In the dead of night, a group of Team Lunar grunts were on a mission in a remote forest area. Hidden deep in a forest, covered by large trees and bushes, with the closest city being Fortree, it was a near perfect location. Perfect for anyone wanting to hide away from the public. The group there consisted of five Lunar grunts, four of which were digging. Deep in the forest lay a small clearing, and in the clearing were the charred remains of a building. A laboratory, the same laboratory the Mudkip-girl, Taki, had been created in.
The grunts dug furiously, but came up with nothing. Two Dugtrio did their best to help, creating holes, pushing over metal scraps. The once mighty lab had been completely demolished at the hands of Team Lunar, more than six months ago. At the time, things had seemed perfect. They found the lab's location, broke through it's tight security, and rampaged through it. Gathering files, research, anything they thought useful. The owner of the lab had even quietly gone with them. However, he had managed to hide away the biggest thing. The most important thing there they had come for, he had managed to hide from them. They found it nowhere in the lab, and thus burned it.
They hadn't expected being forced to return to such a place. With the lab burned, what could they possibly gain? Despite this, their leader insisted they return and dig underneath where the laboratory once stood. And so, the team of grunts had no choice but to accept the mission. They dug, and dug, and dug, but to no avail.
A brown-haired grunt stood up from his hole, wiping sweat from his forehead. He looked over to the only one of the grunts who wasn't digging. His name was Sagi, and he had appointed himself the lookout, just in case anything tried to get in their way. He had spikey black hair which shot upwards, and dark brown eyes. Two Houndours circled the area as he kept watch.
"Sagi, how much longer do we have to do this? It's getting ridiculous.." the brown-haired grunt complained.
Sagi looked over to his teammate, his expression cold and serious. "Until we find something. Quit complaining and dig! Ladonna says she knows something is here. Something important, something we need to execute our plans. I'm not going to argue with her, and you aren't either. We'll dig up every area of this place until we can't dig anymore!"
The tired grunt gave an angry sigh, and slammed his shovel back down into the ground. He, along with the rest of the digging grunts, continued to dig their holes. They had no idea what they were searching for, but their leader had told them they'd know when they found it.
The digging continued for a while longer, before one of the grunt's shovels hit something. It sounded like metal, and the grunt frantically dug around it, uncovering the find. He picked it up and examined it. It was a pure black metal box. It wasn't very heavy, nor very large. The grunt noticed a small key hole, but saw no key. He tried to pry it open a few times, but it was shut tight.
"Hey, Sagi! I think I found it!" the grunt called.
Sagi and the other grunts stopped what they were doing, and rushed over to him. They all examined the metal case, each trying to open it. Even as all five grunts put all their strength into trying to open it, the box did not budge. Annoyed, Sagi called over the two Houndours. He ordered them each to use ember on the box. They obeyed, and he ordered it again. As the two fire Pokemon finished their second attack, Sagi released his Skarmory.
"Steel wing!" he instructed.
The Skarmory quickly slashed it's wing down on the box, cutting an opening into it. Sagi smirked, reaching in and pulling out the object inside. To everyone's surprise, what was inside the box was a mere book. The book was dark colored, and old and worn. Some of the pages were falling out, and it was obvious the book had been through alot. Sagi studied it, opening it and reading some of the first page. He then quickly closed it and nodded.
"This is it." he said.
Relief became visible in the other grunts' eyes at Sagi's words. They were ordered to pack up the equipment as Sagi called Ladonna. Having taken a look inside the book, the lead grunt could only wonder what she was planning. Things were definitely going to become interesting, to say the least..
/
The next day, the group had made their way out of Slateport City. Takahiro informed them they were almost at Mauville, and that made Hisa very excited. The sooner they got to Mauville, the sooner they could find more out about Taki. Hisa still wasn't sure who this person that was there Professor Miho wanted her to see was, but obviously they were somebody important.
A thought struck Hisa's mind, then. Professor Miho! She hadn't spoken to her since they left Rustboro City the first time. Since they were so close to Mauville, and they still didn't know the name of this person they were going to see, Hisa figured it best to give her a call.
"What're you doing?" Takahiro asked, seeing Hisa stop walking and pull out her PokeNav.
"Calling someone important." she replied, pressing some buttons on the machine.
"This isn't the time to call your mom, Hisa." the boy said, giving her a bored look.
"I'm not calling my mom! It's someone who has details about the person we're going to see in Mauville."
"Hello?" a voice rang out from the device in Hisa's hands.
"Professor Miho? Is that you? It's Hisa."
"Oh, Hisa! What a surprise! It's nice to hear from you!" Miho cheerfully replied. "Are you well? How is Taki?"
"I'm pretty good, I guess. And Taki is fine. Say hi to Professor Miho, Taki." Hisa said, pointing her PokeNav by Taki.
The Mudkip-girl blinked, looking down at the strange device. "Kip? Professor Miho?"
"Eheh, I haven't explained to her about phones yet.." Hisa said.
Miho chuckled. "Hello, Taki!"
"Hello!" Taki greeted back, almost expecting Miho to hop out of the strange machine.
"So, Hisa, have you found out anything new?" the professor asked.
"Um, no.. We're pretty close to Mauville City, though! We just got out of Slateport." she replied.
"That's good to hear! I've talked to the person you need to see there, and she's alright with you coming by with Taki." Miho informed.
"Who is that?" Takahiro interrupted, looking at Hisa's PokeNav.
"Takahiro! I'm in the middle of a conversation, don't be so rude!" Hisa scolded. "Her name is Professor Miho Sanada, she's Professor Keiko Sanada's niece.. she's in Rustboro. She's helping me out with Taki.." she explained. "Er, sorry Professor Miho! This is my friend who's coming along with me and Taki, Takahiro."
"Hey, is she one of those old, wrinkly professors, or is she young and sexy? She's not fat, is she?" Takahiro whispered to Hisa. Hisa gave him an annoyed look, and was about to say something, but was cut off my Miho herself.
"Ahem, I heard that." she said. "Hello there. And for your information, I'm very young, and very, very sexy."
"Good to know!" Takahiro replied, slightly embarrassed.
Hisa sighed. "Anyway, Professor Miho, can you tell us anything about this person we're going to see in Mauville? Like..their name?"
"Her name is Professor Mayu Chiba. She lives in West Mauville, and..you won't be able to miss her lab, trust me. She's interested in Taki, from what I've told her." Miho explained.
"Okay..got it." Hisa replied. "Have you found out anything, with the research you did?"
"Not really, sorry to say.. There's still some more things I'm looking into. But, for now, your best bet in finding out anything is with Professor Mayu."
"I see.." Hisa said.
"Though.. Hisa, I know you're a beginner. I don't know about your friend there, but I'm assuming he's no better. I re--"
"Assuming he's no better!?" Takahiro exclaimed.
"Yep. Well, am I right? You're a beginner trainer too?" Miho asked.
"..Yes... Kind of..." he replied, looking away from the PokeNav, his cheeks turning slightly pink with embarrassment.
"Just as I thought. Anyway, as I was saying.. I know you're all starting out. Your Pokemon aren't that strong yet. However, Hisa.. I think, if you're planning on protecting Taki, you really need to step it up a notch. What I mean is, training. I have a bad feeling, and..there are people out there who are going to want someone like Taki, for her power. You're going to have to be prepared to fight.." she explained, her voice carrying concern.
Hisa nodded, thinking about the events of the day before. "We've already encountered people like that.. Team Lunar, they said they were from.. I have a feeling they'll be back.."
Miho paused for a moment. She recalled the time Ryoku broke into her lab, demanding Taki. It could have been a coincidence, but Miho had a feeling the two were connected.
"A few days ago, a boy broke in here, looking for Taki. He didn't tell me anything about why or where he was from..but it's likely he was from this 'Team Lunar'..."
"Ah.. They were really strong. We would have lost, if it wasn't for a friend who happened to be passing by coming to help out." Hisa explained.
"You can't always get that lucky." Miho replied. "My advice is to train up before moving on to Mauville. You want to try to be a little prepared, for if they decide to attack again.."
"You're right.. We will. I'll become stronger, I promise. I won't let those Team Lunar people take Taki!" Hisa assured, determination coming into her voice.
Miho laughed. "That's the spirit! But, don't do it for me! Do it for yourself, and for Taki."
"Right." Hisa replied.
"Alright, I'll let you get to it, then." Miho said. "Call me if you need to, and I'll call you if I find anything out."
"Okay! Thank you for your help, Professor Miho. Bye!" Hisa replied.
"Bye, good luck!"
Hanging up from the call and placing her PokeNav back into her messenger bag, Hisa looked at Takahiro. "Ready for some training?"
"I guess. Maybe I can get my idiot Torchic tougher.." he replied.
Hisa pulled out a pokeball, but stopped, looking around. "Hey, wait.. Where's Michiru?" she asked.
"Guess she wandered off.." Takahiro shrugged.
Grass rustling was heard, and the three turned their attention to the direction of it. Out from some nearby bushes hopped a Skitty. It was not Mako-Skitty, as it was slightly larger. This Skitty's fur was also not as clean or neat as Michiru's Skitty companion.
"Kyaaa! Wait!" Michiru called, hopping out of the bushes as well, Mako-Skitty at her side.
The wild Skitty looked back at her, and hissed, some of the fur on it's back bristling.
"I don't want to hurt you! I want you to come with me and Mako-Skitty, and be a member of the great Skitty Kingdom!" Michiru explained. "Skit! Skit skit skit, skit skit! Skit!" she continued, in 'Skitty language'.
"..Well, if it wasn't scared of her before, it will be now." Hisa sighed.
The wild Skitty gave the eccentric girl a look, tilting it's head to the side.
"Pleeeaaase! Skit Skit!" she begged.
The Skitty got into fighting stance, and hissed forward at her. Michiru frowned, and looked down at Mako-Skitty. Her Pokemon looked up at her, and it's trainer pointed forward.
"Fiiine! Go, Mako-Skitty!" she ordered.
"Skit!" Mako-Skitty hopped in front of her trainer, facing the opponent before her.
The wild Skitty charged forward with a tackle. It hit Mako-Skitty, knocking the littler Pokemon back. Michiru's Skitty quickly recovered from the blow, and ran at the wild Skitty with a tackle of it's own. Missing at first, Mako-Skitty quickly spun around and rammed into it's opponent. Knocked back, the wild Skitty shook off the tackle and hissed forward, ready for more.
"Tackle again, Mako-Skitty!" Michiru called.
Mako-Skitty hit the wild Skitty with another tackle. Shaking it off, the wild Skitty ran back at Mako-Skitty, and smacked her in the face with it's paw. Then again, and again, using doubleslap.
"Mako-Skitty! Get away from it!" Michiru cried.
As the wild Skitty prepared to use another doubleslap, Mako-Skitty swiftly hopped back, awaiting another command from Michiru.
"Special tail whip, go!" she ordered.
Mako-Skitty dodged a doubleslap from her opponent, and swung her tail, hitting the wild Skitty and knocking it back. Angry, the wild Skitty ran back at Mako-Skitty and hit her with another tackle. Seeing it ready to tackle again, Michiru got an idea.
"Mako-Skitty, use attract!" she instructed.
Her Skitty nodded, and before the other one could attack it, Mako-Skitty executed the attract. Stopped in it's tracks, the wild Skitty looked down at Mako-Skitty, a dreamy smile appearing on it's face. Luckily for Michiru, the wild Skitty she had found was male.
Michiru got a triumphant smirk on her face, and pulled out a pokeball. She tossed it forward, and it hit the lovestruck Skitty. Wiggling a few times, she was relieved when it stopped, and her capture was successful. The Skitty-obsessed girl picked up her pokeball and joyfully jumped up and down, then spun around in a circle.
"Yes! Finally! Another Skitty for the army! The kingdom is coming along!" she chirped.
"Kip! Michiru caught another Skitty!" Taki said, wanting to meet the new Pokemon.
"Greaaat." Hisa replied.
Michiru released her new Pokemon from it's ball as her human companions made their way over to her. She smiled widely, and knelt down beside her new friend. She pat him gently on the head, still smiling.
"Hi! I'm Michiru, the Skitty Princess and your new Trainer!" she greeted. "I think I'll call you.. Tama! You are now Tama-Skitty! Okay?" she declared. "Skit! Skit skit, skit skit skit. Skit skit, skit. Skit skit! Skit?"
The male Skitty, now Tama-Skitty, looked up at his new trainer oddly.
"It already knows she's nuts." Hisa commented.
Michiru glared at her. "That's Hisa, she's not allowed in the Skitty Kingdom ever ever ever! Feel free to bite and scratch her all you want, Tama-Skitty! She's a non-believer. Be nice to Taki though, she's the Mudkip Princess."
"Hey!" Hisa yelled.
Taki walked over to Michiru, and knelt down next to the new Skitty. "Kip?" she said.
"Skit, skit skit!" Tama-Skitty replied.
"Kip kip, kip kip kip!"
"Awww, they're getting along already!" Michiru said.
"Michiru.. How are you going to tell those two apart? They look so similar.." Hisa asked, studying the two cat Pokemon.
"Like this!" she said, taking out a red bandana from her bag. She wrapped it around Tama-Skitty's neck, and clapped her hands together, accomplished. "There!"
"Skit?" Tama-Skitty looked down at it's new accessory.
Hisa looked to Takahiro. "We should start training, shouldn't we?" she asked.
"Yeah." he nodded. He took the pokeballs from his belt, and let out his Pokemon. Torchic, Dunsparce, and Buizel looked up at their trainer, awaiting his commands.
Hisa let out Spheal and Chikorita, who joined Eevee.
"Why are we letting all the Pokemon out?" Michiru asked, curiously.
"Training. You up for it?" Hisa said.
Michiru nodded. "Alright! I can't wait to train Tama-Skitty with Mako-Skitty and Bulbasaur!" she replied, letting her Bulbasaur out from it's pokeball.
With all their Pokemon out, the three decided to talk over how to do this mass training session. Practicing attacks, along with practice battles would be good. Once they got things figured out, they began to pair Pokemon up for battles with eachother. The first, they decided, would be Spheal against Bulbasaur.
Hisa and Michiru stood behind their Pokemon, ready for the practice match. Takahiro, the unwilling referee, announced the battle could begin. With that, they each called out their first attack. Bulbasaur used vine whip, while Spheal used powder snow. This would be a rather interesting match-up, as Spheal had both an advantage and disadvantage against Bulbasaur..
/
Ryoku sped past Fallarbor Town, and down through the Mt. Chimney area. Around the firey mountain resided a large building. Just looking at it would give chills to most people, it was large and completely black. Towering down and completely uninviting, it radiated dark vibes. Not to mention, a firece looking Houndoom and Mightyena guarded the place, just waiting for intruders to sink their claws into.
Stopping his motorcycle at the entrance, Ryoku faced the two dogs. They looked up at him cautiously, each getting a good whiff of his scent before letting him pass. Even if you managed to get past the two guards, the Lunar base needed a special code entered on the door to get in. Ryoku easily typed up the code on the key pad, and the doors slid open, allowing him access.
He walked in, parking his motorcycle inside. He walked over to an elevator, getting inside and pushing a floor number to go to. The elevator rose up and stopped at his destination. Walking out, Ryoku looked around. He went past a few grunts, and was led to a room. He opened the door, letting himself in. Inside sat a girl, who looked to be in her early twenties. She had long, black-colored hair that reached to her waist, with eyes just as black as her hair. She wore a blue bandana that had a crescent moon shape in the front on her head, and was dressed in a blue belly shirt that was covered by a jean jacket, with jeans to top it off. The girl also wore black gloves with crescent moons on them.
"Leiko. Where's Ladonna?" Ryoku questioned.
Leiko blinked at his sudden entrance. "Why are you here?"
"None of your business."
"Don't get an attitude with me, kid. I'm an admin, which means I'm like your boss. You should be a good little grunt and knock before coming in."
Ryoku glared at her. "Where is Ladonna?" he asked again.
Leiko shot him an aggravated look. "She's busy. Unless you have that girl, she doesn't have time to deal with you right now."
"Like hell she doesn't. Call her in here. Now." he replied, sternly.
"Where do you get off giving ime/i orders?"
Before Ryoku could reply, the woman he wanted to see walked into the little office. She was Ladonna, the head of Team Lunar. Every member bowed before her and did whatever she asked. Even if it was unreasonable, they would comply, both out of devotion to her, and out of fear of her wrath. Ladonna was around the same age as Leiko, she had long purple hair which reached down her back, with dark blue-colored eyes. She wore a blue long-sleeved shirt, and sported a black vest over it that had a large crescent moon on the back. She wore a black mini skirt over black pants, and like Leiko, wore a blue bandana with a crescent moon shape on the front on her head. Ladonna also wore a black fish-net cape.
Closing the office door behind her, the Lunar leader looked over at Leiko and Ryoku. She narrowed her eyes, knowing Ryoku had come back empty handed. She also knew he had aided their enemy against his own team, and she was not very pleased with that.
"Leiko, what's going on in here?" she asked, her voice cold and serious.
Leiko quickly got up from her chair and bowed to her leader. "This one came back. No Mudkip-girl. I knew we should've sent someone with him.." she replied, looking at Ryoku.
"I did not ask for your opinion." Ladonna snapped, looking over to Ryoku as well. "Well, Ryoku? Why are you here with your mission unaccomplished? That's not your style." she asked.
"That's what I need to talk to you about." he replied, lifting up his sunglasses. His eyes showed he was not happy.
"He came in here demanding to talk to you, I told him you were busy, Lady Ladonna.." Leiko interjected.
"You should have gotten me anyway. You are dismissed, Leiko." Ladonna ordered, gesturing to the door. "Also, I have a job for you. What we discussed earlier..that man. Try talking to him again, I'm not in the mood to deal with it. Do whatever you need to."
Leiko nodded, understanding her orders. She silently left, leaving the two to talk.
"Ryoku, darling, what's wrong?" Ladonna asked, her tone somewhat playful.
"You know what. What the hell was that, Ladonna? Sending reinforcements when I asked for none? I don't believe they came on their own."
Ladonna sat on the desk in the room, staring directly at Ryoku. "Why is it an issue?" she asked.
"Don't play dumb. What, do you think I'm suddenly not competent enough to get something like this done on my own? Do you really think I need those weakling idiot's help!?" he fumed.
"Now, now, don't get so angry. I just thought you might need a bit of extra back-up." she replied calmly. "You know, they would have won and taken that girl if iyou/i hadn't interrupted. You let your pride get in the way of things, Ryoku. You attacked your own team mates! You iprotected/i the enemy!" she berated, her tone turning angry.
"They were in my way. This is imy/i mission. iI/i will be the one to capture that girl. I can do it without anyone's help, you should know that, Ladonna!" he yelled.
"I do believe you ican/i do it, Ryoku. However, you're usually so speedy. You've had more than one opportunity to strike, to take her, and yet you've let them all pass you by like an incompetent fool! I'm getting impatient, Ryoku. There is no need for you to hold this off any longer. I should have had heridays/i ago." Ladonna replied.
Ryoku glared at her. "And you'll have her. Soon, very soon. I swear it. My plan is working perfectly. I told you this would take a little extra time, Ladonna. This mission is much easier than I expected, I'm just having a little fun with it." he assured her, smirking darkly.
She stared at him, unamused. "Ryoku, Ryoku, Ryoku. You are still such a child."
"..."
"Nevermind it." she sighed. "Fine. Because I trust you, I am giving you two weeks max. iTwo/i. If I don't have that girl in my grasp by then, I'm handing over the mission, and if you pull something like you did at Slateport, you'll be punished. Severely."
Ryoku nodded. "I understand. You will have her by then, if not sooner."
Ladonna smirked. "Good boy. Now, I have important business to take care of." she said, hopping off the desk. Ryoku followed her out of the office, and the two parted ways.
/
Meanwhile, Leiko had gone down to the lower parts of the Lunar base. She went to the prison, as instructed. The prison was a dim, grungy, sorrowful place only authorized personnel were allowed in. It was dirty, and very dark, having only a few lights on here and there. There were two rows of cells right across from eachother. The prison was, naturally, a place for keeping prisoners. What was a prisoner to Team Lunar? Anyone who disobeyed or fought against them, anyone who could jeapordize their plans, and anyone they needed to keep alive and keep from running away, for various reasons. Currently, the Lunar prison was home to one man.
Ryoma Takeda. A middle-aged scientist. The man who's life's work was what Team Lunar was after. The man who created the Mudkip-girl, Taki. Ever since they raided his lab and took him as their prisoner, he lived down there, chained to a grungy cell. He could not move around freely, and his only source of nourishment was what they decided to feed him. Usually nothing much, water and whatever bits of leftovers or mush the felt suitable for him. Sometimes he would not be fed at all, in an effort to make the man talk. To give his secrets. However, no matter how much they tortured him, no matter what they bribed or offered him, the man, Takeda, would not speak. He would not give them the information they wanted, no matter what they did to him, and it had gone on for over six months this way. Normally, he would have been killed by now, but he held too much valuable information.
The man heard Leiko's footsteps as she approached his cell. Lunar members came to his cell everyday, it was no longer a surprise to him. He didn't care who it was or what they wanted.
Leiko stopped in front of his cell, looking at the pitiful sight before her. Takeda was chained to the wall, his arms strung up, his legs also chained down. The man was thin, and not very clean. His clothes, a white labcoat with black pants, were worn and spotted, dusty. His brown hair was messy, and it covered his eyes. He held his head down, not looking up at her, even though he knew she was there.
"Tsk tsk, poor, poor Takeda.." she said, faking sympathy. The man gave no reply, and she looked down at him harshly. "What, you won't even look at me?"
Without raising his head even the slightest, Takeda spoke. "I have no reason to. What is it you want, Leiko?" his voice was cold, and tired. Uninterested.
Leiko frowned at the response. "I just wanted to talk to you." she replied.
"Heh, right. I'm not telling you anything. Stop trying."
"You think that's all?" she said, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a key. She inserted it into the cell door and walked inside, sitting next to the chained up man.
"You expect me to believe you wanted something other than that?" he questioned, glancing over to her.
"Yes." she replied, looking at him. "I just wanted to talk, Takeda, dear." She continued when he gave no response once more. "You know, they've found something you were hiding..something very important.. The game is over, hun. You must know what we're capable of, with that book.."
"I do. But, you won't succeed."
"Oh, what makes you say that?"
"Because it takes more than reading a book to do what you all want. You will never understand it." he replied, looking at her dully.
"Is that so? Well, we have that book, and soon we'll have your dear little creation, too. Why don't you just face it, you've lost, it's over. There's no use in being stubborn anymore. You're just hurting yourself. It's not worth it, is it? You've been in here, fighting against us for so long..just accept things! Once you do that, you're on your way to freedom. We want you working with our Lunar scientists, we just need to know you're on our side and will comply with us." Leiko informed.
The thought of them getting his creation, Taki, made Takeda sick inside. Despite this, he kept his cool. "I've said it before, I'll say it again. No. Never. I will never give you people what you want, I will never help you. Now, Leiko, I thought you weren't here to talk about this?" he asked.
She sighed at his reply, then scooted closer to him. "Yes, I was. You see, Takeda.. I feel so bad for you. Locked up in here, all alone..treated so horribly.." she started, looking into his eyes. She pushed some hair out of his face. "I know you must be so lonely, in more ways than one.. Truthfully, you aren't a bad looking man."
Takeda stared at her, his expression unchanging. "What are you saying, Leiko?"
"I'm saying.. I know, being locked up in here all alone, among other things.. You must have certain urges..certain cravings.. It must be so hard, being able to do nothing. Being able to touch nothing.. However.. Takeda, I'm willing to help you with that.." she explained, seductively, pulling her jacket off a bit, and pulling her belly shirt up slightly.
Takeda looked at the girl's torso, and then up into her eyes again. "You really want to do something like that with me?" he questioned, his tone still the same as before.
"Yes, of course.. Don't you want me?" she asked, leaning closer to him. "For a small price..all this can be yours, Takeda..all this and much more.." she whispered into his ear.
"Thanks, but no thanks." he replied, pulling away from her a bit. "My heart belongs to only one person, Leiko. There is no one and nothing else I desire more than her."
Leiko glared at him, rejected. She angrily stood up. "You are an idiot! Throwing away such a chance!" she yelled. "Takeda..you are a complete imbecile, on so many levels. You toss away your chances at freedom.. And you devote yourself to a memory. She never loved you, idiot. Has it still not sunken in, even after all this time?" she taunted.
"No need to be so bitter. You aren't my type, anyway."he informed her. "And, really, I'm the idiot? Maybe so..but I'm not the only idiot here. Do you really want to be doing this, Leiko? You've thrown your life away, you could have done so much more.."
Leiko glared down at him even more, infuriated at his words. "Shut up!" she yelled, stomping out of his cell and locking it up. "iI'm/i the one who threw my life away? Hah! Look who's talking. You know what? I'm happy to see you rot in this cell. A stubborn idiot like you deserves it! You can just sit around and watch as we get everything done without you!"
As Leiko finished her speech, a screech was heard as three Lunar grunts rolled in a large cart. What appeared to be a large cage of some sort was on the cart, covered by a big blanket. They rolled it in to a cell down from Takeda. Chilling screeches were heard as the grunts wrestled with whatever was in the cage, though it was too dark to clearly be seen.
The three finished their work, and locked up the cell, gathering the cart and heading back up. Leiko smirked at this, and looked back over at Takeda.
"Looks like you have a new roommate!" she commented with a chuckle.
Takeda said nothing, instead keeping his gaze fixated on the second cell down from him. Thrashing and screeching were going on inside it, but whatever the creature they had dropped off was, it was keeping hidden away in the darkness. Takeda could only make out some flashes of white.
Leiko's smirk widened. "Do you know what that is, Takeda, dear?" she asked.
"What is it?" he asked, his tone still dull.
"A tribute to you, you could say. Come on out, you! Show yourself!" she called.
Upon hearing her call, the creature moved forward as far as it could, before it's chains yanked it back. This brought it more into the light, and Takeda could now study it.
However, he wished he didn't have to. To his shock and horror, what stood in the cell was no animal or Pokemon. The creature was human-like, with a mostly human looking face and torso. However, it held attributes of a certain Pokemon.iLugia/i.
This creature had the face of a teenage girl, with navy-colored eyes and brown hair reaching past her shoulders. In some parts of her hair lay strands of white, and around her eyes were the pointed blue covers Lugia had around it's eyes. Her torso was normal enough, but her arms were longer than average, taking the form of Lugia's wings at the elbow. Also, her waist down was completely like that of the legendary bird's. Her legs were short and bended, her feet large, resembling Lugia's almost perfectly. The "girl's" skin was very pale, rather ghostly so. Takeda also noticed the large blue spikes shooting out of her back, and the long, Lugia-like tail she had. This Lugia-girl wore a plain white shirt, and that was all, likely just to cover her small breasts and torso, the part of her that was most human.
Takeda stared on at her in shock and horror, and she growled forward at him. "W-W-What..is this..?" he asked, barely able to form words.
"Our first living attempt at creating something like your precious Mudkip-girl." Leiko replied. "A failed attempt, as you can see, but we'll learn from it. Especially since we now have that book.. If only we could have gotten Lugia itself instead of a feather, perhaps it would have turned out better."
"..You.. You can't... You can' go on making these things! That..poor thing..is suffering! Y-You can't risk making anymore like her.." Takeda begged, looking up at her.
"Oh, but we can, and we will." she replied, smirking evilly. "You jealous? I know it was your dream to make a Lugia one, like that Mudkip-girl...looks like we're a step farther than you at that one." she teased.
Takeda glared at her. "You people..are.."
"Save it, Takeda." Leiko snapped. She looked back at the deformed Lugia-girl, and then back at him. "Just look at what your sins have created. You must be so proud!" she laughed, turning and walking back up.
Takeda glanced back over at the Lugia-girl, who had gone back to struggling. He looked away, lowering his head once more. Where was this headed..? He could only wonder..
/
That night, Hisa and the others camped out in a field outside Slateport City. They and their Pokemon had all had a long day, full of training. They hadn't greatly improved, but they were starting to get a bit better. Considering the circumstances, Hisa, Takahiro, and Michiru had decided to take a few days to train before continuing to Mauville. Running into Team Lunar again was too much of a risk, and in their current state they were pretty defenseless against their strength.
While her three human companions slept, Taki sat on a nearby rock. Her gaze was on the starry sky. She didn't know why it fascinated her so, but she loved watching it every chance she got. There were many things Taki didn't understand, really..but she did understand that Hisa and the others were fighting to protect her. She knew these Team Lunar people wanted her, that they wanted to hurt her. But Taki would never go with them. There was only one place she wanted to be.
The Mudkip-girl looked over at the sleeping Hisa, Takahiro, and Michiru. She hopped off the rock and crawled back next to Hisa. She snuggled close to her and closed her eyes, a content smile appearing on her face. The feeling being next to Hisa gave her was a warm, safe one. Being with Hisa was the only place Taki ever wanted to be.
That was the one thing she knew.
/
I figured I should go back to Hisa and them before ending it. D: Kinda eh ending BUT OH WELL.
Stuff. Is. Starting!
All in all, I can't say I'm displeased with this chapter, for once. xD;;