."

"Who else?"

Boss shrugged, and glanced at Amphy, who was smiling at him. "Amphy. Froslass. And the others are upstairs, or sleeping in their room."

"I… see." I turned to Lulu and Lili, who were just standing there awkwardly. "So, now that we've got that misunderstanding cleared… will you please defrost my wings? !"

The sisters glanced at each other before shaking their heads. "Sorry, girly. We only freeze stuff. We don't defrost 'em."

"But a certain fire-type can." Froslass said, looking at the Typhlosion. Boss grinned at me and left his seat, followed by Amphy. He knelt down, although he was still to high up. "Amphy, will you-?"

"Sure thing." Amphy picked me up like a child and held me above the Typhlosion's bowed head. "Ready?" Boss asked.

"Uh… for what?"

"Yup."

"Here goes." Before I could ask any further, flames spout from the red spots on his nape and hit my frozen wings. I let out a yelp of fear and surprise and jumped in Amphy's arms, because it's instinct for us Grass-types to avoid fire. Not including the fire I used for cooking. However, I felt no burning pain on my back, so I tentatively glanced back and saw that the ice that covered my wings was melting, it's liquid droplets falling on the Typhlosion's pelt. Once all the ice was gone, I experimentally twitched my wings. They worked. So I began to flutter them, and slowly rose from the Ampharos' arms. When I was sure they were alright, I squealed in happiness and flew around the room, twirling and spinning like a little girl. "Wee!"

Boss chuckled, "Looks like someone's happy she can fly again."

I flew in front of his face and grinned, "Yup! Thank you, Boss!" The Typhlosion smiled at me, "No problem, kid."

"Well, I suppose you owe her an apology, hm?" Froslass stated, looking at the two embarrassed Sneasel. They shifted uncomfortably until Lili said, "Celebi, we're sorry."

"Yeah, for.. everything."

I glared at them before grinning, "It's quite alright. The problem has been solved now, but.."

"But?"

"I still haven't eaten." Just then, my stomach growled rather loudly, causing everyone, except Froslass who just smiled, to laugh. "Well, why don't you go with Froslass to the cafeteria upstairs? And get yourself a room, while you're at it."

"Wh-wha…?"

"You did say you were trying to avoid Dusknoir. Stay with us for a while. I'm sure you'll love it here." Amphy said and I nodded. I turned to Froslass, who was talking to her subordinates.

"Very well, I shall take responsibility over our guest, and I believe you two have duties to fulfil?"

"Yes, Mistress." Lulu and Lili bowed before leaving the room. Froslass glanced back at me and motioned for me to follow. I followed her out the room and towards a shop made of rock. A Clefable stood behind the counter, reading some sort of magazine. "Clefable, a bed please." Froslass said, presenting some coins. The Pokemon regarded me briefly before glancing at the Ice-type beside me, "Your room?"

Froslass nodded and Clefable exclaimed, "BOOM-HAH! There. You've got yourself another bed."

"Thank you." Froslass nodded towards the stairs and I followed her up to the cafeteria. Once we arrived, I noticed that there were less Pokemon in the large room. The Zangoose and Seviper from earlier were gone and it was mostly quiet as nearly everyone was sleeping or daydreaming. The cloaked Pokemon I couldn't recognize was still in the corner, his arms crossed, and the Blaziken and Infernape were fast asleep in their table. I remembered the Espeon I had bumped into and scanned the room for her. Nope. She wasn't here anymore, not even the Gardevoir and Gallade.

That Luxray probably followed her out.. I thought with a smile. Froslass' soft voice beside me caught my attention in the next moment. "Would you like a salad?" She asked gently. I glanced at her, and made a small nod of my head. "Y-yes, please." I murmured quietly as my companion turned and faced a counter that I had not noticed earlier. Behind the counter was a Mr. Mime wearing an apron, and he had a ladle in his hand. "A Clear Gummi shake and salad, please." The Mr. Mime nodded and turned around to start working on his magic while Froslass faced me. "Would you please find us some seats? I shall join you in a minute."

"Sure." I flew towards the table near a glass window. As I sat down, I got a glimpse of what the outside looked like. What was supposed to be a vast ocean was now just a frozen picture of waves and tides. I sure hope Grovyle, Leonna and Liam don't fail this time.

Soon, Froslass came by holding a tray with our orders on it. She passed the salad to me and took a seat across me. I muttered grace and began to eat my salad. My companion merely drank her shake, silently watching me. As I chewed the leafy veggies, I glanced at the Snow land Pokemon in front of me. She met my gaze and smiled, "How is the salad?"

I gulped my food before answering, "It's filling."

"That's good."

Just then, the cloaked Pokemon walked towards our table. As he stood there, I glanced at him wearily, and shivered when I saw his fierce purple gaze. Froslass stared up at him curiously, and a minute passed before she sighed and muttered, "Very well."

I glanced at her as she got up from her seat. "Celebi, please stay in our room for the time being. I have a patient to attend to."

I nodded slowly before meeting the gaze of the cloaked Pokemon. Suddenly, I heard a deep masculine voice ask, "You are Celebi?"

"Huh? What was that?" I looked around me, my eyes wide in surprise.

Again, I heard the same voice. "I am the Pokemon in front of you, time guardian." I blinked several times before looking up at the Pokemon slowly. "Wh-wha...?"

"Telepathy."

"Oh." I heard Froslass giggle quietly across the table, but I paid her no mind as I tried something I haven't done since... since Mother's death. "Um... hello?" I thought, trying to make the words echo as it does in telepathy.

I see you are capable of this ability, yourself, time guardian. I heard him say, causing me to smile brightly and I replied, "I haven't used this in a while."

Because of an incident of your past.

"... you're reading my memories, too, aren't you?"

... Perhaps.

I pouted, then blurted out with my real voice, "How mean!" A chuckle reverberated through my mind, although the Pokemon's expression remained neutral. Froslass, whom I actually forgot about for a second, smiled and shook her head slightly in amusement. "Well, Mewtwo, are we going or not?"

"Mewtwo?" I tilted my head, eyeing the cloaked Pokemon

…Froslass. He muttered, slightly irked, if I was not mistaken. This… Mewtwo Pokemon mentally sighed when the ice-type just stared at him innocently and glanced at me, saying in my head, Celebi, considering the healing abilities of grass-types, I would like to ask you to join us.

"For what?" I blinked.

"Most of his Team Members are rather sick or injured, and Mewtwo here has asked us – including you, Celebi – to help those fellows. If you don't mind, that is." Froslass explained, holding the glass of her now nearly finished shake. I, unlike Grovyle, was not that wary when it came to helping others, so I only needed to process her words before beaming at the two Pokemon.

"Sure!"

Very well. Mewtwo said, Let us be on our way then.

"Hang on."

"Hm?"

"Where are we going?" I raised a brow.

Froslass and Mewtwo shared a glance before the ice-type answered, "Cryptic Cavern."

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Halleluyah… Praise the Lord… I finally posted this! After more than a month! I'm so sorry, since I've been SERIOUSLY busy with school nowadays. Anyways, it might be the last update for a while, cuz I'm somehow confused with my own plot XD Oh, and my dear reviewers:

Eeveesin98 – Yeah, I was too lazy to change the plot of that part so… anyway, for the following chapters, I'm gonna stray from the main story to focus on Froslass, cuz she's gonna have a special role at the end. Thanks for your support ^^

Lafaitte – Thank you :D And don't worry, I'm already planning some sort of sequel for this. Lots of fluff ;)

007 dragon – Thank you and I'm glad you enjoyed!

Anonymous (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE O.o) – Thanks for reading and reviewing, all your reviews made my day ^^

Thanks again, guys! I just hope I can get more people to review…. Oh well, til we meet again!