Another Chapter, dedicated to all those who have given me encouragement and reviews! You guys are awesome, Enjoy!
I spent the night on the little bench, and when I woke up, my back was extremely sore. I groaned sitting up, and stretched. "Good morning," Steven said from behind me. I whipped my head around and turned read as I met his cheerful gaze.
"M..m..morning," I stammered. Something was definitely off, I realized as we exchanged pleasantries. Though the silver haired champion seemed calm, there was a rather distant look in his eyes, and he was constantly hiding his mouth to yawn.
"Did you sleep at all," I accused slapping his arm playfully.
Steven's smile soured and he scuffled his feet on the deck, "Sure I did Sam, what are you," he continued more quietly, "My mother?" I crossed my arms as he smirked at me, secretly pleased that he had given up calling me my full name. Samantha was just to girlie, Samie, what my brother called me was just to... gross, but Sam fit me just right.
"No seriously Steven," I said, angry with myself that I let concern leak into my voice, "You need some sleep. You look like your about to drop, and there is no way I'm going to carry you off the boat to Slateport."
Steven's eyes crinkled as he stifled his laughter with his fist, but he relented and rolled his blazer up into a tight ball and put it on the ground before crashing. I watched him avidly for a few seconds, surprised by how quickly he drifted off, before calling out Magikarp for some training.
After eating half a tunafish sandwich, I ventured back to the deck where Steven had fallen asleep, carrying the other half of the sandwich, with the intent of offering it to him. In truth, I had just grown to bored to stay by myself, and I wanted to have a reason to talk to my companion.
His mouth was slightly open and eyes were closed in slumber. His head was resting on his blazer, which he had bunched up into a ball so he could use it as a makeshift pillow, and apprenantly, still in the land of dreams. Feeling slightly impish, I walked over to him and yelled in a panicked voice. "DO SOMETHING! The boat is sinking Steven!"
Steven leapt to his feet in confusion and looked around. To my dismay, He grabbed me and dragged me over to a life boat and put me in it. "Stay there," he ordered as he lowered it halfway down the boat's side. He then ran back to the front leaving me there. I started laughing uncontrollably, my boredom dissipated.
A minute passed.
Five minutes.
Ten minutes.
"Steven Stone," I yelled as loudly as I could, frowning in dismay as he appeared momentarily, snickering at my predicament. I was stuck and at his mercy, and something told me he wasn't going to let me off the hook. "Pull me up this instant," I said, doing my best to sound commanding.
"Oh I don't know, he said, running his fingers through his spiked up hair, grey lybranth like eyes flashing mishiviously. "Suppose we do sink, I promised your mother I would protect you. I can't do that if your up here,"
"Not funny." I glowered up at him.
"Yes it is," he said, contradicting me immediately. Somehow, I failed to find the humor in it. "Perhaps I should take a peak at this," he said, revealing my journal from behind his back, "You always seem to be writing and doodling in it, it might do you some good to be taught a proper lesson."
He opened it up, painstakingly slow and flipped through the pages, eyes scanning the drawings, interest evident on his face. I new what was coming next, and I was helpless to prevent it. But I could try. "Steven, don't you dare," I howled, stamping my foot on the lifeboat. "Your really good you know," he called down to me. I turned maroon, knowing that if he flipped the page again, he would be looking at a picture of his own face, his defined cheekbones, perfect features...
"Don't get your knickers in a bunch," he said, grinning at my expression. "Girl's are such drama queens. I'll get you up eventually."
My hands twitched towards my Pokeballs and I called Magikarp out. "Splash," I said in embarrassment. Before he knew what was happening, the Champion was drenched head to foot in water, closed sopping wet.
It was my turn to laugh, and Steven soon joined me, hauling the life raft back up with ease, he offered me a hand, and I took it. With the most unfortunate timing, the boat jerked to a stop and I faceplanted on Steven's chest, knocking us both over. I looked up, into Steven's face, skin completely red. I was absolutely mortified, and confused to see that he was also blushing slightly though his grey eyes were guarded.
I squealed and rolled off Steven, avoiding eye contact with anybody, and busied myself in gathering my belongings, scooping up my journal that had avoided the drenching that Magikarp had brought on. I heard the musical laughter of Steven behind me, and I wanted to sink into the floorboards.
At the same moment, I heard Mr. Briney's voice. "The engines have die-" Mr. Briney said, rounding the corner, and upon catching site of us, fell silent. "If I'm interrupting something..." he trailed off suggestively.
"Sam just got a little off balance, that's all Mr. Briney. The engines died you said? I'll come have a look at it with you."
Mr. Briney beamed, slapping Steven with approval on the arm. "Always good with mechanics you were. I'm sure we'll have it up and running in a moment." The two men disappeared, leaving me to drown in my mortification.
No less than an hour later, I heard the engines splutter to a start. We were off again. Steven came back, stripped down to his under shirt. I forced my self to close my gaping mouth and shift my gaze from him back to the ocean spray. "All fixed?"
"Just a gear came unhinged, surprised it hadn't happened before, the engine's ancient." He smiled down at me, face more relaxed than I'd seen it before.
"Happy are we?" Steven only smirked in response. After sitting in silence for a few minutes, I shifted my body so I was facing him, legs crossed and arms in lap. "Steven, we've barely said a word to each other this entire trip. If we are going to be travelling together, don't you think we should maybe get to know each other a bit better?"
Steven blinked in surprise. "What would you like to know?" My brain jammed as I met his gaze.
"Umm..."
Steven through his head back and laughed. "How about I start. What's your favorite color?"
"Grey," I blurted out without thinking. "I mean blue..." That didn't deter the smile that had fixated itself on the champion's handsome face. I sighed in defeat.
"Favorite food?" This went on for sometime, until I finally cut him off after a particularly embarrassing question.
"No I will not tell you who was my first kiss! Come on Steven, now it's my turn. What's the weirdest thing you've ever eaten?"
After some contemplation, he replied "Ketchup and scrambled eggs." He saw me wrinkle my nose and said, "It actually wasn't to bad. One of these day's I'm going to make it for you, and your going to eat it if you like it or not." And we were both off laughing again.
The sun was beginning to sink in the late afternoon, casting beautiful shadows over the water, dying it orange with the dying rays of the sun. Steven was bent over my Magikarp stroking it's head carefully. I was glad he wasn't looking at me, or I would have been even more ashamed of the blush that had creeped into my features.
One of these day's I'm going to be permanently red.
"And you say you just caught him today?" Steven's question brought me back to reality.
"Yea," I squeaked out.
"Well, he's doing very well for a newly caught I must say. Five levels in a day isn't bad. Not bad at all." Steven had been examining my Pokemon and pointing things out I never knew about them for the past hour, and I had been happy to bask in his praise. The grey haired Champion was surprisingly endearing.
That night, I forced Steven to take the bench, saying that it wasn't fair for me to have it two nights in a row. He finally gave in, and I happily plopped down on the deck, keeping a good distance away from him. I fell asleep to the sounds of ocean spray and the vision of Steven Stone laying down peacefully gazing up into the stars and lost in thoughts.
The next morning, I woke up and found myself to be clutching Steven's blazer, using it as a blanket... and up on the bench. "Steven," I shouted in embarrassment realizeing that he must have picked me up and shifted me up onto the bench while I had been asleep.
"Morning Sam," he replied, laughing as he approached me. There were circles under his eyes again, but I decided not to peruse it. "Captain Briney says that we'll be arriving momentarily, you best be getting your things together." I meekly handed him back his blazer which he thankfully shrugged back into it before swinging my aircraft over the side of the bench and scrambling to pull my belongings together. "Shoot, where's my- thanks Steven," I muttered as I shoved my cardigan back into my pack.
The old boat sputtered to a halt in the port of Slateport, and Mr. Briney came out of the cabin to let us know we had arrived "Thank you for getting us here so quickly, but we must be off. I believe we have a package to deliver." Steven said shaking the Captain's hand.
"Any time my boy, any time."
And that was that, and we disbanded the boat without speaking to each other, but I couldn't stop thinking about Steven's grey orbs looking down into my own.
"Give me your Pokenav," he said abruptly, and I complied without thinking about it. He opened it and pressed a few buttons. He handed it back to me, and I glanced down, registering that his name was on the screen. "Now you have my number, incase you we get separated."
"Ohh, I suppose I should give you mine," I said, holding my hand out expectantly.
Steven shot me an embarrassed grin and said, "That won't be nescisary, I already have it."
Before I could demand an explanation, a group of bitchy girls approached Steven and I was pushed to the side. Fangirls, I thought shaking my head, walking off in another direction, not waiting around for Steven. He had my number if he needed me, and it looked like he would be occupied for a while anyway. I walked aimlessly through the market place, purchasing chocolate icecream for me and vanilla for Steven, and looking at the goods that were being sold.
I eventually sauntered back towards the beach where I had stranded my 'protector.' My eyes widened in delight as I saw he was still swamped with fans. I pushed the crowds, being careful not to drop the icecreams and retrieved Steven from the crowd.
"Done yet Mr. Popular?" I smirked, handing him and icecream.
He smiled aprciativly. "Yes, I suppose so, let's get out of here before I get mobbed again."
"You draw way to much attention Mr. Sex Appeal," I grumbled as we walked through town, side by side, licking the icecream slowly, enjoying the site of cars driving recklessly fast through the roads, small, wispy clouds floating across the sky and over the sun, creating strange shadows on the buildings, and Pokemon rustling playfully together in the grass.
"Now, my father called and told me the Devon goods were destined for Captain Stern, so I suppose we should go find him."
"Where-?"
"This way."
Steven led me to a large building and hovered at the entrance, motioning me forward. "I'll wait out here, there's something I have to see to."
I shrugged and walked in, looking around the inside of the building. A man was leaning over a table with blueprints spread out, his hands gripping his hair, eyes frenzied as he poured over the plans for, as far as I could tell, a underwater ship.
"Excuse me, I'm looking for a captain Stern."
The man looked up "Unfortunately I'm not him," he said, eyeing the package in my hand. "He is over in the museum, it would probably be best if you delivered that straight into his hands." The man bent back over the blueprints, mumbling to himself.
Rather unsettled by my swift dismal, I walked back outside in a daze. Steven was waiting for me, looking rather agitated. "Have you given the goods to Captain Stern?"
"He's at the museum," I said, watching Steven's face grow white.
"Son of a bitch," he swore, and snatched my hand, dragging me along with him at full speed towards a very old, important looking building. "This is the museum. Stay behind me please."
"Why," I said immediately. My question was answered as an Aqua grunt, in the uniform ripped jeans, striped shirt, and bandana with the aqua eblam on the front, exited the building, and walked around to the back. "It's the pirate bastards," I hissed.
"Pirate Bastards?" Steven said, sounding slightly amused, but his lips were still pressed in a tight line. "I agree with the bastards part, but team aqua is a highly dangerous orginazation."
"I've beaten two of the before," I said indignantly.
Steven smiled down at me, his hands gripping my shoulders. "You battled the lowest of the low grunts, very weak and inexperienced. The grunts in here who have been assigned the task of stealing that package, are a lot tougher than the ones you faced, very dangerous and brutle." Exactly what his father had said.
I felt about two inches tall.
"They don't have a conscience, and will do anything, anything Samantha, to get their job done. I... I don't want to see you getting hurt..." His cheeks gained a red tinge and he looked away. I blinked, not sure if what I had just seen was real. "You must allow me to deal with whoever's there, and go find Captain Stern and deliver the package. If they catch you, comply with them, go quietly. Please don't try to be a hero, it's just to dangerous."
"Alright," I muttered, following him in silence, hand poised above my Pokeballs, preparing for the worst.
We were stopped by a receptionist who was demanding the entry fee before letting us in I sighed and pulled out my trainer card, but Steven shook his head and pushed my hand down, handing the lady behind the counter his own, silver card. Her eyes widened as she read his name off his card, and swiped it through, blushing furiously as Steven flashed her a smile.
When the dues were paid, we walked in, not drawing attention to ourselves. The place was swarming with aqua grunts, but none of them paid us more than a glance. "Don't say anything," Steven breathed in my ear, his warm breath tickling my neck. He led me, nonchalantly pointing out famous paintings on the walls along the way, towards the staircase. But unfortunately, one of the grunts I had beaten on my second day as a trainer saw me.
"Its the bitch!" He shouted, cracking his knuckles menacingly in my direction. The rest of the grunts turned and made a loose ring around us. Steven pushed me behind him.
"We don't want any trouble," he said, palms turned outward in a non-threatening manor.
"Fuck that, if your travelling with the fag, your trouble," another shouted, throwing up his Pokeball into the air, calling out a zubat. I found it kind of amusing that they recognized me and not the Champion. The rest of the grunts followed suite, and soon about thirty Pokemon were all glaring at Steven menacingly, ignoring me. I clenched my fists, panicking slightly. I was surprised to realize that I cared enough about Steven to not want to see him hurt. But then again, the grunts seemed ignorant of his identity, they didn't know he was champion. Champions were supposed to be strong. He would be fine.
"Go on Samantha," Steven said, his voice dangerously quiet. "I'll take care of them. You go find Captain Stern."
"The hell you will," one of them shouted angrily, the others nodding in agreement.
The grunts let me go, obviously thinking that a little girl couldn't cause any trouble, not taking into account the Pokeballs on my waist or the package on my person. It was only then that I realized I was still carrying the icecream, and despite the current situation, took an absent minded lick. As I took the stairs, three at a time, I tried to calm my racing heart,
taking back control of my panicky brain. I needed to get a hold of myself, I needed to complete the task at hand, and quickly. Reaching the top floor, I approached the only person in the room, a man in a white trenchcoat with black hair that fell to his color and wearing a pair of thick, bottle-cap glasses. His nose was pressed up against a glass case that held a ship model of some sorts, taking notes on a worn notepad.
"Captain Stern," I said, clearing my throat to make my presence known; the man didn't turn but cocked his head.
"What can I do to help you ma'am?"
"I have a package for your here Devon, but we have to go right now, there are some bastards downstairs, and Steven Stone is in trouble," I said, my voice picking up in speed and rising in pitch.
"Why don't you hand that package over to me dearest, and I'll let you go," I jeering voice said from behind me. I whipped around, eyes wide, and took in the massive man and petite woman who were standing in front of the stairwell, arms crossed, blocking the exit. Captain Stern let out an angry exclamation and stepped to my side, glaring at the two Aqua members in anger.
"Get out of our way," He hissed, taking off his speckled and tucking them into his breast pocket.
"Err, Captain Stern..." Perhaps that isn't the best idea," I whispered, eyes flickering between the two men. They seemed to have heard me because they immediately shifted their eyes to me, giving me the look over. I shrugged my shoulders up, defensively, and bristled.
"Give me the goods lovie," the woman said in a nasely high pitched voice.
"Not without out a fight you ," the insult died on my lips as I met the agitated stare of the man. Oh damn, I realized, I was way over my head. The big man gwaffed stupidly, his bandana sliding down his forehead. The woman however took a step back into the shadows, her eyes never leaving my face, calculating and making assumptions I could only guess at.
"You don't want to mess with us," the man said, a slight lisp evident.
"To hell with that," I spat back, throwing caution to the wind. In the back of my mind I could see Steven's disaproving face. I pushed the image away.
The Aqua grunt threw a Pokeball up into the air and a red and blue Pokemon with black, beady eyes appeared, using it's fins for balance, and my Pokedex informed me that it was called a Carvanha. "Poochyena!" I yelled, throwing the Pokeball into the air. Tailow appeared about five feet above the ground, staring daggers at the bastards who had antagonized me. "Bite!" I cried angrily.
Poochyena bared his teeth, closing in on the Carvanha. "Dodge and use bite," the Aqua grunt said, sounding bored. The woman continued to say nothing, but watched with interest. The Caravanha darted left, then right, and charged at my Pokemon.
"Dodge!" I shrieked, a second to soon. Poochyena's paws flailed as he tried to stop his charge, but the razor sharp teeth of the Carvanha dug into his tail, dragging him forward, and slamming him onto the ground.
"Poochyena," I breathed fearfully when the Pokemon didn't rouse. The woman was laughing, but I didn't try to hide my expression as I recalled the Pokemon. "You bastard," I hissed before I did something impulsive. It was rash, and completely stupid, but I threw my icecream cone at the male admin, hitting him squarely in the head. Oh Fuck, what did I just do?
"You little bitch," he said, wiping the dripping chocolate off his face. I didn't have a time to react before he charged at me, and pinned my arms to my sides.
The female Admin's hand came smashing down on my cheek, and I reeled back, vision going blury. "Take her to Archie, let him deal with this little fag." In the midst of all of this, I saw Captain Stern slipping around the back, package in hand, and hurrying down the stairs.
At least the goods were safe, I thought dreamily as I slipped into unconscienceness.
My eyes flickered open, and I stared in a daze at my surroundings. I could only make out blurry, indistinct shapes, so I let my other senses range out and explore my situation. I could here distant screams of struggles from far below me- I must be a few floors above. I was sitting, pressed against a wall, on a grimy floor that seamed to be layered in grime and dust. My arms were tied behind my back, the rope cutting into my wrists causing a great deal of discomfort. The air that I was shallowly inhaling tasted dank with age, though I was grateful for it.
Better tied up than in water.
I struggled to sit up, but froze as I heard lazy footsteps approaching me. I looked up and saw a man, wearing a black suit and a white shirt that was opened up, revealing part of his chest. His hair was short, and greasy, and his face was ragged, as if he hadn't shaved in a week. He was wearing the blue bandanna that signalled alliance with Team Aqua.
Bugger. Steven's gonna kill me.
"Who the h-h-h-hell a-are you-ou-ou?" Why was my voice all shaky? I was scared, but not that scared. Perhaps I should be.
"I am Archie, leader of Team Aqua," he said calmly, arms crossed. Two men appeared at his side. "And these are my admins." I tried to glance causially at my Pokebelt, which was minus one of the usual for Pokeballs that were attatched to the side. Archie's smile turned sinister as he bent down, and but his face inches away from mine. "They are somewhere where you can't reach them. As for your Poochyena, I'm afraid he will be accompanying us. He will be a valuable fighter once he's trained up a bit."
"Give him BACK!" I shouted, thinking of what Steven' had told me, my Poochyena would be tortured, turned into a killing machine. Archie smiled wider before standing up, turning his back to me. I struggled to get up, but one of his admins aimed a kick to me which landed at my side, and I doubled over, panting, tears threatening to form in my eyes.
"Don't struggle, it will only make it worse," Archie said, before glaring down at me. "What were the contents of the package that was meant for captain stern?"
"I don-ahhh!" I cried as his fist made contact with my face and I recoiled, head spinning with pain. Dazed, I stared at his feet, feeling sick.
"What were you saying darling," he said gently, before forcing my chin up with his grimy fingers.
"I'm not telling you anything bastard." I said, receiving another kick to the side. "I don't know anyway," I whimpered in kicked my aircraft once again with distaste, and I winced as his booted foot made contact with the already forming bruise from his first volly.
He seemed to believe me, at least he retreated slightly. "But let this serve as a warning to you to stay out of my affairs. We are committed to expanding the sea for the good of Pokemon and humans alike- don't stop the revolution to help the world become a better place."
"Go fuck yourself," I said icly, preparing myself for another round of kicks that I was sure to come.
Archie stepped back, smiling at me menacingly. "Feisty, you could do good with us. Bring her with us," he snapped at the admins who were gaurding the door. Take me? Take me where? My blood ran cold. And then he was gone, Swiftly moving out of the room, audibly locking the door behind him.
But his admins remained. "Archie kept his promise," the first one said with surprise.
"She's ours to do with what we want..." Silent tears streamed down my cheeks in fear.
I didn't realize what was happening as I was forced to my feet and led roughly out of the room and down the hallway to another room, smaler than the last. I didn't resist as I was pushed onto a matress that was situated in the corner of the room, or when the ties on my wrists were cut. I barely even recognized when a strong hand brought my lips to another pair, or when the second admin's hands began to travel under my shirt, reaching upwards.
I just closed my eyes.
The ground began to shake and plaster from the ceiling began to fall. The men froze and jumped to their feet. "That's our get away, come-on, you know what the boss said, bring her." I was lifted easily into one of their arms, clothes dishevilled, and boddily caried towards the exit. Sense returned to me. These bastards would pay for what they had done. They had...
I bet they were wishing that they had knocked me out. I opened my mouth and started screaming bloody murder, kicking and pounding on the back of the man who held me. Apperantly I was to much trouble for them to handle, because the smaller one finally said, "leave her, it's not worth it. Archie will have our asses but if this takes much longer we'll be stuck here. Come on." I was dumped on my ass on the hard floor and the pair ran out, locking the door behind them.
I drew my knees to my face and cried. I never cried.I was angry. I was scared. I was... I was broken. I broke down, recovery not in sight
Steven's POV
"Hyper Beam!" I shouted, squinting my eyes to block the glare of the huge blast of light and power that was released from my Skarmory's mouth, blasting back a group of Poochyena, knocking them unconscience.
This wasn't working, there were to many, I thought as I backed into the corner of the building. I glanced to my left, guiltily looking at the smashed exhibits and cowering receptionist that was taking refuge underneath her desk.
The place was coming down, and yet there was no sign of the struggle ending. No matter how many grunts I knocked back, that my Pokemon knocked out, another wave was in the wings, waiting to take it's place.
Upstairs, I could hear the sounds of conflict, but was perturbed when silence fell and the only sounds of battle were the ones that I was responsible for.
Sam.
What had happened? They couldn't have taken her, I wouldn't allow it.
My heart stopped as I put two and two together. Interrogation, that's what they would do, they would take her to be interagated. And the only person who would be allowed to question her would be...
"EARTHQUAKE!" I screamed at Aggron. Aggron did not hesitate. The building was wracked with shudders, marble pillars that were placed against the walls collapsed, knocking grunts and Pokemon alike out. The tremors continued, and I crouched like a feline on the ground, grinding my teeth as ominous cracks appeared in the plaster.
The attack ended abruptly, and I stood, shakily, surveying the damage. Not a single grunt was stirring, or their Pokemon. Samantha, I thought as I rushed up the stairs, praying that she had not been handed over to Archie.