Thinking back over how she came to her current location, Anne walked along the dark tunnel. ~They came over later in the week... I can't remember if father said when the van Daans would be arriving. And then Mister van Daan and father were talking about their usual things over dinner, about how's father's share of the business was being managed.~ Anne took several shaky breaths, the danger of the situation finally setting in. ~Then the day after, Mister van Daan wanted to talk to me after dinner. So we went into the van Daan's family room, while Peter and Misses van Daan talked to Margot and my parents...~

~"Your father told me you'd gotten a box of Pokemon food from Uncle Reuben's the other day."

I nodded. "Yes, and there was a trainer license and a Pokedex at the bottom."

"I don't think that was an accident," He said. That didn't make any sense, until he spoke again. "Miep told me of how Uncle Reuben said there was a place some of his customers might wish to do business, by the sewer maintenance building."

"You mean another Pokemon food shop?"

"Maybe, but Miep simply said he winked and told her 'it was for those who enjoy my delicacies'." And that's when I realized...~ Keeping her hand along the wall, Anne carefully tread along the edge of the unbelievably foul smelling tunnel. There was the occasional splash as Anne stepped in something, or the drip of liquid falling into the waste water, and on the wall there were large patches of slime. ~"Take the third right, all the way down to the end of the tunnel..." Well, that was the third right.~ Anne took the corner, and far away saw the glow of electric lights and flashes of energy. Anne's heartbeat quickened, and picked up her pace. Almost running down the sewer tunnel Anne made it to the platform at the end of the tunnel in a couple minutes. Surprisingly- or, maybe not- Uncle Reuben was the first to greet her.

"Anne! You've made it, I see." Uncle Reuben smiled, and shook Anne's hand. "I wasn't sure if you would be able to come."

"Mister van Daan told me about it yesterday." ~But mother and father haven't learned of it yet.~

"Make sure to bring your parents sometime," Said Uncle Reuben, as he led Anne towards the center of the platform. There were several people there, who seemed to be nervous and relieved another person had arrived. Uncle Reuben walked towards them and turned to face Anne. "Welcome to the Golden Star League, Anne. The people gathered here have come from around Amsterdam, to train and battle. This place is for any Jewish who own or wish to own Pokemon, in freedom. As the newest member, Anne, you have the opportunity to introduce yourself through a battle." Reaching into his vest, Uncle Reuben pulled out a Pokemon ball. "Are you ready?" Anne nodded. "Go, Fearow!" A large, brown, cormorant-like bird with a long pink bill and red coxcomb appeared and circled around before landing beside Uncle Reuben.

Anne brought up her Umbreon's ball. "Jericho, I choose you!" The beam of red light shot out of the ball and snapped into place, leaving behind Jericho. In the light, Anne could finally see what he looked like: a feline Pokemon with sleek black fur, and the gold bands around its ears and tail, and gold rings on its legs and forehead that she remembered from when she first saw it. It turned back to Anne.

"Umbre?" ~A battle?

"Give it your best," Anne encouraged.

"Umm... reon, breon." ~Okay... it's been a while... As it turned back to Uncle Reuben, the Fearow began to soar to the roof of the tunnel.

"Jericho, Quick Attack!" Jericho leapt up with blinding speed, and tackled Fearow in mid-air, taking it towards the ground.

"Alright! Fury Attack, Fearow." Uncle Reuben's Fearow fluttered back a couple feet, and stuck Jericho with needle-like pecks. Jericho cried out, and a cloud of dark purple sweat droplets showered Fearow as the Pokemon hit the ground.

~It knows Toxic?~ Thought Anne, surprised. "Hurry, use Bite!" Jericho darted in and bit Fearow at the base of its left wing, but Fearow shook it off.

"Fearow, fear!" ~I'm poisoned, boss! Fearow called to Uncle Reuben.

Uncle Reuben stroked his gray beard. "Fearow, use Pluck!"

~Ah!~ "Dodge and use Bite again, Jericho!" Very narrowly, Jericho dodged Fearow's spearing beak. This time his Bite got Fearow on the leg, and afterwards he ran back to stand near Anne.

"Go ahead and use Aerial Ace, Fearow!" The bird Pokemon jumped and flipped over backwards, and zoomed around Jericho, white streaks of energy streaming from the front of its wings and beak. Jericho tried to run but was rammed from the side, sent skidding to the edge of the platform.

The Umbreon was slow rising up, but Anne noticed Uncle Reuben's Fearow was barely beating its wings fast enough to stay aloft. Jericho looked back to Anne, and said "Umbreon, umbre!" ~I'll win, don't worry!

"Quickly, use Peck!" While Umbreon was still looking to Anne, it was hit and reeled backwards. Fearow flapped it wings, then dropped down. It spread its wings out, trembling but still proud.

~I'm not sure if he knows this, but...~ "Use Confuse Ray, Jericho!" The gold ring on his forehead glowed, and a twinkling globe of light burst out, and spun around Fearow before fading away. The bird shook its head, clearly dazed.

~He's fading fast, but I have to show her what Golden Star League is all about.~ "Fearow, use Drill Peck!" Flying up, Fearow tucked its wings in and began to spin. But it wasn't aimed at Jericho- instead it slammed into the wall of the sewer.

"Now use Quick Attack, Jericho!" The Umbreon blurred and disappeared, then collided with Fearow, driving it into the wall again. Fearow did not stir.

Uncle Reuben held up his hand. "Very well done, Anne! Very well done." He glanced over to his Fearow. "We're working on putting together a healing machine here and having our own Pokemon Center- but as you can imagine, that is a slow, ongoing process. For now feel free to help yourself to a potion or two."

"Okay," Anne said, as Jericho trotted back to her side. "I can let out my other Pokemon, right?"

"Of course. Most everyone here has one of those Pokedex devices Samuel Oak's working on, so it'd be a good opportunity to fill it up. Here, I'll tend to Fearow and Jericho while you meet the other members."

Anne bobbed her head and motioned for Jericho to follow Uncle Reuben. ~A secret Pokedex...~

-The Berghof-

Alfred Jodl, one of Adolf Hitler's top generals, had been consulted for this meeting. He pointed to a spot on the map, and looked to Josef Mengele.

Mengele cleared his throat. "This is currently our most accurate estimation of Regirock's location, approximately two point six kilometers Southwest of the village Sidi Amar."

"Hmm... is the Swiss division of Team Rocket available?" Jodl asked, cautiously.

"Damn the Swiss division!" Hitler cut in, banging his fist on the table. "This is not an exercise in stealth!" He stared at Jodl and Mengele, before taking a drink of his tea- laced with Grimer extract, as many things he consumed were. But as Mengele had noted, the cocktail of poisons taken from the Pokemon could- and did- have tremendous side effects if not properly formulated. "The Third Reich will be built on our Aryan race's purity and power."

Mengele swallowed. "My Fuhrer, sometimes a carefully orchestrated display of force is most effective."

"Yes," Jodl agreed, latching on to Mengele's line of thought. "If our plan to capture the legendary golems and Regigigas was unnoticed until the final stage, the impact might be far more profound."

"We cannot stand on our past alone! The Third Reich must independently establish itself as a legend, regardless of the Pokemon we command."

"One could argue we have already done so, My Fuhrer." ~I'm starting to sound like Mengele, damn it.~

~This must be suggested gently...~ "The villagers have their own legends of Regirock, My Fuhrer. They claim it drives away evil spirits, and rebuilds the mountains after landslides." And here's the sensitive part. "The Jews have their own legends of the golems, as you know, such as the one which says Regigigas towed the continents into place. The Icelandic do as well, as I believe they've constructed a temple around where Regigigas sleeps. And, the Jews, My Fuhrer, have made much of their God vanquishing the gods of their ancient enemies. I would look at this not as relying on external powers to build the Third Reich's reign, but... usurping their legends and gods by reasserting our heritage and right."

Hitler sighed as he clenched and unclenched his fist. ~External powers...~ "...Has the load from Pantalica been shipped?"

"It is well on its way, My Fuhrer." Jodl answered. "Mussolini's secretary signed the letter of confirmation, along with Ingrid and Jakob."

"Perhaps Ingrid and Jakob could be employed for Regirock's capture?" Mengele proposed. The two were his most trusted Team Rocket agents, serving their Fuhrer in for nearly a third of their short lives.

"...Fine." Hitler said, with a wave of his hand. "Redirect them to Sidi Amar. You can make it look like they're on holiday, for all I care. But if they are questioned... they are to use lethal force to answer."