(A/N): Because this is my first story, I don't know about the different warnings that should be given at the beginning of a chapter. There is nothing horrible in this chapter - no cursing or blood or gore - but there is a battle and I don't know how harsh a battle has to get before I start warning. I'm sure it's fine but this is my warning. If anyone wants to help me out for the future that would be greatly appreciated.

Chapter Four: Into the Water

Later that same day, Marlene sat alone by the river. The ground had mostly dried, thanks to the afternoon sun, but the river still flowed swiftly by. No Pokemon had returned to it and for once, she actually welcomed the silence it entailed. Star was the only other living thing to be seen, nestled at Marlene's side with her head resting gloomily on her front two feet. They sat there in companionable silence, just staring at the rushing water below.

After filling Addy in on the situation, she chose to sit silently staring at the ground, not offering her opinion. It seemed, for once, that she hadn't known how to respond to a situation presented to her. Crash for his part, had tried talking to Adam but had made just as much headway as Star and Jet had which is to say none at all. The whole atmosphere had remained tense and silent, enough to where Marlene finally had to leave or risk her sanity. So she and Star had left Lily's house and walked slowly to the river, kicking stones and scuffing their feet on the ground as they went.

Marlene didn't know what to think. She couldn't understand why anyone would want to take Lily, why anyone would want to cause such pain to people who knew her. But how could this be planned? How could somebody deliberately choose someone as friendly and kind-hearted as Lily and take her? Was this planned? Or had it been someone who just decided that Lily was worth taking?

The second thought made her sick to think about so Marlene immediately shut it down. No, she thought determinately. There was a reason they took her. And the police will find her.

But Marlene couldn't help but think of the things they might never get to do again. Would they ever get to stay up late talking about different Pokemon? Or take long walks or train together or just spend time as friends? And then there was always the ever present 'what if' thought, lingering at the back of her mind. What if they never found her? What if they were forced to move on without her? What if, what if, what if...

Marlene shook her head determinately with a little growl. She would not keep thinking like this, there was no point. Star glanced up at her with worry filled eyes, lifting her head and resting it on Marlene's knee. "Cyndaaaa," she cooed softly. Marlene absently reached out her hand to stroke Star's head.

"I just don't understand Star," she said quietly, staring up at the sky as she continued to stroke Star. "Why would they take her? I keep thinking of other things but I always turn back to that. Why?"

"Cynda quil quil," was the reply.

"Thanks Star. You know, I really wish I could understand you sometimes. What was that again?" Marlene said with a little grin. Marlene was extraordinarily close to Star and despite the fact that she could normally guess what Star was saying, she couldn't always tell exactly what Star was trying to tell her. For obvious reasons. Marlene sometimes teased her about this but never too harshly because she couldn't talk to Pokemon either and did she really have the right if it was a two way thing?

"Cyndaquil!" Star huffed and turned her nose away from Marlene. But Marlene saw the joking glitter in her eyes and a moment later they were both laughing quietly. The laugh grew and grew until Marlene was laying on the ground and Star curling in on herself, rocking back and forth with deep rumbling laughs. They laughed and laughed until they finally sat there, staring at the criss-crossing pattern of trees and sky above them, breathing deeply. It hadn't even been that funny - the opposite actually - but it was a change of pace.

"Thanks girl. I needed that."

Then they both sat there together, Marlene with her arms behind her head, Star curled on the grass next to her. It was... content, almost. Companionable. Come what may, Marlene had Star and Star had Marlene. Nothing would change that.

Marlene first heard the noise very faintly. She couldn't even really tell what it was and at first she suspected a Pokemon. But then Star perked her ears up and rolled over, sniffing the air and Marlene was immediately on alert. Star wouldn't react suspiciously if it was a wild Pokemon or someone they knew. It got progressively louder until Marlene could tell what it was - footfalls and the occasional snap of a twig. The sound of someone who wasn't accustomed to forestry trying to move silently through the undergrowth.

Marlene sat up slowly and surveyed the area but all she could see was trees and bushes. The footsteps stopped abruptly and for a moment all she could hear was the rushing stream of water and the wind rustling the trees overhead. Marlene was just beginning to think that she was imagining things when the footsteps started up again, swifter and more confident and...

Heading straight for her.

That's when Marlene was jolted into action. She scooped up Star and darted behind one of the trees encircling the clearing, heart beating wildly, Star squirming uncomfortably in her arms. Righting her, Marlene stood and listened as the footsteps once again paused. And then, on the opposite side of the clearing, bushes began rustling violently and someone stepped out, cursing and tugging at its right foot which was caught in a snare of thorns. A deep black Pokemon stepped out behind him, nose to the ground, barbed tail flicking back and forth with silent flicks. It had two sharpened grey horns protruding from its head and three rib-like bands of the same material lining its back. When it emerged into the clearing it stopped sniffing and turned its head skyward, letting out a bone-chilling howl that sent chills racing down Marlene's spine. When it tilted its head back, Marlene could clearly see a... was that a skull?

"Did you smell something?" The person said. The man, Marlene could tell it was a man by the voice, was dressed in a black uniform of some sort. Boots strapped up to mid-calf and black gloves shining silver on the back adorned his hands. He had a black hat on covering most of his messed up hair and Marlene could just make out something shining silver on the breast pocket but she was to far away to tell what exactly it was.

The Pokemon took one look at the man and then directed his attention to the trees, growling loudly. Marlene almost gasped aloud. It was staring right at her.

The man laughed lowly before he too directed his attention to the trees. "I know you're there," he said loudly. "Why don't we just make this easy? You come out and I won't send Houndoom in after you, okay?"

Marlene considered her options. She could try and make a run for it. She knew these woods better than most and she could probably travel faster than the man but the Pokemon was another story. It had moved so easily after the man and Marlene could tell it would be able to follow her just fine. She could stay hidden here but that idea was immediately scratched - the Pokemon could scent her and the man now knew she was there. Her only other option was to stand up and fight it out. She had trained with Star, they could do this. They could at least take the Pokemon down or slow it down enough for them to make a break for it. Besides, how did she know that the man was after her specifically?

So, taking a deep breath and giving Star a lingering look, she stepped out from behind the tree.

"Ahhh, there you are. We've been looking for you. The woods aren't the easiest thing to travel in, you know?" He just smiled at her, tilting his head to the side as if studying her and Marlene immediately knew the man was here for her and that there was no mistake in who he was after. The Pokemon - a Houndoom had he called it? - just sat down and stared at her alertly.

"W-what do you want?" She said and instantly cursed herself for the stutter. If she was going to get out of here, she had to go for it. With that thought, she squared her shoulders and stood with her head tilted up, as if daring them to come at her.

"We came for you, obviously. You know, you're not at all what I'd picture you to look like. The way they described you, I thought you'd at least have an evolved starter with you. But I don't even see a Pokebelt or any other Pokeballs on you. Aren't you old enough to have started your journey?" He was still staring at her with that piercing look.

"Who is 'they'?" Marlene said, dodging the age and Pokemon question. The less he knew the better.

But he just stared at her, not answering her question, not even giving her any indication that he had heard her.

"If you must know," she finally decided to continue, "I am old enough to start my journey and will be starting soon. And just because you can't see them at the moment does not mean I don't have Pokeballs on me." This, of course, was a blatant lie. She didn't have anyone but Star on her team and her Pokeball was back at the house.

The man just chuckled lightly and said, "I see. Well I have, unfortunately, been informed not to tell you anything about who 'they' are. They seem to think you might be dangerous but I really don't see where they get that from despite your father -" he trailed off but Marlene's blood had run cold. Her... father? The one she hadn't heard from in years? This man knew him?

The man seemed to read Marlene's expression because his face turned surprised in an instant. "Oh, I see. You don't know, do you? Just like that other girl. She didn't know about her father either but that didn't stop her from asking all the questions she could. It got quite annoying actually. She won't be asking any questions where she is now." He smiled cruelly on the last part, tilting his head down so it was half shadowed. Marlene was suddenly struck with the realization that this man was someone she definitely didn't want to go anywhere with. But something else had caught Marlene's attention.

"Other girl? There was another girl? With a missing father?" Please, Marlene thought. Please, please, please don't be -

"Yeah some girl, kept a bulbasaur with her," he said without a real interest, waving a hand in the air. "Picked her up last night. You see, they were afraid she would get in the way too."

But Marlene was now only half listening, staring at the man in more horror than she had when she had first found out the man had known her father.

The man took one look at her face and then sudden realization came to him. "I remember now! You knew her didn't you! I remember them telling me that you knew her! Oh, but this is perfect! You don't know anything about anything!" The cruel grin was back and he actually took a step towards her, the Houndoom standing up and taking a step forward with him. Star immediately jumped out of her arms and landed in front of her, growling sharply, her black blazing up instantly as she glared at them.

"Oh, Houndoom look at that! The little fire-type wants to play!" The man and Houndoom shared a look before they were both laughing again. For being evil, this man sure likes to laugh a lot, Marlene thought to herself.

"Cynda cynda quil cyndaquil!" Star screeched, stomping her foot angrily.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," the man said, rubbing a fake tear from his eye. "But you honestly think you, an unevolved starter, can take on Houndoom? That's a laugh! HA!"

Star looked about ready to charge them both, battle or not. But before she could do that, Marlene hissed to her, "Star, you've got to calm down. You can't go into this battle angry. Clear your head." Star took a deep breath and stood tall, still daring the Houndoom to come closer.

"Wait, you're actually serious? You want to battle us? I warn you, the other girl tried. It ended so quickly her mom didn't even know it was happening."

Marlene just stood glaring at the man in anger. This man had taken Lily. This man knew where she was. This man wanted to take her too. And Marlene would not allow that.

"Okay," he said. "If that is what you truly want. Why don't I give you the first move? It's the least I could do with what's about to happen."

Everything stood frozen, suspended for a moment. Then Marlene gave her order.

"Star! Start this off with a Quick Attack!"

Star shot off like a rocket, dodging and weaving invisible attacks, trying to make herself a smaller target just like they had practiced in the past. She was about to crash into the Houndoom's side when the man gave a command.

"Houndoom, blow it away with your Flamethrower." As soon as the battle had started, the man's face had become a blank mask as he watched the battle. He looked calm and collected - the exact opposite of what Marlene felt.

The Houndoom sucked in a big gust of air, it's chest swelling in size, and then in a great fiery blast, he opened his mouth and blew Star away. Star was sent skidding across the clearing where she stood up shakily, giving her fur a quick once-over. Despite the Fire Mouse's fur being mostly fire resistant, it still hurt to take a direct hit like that.

Marlene stifled a gasp and hesitantly asked, "Star? Are you okay?"

"Cyndaquil!"

At least Star was still standing, Marlene thought as Star stood tall again, ready for round two. The man just watched the exchange with a strange look in his eyes before his mask returned.

"Okay then Star. Use Ember!" Just like the Houndoom, Star sucked in a deep breath and shot tiny embers out of her mouth. They sparked across the clearing but, strangly, the Houndoom just took it head on, not even bothering to dodge the attack. When all the embers had died out, Star stood panting lightly but across the clearing the Houndoom just tilted it's head back and gave a mighty roar of, "HOUNDOOOOM!"

What? Marlene questioned in confusion. How could that not have done any damage?

The man was laughing to himself again, chuckling darkly as he grinned. "Houndoom, flamethrower again!"

What is he getting at? Star is to far away for him to -

But the Houndoom just opened his mouth and sprayed a giant, roaring flame, one that was at least two times the size of the last one. Star gave a startled squeak and tried to dive out of the way but the edge of the flame caught her in one of her back legs. She landed heavily and stood, keeping her weight mostly off her back right leg.

This was getting dangerous, fast. With flames like that the Houndoom could easily set the forest on fire. She had to finish this. But Star was hurt and the Houndoom was looking impossibly uninjured...

"Okay Star, we have to end this. Put everything you have into it! Use your Flame Wheel!"

They had been working on Star's Flame Wheel for over a month, trying to get her aim up and making it as powerful as possible. This would be a test of all that work.

Star shot off, slower than normal due to her hind leg. But she stretched herself forwards, tumbling into a ball and engulfing herself in flames. She gained speed as she went rolling faster and faster and faster towards the Houndoom who just stood there, watching the oncoming flame...

"Houndoom, again with your Flamethrower!"

Once again the Flamethrower came shooting towards Star. But this time, it just added fuel to Star's fire, giving her Flame Wheel extra momentum. Marlene shot the man a triumphant look before she saw his face mirror hers.

"You shouldn't have done that! Houndoom, Smog and then Flamethrower!"

Immediately a layer of dark purplish-black ink covered the area. Star, who had almost been upon the Houndoom, was lost in the darkness instantly. Marlene began coughing, the smoke making her eyes water as she tried to wave it away from her face. She covered her mouth and nose with an arm in an attempt to block the smoke and squeezed her eyes tight, wishing for it to go away. It seemed like forever before a gust of wind came along that was strong enough to lift the smog.

And what she saw stopped her dead in her tracks.

The Houndoom stood in victory, one foot smashed into Star's back as she lay, coughing and gasping, under him. Her fire had gone out and she had burn marks on her nearly-impossible-to-burn fur. The man stood in the same spot, a mask pulled up and over his face to block the smog as he stood smugly with his arms crossed. Once he was sure the smog was gone, he lowered the mask and took a step towards the two Pokemon. Marlene stepped forward too, ready to stop him, but the man just wagged a finger at her and said, "Nu-uh," as the Houndoom put a little more pressure on her. She gave a little squeak and Marlene immediately halted, putting her hands in the air in surrender.

The man walked forward and swung Star up by one of her hind legs (Marlene noticed it was not the one Star had hurt). Star instantly began to struggle, twisting and turning, lighting her back up, trying to break free. But the man had an iron grip on her and his gloved hand seemed to not even flinch at the fire as he walked with her over to the swiftly moving river.

"Now," he began and, to Marlene's complete and utter horror, he swung her out and over the water. "I realize, having a fire Pokemon myself, that they do not do well in water. Nasty business, water. When it comes to fire-types that is. So I suggest you come with me. I'll even spare your Pokemon! If she can survive the river, that is. Oh, come on now," he added for Marlene was staring at him in revulsion and panic, trying to think of something she could do to stop him. "I let the bulbasaur go without any harm and I almost got caught. You can't honestly believe I would make the same mistake twice? If she can survive, she can live. I won't technically be harming her, it'll be the elements, won't it?"

Marlene gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. No this couldn't be happening. Star might survive the river in normal weather but not with the way the rain had overflowed it. No, no, no, no, no...

But Marlene couldn't think of a way out of it. She couldn't let anything happen to Star though. So she opened her mouth and said, "I'll go with you. Willingly even. I won't try and escape, I'll go with you. Just... don't hurt her. Don't drop her in the water. Let her go."

The man seemed to ponder this for a moment. Then he replied, "She said the same thing, you know. And I allowed it. But now I have the police on my tail a lot sooner than I anticipated. I was supposed to have both of you before they showed. They won't find her. They won't find you."

And then he turned his attention to Star and Marlene saw him hesitate for half a second before his face hardened and Marlene saw his hand slacken -

"NO WAIT I-"

Marlene was cut off by a shape blocking out the sun, throwing the clearing in shadow. There was a great angry cry of something unidentifiable - it was so loud that Marlene couldn't tell what it was saying. The thing stayed suspended in midair for a moment before it dived straight down, giving another cry of anger and making the man pause, Star still dangling in his arm as he watched in surprise. Then he snapped out of it and yelled, "Houndoom, Flamethrower, NOW!"

The Houndoom gave an intense blast of fire, the ball roaring up to meet the great flying beast but the creature easily dodged, white streamers flowing off of it's glowing wings. It rammed into the Houndoom and sent it flying into a tree where it slithered to the ground with a grunt. The Bird Pokemon - Marlene knew that much for sure - gave another great cry and angled towards the man, zooming towards him with a speed Marlene had never seen before. It was practically on top of the man when it veered up at a 90 degree angle, flying upwards sharply as if it didn't want to really hurt the man just make him drop Star. The Pokemon got it's wish as the man stumbled backwards, arms pinwheeling behind him, Star flying from his grip...

...and landing in the river.

"STAR!" Marlene shrieked and without any hesitation, with the flying Pokemon now flapping it's wings angrily in the man's face, with the man swatting at her savior, with the man calling to his Houndoom for help, she dove in after Star.

She was immediately submerged, roaring water rushing over her head, twigs and other debris pelting her. She kicked wildly to the surface and emerged, gasping, shouting, "Star! Where are you?" A second later she was hit from behind by a particularly large branch and was sent tumbling under again. She opened her eyes and attempted to see any sort of blue or cream fur but she couldn't see anything in the murky darkness. She kicked her way to the surface again, twisting and turning to try and find Star but still getting hit in all directions with branches and rocks and -

Rocks.

"Star if you can hear me get to the rocks!"

Marlene then attempted to catch on to one herself. The next one she came across she was slammed into roughly but she threw out an arm, latching it on to the rock and attempting to hoist herself up slightly. Catching her breath for a second, she glanced around, starting to panic because she couldn't see any sign of Star and the river was moving so swiftly she could be anywhere downstream now. And then Marlene heard the most glorious sound ever coming from her right, downstream, so faint she wasn't sure at first but then it came again, and again, and again.

"Cyndaaaaaaaa!"

"I hear you Star, I'm coming!" Then taking a deep breath, Marlene abandoned the rock, kicking off in the direction of one a little further downstream. She caught herself on it and then she kicked off of that one to another one. Marlene hopped from rock to rock, carefully making her way down the river and towards the voice of her cyndaquil. There was a terrifying moment when Marlene jumped to catch the next rock and a branch hit her in the arm, making it miss the rock and almost causing her to tumble downstream. But Marlene lashed out with her other arm and even her legs, pulling herself into the rock next to it, cradling her arm to her chest. She stopped after this to catch her breath and survey her surroundings.

And then she saw Star.

Her cyndaquil was clinging to a rock as best she could with her stubby arms, the water trying to drag her down. Her eyes were closed tightly in terror as she scrabbled at the rock.

"Star, I'm almost there! Almost! Just hold on!" There was a three rock hop to get to Star, she just had to hold on until Marlene could get there. But Marlene was getting tired and her clothes were dragging her down, soaking wet and clinging to her. Her hair was plastered to her face but she could do nothing about that as her right arm was still clutched to her side, her left arm holding the rock.

Marlene braced herself and then kicked off the rock. She hit the next one well enough and even the one after that. The third one however, she hit an underground rock harshly with her knee and it spun her off course - Marlene was forced to reach out with her right arm and catch herself on the rock, hissing at the sharp pain.

Star was now only one rock away and Marlene determinately kicked off the last one, reaching for the rock -

And then Marlene and Star were both together with the water beating at them as Marlene held Star close and Star wrapped her arms around Marlene's neck. Marlene took a moment to just hold her Pokemon in relief, Star shaking harshly against her. But they weren't out of the rough waters yet, quite literally, and Marlene set to tracing a path to the shore.

That was when they encountered their next problem. This far down in the river, the riverbanks were made up of steeply sloping, muddy sides. It would be impossible to climb out of them - she could easily slip and fall back in. Going upstream was out of the question, Marlene could barely control going downstream. Continuing on downstream seemed the best option.

So Marlene, with Star clinging tightly to her, continued her hopscotching down the river.

Marlene instantly discovered that moving downstream without the complete use of her right arm (which was now wrapped around Star for fear that they'd be separated again) and with the added weight of her cyndaquil proved much harder than when she had tried to move by herself. They slammed into the rocks more harshly and slipped way too often for Marlene's comfort. There was one particular instance where Marlene almost missed one of the rocks and instinctively reached out with her right arm. Star came loose for half a second before her grip tightened in a chokehold around Marlene's neck. Gasping, Marlene grabbed the rock and swung her right arm back around to Star, who loosened her grip enough for Marlene to breath. Then they continued on until finally, miraculously, Marlene saw the banks leveling out. It got to the point where Marlene decided to try climbing out and, spotting the root to a tree halfway submerged in the water, shot towards that instead of the next rock.

Clinging to the branch now, Marlene trusted Star to hold on without choking her as she used her right arm for balance, pulling herself along until they were both lying on the bank of the river, panting heavily, shivering in the wind. Star whimpered slightly as she clung to Marlene and they both sat there for a few minutes holding onto each other in relief before Marlene realized just how cold they were with the wind biting at their exposed skin. Then, standing shakily to her feet, her right arm going numb in the cold, Star clinging to her left arm with no intention of letting go anytime soon, Marlene started the long journey home.

(A/N):

And that is it for this chapter! I've finally got a pretty solid plan for this story laid out and I'm extremely excited to see what direction it'll go in. Please, if you liked it let me know! If you didn't like it let me know! I'd like to hear any opinions!

-Thatonebookworm