Chapter Thirty: Overthrow

Fighting For Everything

The next few hours were spent in my Center room. I was overly stressed about the 'war' that would happen later. I wasn't quite sure what would happen. With tons and tons of guards there, we would have to be alert every second. Our Pokémon would go down quickly most likely. We'll have to team up and help each other. And on top of that, we're setting bombs today too.

Yes, I was afraid. Yes, I was confident. Yes, I was confused. Yes, I was ready.

I walked out of the Center and towards the docks. Oliver never showed up, probably for the best, so unless Brush brought back people we didn't have a lot of recruits. Enough probably, but not a lot.

Once I reached the docks I saw the boat. It was a silver color with the words 'S.S. Steel' on the side. Captain Steel stood proudly on the ship and waved at me when I walked over. "Trainer Cynthia! It is so wonderful you came! Come on the ship where everyone is waiting!"

I walked up the stairs and to the boats bow. A large group was standing there. I saw Ellena, Kedah, Tag, Brush, Carrick, Marco, Marco's brothers, Janson, Luke, Surge, Captain Steel, and two new men. I walked over to them.

"Cynthia, these are two recruits from Oreburgh." Brush said. "Bullock and Luss." They looked like they were in their twenties or so. They looked like the average Oreburgh mine workers. They were a great addition.

I looked around. I found a pair of blue eyes staring at me. Volkner and Rowan stood nearby. Great.

"Alright," Ellena said, "it looks like everyone's here. We don't have a huge group, but we all have tough Pokémon. Cynthia, Kedah and me will be in a group. Brush will take Janson, Luke, Surge, Captain Steel, Bullock and Luss with him. Carrick will take Tag, Marco and his brothers. We'll split up once we get on the island. Stay focused. Most of you brought your own cloak or something to cover up with. As soon as we set sail, put them on. There may be patrol boats out, we may need to fight them on the way."

"I could send Champ out to see." Rowan and Volkner had stepped up to the group.

"Great, please do that." Rowan stepped away and released his Flying Type out to the skies. "Now, once we're in these groups stay as a group. If you wander off, it's your fault. Listen to the person in charge. That's either me, Brush or Carrick. We know what we're doing. We're going to set bombs. Each group will have three bombs to place. The first group to set one will be Carrick's group. Most likely we'll hear when the bomb goes off, so we'll all know. By this time, the guards will be attacking. We want to lure them to Brush's group. His group will do the fighting. Carrick's group will come to you guys for backup. My group will set the next bomb. Once we've bombed, we'll come to Brush's group. Then we'll help lay the last bombs, the big guys. Once they're set, it's get out or go down. Stay cloaked or covered, you don't want to be seen or recognized. People might go down tonight, but the point is, this is war."

Everyone was silent. The realization had set in. This was war…And we could lose.

"Pokémon fly, high in the sky, I like thighs! Waves crash in, we run out, this war is awesome that's why I shout!" Captain Steel, grinning hugely, did a weird dance over to us. He flung his legs all over the place and flailed his arms. "I'm rhyming! …What I miss?!"

We all stared at him while he danced. Way to ruin a moment, Captain. "We will set sail now! I need helping hands!" Volkner, along with a few other men, walked over to him. Thankfully he'll leave me alone for a while.

The group dispersed. We started sailing. Once we got a ways away cloaks, or makeshift cloaks, started coming on. Most were silent. This was really setting in hard. Especially for me. I realized that, yes, I could die tonight. We could lose. Lea could win. If we won…What would happen? How could we overthrow Lea? The scary part was this was just the beginning. We might need to go to more wars after this.

What if Lea wins and we lose? I couldn't process that. We'd be captured, for one, we would need to escape…If we don't die. Yeah, this was hard.

Champ landed on the boat. Everyone circled around him. "Champ," Rowan addressed his Pokémon, "is there any boats out to the island?" Champ shook his head. Sounds of relief flooded around.

I looked around. The sky was beginning to turn color as the sun began to set. Adding darkness to the equation…This was going to be fun. Brush sat on a crate nearby. He was writing a letter of sorts. I approached him. "Brush, what are you doing?"

He looked up at me. Grief filled his expression. "Writing a letter to my wife…Just in case. I'm going to give it to Professor Rowan to send out for me if…" He trailed off. I nodded, I knew what he meant. Should I do the same thing for Grandmother? I thought. I instantly decided not to and pushed the thoughts away.

I walked off towards the railing of the boat and leaned on it. The water was looking peaceful at the moment, like it was feeling the same emotions of everyone around. Out of the corner of my eye I saw someone come next to me. I looked up, the person wore a cloak like mine. He had his hood up so I couldn't see his face.

"Is the view pretty?" It was Volkner.

I sighed. "Yes." I pulled my hood up as well.

"Are you still angry at me?"

Being angry at him seemed silly and childish now. "No…In fact, I apologize."

There was some silence for a minute. It began to feel a bit awkward. "Why do you want to not like me so much?" He asked. There was so much sincerity in his tone. The emotions on the boat must have affected him too, even though he wasn't laying his life on the line.

I looked at him. "What?"

"You try to hate my guts, when in reality you actually…Don't."

I tried to answer, but I couldn't. At that moment, I didn't know if that was true or not. I was numb to any and all feelings. "I don't know, Volkner." I was honest when I said that. He nodded in response. I looked back out to sea, the sun was deep orange and close to the surface of the water. Not quite ready to say goodbye. The rest of the sky was dark, accepting the night.

"Miss Cynthia, I hope you stay safe tonight…" Volkner said.

"I'll try my best."

"Cynthia," I heard Ellena say. I turned around, her and Kedah stood a few feet back. They motioned for me to go to them. I nodded to Volkner and walked towards the two. I knew what they would think. They're going to comment on my 'romantic' moment with Volkner…Fantastic.

I approached them. They had their cloaks on and their hoods down. They looked at each other then back at me. I rolled my eyes. "What?"

"Nothing." They said in unison.

"We wanted you to get your Pokémon in order. Who are you taking?"

I reached into my pocket and pulled out my three Pokémon. "Bibarel, Togekiss and Gabite. Is that good?" Ellena nodded. We stood there for a few more moments. We just stood in each other's presence. We all knew the grief we were feeling.

"I'm glad my brother didn't come." Kedah muttered. "I hope I see him again."

"Kedah, don't talk like that." Ellena said. We were silent again. A minute later they walked off to go check on the boys. Volkner walked up to me again.

"How are you holding up?" He asked, probably noting my look of sorrow.

"Fine." He scratched his arm. Doing so he reveled his forearm. There was a scar lining it. I grabbed his wrist. "What is that?"

He pulled away. "Nothing."

"Volkner, what is that?"

"It's not what you think."

"Is it what I think? Cutting yourself is not an answer."

He pulled his hood down so it completely covered his face. "It's not what you think." He repeated.

"Then what is it?!"

"Nothing!" He snapped. He laid his hands on my shoulders. "Trust me." He whispered.

I bit my lip and nodded. I decided not to worry about him…I shouldn't have anyways. Volkner's business wasn't mine.

"We are approaching! Helpers!" Captain Steel shouted. Volkner looked at me and nodded. I nodded back and he went to help. I found my big group.

"This is it." Tag said. For the first time he wasn't joking, he was somber.

"Stay focused and alert." Brush said. He pulled his hood up and led us over to the rail. The island was a few feet away. It was rocky; not sandy. There were large rocks scattered around. There was a huge cave-like thing in the middle…The only thing was, it had a pointed top.

"It's a volcano?!" Kedah yelled. "We're supposed to do this in a volcano?!"

"It has never erupted." Professor Rowan said. "Then again, it has really never been disturbed…"

"We'll be fine." Ellena tried to ease everyone's new fear of being melted. It didn't work for Kedah.

"Volcano!" She went on about volcano's until we were docked. There was another boat docked on the other side of the island. It was probably the guards' boat.

Captain Steel threw the ladder over the side. One by one we crawled down. There were no guards in sight; I assumed they were inside the cave. Butterfree crept in my stomach. This is a bad idea. Is this a bad idea? I think this is a bad idea. No it's not. Is it?

Professor Rowan put his arm around my shoulder. "Miss Cynthia, don't over think it. Be safe." He patted my shoulder. I nodded. I let out Bibarel, he was going to be my partner.

We entered the volcano.

It wasn't hot, like most would expect, it was like a normal cave. It was muggy however. Some light came in from the doorway, but not a lot. Brush gave each group a lantern, Ellena handed out matches.

The first area was a large 'room,' there were two hallways on either side of the room. Carrick took his group down the hallway to the far left, and the other two groups went down the hallway to the right.

Ellena and Brush led the way. It was quiet. We couldn't hear anything. What does this mean? I thought. We came to another room with multiple hallways. Brush motioned to one, his group went down it. Ellena took Kedah and I down the other, her lantern leading the way. Halfway down, we heard something. We stopped.

Voices were heard. Ellena motioned for us to turn around. We hurried back down. We chose another hall. That one lead to three more hallways. We heard a boom. Carrick had placed his bomb. It was our turn.

Moments after, we heard yelling. I could hear Captain Steel's battle cry. Brush had met up with guards.

"Hey!" We heard. We turned around, a guard had found us.

"Take Down!" I commanded. Bibarel tackled the guard, he fell to the ground and passed out cold.

The three of us froze. It was our turn. What do we do?! "Guys," Kedah whispered, "look." She pointed to the wall. A torch was lit and burning strong. That was, along with the guard that I attacked, proof that guards were around.

"Here is the best place." Ellena muttered. She looked at the three hallways. Then her eyes widened. "Three people, three sticks of dynamite, three hallways."

Kedah gasped. "Don't say it, Elle."

"We need to split up."

I kicked the dust up in the air. I looked up at the sunset. Sun reflecting off the blue, beautiful water, the sky looked orange, purple and blue…Whatever, I didn't really care. I look at the sun, I see her. I look at the water, I see her. I looked at the dust on my running shoes and see her. She was everywhere. She took over my thoughts, dreams…Everything.

I growled and kicked a rock. It flew over to the volcano and bounced off it. I was in inner-turmoil with my stupid emotions. Emotions suck. And I've always been a wear-my-heart-on-my-sleeve guy, so it really sucks.

"Volkner," I turned around. Professor Rowan was coming my way. "You shouldn't beat yourself up over everything. You're angry, and you need to calm down." Rowan always saw through me. He knew me so well. We spent a lot of time together through the years.

"I know…" I trailed off. He continued his 'examination' or whatever. I walked a few feet away. My mind drooping back to its recent state…Revolving around her. I should have said more than 'I hope you stay safe tonight.' And she even noticed my scar! And I acted like an idiot! Stupid man. I face-palmed. I pushed my sleeve up and looked at my scar. That represented my past too greatly…I wasn't proud of my past.

One thing about scars: They never go away. Not just physically, but mentally. You can be mentally scared. And it never goes away. Ever.

I sighed. I looked towards the cave entrance. I debated going in after her, but I didn't. And yes, I really regret it.

"Split up?!" I echoed. "Are you kidding?!"

Ellena looked at me. "Cynthia, you can do it." She pulled out a stick of dynamite. "Take this, go down that hallway, and light it. We'll go down the other two and light ours. Then, we'll go back to Brush's group and battle alongside them." She pushed the thing into my hands and pointed to one of the halls.

"I don't want to." I said.

"Well, you don't have a choice. Quickly, before we're caught." She gave Kedah one and gave us matches. "Quickly!" She repeated. She jogged down a hallway. Kedah looked at me.

"You can do it. We'll be waiting for you." She took down her hallway.

I swallowed all my fear and jogged down my hallway. I came to a small 'clearing' of sorts and decided that would be my spot. There was a torch on the wall there, too. I squatted and looked at the dynamite. I tried to light the match. It wouldn't light. Come on! Come on! I thought. Sweat popped out on my forehead, I pushed my hood off my head and left my face uncovered. I heard something else and the floor shook underneath me. Their dynamite had gone off.

My match still wouldn't light. I looked up at the torch. Oh, duh. I stood up and lit the dynamite. I smiled and threw the dynamite down. I swiftly turned around. That's when I saw him. I gasped.

"Well, well, well…If it isn't Cynthia Marie."

Authors Note: Who is it who is it who is it?! Insert your guesses below!

So, I have been stressing over Volkner's character. I feel like I didn't quite make his right...What do yall think? And how did everyone like that POV change? I thought we needed a good change! You know, celebration of thirty (Really thirty-one) chapters. Speaking of which, how do we like the subtitle? It has a lot of meaning behind it. Deep.

Anywho, I used Miltank for the thing last chapter because...Picture a Miltank with angel wings. It's a funny thought. Meh. I'm immature...

Hey! Double update this weekend! Maybe it'll be triple update! ...I said maybe.

Thanks for reading! I love reviews!