Here we go, chapter nine. Solay is gonna reveal what she saw now.~

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Pokémon/Pokémon Mystery Dungeon. However, Solay, Shadow, Mudkip, Treecko, etc. belong to me.

…~-CHAPTER NINE: Dimensional Scream Vision Revealed

Mudkip was the next to awaken. Solay took her outside, away from everyone, to talk.

"What do you need?" the smaller one asked once they were far enough away.

Solay was quiet for a long time. She wasn't sure how to explain things. "Well, Mudkip, you see…I haven't been completely honest with you. So you remember, just before the expedition, when I bumped into you?"

"Yeah, I think so," she replied, racking her brain.

…

Reaching the top of the steps, Treecko looked back. Mudkip bounded up next to him, and Solay appeared next. She drew up beside him, but accidently bumped Mudkip from behind.

"Whoops, sorry, Mudkip," she said. Solay opened her mouth to say something else, but cut herself off, swaying on her feet a little. She corrected her stance to compensate and shut her eyes tightly. From behind him, Treecko heard Shadow draw in his breath sharply. Treecko looked between the two, bamboozled.

"Wha—?" he asked, but Shadow slapped his paw over Treecko's mouth.

"Shh," he hissed in the grass-type's ear. "Don't speak. We can't disturb her right now."

…

Mudkip nodded. "Yeah, I remember it. What about it?"

Solay bit her lip. "Well, see, there's an ability I have called the Dimensional Scream."

By the look of puzzlement on the other's face, Solay found it was safe to assume Mudkip knew nothing of this. "Dimensional…Scream?" she repeated slowly.

Solay nodded. "Yes. When I touch something, I see a past or future event connected to it."

"Hey, that's cool!" Mudkip said excitedly. "Did you see something about me? Well, did ya? Did ya?"

"Slow down, there," Solay said, raising a paw. "I did see something…but it was something…I didn't like. I debated on weather or not to tell you. But…I guess now is as good a time as ever."

Mudkip's face fell a little. Solay had seen something…bad? Like what? "What did you see?" she asked in a quieter tone.

"Mudkip…" Solay's voice was filled with regret. She looked her right in the eye. "Mudkip, I saw you drowning."

…

Treecko couldn't figure out where he was. It was all dark, and everything was shaded with gray or a purpleish color. He could tell there were others around him, but he didn't know if they were on his side or not, so he kept his mouth shut. One of them stirred, looking to a smaller shape beside it.

"How's the plan coming?" it asked. Treecko recognized this as Alakazam.

"It's coming along well enough," the other replied. This had to be Gallade. The voice held that cold yet gentlemanly note in it. "Our agent is still collecting information. I just went to make sure he wasn't slacking."

Agent? Treecko wondered. What agent? Where? Who? He considered going closer, but decided not to risk it. They might see him. Granted, he could barely see them, but still.

"It would be just like him to slack off," Alakazam scoffed. "I don't trust him. How do we even know he's on our side?"

Were they talking about Shadow? Or, maybe, Wigglytuff? Treecko had no idea who this spy was…

"Relax, Alakazam," Gallade replied. "He'll do fine. Remember, he was born for that role. Get close to them, learn everything they can, and then bring them all in to the boss."

A high, feminine voice laughed. "Oh, you boys are so funny."

Both sets of eyes shifted to a third set that had appeared. They were red in the gloom. Gallade and Alakazam both knelt before this being.

"Umbreon, how very nice of you to come," Gallade said. "I never thought one of his closest advisors would come to us."

Umbreon giggled insanely. "Now, now, my dear Gallade… You know how much he likes to check up on progress."

"Everything is going according to plan," Alakazam replied. "You have no need to worry."

"And the boy?" she asked, a serious note entering her voice.

"He isn't aware of what he is yet," Gallade replied. "Although, in the fight against Shadow, something extraordinary happened…"

"Oh? Tell me."

Gallade looked up at her. "He connected with that old tree. The one they call the Weeping Elder Birch. The tree gave him power. He trumped Shadow without a second thought."

"Hmm." Umbreon was silent for a long time. Just as Treecko was about to walk forward and demand to know what was going on, she spoke again. "Well, keep an eye on him. Tell our operative to watch him closely." The high-pitched crazy note entered her voice again, and she began to sing. "Here I go, all through the valley, 'You are such a naughty boy' I said and pop!" She turned, looking straight at him. He could see her teeth bent in that feral grin, the eyes glowing even redder. Treecko was paralyzed with fear. "Off goes his head!"

…

Treecko's eyes snapped open and he scrambled into a sitting position. He was alone in a room. Three other beds lay by his, but they were all empty. Breathing hard, heart drumming in his chest, he swallowed. This wasn't the same place Gallade, Alakazam, and that crazed Umbreon had been. He slowly got up and peered out the door, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Shadow and Solay were sitting and talking with Mudkip not far away. The rest of the Guild had gathered. This was…a safe place. He withdrew his head and sank to his knees, shaking. Had that been…a dream? No…it had been too real. Perhaps he'd seen what Gallade had been doing then? Maybe the mind-link he'd done with Shadow had affected his own mind a little when his Solar Beam went off? Treecko shook his head. This was too weird. He had to tell Solay, Wigglytuff, somebody.

He got up and went out, looking around. Judging by the time of day, it was near dinner time. Alarm shot through Treecko. Had he been out that long? Someone called his name. Shadow waved him over. Treecko trotted pasted Corphish and joined them.

Mudkip was looking pretty down. Solay was chewing her lip too. Was there something he didn't know?

"Why the long faces?" he asked, looking back and forth between them. "What's going on?"

"Treecko…" Mudkip started. "Solay…she…has this ability. When she touches something, she sees its past or future. Remember when she bumped into me before the expedition?" Treecko nodded, and Mudkip continued. "Well, she saw something in my future."

"What? What did she see?" he asked.

Mudkip couldn't say it. She shook her head and stared at the ground. Treecko looked at Solay.

"What did you see?" he repeated.

Solay hesitated, then said, "I saw her drowning."

Treecko couldn't move. The whole world slowed and stopped. It shattered into a thousand tiny fragments, which then all stabbed him in the heart. It wasn't true…it couldn't be true… Mudkip…drowning?

"But…but…that…doesn't even make sense!" he protested. "Mudkip's a water-type! She can't drown!"

Solay shook her head. "It's unclear to me what it means. I'll try to figure it out, but for now, you shouldn't be too worried. I will figure out how to stop this from happening." She looked them both in the eye. "I promise."

Treecko trusted Solay. He nodded slowly. He believed she would really find a way to stop it. She could do it.

"Oh, that reminds me," he said quietly. "I had the weirdest dream…you might want to hear this."

…

Umbreon stayed where she was, poised. Her gaze slid back to Gallade. "Did he see it?" she asked.

He nodded. "Everything we said."

She smiled. "Good, good. We must keep him thinking he's moving on his own free will…but we're doing the real planning."

She jerked her head to the general direction where 'Treecko' had been. "Tell our operative to keep an eye on the girl, too."

"The Vulpix, Solay?" Gallade questioned.

"Yes, her," Umbreon dismissed. "She's a clever one. Make sure she doesn't find out."

"Understood, ma'am," he replied. They both shot off into the forest, leaving Umbreon alone. She started walking from the direction she came. "Here I come, all through the forest, 'What a naughty boy' I said, and pop! Off goes his head~!"

…

Two chapters in one day! :3 I'm out-doing myself. xD Anyway, have fun, kiddies!