A/N: Here is the next installment of Seven Days as a Pokémon. This time, it didn't take me four years to update. ;] I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! :] Special thanks to DemoniK, mwc01, Gabe B., and Lunar Latias for continuing to support my story. You guys gave me the drive to complete this chapter sooner. I know last chapter was a little short, so this chapter is longer to make up for it. Enjoy.

Chapter 16

The recollections came flooding back relentlessly. Memories of how her life used to be…memories of her son's birth…of his father…and the very reason that drove her to join the CPA in the first place.

"Riley," Reika breathed.

Jolteon stared back at her, his eyes widening to the size of saucers when he heard that very familiar name. "…Mom?" he questioned meekly.

When he spoke, Reika was instantly certain that the Jolteon standing before her was her son. "Riley! It is you! Razor did actually keep his promise…I'd thought that I would never see you again!" She quickly closed the gap between them, giving Jolteon an affectionate nuzzle.

Jolteon returned the nuzzle, but only for a second. He backed away from his mother, the original space between them returning. "What do you mean, you thought you would never see me again? Isn't that what you wanted when you walked out on me when I was just an Eevee?" Jolteon gave Reika a hard stare.

Reika was taken aback. She blinked furiously to keep the tears back that were threatening to spill over. But what else should she have expected? I should've known better than to think my son would be happy to see me. I left him alone with a stranger without a single good-bye. But that is what I had to do… "Riley, I –"

"Don't call me that!" Jolteon snapped. "Everyone simply calls me Jolteon. I dropped that name when I evolved."

Reika nodded, the hurt showing through despite her efforts to keep it concealed. "Alright, Jolteon it is then. Honey, will you please let me ex –"

"What is there to explain, mom!?" Jolteon interrupted Reika again. "You left me! And at the worst possible time! Dad had just died. I needed you. And you just left. You didn't even tell me you were leaving." Jolteon's hard exterior crumpled, but it was quickly regained. "Why?" he demanded.

Reika was gradually feeling worse and worse. How can I explain to him that I left for him? How do I tell him what really happened to his father? Just the thought of her mate made Reika's face drop. When it came to her family, she couldn't uphold the emotionless exterior she allowed most pokémon to see.

The female Jolteon finally spoke. "I did it for you, son. It was all for you. You were much too young to know the reasons for my leaving, and I couldn't bear to have to say good-bye to you. I thought, at the time, that it was best for the both of us to have a clean break. You have no idea how hard it was for me to leave you." Reika could no longer control the tears that cascaded down her face, leaving streaks of moisture on her spiky fur.

Jolteon's fierce expression melted into one of confusion. He shook his back and forth. "That's not true," he countered. "Espeon told me everything when I got older. She would never lie to me!"

"She told you what I wanted her to tell you!" Reika spoke fiercely. "I didn't even tell Espeon the true reason, though I was sure she knew there was something more. No one could know where I was going. Son, please believe me when I tell you that everything I did was to keep you safe. After your father passed away, there was nothing else that mattered. Your safety was my first priority."

Jolteon was more confused than ever. The story about his mom that he'd grown up with was falling apart. "This isn't making sense…" He spoke more to himself than to his mother. He turned his intense gaze back towards Reika. "What could've possibly happened that you would have to run away and leave me…just to keep me safe?" Jolteon paused. "What really happened to dad? If what you're saying is true…you left right after he died. Something tells me you weren't exactly truthful on that subject, either."

Reika swallowed hard. She'd known that she was going to have to tell him sooner or later, but she didn't think he would catch on so fast. She didn't know if she could bear the pain of reliving it again; she had kept it locked away for so long now. The Jolteon closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and began her story. "Your father wasn't hit by a car, Ril – I mean, Jolteon. Do you remember the walks me and your dad used to take after we ate dinner?"

Jolteon nodded, and Reika continued.

"It was an unusually cold night and we didn't expect any humans, or even many pokémon for that matter, to be out and about.

"I remember that night so well. Your father and I walked a different route that night. We decided that we wanted a change of scenery. We chose to walk around the old warehouses on the outskirts of town that had been abandoned for years – or so we thought.

"The next thing I know, a thick smog engulfed us; everything went black. I couldn't even see your father standing right next to me. I yelled for him, too scared to move, but I didn't receive an answer. I was too preoccupied with finding your dad that I wasn't much aware of anything else. Just as I started to panic, the smoke began to clear. Then I saw them…" Reika fought again to blink back her stinging tears.

"They had him. It was a nasty-looking Gengar, an Absol, a Murkrow, and…' Reika swallowed, 'and a Scyther." Razor. "The other three held your father while the Scyther stood just a couple feet away. He was yelling for me to run, that those pokémon weren't fast enough to catch me if I did. But I couldn't. I couldn't just leave him there, but I didn't know how I was going to rescue him, either. The Scyther then began to advance on me. I was too shocked to do anything else besides stiffen, your father still screaming for me to run. When he saw the Scyther move towards me, he became furious."

Jolteon was captivated by Reika's story, staring at her intently. Judging by his expression, she wasn't sure if he believed what she was saying or not. Reika continued.

"He let out the most fearsome Thunderbolt attack I had ever seen, and have yet to see to this very day. The Murkrow was killed instantly – the electricity was too much for the flying type. The Absol and the Gengar were knocked unconscious from the hit. After all, all three of the pokémon had been touching your father when he released his attack. The Scyther was slightly burned, but most of the Thunderbolt had missed him. Your father bolted for him, just as the Scyther was pulling out his scythes, prepared for your dad's assault.

"I tried to scream, tried to yell, tried to warn your father to stop, that the Scyther was ready for him!" Reika voice was rising with emotion. "But…" The Jolteon couldn't take it any longer. She couldn't hold in the massive amount of emotion that was coursing through her body any longer, and she broke down in tears.

Jolteon felt overwhelmed by the compassion he felt for his mother, and went to lay a soothing paw on top of hers.

That was all Reika needed to gain control of herself again. "There was blood everywhere – on the ground, on the Scyther…on me. The Scyther threw your father down like he was garbage when he was finished with him and, needless to say, I was distraught and horrified. He came towards me, his scythes dripping with your father's blood, and I was ready to let him take me. He had just taken from me one of the reasons I had to live – and then I remembered you, my son. My other reason to live.

"'Please!' I begged the Scyther. 'Please let me live! I have a son who needs me!'

"This made the Scyther stop. I thought for sure that he was going to let me go home to you. But I was wrong. Instead, the Scyther decided to use you as blackmail. Told me that his agency was in need of a good electric type and that if I refused…" Reika swallowed hard again. "If I refused, he would personally find and kill you himself. Said it wouldn't take long to find you in an island like this.

"So, I had no other choice. I followed the Scyther's demands to keep you safe, and I became a member of the Cyprus Police Assistance."

Jolteon was snapped out of his state immediately. "The WHAT!?" he yelled, causing Reika to jump back in surprise. The golden pokémon narrowed his eyes in anger. "You're with them?" he growled.

"Because of you, Riley!" Reika didn't care anymore if Jolteon wanted to hear his name of not. She gave him that name, and she was going to use it. "I had no other choice. There was no way in this world that I was going to let that Scyther kill you the way that he killed your father!" Reika started crying again – she hadn't been this emotional since the very night her mate was murdered.

"No, no…" Jolteon shook furiously and began pacing through the murky waters of the sewer. "No, this can't be true, can't be true…THIS ISN'T TRUE!" he yelled into the depths of the tunnel, his voice echoing back at him many times over. "I know what that organization does! How could you be a part of that?"

Reika didn't have time to respond before both hers and Jolteon's attentions were diverted. Something big was running over the road; they could feel it though the tremors of the sewer. Human cries and screams could be heard from above.

"Get out of the way!"

"What is that!?"

"It's a horse on fire! Run!"

The trembling grew louder as a massive being hurdled over the section of sewer Jolteon and Reika were standing in.

"Hang on, everyone!" shouted a familiar, but muffled, voice.

"Ereyla!" both Jolteon and Reika said in unison.

Jolteon gave his mother a funny look. "Wait, how do you know –"

But Jolteon stopped. Ereyla had told them all that she was part of the CPA undercover. How else could she know the Rapidash? No, no! Your mom did not join the CPA. You're better off thinking that she abandoned you. Your life is not worth the many lives that have been lost all because of the existence of that wretched group.

Reika was giving her son a pleading look. Please believe me, son, she thought to herself. I'm telling you the truth!

"I'm sorry, mom, but I have to go. I refuse to believe that you are a part of the CPA. I would hope that my mother would consider how many more lives than just mine she'd be ruining by joining, no matter what the cost." With that, Jolteon bolted down the sewer in pursuit of Ereyla's path, leaving behind him an emotionally ravaged pokémon.

Jennifer's Point of View

"Jennifer! Jenn! Wake up!"

I heard a voice shouting at me. It hurt my head. I wanted it to stop.

"Chill out, Dive-Bomb!" snapped a different voice. "She'll be okay. I'd imagine the stress to be getting to her by now."

I realized then why I had passed out. Dive-Bomb had mentioned that Razor would want to get as much information out of Stephanie as possible. It had made me sick thinking of exactly how Razor was going to get his information, and I was starting to feel queasy again.

I felt a sudden rap on my head. What the crap. That hurt. There's no reason to be hitting me on the head, Umbreon. I said it to myself because I knew I'd received another one if I said it out loud.

"Umbreon!" Vaporeon scolded. She should definitely consider being a mom someday.

"What?" the black pokémon retorted. "It's time for her to get up and stop having a pity party with herself. The odds are pretty stacked against Stephanie just up and saving herself from those bastards."

Dammit, he knows I'm awake. But he's right. I am not going to let anything happen to my sister if I can help it. She has done so much for me, even when I didn't deserve it…there is no way I am letting her down.

I opened my eyes and climbed to my feet, a little wobbly at first. I gave Umbreon a quick nod, which was all I needed to do to let him know I'd heard what he said.

I decided to get right down to it. "Dive-Bomb." I began. The bird seemed startled that I said his name. After Umbreon had spoken, Dive-Bomb had a different feel about him. And now that I was looking at him, he seemed extremely uncomfortable. I continued anyway. "You're the best chance I have at getting my sister back safely. We need your help in finding where she's being kept. I know you said you don't know where, but I'm sure you have some idea –"

"Look," Dive-Bomb interrupted me mid-sentence. I hate when people do that. Being a pokémon doesn't make it any different. "I don't understand a thing that is going on here, especially the part where you all keep referring to a human girl as an Eevee's sister…"

I opened my mouth to explain to the Swellow what was going on, only to be nudged roughly by Umbreon. Obviously, I wasn't allowed to say anything about my transformation. I glanced at Vaporeon, and she seemed to agree as well. I turned a glare at Umbreon for shoving me.

"…but I can't help you. You saved my life and I repaid you with yours. This is where our partnership ends."

"What? Why?" I completely forgot about Umbreon and his shove. "What's it going to hurt you to help us? It's not like you'll be able to run back to your so-called 'friends'."

"That's not true. If I go back now, I'm positive they'll give me another chance. Any Swellow could've been here helping you, and the last time any of them saw me, I was still a Taillow. I cannot risk it any longer. My chances of survival are not good if I continue gallivanting with you all." The Swellow turned his back. "I'm sorry, truly I am…but I cannot assist you any longer."

I was livid. Tears were beginning to form in my eyes again; angry tears, not sad ones. There were so many foul things I wanted to scream at Dive-Bomb right then, but I couldn't pick which one I wanted to say first.

"So that's how it going to be, huh?" Umbreon was quicker to speak than I was. I felt a small amount of satisfaction in that. Umbreon can come across much meaner than I can. Which is definitely saying something… I added as an afterthought.

Umbreon continued. "This is all about you, isn't it? The only reason you saved Jennifer was because you didn't want to feel like you owed anybody anything, am I right?"

Dive-Bomb remained silent, his back towards us.

"You only care about your own survival, you prick. Forget the well-being of a teenage girl who doesn't deserve to die by the likes of you, or the countless other pokémon you've captured and left for dead, you selfish, son of a Mightyena!"

Vaporeon and I exchanged stern glances. I don't think Dive-Bomb comprehended the magnitude of that insult coming from Umbreon.

The bird still didn't speak. "You're just a damn coward, Dive-Bomb. I hope you get struck by lightning." The black fox turned back to us. "Let's go. We'll find Stephanie ourselves."

Umbreon stalked off. Vaporeon gave a fleeting look towards Dive-Bomb before turning around as well. I stood there for a few more seconds. I couldn't believe Dive-Bomb was being so selfish. I thought he was for real when he got me out of that building, that maybe he was going to change. When Dive-Bomb still didn't turn to face me, I finally ran to catch up with Umbreon and Vaporeon.

Not all pokémon are good, just like in humanity, I reminded myself. I just hope the good outweigh the bad in the pokémon world.

We left Dive-Bomb sitting there all alone. I wondered what he was thinking.

"Where are we going?" Skull shouted from his seat on the Rapidash's back. "And how much farther? This ride is starting to hurt in certain places!"

Everyone else rolled their eyes. "We'll be there soon!" Ereyla answered, purposely ignoring his last comment. "We're going to the CPA headquarters – hopefully your friends will already be there with the Eevee and the PAP member."

The five pokémon travelled in silence for a moment. All were wondering the same thing – where was Jennifer? Had she been hurt? And what about Stephanie? Why would any pokémon want to harm a PAP member? It didn't make any sense, especially to the four that weren't involved with the CPA.

Tat was facing opposite of the direction that Ereyla was galloping, while everyone else was facing forward. It was his job to alert Ereyla if something was following them, especially human police.

They sped past street signs and billboards. I wonder what all these signs say? Tat wondered idly, not really concerned but curious all the same. Just as he was about to turn his head to find out, a flash of gold caught his attention in his peripheral. He swung his head immediately, prepared to yell to Ereyla that they were being pursued.

A surprised, but excited look spread across the Rattata's face. "Jolteon!" he exclaimed. "Ereyla, slow down! Jolteon is behind us!"

Ereyla turned her head to confirm, and slowed her pace so the Jolteon could catch up. He was quick, but not nearly as fast as a Rapidash moving at full speed.

Jolteon gradually became even with Ereyla. Both understood that it would be extremely dangerous to stop in the middle of human territory. "I'm so glad I found you all!" Jolteon breathed heavily.

"I'm glad we found you too, Jolteon." The Rapidash wasn't even breaking a sweat. "We were beginning to worry that something might've happened."

"Yea!" Skull piped up from above. "Who then would I have to throw insults at?"

Jolteon shot a glare up at the Marowak through his panting. "Where are we headed?"

"CPA headquarters," Ereyla answered coolly. "What about the others?"

"I'm not sure. But let's talk more when we get there. If I say much else, I'll probably pass out."

Dive-Bomb was left alone – alone with his tormenting thoughts. Umbreon's words had hit him hard. It's all true, he admitted to himself. I am a coward. I could not even bring myself to help a group of friendly pokémon and their human friend. A PAP member of all things. How selfish can I be? I should've been struck by lightning back at headquarters, but Jennifer saves me...Well, there's no turning back now. I have to get back there and talk to Razor before it's too late.

Lost in his thoughts, Dive-Bomb was completely oblivious to his surroundings. Something stirred just a few feet away from where he sat – something that was not willing to let Dive-Bomb get away with his treachery.

A/N: Well, there it is. So who is this mysterious character? Read back a few chapters and you might figure it out. ;] Please let me know what you all think by reviewing! :] Criticisms and suggestions are always welcome; I could always use the help, and I'd love to hear what you guys think since I brought the story back to life. Also, I would like to thank Gabe B. for the use of Dive-Bomb, Soaran for the use of Nimbus, Ryu-Ketto for the use of Devos, and Ireth-Tasartir for the use of Ereyla. I know some of you might not be reading anymore, but I just wanted to put the thanks out there anyway. Thanks for reading!