"Did you grab Ninetales' tail and cause the natural disasters?" I cried, furious at the traitors.
"We don't know!" shouted Gida heatedly. "Maybe, maybe not. Noko and I are going to ask Ninetales herself and settle this whole thing."
I glared at the bulbasaur. "You're the one accused. Why should we believe you?"
"Why should you believe Gengar?" the bulbasaur retorted.
I hesitated before replying, "Good point. I like ya, kid. We'll hear your story, right, Chu?"
When she didn't reply, Gida and I looked around to see Chu and Noko chatting off on the side. They looked over at us and waved.
"Are you done fighting?" called Chu cheerfully.
Gida and I stared at the sight, dumbstruck, before rushing over to our partners.
The refugees explained that Noko had found Gida unconscious on the ground a few weeks ago. Gida explained that his memories were wiped out except for his name and the knowledge that he was human. Recently, Gardevoir from the Ninetales Legend had begun appearing in Gida's dreams, and the two decided to investigate whether or not Gida was the human from the legend.
"I believe them," concluded Chu. She waited for my answer.
"… Ya seem to be tellin' the truth," I gave in. "What do ya say to tryin' to stop the mob, Chu?"
Noko's eyes lit up. "Would you really do that for us?"
Chu nodded.
As Team Gidanoko thanked us and scurried ahead, I wondered if we did the right thing. The voices of the townspeople approached us from behind.
"Team Spark, did you see Team Gidanoko pass through here?" Alakazam questioned us.
"They went on ahead," I explained. "They told us their story and—"
The eldest Kecleon brother cut me off. "What?" he cried furiously. "You let them go? I thought you wanted to help people, Flare."
"We do!" Chu covered me. "Please, listen to us."
"There is no time," stated Alakazam. "I apologize, but we must fight you if you refuse to concede."
My stomach flipped in terror. Fight Alakazam's team? We can't defeat them! I glanced over at Chu. Her look told me, 'We have to delay them at the very least.' I sighed inwardly and nodded.
Alakazam demanded, "Will you stand aside or defy us?"
I took a deep breath and replied, "Gidanoko is an honest team. We won't stand down!"
Closing his eyes, Alakazam sighed. "So be it. Charizard, Tyranitar, prepare for battle."
I swallowed hard and resigned myself to our slim chances of victory. I'll give it my all, no matter what! We'll be fine… won't we?
Alakazam lifted Chu and me into the air with his psychic attack while the other, slower members of the search team pursued Team Gidanoko before throwing us against the wall. As I hit the ground, Charizard flew by me. I jumped on my evolved form's back as Tyranitar unleashed a fierce earthquake attack that left Chu down for the count.
"Chu!" I cried out, using dragon claw on Charizard's right wing. Barely a scratch, I thought before being thrown to the ground on my stomach. Struggling to stand, I sprinted over to Chu and shook her, attempting to wake her up. Three shadows fell over me and my fallen partner.
Charizard whispered, "I'm sorry, my sister." (Although we are not related, it is common for pokemon to address members of their evolutionary family this way. Chu was referring to her blood sister when we first met, though.) He looked sincere. "It is for the fate of the world. I can't allow you to interfere."
Pain erupted from my back as Charizard struck me with two slash attacks in an "X", and I fainted, marking Team Spark's first defeat.
