Chapter 3- The kids don't stand a chance…

Isaac awoke the next morning to the sound of bacon sizzling and the smell of freshly brewed coffee. The aroma drifted through the bedroom. He felt a smile on his face. Isaac, Sara, and Zack entered the kitchen to find Spruce and his wife preparing a wonderful breakfast. Spruce's wife, Mary, handed out bacon, eggs, and biscuits on small plates embroidered with pictures of Rabinal in each of its seasonal forms.

Spruce sipped at his coffee before speaking. "After breakfast you will set off to Seaclasp town. Mary and I have packed you lunches," he handed out a paper sack to each of them. "And also this!" he said reaching over to the kitchen counter. He took a large piece of paper from the counter set it down on the kitchen table. It was a map of Saigo. They saw each town's name written in block writing. Spruce pointed at a small town with the words "Canvas" written above it.

"You will follow route 1 from Canvas town across the western knolls," his finger traced a small path over hills much like the one that Spruce's lab was located on. "The land flattens out after that and becomes a straight shot to Seaclasp City," he said pointing to a beautiful town positioned in between the sea and a huge, green lake. He gave the map to Sara and smiled widely. "Good luck you three!"

A few minutes later the trio was waving at the Spruces and set off on the small path that led through the hills. It was cold but the sun shone brightly and there was not a cloud in the sky.

Progress was slow at first. Many times the group would begin a climb up a particularly large hill expecting to see the flatland that Spruce had promised only to reach the top and see another huge section of the hills. But after a lunch break (and Zack managing to get Munchlax in its pokeball) they advanced quickly through the hills into a flatland full of snow patches and small, iced over ponds.

Sara admired the map. She traced her fingers along patches of desert, mountains, flatlands, tundra, and forests. Zack was looking through the pokedex trying to figure out all of its features. He soon found out that the pokedex could show all the stats for a pokemon including moves. Zack, excitedly, checked his Torchick's stats. Isaac chuckled on the inside. That morning he had made the connection with Abra and Peakfang. He had found out, not only about their strengths and weaknesses, but also their lives. Abra, due to its training under Sabrina, knew a huge assortment of moves that Isaac was eager to see in action. Peakfang owned moves that Isaac had never heard of before and Peakfang had to explain what many of them did.

Isaac's connection with Peakfang showed something incredible. He had asked him where he had come from.

I will show you Peakfang had said.

Isaac saw an immense mountain covered in ice. Massive creatures traversed this mountain and their howls and cries had filled Isaac's mind. It was an amazing experience that made Isaac want to visit this great mountain.

It was only an hour after lunch that the group found themselves on a high cliff that over looked Seaclasp City. It was even more stunning than it had been on the map. Seaclasp city was built on an isthmus between a busy ocean harbor and Saigo's largest lake, known as the Emerald Sea. The ocean to its left was calm and nearly transparent. The Emerald Sea to its right was gorgeous filled with small sailboats and ferries.

After the group walked down the cliff into Seaclasp town Zack took out his pokedex making a map of the town pop up on screen. A few commands were typed in and soon a red dot was blinking steadily.

"So the red dot is us," said Zack. A second dot appeared a few blocks away from the first. "And that's the pokemon center."

As the group walked toward the center Isaac couldn't help admiring the town. Museums, art galleries, and tiny restaurants were everywhere. Only a few buildings reached more than ten stories tall and the streets were nearly spotless. A four piece band was playing on the sidewalk near the pokemon center. They played a happy and catchy tune that Isaac found himself humming as they entered.

A nurse welcomed them. The trio handed her their pokeballs and she whisked away to the healing area, placing each pokemon into a machine as the trio walked around the center. The center was two stories high, the bottom floor consisting of the healing machine and a buffet style kitchen. Above was a lounge area for trainers to rest in. Around a dozen trainers where in and around the center; eating, chatting, and battling. Isaac could hear a battle on the second floor and walked up a stairway to watch. He sat down at a table, joining another trainer who was watching the battle. The trainer was very short. His blond hair was cut short so as not to get in the way of his large black glasses.

Isaac noticed that the trainers were using pokemon he had never seen before. One of the trainers, a rather tall teenager with long black hair was using a small purple black pokemon with diminutive wings and horns growing out of its head. The other trainer, a girl with strawberry blond hair, was using a minuscule, white creature with yellow eyes and a mischievous grin on its face.

Isaac turned to the trainer who was sitting next to him.

"Hey what are those pokemon?"

The trainer pushed up his glasses before answering.

"The one Val's using," he said pointing to the girl. "Is an Icsank. It's an Ice type. Out in the wild they're known to trick people that are wondering around on mountains. In battle they're quite weak… except for speed. They're lightening quick."

"Johnny's is a Bakeir. Often associated with black magic and that sort thanks to its appearance. It has an incredible special attack. And those wings you see? They don't do much now but when it evolves they become quite powerful."

The trainer stopped for a moment and blushed.

"I hope I wasn't boring you. I just start talking and I will ramble on and on…"

Isaac shook his head. "No it's not a problem at all. I enjoyed it a lot."

The trainer brightened up quickly and reached out his hand. "My names Ezra."

"I'm Isaac. How do you know so much about pokemon?"

Ezra kept his eyes on the battle as he spoke.

"I want to be Saigo's pokemon professor. It's been a dream of mine since well… since I found out I can't battle."

Isaac raised an eyebrow.

Ezra blushed again. "I set off at first with the dream of being a trainer with Zalous here."

Isaac noticed a small creature near Ezra's legs. It was short, only coming up to Ezra's knees. The creature had an oblong and black head with two deep red eyes with black pupils. Its body consisted of alternating black and white stripes. Its black feet had three toes its long tail wrapped around Ezra's leg.

"Zalous is an eclectic type. It has great speed and agility. In the right hands it can be a powerful pokemon…" he sighed. "It's just every time I try to battle I get the nerves. So now I've deiced to become an expert on pokemon and how they live."

As Ezra finished Zack and Sara sat down at the table handing Isaac his pokeballs. Ezra introduced himself and the four of them watched the battle. It was clear that Johnny's Bakeir was much more powerful but Val's Icsank was keeping him on his toes thanks to its speed. Every time Bakeir would release a powerful attack Icsank would dodge nimbly out of the way. Icsank was scoring small hits on Bakeir that seemed to be taking their toll. Bakeir was fading but Isaac could detect a feel of confidence in Johnny and Bakeir.

"What's he up to?" Isaac muttered to himself.

Icsank came in for the final attack. Bakeir was simply standing, stock still, in the middle of the arena. Suddenly, the usually quick Icsank slowed to a sloth's pace. Before Val or Icsank realized what was going on Bakeir released an amazing fire attack that knocked Icsank out of the ring.

"Brilliant! A combination of trick room and ember! Just brilliant!" shouted Ezra.

The entire room was applauding as Val and Johnny shook hands and Bakeir and Icsank did the same. The nurse who had treated Isaac's pokemon took Icsank to the healing machine as the trainers in the center surrounded Val and Johnny.

Ezra was a good friend of both of the trainers and they soon joined Isaac's table. Val was very shy until someone started talking about battles. Johnny came off, at first, as a bit rude and full of himself before he became comfortable with the trio. He relaxed and became quite pleasant, cracking jokes and talking about Saigo.

"Not from around here are you?" said Johnny after Sara started asking questions about his Bakeir.

"No. I'm from Hoenn and Zack and Isaac are from Kanto."

"Kanto! Where Oak and Spruce, the two greatest pokemon experts ever, were born!" said Ezra with a sparkle in his eye.

"Ignore him," said Johnny "He gets like that anytime ANYTHING concerning pokemon professors comes up."

"What brings you here?" asked Val.

"We're working for Professor Spruce to fill this up," said Zack pulling out his pokedex.

Johnny whistled as he inspected it.

"This is amazing!" blurted out Ezra, snatching the pokedex from Johnny.

Zack took his pokedex back from Ezra before speaking. "Would you guys mind if we inspected your pokemon with our pokedexes?"

Bakeir, Zalous, and Icsank (just back from healing) were released from their pokeballs as the trio's pokedexes were taken out. Isaac's pokedex made a beeping noise before its screen was filled with a bar with the word SCANNING above. The pokedex soon listed the three new pokemon next to Peakfang's data.

Ezra began explaining how he, Val, and Johnny had met. Johnny was from Canvas Town, Ezra was from Seaclasp, and Val was from town a town in the north called Celtbay town. Between all of those cities was Gemlight town. Every other year Gemlight town held a pokemon tournament for teen age trainers. Val and Johnny both joined to battle while Ezra had used the tournament as an opportunity to study pokemon battles. Johnny and Val made the final and Val handed Johnny his first ever defeat. Johnny fumed when Val talked about it.

"We've been "friendly rivals" ever since… if you can call it that. We're in Seaclasp for a vacation, visit Ezra, and battle the local gym leader. Though I have no information about the gym…"

Johnny snapped his fingers. "Ezra! Info stat!"

"Seaclasp City's gym leader is Lionel Rush. A former member of the Navy and a sailor all of his life. He currently owns Seaclasp's fastest ship the Sea bell. He is a master of water type pokemon."

Johnny and Ezra high fived as the rest of the group sat in stunned silence.

"He's helpful every once in a while," said Johnny. "Not that it matters. I'm in no rush to battle Rush. I'm going to take my sweet time enjoying this vacation."

The six of them talked for an hour, not noticing two men walk into the center. Zack heard an odd sound next to him and felt himself being pushed to the floor. No matter how hard he struggled he couldn't get up. He strained his eyes. He could see two men in grey cloaks gathering pokeballs and money from trainers and a Hypno, eyes glowing, between them.

Ezra was on the floor next to him. "Rotten crooks. Using Hypno's powers for crime! I should…." He was suddenly silenced by Hypno.

Zack felt himself panic. He remembered Isaac sitting next to him before he was thrown to the floor. He couldn't see or hear him. Zack looked everywhere straining his neck only to have it pushed down by Hypno. He grunted with pain and could see… two floating pairs of tennis shoes?

It was Isaac! He had somehow gotten into the rafters of the center before the crooks could get him. Zack could just barely see Abra next to Isaac. Before Zack could signal Isaac he was kicked onto his back. He was now looking into the face of one of the robbers.

"You're next," he said with a crooked smile on his face. The robber nodded to Hypno. Zack could feel his wallet, pokedex, and pokeballs being lifted out of his pockets and into a bag the robber held out that was full of the other trainer's belongings. Before the objects could reach his bag they feel to the floor. The robber was dumb stuck. He managed to mutter "Whu?" before a powerful razor leaf struck his chest. Zack, now free of Hypno's psychic powers, helped Ezra to his feet. He could see that Isaac's Abra had taken Hypno down and now the trainers that had been incapacitated were now surrounding the remaining robber.

The robber was backing up slowly toward the door only to find it blocked by Val and Johnny. Isaac was advancing on him with Peakfang and Abra. He could see his face clearly now. His eyes were a deep brown, hidden under half closed eyelids. He looked, oddly enough, like he was bored. He took out a pokeball and released a Ditto. Only Ezra and Isaac realized what he was about to do.

"Stop him!" yelled Isaac.

"What? It's just a Ditto I can take him," said Johnny.

Even as he said this the robber's Ditto was transforming into an Abra. The robber placed Abra on his shoulders and gave a small two fingered salute to Isaac.

"Impressive."

Isaac saw the robber's eyes become full. They were gleaming as Ditto teleported him away.

Ditto had transported him far away. He was now in a huge room full of computer monitors and people busy at work, typing out instructions, watching the screens, and talking into phones their only light was the soft glow of the monitors. The monitors were full of various jumbled images from around Saigo and the rest of the world rapidly changing from image to image. He watched them for a few moments. Here a bank robbery in progress, a briefcase full of money being opened, and, for a split second, he saw something, massive and formless drifting through before the screen changed again.

"How did it go?"

The man returned Ditto to its pokeball before speaking.

"Not well. Jones was captured."

A sigh.

"Well I guess that proves the old saying about doing a job yourself…"

"There is something you may find…" he searched for the right words. "Interesting."

"Oh? What would that be?"

Their voices were lowered; soon the conversation was drowned out by the droning of the monitors and the constant chattering of keyboards.

"Well then… That is interesting."

The robber could feel the other was starting to smile.

The monitors turned off for a moment leaving everyone in complete and total darkness. There was a buzzing noise before the monitors turned back on. The monitors combined into one massive screen displaying a young man with short spiky hair, mostly hidden under a red and white hat, and an Abra sitting next to him. A small diagram full of rapidly increasing numbers appeared on the screen.

There were a few gasps from around the room and a single cold laugh.

"Interesting indeed…"