Chapter 19: Resumption

Seventh stance, aural pulse.

I let power slide out from my fingertips, a white shockwave exploding outward from them and passing harmlessly through the trees. A soft gust rose up, stirring the branches and causing soil from the ground to be thrown up into the air. I lowered my arm slightly, crossing it with the other and extending my fingers so that they were level with one another.

Eight stance, aural seal.

I drew on more power, this time letting it gush out on its own. I made sure to keep its flow in check as it rippled across the floor, illuminating the entire forest with its radiance. The ground shook violently with its force, and it took all of my concentration to stay balanced in that position.

Ninth stance…aural judgment.

I quickly retracted my arms, clapping my palms together and unleashing every last bit of strength I had in my body. The waves of power that had been undulating from me folded upwards into a tight column, making the air tremble with its intensity. I gritted my teeth, the concentration of the aura simply bent on taking me down. I cast aside the discomfort in my mind, knowing that if I didn't focus everything would fall apart.

Just…a little longer.

Finally I felt the energy relaxing in my muscles, and I let a small smile creep onto my face. I thrust my arms outward to release the tension within them, and then slowly let them drop to my sides. The pillar of light flared outward in response, dissipating into nothingness.

Finally...

I stood panting with exhaustion, sweat forming on my skin. Despite that, I didn't feel as tired as I thought I would be. Not long ago I wouldn't have been able to remain standing.

"How do you feel?"

I glanced up to see Larine looking down at me from the lower branch of a tree, crouched like a predator ready to pounce.

"Good," I said, grinning. Larine offered a slight smile, nodding grimly.

"That's good…now you've completed your training."

"What?" I blurted, surprised. "That's it?"

"That's it. It's already been fourteen days, Swift; haven't you noticed? I've taught you all the basics—the rest is up to you."

I let the fact sink in. I had power now, and I could use it. What I wanted to do now was all up to me.

"Let's have dinner," Larine decided, cutting into my thoughts. "We'll discuss our plans for tomorrow after."

I'd gotten so used to living on instant ramen and canned food that I could've eaten a rock without a problem. Turns out that Larine didn't know how to cook, and I only had a vague idea on how to make omelets (the ingredients for which we didn't have), so we had been living off of non-perishable food products for two weeks, which I suppose was better than having no food at all.

"Ugh, I can't wait to get to Fuchsia," Larine groaned. "I'm sick and tired of this food." She threw her fork into an empty can with a loud clang, glaring contemptuously at it as though it were capable of glaring right back.

"You shouldn't be complaining since you were the one who suggested living out here for two weeks," I teased, setting my own utensils aside. "Besides, it isn't all that bad."

"Not everyone can eat just anything like you can," she muttered, "and it's not like we could just train you at the Pokémon Center like a Pokémon."

I narrowed my eyes at her, but didn't pursue the subject. Instead I reclined on a fallen log (courtesy of an accidental Pokémon battle, but that's another story) and let myself immerse in the moment.

Two weeks already? That means it's been more than a month since I've seen Lance and Riley. I sighed. Life felt extremely quiet without those two around. After spending almost five years without them, I didn't think I'd be separated from them again so soon; I was almost beginning to become accustomed to it.

"Well, I guess we should decide what we're going to do now," Larine said, watching the flames flicker in their nest of brambles. "I can't teach you anymore, so staying here won't do either of us any good."

I nodded. "Personally, I want to go ahead to Fuchsia. I need to get my Soul Badge, among other things."

Larine cast an inquisitive glance in my direction.

"That's not all you're after, is it? I don't think you would've put up with me for two weeks just so you can get your Soul Badge."

"No, I wouldn't have," I admitted with an amused chuckle. I remembered that I hadn't told Larine about my missing friends, which I suppose was my real reason for moving on. I still didn't have the slightest inkling as to where to start looking for them, though. "Have you heard of that boat that happened near Celadon?"

"The one that was supposedly caused by territorial Gyarados?" Larine scoffed, as though she didn't believe what the reporters had said (and she had every right to). "Yeah, what about it?"

I explained what had actually happened on that day, contrary to what everyone else had believed. I told her about the woman, Raine (whom I realized now was probably a Guardian), and about Kai and how my friends had gone missing after the incident. At first Larine remained silent, showing no particular response to any of the details until I mentioned Raine and Kai.

"Are…are you sure his name was Kai?"

"Yeah, do you know him?"

For a moment she didn't answer, staring off into the distance with something like a conflicted look on her face. She looked hopeful, worried, and disbelieving all at the same time.

"I…I thought he was dead." There was a pause, and then Larine suddenly slammed her fist against the log she was sitting on. A loud crack resounded from it as a fissure appeared in the bark. I nearly jumped at the sound, surprised at her sudden move. "Dang it, that moron!"

"What's wrong?"

"He…he…!" She gritted her teeth, suddenly looking pretty pissed off. "If I see him again, I'm gonna pulverize him!" I repeated my inquiry, but Larine merely shook her head. "I need to find Kai. Now that I know that idiot's alive, I need to change my plans…"

I didn't think you had plans to begin with, I grumbled. Wonder how they know each other…?

I let Larine mutter to herself a little while longer, since it was pretty clear that she wasn't going to elaborate anymore on that topic. I picked up an outlying branch next to the campfire and started poking at the tinder, watching the flames flare angrily as I rearranged the sticks.

"Alright, Swift, I'm coming with you to Fuchsia."

"Huh?" Larine was sitting up straighter now, a determined look on her face.

"If what you said was true, then it's quite likely that your friends are with Kai, wherever that may be. However, that also means that finding them will be pretty difficult."

"And why is that?"

"Clan Seigen's been trying to get Kai to join them for quite a while now, either willfully or by force doesn't matter to them. You see, he's is a rather powerful Guardian, although when you last saw him he was probably in a weakened state. Still, if you haven't figured it out yet, his innate is the ability to manipulate shadows, and he can become a part of them if he wants to. Because of it, he's become apt at hiding from Clan Seigen. If your friends are with him, finding them won't be an easy task."

"That doesn't explain why you want to come with me to Fuchsia."

"No," Larine agreed, sighing, "but if either of us want to find who we're looking for, the best way to go would be to find Clan Seigen itself, and it's suicide to attempt that with only one person. Clan Seigen has more resources than any other criminal organization preceding it, and I'm sure they're using a great bulk of it to get what they want."

"As in numbers?" I queried. I continued to prod the flames for a little while longer, and then dropped the branch into the kindling as it caught fire.

"People, Pokémon, Exceeds, you name it. There's a chance we might run into a small detachment of them in Fuchsia, or in any other city, really, but the point I'm trying to make is that there's probably a few patrols out there looking for Kai even as we speak, and there's always a chance that they have an idea as to where his current location is."

"So you want to start looking in Fuchsia?" I concluded. Larine nodded briskly. I found myself agreeing with her logic; it was relevant and made sense. Maybe having Larine around wasn't so bad after all, and it wasn't long before I made up my mind about her accompaniment. "Alright then, tomorrow, we head for Fuchsia."

I felt like I'd been hibernating for a whole year when we finally emerged on Route 18 the following day. It felt like it had been forever since I had last seen the open country side, vibrant and lively under the sunlight compared to the darkness of the forest floor far beneath Cycling Road. I was glad to finally be able to see the clouds and the sky without spindly branches obstructing my view everywhere I went; it was a simple freedom, but one that I suddenly found myself all the more grateful for.

From where we emerged, it didn't take us long to find the gatehouse leading into Fuchsia, which was a simple, yellow-stoned building with a panel of windows ringing its second floor and a pair of brick-red double doors marking its entrance. Everything about it seemed normal, until we spotted something outside of the complex that stopped us from advancing any further.

Standing on either side of the gatehouse were two men, both dressed in black. By their spiked pauldrons and gold insignias, I immediately recognized them as members of Clan Seigen. I shot a glance at Larine, who returned the look before fixing her gaze on the two guards. As we proceeded to the doors of the gatehouse, a gruff voice from one of the sentinels ordered, "Hold it right there!"

We stopped, trying to assume an innocent demeanor as the men glared at us suspiciously.

"Who are you, and why're you trying to get in?" the same guard snarled, looking down at us from above his stubbly beard. I couldn't help but feel annoyed at the question; it was hard to believe that there were people in the world who were ignorant of the fact that kids travelled around the region with their Pokémon.

"We're Trainers and we want to get to the Pokémon Center to rest up," Larine responded, calm and composed. "Please let us through."

"'Please let us through'," the second man mocked, sniffing contemptuously. "Ya hear that? This one's got manners. Since when did kids talk like that, huh?"

"Beats me," the first guard said with disgust. I wanted to sock him in the face.

"We're not here to cause trouble," Larine added, keeping her cool. "We just want to stock up and take a break from travelling."

"What, you can't handle the great outdoors? Are you sure you're Trainers?" Complacent smiles spread across both of their faces. They were clearly enjoying this, which only got on my nerves all the more.

"If you're just going to sit there like a pair of Slowpoke waiting to have their tails chopped off, why don't you just step aside and stop wasting our time?" I spat. The sentinels laughed, adopting haughty expressions on their faces.

"Ooh we've got a feisty one here. Think you can beat us just because there are two of us and two of you? I'd bet my Pokémon could defeat all of yours without so much as lifting a finger! I'd hate to pick a fight with a pipsqueak though, so you'd better move along before someone gets hurt."

"That someone," I growled darkly, cracking my knuckles "is going to be you." There was an immediate pause as the two guards finally began to digest what I was saying and realized that I was serious. After a moment, they both grinned maniacally, not even bothering to conceal their arrogance.

"Ha! This amateur thinks she can beat us!"

"What a joke."

As they spoke they both drew Poké Balls from their belts, malicious gleams in their eyes. I glanced inquiringly at Larine, silently requesting to take them out on my own. She nodded indifferently, taking a few steps back as I selected the fifth Poké Ball on my belt. Meanwhile the men summoned their partners, calling out their names as the Poké Balls burst open with flashes of light. The figures that emerged were both bipedal and humanoid, one shorter than the other. The taller Pokémon, a Machoke, had muscles rippling underneath its blue-gray skin, and wore nothing other than what appeared to be briefs and a wrestling belt. Its companion, a Hitmonchan, had tan-colored skin and the appearance and posture of a boxer.

Don't they know that sending out two Pokémon of the same type makes them more vulnerable to super-effective attacks? I wondered, surprised at the simple combination. It was an elementary principle of double battles, save for Trainers who only specialized in raising one type of Pokémon. They probably think they can win. I had to admit, both Fighting types looked pretty impressive for mere grunts, and would probably prove more than a match for tyro Trainers. Unfortunately for them, they weren't facing an amateur.

"En garde, Fearow."

I don't believe I've mentioned my newest addition to my team yet, which is, in fact, a Fearow. The Beak Pokémon emerged from her Poké Ball, hovering above the ground silently except for the occasional wing beat. Her body was streamlined and encased entirely with chestnut feathers, except for her large talons and fringes of pale, dusky brown down sticking out from behind her shoulder blades and lining the edges of her wings. A red crest spiked up from the top of her skull, aligned with her long, narrow beak.

"Heh, going for the type advantage?" the first guard sneered. I didn't react; I would have my satisfaction from defeating them soon enough. "Hitmonchan, show them your Thunder Punch!"

"Give it a good Cross Chop!"

I examined the two Pokémon. They were as impressive as they had seemed; electricity crackled wildly from the Hitmonchan's fist, which was pulled close to its owner's chest in preparation to launch. I noticed how the Machoke charged at Fearow as well, swinging its arms in a rhythmic manner that would allow it to exert more force in its Cross Chop once it reached its target. All that I saw, but I wasn't in the least bit intimidated by their skill.

"Aerial Ace."

A rush of wind accompanied the streak of brown and white that appeared almost spontaneously, deterring only twice from the line it travelled in before Fearow returned to her primary position. After that split second, howls of pain went up from the two Fighting types, who stumbled back as though struck by an invisible force.

"Drill Peck."

The Beak Pokémon–as the species was aptly named–vanished in another blur, reappearing suddenly right in front of the Machoke and jabbing repeatedly at its chest with her deadly beak. As the Superpower Pokémon fell, she whirled around with a graceful flap of her wings and did the same to Hitmonchan, delivering powerful blows with each hit. By the time both Fighting types were down, the Flying type had already assumed her original pose.

"Thirty-five seconds," Larine commented, glancing down her watch. The guards gaped at the spectacle, their previous confidence now replaced with a disbelieving astonishment.

"H-h-how….?"

"Who….who are you?" the first guard inquired with a quavering voice. It was obvious that their high-and-mighty attitude had now all but vanished.

"Trainers," Larine repeated flatly, a threatening edge in her voice. "Now step aside."

The two hesitated, and then hurriedly withdrew their Pokémon, fleeing through the gatehouse and shooting abhorrent looks over their shoulders.

"You'll pay for this," the second man hissed, and then the door to the gatehouse swung shut behind him.

"Cowards," I muttered, turning to Fearow. I rewarded the Flying type with a quick scratch underneath her chin, to which she nipped at my fingers in response. I was glad to have her as an addition to my team, as her flowing movements and fierce attacks made her a naturally skilled battler. In a way, it was by luck that I had been able to acquire her as a partner, since Larine had wanted me to capture a Pokémon for one of our lessons. The purpose of that lesson had been to understand the bond between a Guardian and his or her Pokémon, and how aura affected that relationship. From it, I learned that aura helped improve understanding between person and Pokémon, and thus Fearow and I quickly became acquainted.

"You're not much better than they are with that ego of yours," Larine remarked, nodding in the direction the two guards had fled. I grunted in response. "Well then, shall we go?"

We proceeded into Fuchsia, slightly more alert now due to our previous encounter. The city was nestled comfortably at the foothills of some low-ranging mountains, with the sea flanking it to the south. Modest, oriental-themed buildings clustered the streets, few topping the height of two stories. It was a humble settlement, it seemed, contrasting all of my previous expectations for the home of the Safari Zone. The attraction supposedly made the place a huge tourist site, drawing in Trainers from all over the world who wanted to get a glimpse of some of Kanto's rarest Pokémon. Because of that, I had been lead to think that Fuchsia would be a giant, bustling metropolis, much like Celadon or Vermillion but not quite as big. Still, there were quite a number of people loitering about the city…along with another sight that I definitely had not expected to see.

Every now and then, one or two men outfitted in Clan Seigen's uniform could be seen mingling with the locals, doing nothing in particular except appearing nonchalant as they strolled about. The people around them seemed wary of their presence, pausing in their conversations as they walked by and resuming them in frantic murmurs once they had passed. I cast a look at Larine, and she returned a guarded expression, quickening her stride. She seemed just as alarmed as I was at the situation. I knew she would have more to say once we reached the Pokémon Center.

Upon arriving at the ubiquitous red-roofed building, I noticed that the atmosphere was unusually tense, where in other Pokémon Centers the lobby would be lively and full of noise. Trainers huddled in small groups, talking in low voices and looking about as though a specter would appear over their shoulder at any minute. Even the Pokémon seemed low-spirited, sticking as close to their Trainers as possible.

Something's not right here, I observed, putting into words what I had already thought the minute I saw the two sentinels standing by the gate. It was as though Clan Seigen's very presence was making everyone uptight.

"Welcome to the Pokémon Center, how may I help you?" The Nurse Joy at the counter seemed to force a small smile, which was yet another sign that my hunch was correct. Almost all Nurse Joys were bright and cheery, but this one seemed tired and worn out, as though she hadn't slept for days.

"We'd like our Pokémon healed, please," Larine offered, pushing two trays towards the nurse with our Poké Balls mounted on top. Nurse Joy inclined her head, and motioned for one of her Chansey to take the trays. The chubby pink Pokémon whisked them away without the usual "Chan!" of greeting and strutted off towards the healing machines. "We'd also like to book a room."

Nurse Joy complied rather sullenly, registering us and giving us our key cards without saying much. Finally, Larine seemed to have become so irked by the gloomy atmosphere that she asked, "Nurse Joy, what's going on around here? Why does everyone seem so…down?"

The nurse sighed, bracing herself against the desk as though answering us might consume all of her strength.

"Those strangers dressed in black…ever since they arrived in Fuchsia everyone's been feeling a little…anxious."

"Why? Did they say what they were here for?"

"They said they were here to 'beef up security' because of all the criminal organizations that have popped up within the past two decades. But if you ask me,"–here she crossed her arms–"I'd say they're the ones who're criminals. No one feels safe with them around, and the police can't do anything because they haven't done anything incriminating as of yet. Everyone thinks they're suspicious, though."

Who wouldn't? I wondered, conjuring up an image of Clan Seigen's black outfit complete with shoulder guards and head bands. If that wasn't suspicious, I didn't know what was.

Our Poké Balls came back from the healing machines, and we thanked Nurse Joy for her help. Then Larine and I retreated to our room, where the first thing we did was throw our packs on the floor and exchange similar looks with one another.

"Something's going on here," Larine said darkly, "and we need to find out what it is."

I felt my fists clenching. Even though I had spent two weeks mastering my ability to control aura, I wasn't so sure that I would be ready to face whatever oddities Clan Seigen's presence might throw my way. Heck, I hadn't even expected to run into them so soon, let alone what appeared to be the size of their force in Fuchsia. Whatever they were doing, I had a bad feeling that things were about to take a turn for the worse.

Author's Note: Hey guys, sorry for the extra-late update. Writer's block, school, and the usual have been keeping me busy lately (no surprise there), so I sat down the first chance I got and finished this chapter for you guys :) It's kind of a choppy chapter, but I really wanted to kick things off a bit after all those relatively boring scenes. If we're lucky, I might be able to get the next chapter done faster because of Thanksgiving break (yay!), but we'll have to see about that.

Speaking of Thanksgiving, I want to thank all of my readers and reviewers for reading and/or reviewing; writing isn't possible without you guys :)