Adventures in Hoenn
Chapter Twelve: A Father's Love
*Anthony's p.o.v*
I just sat there in shock after Alex hung up. I couldn't believe I yelled at my daughter. And now Alex hates me. It was just an arrow through my heart.
''Was that really necessary, Anthony?'' Larraine asked me with her arms crossed and a mad expression about her face.
''I-I don't know what came over me,'' I replied looking at my shaking hands.
''You obviously didn't,'' Larraine snorted angrily.
''Am I doing the right thing?'' I asked.
''I don't know, honey,'' Larraine sighed. ''Let's get some sleep. Then, we can think with clear heads.''
''Okay,'' I responded. ''Good night,'' I said kissing Larraine.
''Good night,'' she replied kissing back.
*Alex's p.o.v*
Three days later, I was able to get out of the hospital. I got the bandages off and walked out the door and into the hallway where Brendan and May were waiting for me.
''You look much better now!'' Brendan said.
''Thanks,'' I replied. ''Where do we go for the next Gym?''
''We need to go to Lavaridge Town,'' Brendan replied looking at his PokeNav, ''and, thankfully, it's not too far from here! If we follow Route 111 and Route 112 and down Mt. Chimney, we'll be there in one day.''
''Great!'' I said enthusiastically. ''Let's go!'' We walked quickly out of the hospital. When we exited the hospital, I bumped into a man. I looked up and was astonished to see my dad.
''Alex!'' my dad said helping me up.
''Dad, what're you doing here?!'' I asked in a shocked tone.
''I came to apologize for yelling at you and for my treatment towards, Brendan,'' dad replied. ''I was wrong to treat you two like that. I was also just upset at how Team Magma hurt you and took it out on you all unintentionally. I'm sorry.'' I stood there for a few seconds processing what I just heard.
''I forgive you, dad,'' I said while hugging him and tearing up. ''I'm sorry for telling you that I hated you.'' Dad just stroked my hair gently.
''It's okay,'' he said quietly. ''Also, I came to join you on your journey.''
''Huh?!'' I exclaimed.
''I took time off to spend time with you,'' dad said. ''Is that okay?''
''Oh, sure,'' I said dropping sweat. Great, I thought sadly. ''We were going to Lavaridge Town for the next Gym.''
''Sounds good,'' dad responded. ''Lead the way.'' We made our way down Route 111 and then to Route 112. I stopped suddenly when I heard the sound of commotion.
''I hear someone,'' I said. I then walked to the top of the stairs and saw a group of Team Aqua and Magma grunts arguing. ''It's Team Aqua and Magma!'' I said to the group quietly.
''Alex, come down here!'' dad said. ''I don't want them to see you!'' I then saw a muscular man in blue come up to the Team Magma grunts. He quickly sucker-punched them knocking them out cold. The Aqua grunts then went into the building the Magma grunts were guarding and went up the cable car to Mt. Chimney.
''I have a bad feeling about this,'' I said. ''I'm going after them!'' I ran up to the unconscious female Magma grunt, undressed her, and put on her clothes.
''No!'' dad yelled. ''Alex, get back here! I mean it, young lady!'' I ignored him as I got onto a cable car and followed Team Aqua. When I exited the car, I saw multiple Aqua and Magma grunts fighting each other's Pokémon.
''Team Magma will conquer this world!'' a Magma grunt said boastfully.
''We will not allow you to expand the land!'' an Aqua grunt countered.
''Keep fighting you fools!'' the muscular, blue man yelled.
''Yes, Archie!'' the Aqua grunt responded. That's Archie? I thought. I better see what's going on here. I ran past the groups of grunts fighting and saw a tall, red-haired man and that female Magma grunt from New Mauville standing in front of a machine in front of the volcano.
''Soon, this volcano will erupt and we will be one step closer to expanding the land,'' the man said.
''Yes, Maxie,'' the female grunt said. ''And Team Aqua will be at our mercy. Or lack there of!''
''I don't need a reminder of that, Alice,'' Maxie said with a sneer.
''Yes, father,'' Alice said submissively. She's his daughter? I thought. More importantly, he's going to make the volcano erupt? He'll kill so many people and Pokémon! I have to stop him! I ran up to Maxie and Alice to confront them when Maxie turned his head my way.
''Martha,'' Maxie said sternly. Maxie then approached me and grabbed the bony part of my chin forcing me to look him in the face. ''What is the meaning of-'' Maxie was about to say before noticing my face. ''You're not Martha! You're that girl I've been looking for!'' Maxie then smiled. ''How convenient of you to appear here of all places!'' Maxie said.
''I heard that you're going to blow up the volcano!'' I said while releasing myself from Maxie's grip. ''Do you realize how many innocent people and Pokémon you'll kill in the process?!'' Maxie back-handed me out of anger.
''I care not for the safety of the people and Pokémon in this area,'' Maxie replied. ''I only care about using your power to awaken Groudon and taking over the world!''
''You're a monster!'' I screamed. Maxie curled his lip and placed his foot on my neck.
''I'll force you to cooperate,'' Maxie said looking down at me. ''Whether you like it or not!'' Maxie then got tackled by a Lucario knocking him off of me.
''Hi Alex!'' Lucario said while helping me up. I then saw my dad, Brendan, and May running up to us. Dad ran up to Maxie and picked him up by the collar.
''Keep your hands off of my daughter!'' he yelled furiously. Dad then got hit by a snake-like Pokémon with a blade-like tail from behind.
''You keep your hands of my father!'' Alice screeched. I tackled Alice to the ground and ran to my dad.
''Are you okay, Alice?'' dad asked concerned.
''Yes,'' I replied helping him up. ''Let's stop these guys! They're going to blow up the volcano!''
''Lucario, destroy that machine!'' dad ordered. Lucario punched the machine repeatedly and blew up the machine.
''NOOO!'' Maxie yelled. Maxie then looked our way and glared. ''How dare you!'' Maxie then pulled out a Pokeball and summoned a Houndoom. ''Houndoom, get that girl!'' Houndoom came charging towards us and lunged. Dad got in front of me ready to get bit until Lucario grabbed Houndoom by the tail and sent him flying into Maxie.
''Seviper, after them!'' Alice yelled. Seviper slithered towards us. I threw Pikachu's Pokeball.
''Pikachu, Thundershock!'' I commanded. Pikachu zapped Seviper and paralyzed it. Seviper suddenly recovered from the paralysis.
''What?'' dad questioned.
''That's the wonder of Shed Skin,'' Alice laughed. Multiple Magma grunts then came to Alice's aid.
''It's useless to fight,'' dad said. ''Run! Now!'' All of us ran into a forest alongside the mountain. We ducked into some tall grass and waited for what felt like hours. Dad peeked out of the grass and looked around. ''The coast is clear.'' We got out of the grass and sighed relieved. Dad then turned to me with an angry expression on his face. ''Why?'' he asked me. ''Why do you have to put yourself in so much danger?!''
''Dad, I learned that if Team Aqua and Magma are involved, there's only trouble afoot,'' I said. ''If I didn't stop Maxie, that volcano would've blown and all of us and who knows how many other people and Pokémon would be dead!''
''But that doesn't mean you go putting yourself in danger!'' dad yelled. Dad's eyes suddenly went from hard and angry to soft and watery. ''I was afraid I was going to lose you!'' he said hugging me.
''Dad,'' I said looking up at him. ''I'm okay. Really.'' Dad wiped his eyes and nodded.
*Anthony's p.o.v*
We set up camp for the night on the mountain side. It was late at night and May and Brendan were fast asleep in their tents. Only Alex and I were awake and by the fire. ''Alex,'' I said. Alex turned her head towards me curiously. ''What do you think of Brendan?'' Alex got an ''oh brother'' look on her face.
''Well,'' Alex began, ''I think he's cute, sweet, protective, loyal, and kind.''
''He seems like a nice enough boy,'' I commented. ''I think it's fine for you two to be around each other.''
''Thank you, dad!'' Alex said hugging me.
''Just don't let me catch you two in sleeping together,'' I said sternly. Alex blushed a deep red.
''Dad I would never!'' she said embarrassed.
''I know you wouldn't sweetie,'' I said pinching her cheek. ''I'm just making sure.'' I then looked up at the sky. It was a black sea of lights. It was like looking out at the city at night. ''You know,'' I said. ''Recently, the more I look at you, the more you remind me of myself. I was willing to rush into danger without a second thought about my own safety. Being apart of my rescue team was one of the best things to happen to me. I helped me get more courage. You're practically my spitting image!''
''I'd love to hear about your adventures on your rescue team,'' Alex said before yawning. ''But, I need to get some sleep.''
''Here, let me carry you,'' I said picking her up like a bride towards her tent.
''Dad, you're embarrassing me!'' Alex said annoyed.
''Can't a dad carry his daughter once in awhile?'' I asked. ''I haven't done this for you since you were a little girl.'' I placed Alex outside her tent.
''Thanks dad,'' Alex said while unzipping her tent. ''Good night.''
''Good night, my princess,'' I said smiling.