A/N: I said this chapter would be long, didn't I? I'm not sure if this chapter is good or not. At least I've progressed the plot a fair bit.
"Okay, so if the pokedex was stolen, we have to get it back, right?" Maya said. Rowan nodded. "And we don't know anything about Team Supernova do we?" Rowan shook his head. "Professor, will you say something? I feel like a chatterbox."
"I am thinking, Maya. Please be silent for a moment." Rowan said, silencing the small blonde. "The only reason that they would steal a pokedex, that I can think of at least, is to learn about pokemon. But there must be something else, something that I am missing."
"No shit." Maya stated. "Well, if I can find Team Supernova's headquarters, maybe I can get the pokedex back and find out what the hell they're after." Rowan mulled over the proposition for a moment.
"That's an if and a maybe, Maya. That won't fly this time." Barrett, who'd suddenly appeared in the room, pointed out. "It's gotta be 'when I find' and 'I will get it back'."
"How'd you know to come here?" Maya asked. Barrett shrugged.
"Lucas' dad told me. I figured I should check things out." He explained. "So do we know where these headquarters are?" Maya and Rowan exchanged glances. "Wow, you two really are slow." Maya narrowed her eyes.
"Shut up, Barrett. It's not like you know where they are." Maya pointed out. He sighed.
"If we do not know where the headquarters is, why not go to the old buildings of the former teams? You may be able to find some clues about their current whereabouts." Professor Rowan said, finally speaking, and stopping Maya and Barrett's squabbling.
"… why didn't you suggest that earlier?" Barrett demanded. Maya sighed and punched him in the shoulder. "Hey!"
"Maybe because you won't shut up!" Maya suggested rather loudly. "I think I'll take a look around Team Galactic's old building. With any luck I'll find something that will help out." Maya stood, gestured to Empoleon, and left the building.
"Wait!" Barrett said, following after her. Maya turned around and gave him a blank expression. "We never did battle." Maya snorted.
"And we won't, because I don't have time for you." She grinned. "Unlike you, I've actually got somewhere to go. Later Barrett." She trotted off to the pokemart, just to stock up.
"Welcome! What do you need?" Asked one of the girls as Maya approached the counter. Maya glanced at the inventory list quickly.
"I'll take… 10 super potions." Maya said. "2 pokeballs and 3 full heals." She pointed to each item on the list.
"10 super potions, 2 pokeballs, and 3 full heals. That will be 9200 pokedollars. Okay?" The girl informed her, picking up the goods and placing them onto the counter for Maya. Maya fished around in her wallet for the proper bills and coins, and handed them over.
"Is there anything else I may do for you?" She asked, as Maya started putting her things away.
"No, thank you." Maya said, getting everything in place.
"Please come again, then!" The girl said with a smile. Maya nodded, and left the store.
"Battle me!" Barrett demanded. Evidently, he'd waited for her. Maya rolled her eyes.
"If it'll get you off my back, sure." Maya nodded to Empoleon, who stepped in front of her.
"…Really?" He seemed a little surprised. "Okay, go, Flareon!" He said, taking a pokeball from his pocket. He pressed the button on it, and a creature appeared, first just the outline in a faint white, then the Flareon became opaque and solid, and gained its colour. The pokemon let out a small roar, and faced Empoleon with a determined glimmer in her eyes.
"Empoleon, let's get this over with quickly. Use surf!" Maya ordered. Empoleon complied and summoned forth a wall of water which raced forth to meet the fire pokemon, with more than enough force to knock out Flareon.
"Flareon, dodge it!" Barrett called. The Flareon obeyed, and leapt up and away from the water. "Now counter with flamethrower!" From Flareon's mouth erupted a steady stream of fire, aimed directly at Empoleon.
Empoleon folded his wings in an x shape in front of his body to try to block the flames. Flareon dropped back to the ground once she had run out of flames, holding her ground, still confident. Empoleon remained indifferent, as per usual.
"Good job, now attack with Hydro Pump!" Maya nearly shouted. "Quickly!" Empoleon stopped and focused a flat circle of water in front of himself. Empoleon cried out, and an incredibly strong jet stream burst forth from the water plate and smacked Flareon in the side, sending the pokemon flying back to hit Barrett.
Barrett let out a cry as Flareon smacked into his chest. He looked down to the pokemon, who was clearly knocked out.
"There, I win. Now if you don't mind, I've got to go." Maya said with a quaint smile. "Empoleon, return." She pulled out Empoleon's pokeball and sent him back inside. "Go, Crobat!" She released her Crobat, who squealed in delight at the prospect of being out and about. "Okay, we're gonna fly to Veilstone City."
Maya climbed up onto the pokemon's back, and gave her a soft nudge. Crobat squealed once more, and took off from the ground.
"Later Barrett!" Maya called over her shoulder. "I suggest you stay out of trouble, or I'll send Lucas and Dawn after you!" She added with a slight giggle. She held on tightly as Crobat soared through the morning air and overtop of the routes and cities of Sinnoh.
Her thoughts started to wander as the minutes passed by. She pondered what the gym leaders were doing; if Roark was still digging for fossils like usual, if Fantina was still hardcore into contests. Most likely, the two of them were so set into their ways it usually interfered with their gym leader duties. Maybe she'd battle them again, just for the hell of it.
Once they were flying over Solaceon town, she thought about leaving a pokemon or two there. Perhaps she'd leave her Seel there; he didn't get played with very often, and probably needed the company.
After about a half hour of flying, the pair finally reached Veilstone City. Crobat sloped down, and touched down. Maya slid off the pokemon's back and gave Crobat a pat on the head. Crobat let out a content sigh and Maya sent the pokemon back into the pokeball. She brought Empoleon back out.
"C'mon, let's go check things out." Maya said, and began skipping away from the pokemon center, because Crobat always landed in front of one, and to Team Galactic's former headquarters with Empoleon happily trotted along behind her.
Or, at least she was skipping along happily until she crashed into someone and they both went down. Someone very, very, very pink. Pink to the point where it burnt Maya's eyes.
"Oh! I'm so sorry! I wasn't paying attention to where I was going!" The pink girl exclaimed. She glanced up at Empoleon who shook his head and let out a small chuckle. "Oh my gosh! That's such a cute Empoleon! Where ever did you get it?"
"Um, from Professor Rowan?" Maya answered. "Go bother him if you want one. He'd probably give you one." She struggled up and helped the pink haired girl up a second later. "I'm Maya by the way. And you are?" She extended her hand.
"I'm Karen!" Karen said, wrapping her arms around Maya, who let out a startled shout and struggled in the stranger's grasp. Karen relinquished her grip, and Maya stumbled backwards into Empoleon. "So, what's your business in Veilstone? You don't look like you're from around here."
"I'm here to take a look around the Team Galactic building." Maya explained. "Apparently, they've been up to some tricks again, and I'd like to get some information. So if you don't mind, I'll be going now." Maya smiled, doing her best to be polite as well as reveal as little information as possible.
"Really? Well, I'll go with you then!" Karen said happily. Maya died a little on the inside. "We won't be any trouble, and if you get into a situation, I'll heal your pokemon." Karen grinned. Maya wondered what she meant by we until she saw a Chansey standing just behind Karen.
"If you want to, I'm not stopping you. But just try to stay out of my way." Maya said slowly. Karen obviously didn't notice Maya's ever so slight annoyance.
"Sure thing! Let's go!"
A/N: Okay, so, that wasn't too painful, was it? And Karen... is just Karen.