Sorry about all the typos in the last few chapters! I've been submitting them without re-reading. SO SORRY, I'll re-read now. ENJOY! :D
The Pidgeys were chirping and Erin sprung out of bed, running to the bathroom to begin getting ready. Of course, she barely got any sleep last night, the excitement just overwhelmed her. She released Meganium from her PokeBall while she brushed her teeth.
"Meganium, go get my bag!" her words were muffled by her active toothbrush.
Meganium nodded and returned with a small, black suitcase in its teeth.
"Thaaaank yooou!" she sang and she slipped her black tank over her head.
Erin picked up the suitcase and raced over to the apartment door, jumped into her pink boots and was out the door. Meganium followed in close pursuit as they both bolted down the stairs to the lobby. Erin stopped at the foot of the red rug to quickly look at the Magnet Train ticket she had printed off last night. It left at 8:30, so she had to get moving. She continued forward but was halted by a human obstacle in her way; she looked up to see the unfortunately familiar face of Bugsy, the Azalea Town gym leader.
"What's with the bag, Erin?" he asked admiringly.
"Bugsy? What are you doing here?" she interrogated in a very annoyed voice.
"Is it a crime to come surprise you, sweetheart?" he went to reach for her hand, but she pulled back quickly.
Bugsy always had a certain infatuation for Erin, ever since they were kids in school. He was always out to impress her, whether through battling victories, or flowers or candy, or even surprise visits that resulted in boring, tacky "dates". She thought she had made it pretty clear to Bugsy that she just wanted to be a friend, well not even that, but she didn't want to be mean. However, Bugsy kept showing up and kept expecting her to fall in love with him, she was royally annoyed, he acted like such a child.
"Well bad timing Bugsy, because I'm leaving for Kanto for a few days." She said sternly.
"Why? Are you going to meet a secret lover!" he gasped. "What's his name so I punch him in the mouth?" his attempt at flexing his arm just looked like a spastic spaghetti noodle.
"Goodbye, Bugsy." She sighed and pushed past him.
"When will you be back?" It was too late, Erin was already out the door.
She quickly checked her watch, it was 10 after 8. Crap, the drive to Goldenrod takes a good half hour without traffic, thanks a lot Bugsy. As she approached the lab, she could see Elm waving her down telling her to hurry. She jumped into a sprint, returned Meganium to her PokeBall and hopped into Elm's yellow SUV.
By breaking a few minor speed limits and a mad dash to Platform 9, they made it onto the Magnet Train at 8:27. Erin spent the 30 minute ride looking out the window at the passing landscapes. Elm was too busy pounding away on his laptop finishing last minutes graphs and charts for his presentation at "The Master Project Seminar". At least, that's what he called it. She let out her Pokémon so they could explore the train and have some fun. Her Meganium, Charizard, Crobat, Gengar, Nidoqueen and Squirtle were spread out amongst the car. She looked back out the window to see the Saffron station in the distance, as the train came to a stop, she returned her Pokémon, got Elm's attention to make sure he'd actually get off, and the exited the train. Saffron City was certainly a metropolis, there were large skyscrapers everywhere, it reminded her of the trip Mikayla and she took to Castelia City when Mikayla wanted to beat the Unova Pokémon League. Elm and Erin had to walk to Vermillion City to catch the 9:30 boat to the shores just outside of Pallet Town. Saffron was luckily only a 15 minute walk from Vermillion so this time they got there early and had some time to sit around and rest. The boat ride was only 20 minutes and she sat on the shore until Mikayla arrived, Elm had proceeded to the Oak Lab. In the distance a Pokémon could be seen carrying a person, Erin recognized her to be Mikayla. When Feraligatr pulled up to the shore, Mikayla jumped off dragging her large suitcase behind her and tackled Erin into a hug.
"I've missed you so much!" Mikayla squealed as she hugged tighter.
"Oh, same here!" Erin beamed. "We should get to the lab, the seminar starts in 40 minutes and we still have to find accommodations!"
The two girls, followed by Mikayla's Feraligatr, entered Pallet Town. It was a very peaceful looking town, there were beautiful flowers everywhere and a very large windmill in the skyline, it was attached to the Oak Lab. When they reached the lab doors, they were approached by someone who looked like another Pokémon professor. Erin recognized her right away; it was Professor Ivy from the Orange Archipelago.
"Are you girls attending the seminar? All scientists must be checked in to the Pallet Inn before entering!" she gently swept her purple bangs out of her face. "The Inn is just down the road" she smiled and directed them to a historic mansion that had been split up and turned into a hotel.
They walked in to see that every piece has furniture had an ornate look to it, it was like stepping back in time, there were dark red walls and dark hardwood floors. They approached the front desk and were assigned their rooms, free of charge since they were considered scientists. Erin laughed at this, an apprentice and her friend? Scientists? Well if it could save her the money, she was happy. Erin and Mikayla shared a suite. The walls and flooring were the exact same as the lobby, there was a small living area at the front of the suite with a large bathroom next to it. The bedroom consisted of two queen sized beds and a flat screen television, the one unhistorical part of the room. Erin checked her watch, it was 10:20.
"Quick Mikayla, we have to go!" she called to Mikayla who was fixing her hair in the bathroom.
Mikayla dashed out, returned Feraligatr to his PokeBall and snapped it to her belt. They left their bags in the room; however Erin had a pad of paper and pen in her hand. They left the hotel and ran to the Oak Lab.
Upon entering, they were directed to a large conference room with about 10 rows of 20 chairs facing a projector screen and a box with a red sheet over it; no doubt it was The Master Stone. Erin walked to an open seat, while Mikayla's head darted between the interesting paintings on the wall. Mikayla took a step back but was stopped by something behind her; she quickly spun around to see a younger man, about her age, in a lab coat with spikey brown hair and blue eyes.
"Oh, I-I'm so sorry!" she apologized and could feel her face blushing, he was very good looking.
"Oh, heh, that's fine!" she smiled at her, he had a gorgeous perfect smile that made his eyes light up, Mikayla's face went a deeper shade of red. She quickly moved past him, and darted to the open seat beside Erin.
"Why am I the only one NOT in a lab coat?" Mikayla sulked.
"You're technically not even supposed to be here, but they sure are treating this 'top secret' meeting like a big, open convention." Erin laughed.
Erin looked around to see who was attending. Basically every Pokémon professor around was here, she saw Elm a few rows ahead of her next to Rowan, Ivy, Birch, Juniper and even Professor Hastings was here. Oak was probably preparing elsewhere.
The seminar was starting and Oak was wheeled beside the podium in a wheelchair by the man Mikayla just had the pleasure of bumping into.
"It's okay, it's okay!" Oak was angrily mumbling.
He stumbled to his feet with assistance from a cane, but when he gained full balance, he stood tall and proud like he did 7 years ago when Mikayla met him after beating the Kanto Pokémon League. He approached the podium and the audience silenced in unison.
"Good morning all, I am Professor Oak and this is my grandson and apprentice, Blue." He motioned to the good looking man Mikayla met.
She smiled and thought to herself, Blue. What a cute name, it suits him. She could feel her face going red again, Erin turned to see Mikayla with flushed cheeks and a silly grin and could already tell what she was thinking. She giggled quietly to herself; Mikayla was just dumped and had already set her sights on someone new! That reminded her that she needed to ask Mikayla what happened between her and Volkner after the presentation. She dropped her smile and faced Oak who had walked to the covered box.
"After years of research, collaboration and hard work, I present to you all, The Master Stone!" he tore off the red sheet to reveal it.
No one applauded as they were all awestruck; The Master Stone was a shiny, jet black, jagged stone that floated in the glass case and it emitted an indigo aura. Mikayla and Erin sat there with lips ajar, it almost had an evil look to it, they could feel the power radiating off of it. When the audience regained focus, they applauded loudly. Their applause was interrupted by a loud noise, like helicopters overhead. A powerful, orange beam of energy pierced the roof the conference room causing a loud explosion sending bits of debris everywhere! Blue ran and shielded his grandfather, and Mikayla and Erin dove to the floor. A very loud, diabolical cackling could be heard. A figure riding an Aerodactyl descended into the room, the helicopters overhead caused papers and books to fly everywhere.
Everyone looked up and gasped at the infamously familiar figure standing directly over The Master Stone.