Author's note: Another new chapter. By the way, as I forgot to mention before, all the characters here are based off of my in-game Pokemon, with their natures and everything. Anyway, enjoy this chapter!
The two Pokémon walked back to the YPD headquarters, staring dispiritedly at the ground. They both knew that they had failed. It only got worse when they reached the HQ.
As they entered the white stone building, a light clicked on. Carracosta, the head of the YPD, glared at them.
"It's about time you two returned," he snapped. "Where is Jade?"
"Uh, well…" Sky paused. "You see, she was sort of kidnapped."
"Kidnapped?! You let one of our members get kidnapped?!" Carracosta shouted.
"There was nothing we could do!" cried William. "He had a Mandibuzz who helped him escape! Neither of us can fly, in case you didn't notice!"
"Besides, I think we may have gotten some new information about the disappearances!" Sky added.
Carracosta calmed down a little. "What sort of information?"
"Wake up the others first," William suggested. "They should know this, too."
A few minutes later, all 8 remaining members of the YPD were sitting around the wooden dining table. There were many yawns, grumbles, and complaints, since it was only about half past one in the morning.
"So, tell us about this information you found," Carracosta said to the Lucario and Lopunny who were on the opposite side of the table.
"Well, we've discovered who one of their members is," Sky answered. "He's called Zoroark."
"Just… Zoroark?" asked Comet the Mienshao. "He doesn't have a name?"
Sky shook her head. "Not that I know of."
"And, judging by the direction he flew off in, their base is somewhere northeast of here," William added.
Kyo the Mienfoo scribbled down some notes in the light blue notepad he was holding.
"Did you find out why they're kidnapping Pokémon?" asked Black the Shuppet.
"No," Sky answered, "But we found out that Zoroark came here specifically to capture Jade. We're not sure why."
"Do you think there's a way we can track them down?" asked Cloud the Jolteon.
"Well, that we can do," Carracosta interrupted them. "Sylvia has a psychic power that lets her locate the mind of other Pokémon, does she not?"
Every head in the room turned to Sylvia. The Gardevoir looked up from the book she was reading. "Hm?"
"Can you locate Zoroark and Mandibuzz for us?" asked Sky.
After a moment, Sylvia nodded. "I'll try. Do they have names?"
"Zoroark doesn't," William replied, "But the Mandibuzz is called Arianna."
Sylvia nodded. "I'll try my best."
A few minutes later, Sylvia was sitting cross-legged in the middle of the floor, concentrating hard.
"…I think I've found them," she told the others, her eyes glowing blue.
"Where are they?" asked Black.
"Pretty far to the northeast of here. They're heading toward a mountain."
"They might just go around it," Comet said. "Keep track of them."
"…They've found us, Arianna," Zoroark muttered.
The Mandibuzz nodded. "I know."
"Let's get rid of them."
Sylvia suddenly gasped in pain, black electricity crackling all over her.
"Sylvia!" cried Cloud, leaping forward.
Sylvia sat up, rubbing her head. "Don't worry, I'm fine. I'm not sure what they did, but they somehow made me lose them…"
Carracosta sighed. "Well, at least we got a small amount of information."
Zoroark landed on a cliff on the side of the mountain and walked inside the dark cave.
Shortly after he entered, a Pachirisu scurried up to him. "Welcome back, sir," she greeted him.
"Hey, Strawberry," Zoroark replied. He followed the squirrel-like Pokémon until he reached a large cavern with a bonfire near the far wall. A Hydreigon, Dieno, Aerodactyl and Charizard sat around the fire, chatting amiably. There was an elevated platform of stone at the other end of the room, on which an Umbreon sat, idly staring around the room. A Kirlia was guarding the platform, holding a shining black orb in her hands.
The Umbreon looked up as Zoroark walked up to him. "Hello, Zoroark. I see you brought back the Snivy. Well done."
"Thank you, commander Shadow," Zoroark replied gratefully.
"Just put her in that cage over there," Shadow instructed him.
Zoroark nodded and threw Jade roughly into the cage before slamming the door and locking it.
"Let me out!" Jade screamed, using Vine Whip to try and wear the bars down.
"That won't work," Alisha the Kirlia told her. "The bars are made of titanium."
"I'm still not giving up!"
"Do what you like. You'll never succeed." Alisha turned away from her.
After a moment, Zoroark asked, "Shadow, why did we need this particular Snivy?"
"The leaf on her tail is bigger than a normal Snivy's leaf," the commander of Team Night answered. "That means she can absorb more light and use a more powerful Solarbeam. We need as much light as we can get for our plan."
"OK. Now, I have another question. Why won't you summon Lord Darkrai with the Dark Orb yet? Right now, we have no proof that he even exists. He could just be someone you made up to get us to follow you."
"The dark orb only has a limited amount of summoning energy. If I summoned him now, there might not be enough energy left when we really need it. Sorry, but I can't summon him until the time is right. Now do your job and go check on the prisoners!"
Zoroark sighed and bowed. "Yes, sir." He walked over to the wall and forcefully pulled down a rusty old lever. A stone panel slid aside, and Zoroark entered a long hallway lit only by the torches on the walls here and there. The stone panel slid shut behind him, and he headed into the darkness.