Chapter Fourteen

At just the mention of the egg hatching, Colby and Ellis crowded around Amanda, who was setting the egg down on her sleeping bag. Josh looked completely confused, but as soon as he saw the gleaming white shell of the egg, commenced huddling around Amanda's sleeping bag.

Josh though was careful not to get to close to Ellis, which to his dismay (clearly said by the curl of his lip) was sitting to the left of him. Colby sat on the grass beside Amanda, who was eagerly watching the egg as it proceeded to hatch.

Tiny cracks started to appear over the marble white colored shell as whatever was inside, was ready to be free.

"What Pokémon is this egg supposed to be harboring?" Josh asked.

"I don't know…but I will tell you the story later…" Amanda said succinctly, fascinated by the egg.

Another major crack appeared and Colby held her breath as the Pokémon busted through the shell. It was covered in some goo of some sort, and seemed a bit confused.

Amanda sucked in a breath and grabbed a scrap rag of some sort from her bag. Attentively, she held out her palm, which the Pokémon sniffed curiously. He then sneezed; making a speck of the mysterious egg goo hit Colby's cheek. She smiled and wiped it off.

"What is it…?" Ellis asked curiously.

"Let me wipe this slime off of it, and then maybe then we can see his pretty face," Amanda smiled.

The little Pokémon seemed to like her instantly, and sat still while Amanda removed most of the slime from it. After getting a majority of it off, it lifted its head to gaze around the circle at each one of them.

"It's a shiny Pichu!" Colby said, recognizing that face and those markings anywhere.

The small Pichu's ears were pointed up as he was staring at them all in wonderment. Colby couldn't even imagine what it was like to be in an egg…and then just bust out one day to a strange new world that you didn't even know existed.

"Pi…Pichu," the little Pichu said.

Its markings were those normal of a shiny Pichu. Short, yellow-orange fur covered its body, along with the occasional markings of black on its ears and neck.

On his head, jagged shaped ruffles formed his hair, which made him look like a little dare devil from birth. The Pichu's tail was short and vaguely looked to be in a lightning bolt shape, like its further evolutions would have. Two little pink pouches were on his cheeks, making him look really cute.

Colby quickly got out her PokeLog, and held it up to the Pokémon. It logged the Pokémon quickly, and stored the information in the wireless data Dex chip that was accessible by all four of them (the fourth being…Riley). Colby was glad that the Dex chip was collective between the four of them…because there would be no way that all of this could be logged by one person. It was simply too much.

Just as Colby had said, the screen had a picture of the shiny Pokémon and tons of information that it had recorded in an instant. Colby felt sympathetic to the loggers of the newly discovered region's long ago that had to write all of this stuff down. Thank the Stellar Spirits for technology.

Just that word sent Colby's stomach into a dip as she remembered the vision clearly and all that she had learned. So far, she had been repressing the thoughts…and the responsibilities that seemed to come with this…choosing.

Trying hard not to think about that for now, she turned off the PokeLog and listened into the chattering of everyone that she seemed to have been ignoring.

"He's so cute!" Amanda cooed, picking up the little Pichu and giving him a hug.

Ellis was grinning from head to foot it seemed, and he took the little guy from Amanda's arms.

"Hey little fella, it's your Uncle Ellis. Okay…maybe not Uncle Ellis…" Ellis laughed, ruffling his already ruffled fur on the top of the Pichu's head.

The Pichu seemed to like Ellis, but didn't really like the holding of him as much. He walked over and sniffed Josh attentively…seeming to know that Josh wasn't really a person to mess with.

Mischievously as his truly daring nature was beginning to be revealed, the Pichu climbed his cloak and sat on his shoulder. This whole time, Josh didn't seem to know how to react and stiffened.

Josh's facial expression harbored confusion. He looked like he wanted to throw the Pokémon off…but oddly; Colby saw something like a glint of fear pass through his eyes. As soon as she noticed it though, it was gone, and she wondered if she had been imagining things in the first place.

He turned his head, and looked straight at the Pichu who was looking at him mischievously from the top of his shoulder.

Josh's eyes seemed bug out of his head as the two starred each other down within a couple inches of touching faces. Josh now looked confused, horrified, and irritated all in the same face, which was extremely interesting for viewing.

"This could turn out very badly…" Ellis whispered to Colby from beside her.

Colby rapidly nodded in agreement, now watching Amanda who seemed to be holding her breath this whole time. Colby turned her attention back to Josh, who had now gone cross eyes due to the Pichu who had his paws on Josh's nose.

Josh finally seemed to snap as the brave Pichu licked his face. He seemed to stand there for a few seconds and let the shock register on his face at what had just happened.

Quite finished, the Pichu jumped down and started to lick his paw nonchalantly in front of Amanda. Amanda, Ellis, and Colby's eyes were wide as Josh seemed to shrivel up like a prune. His face was twisted in a mask of confusion and disgust at the same time. He shuddered massively, shot a glare to the three of them (including the Pichu) and stormed off into the forest without looking back.


They all three just stood there, Colby trying to keep her mouth from dropping open at what had just happened.

As they all stayed quiet, Colby could hear some muffled yelling coming from the forest path he had just created. A flock of Pidgey's squawked and flew in an array shape far away from there.

Amanda petted the Pichu lightly on the head and looked at Colby and Ellis. They all three burst out laughing at the same time and before she knew it, Colby was almost in tears.

"I guess he couldn't handle kindness. Dear Stellar Spirits! Help me! Can't. Comprehend. Kindness," Ellis laughed, doing a crude imitation of Josh.

Amanda laughed and petted the Pichu again. She seemed very happy that he was doing well. Colby and Ellis plopped down in the grass beside her and Ellis grabbed an orange that he had in his backpack.

"So, we know that the Pichu is a little dare devil from the start! Who would challenge Josh that doesn't have some serious confidence?" Ellis asked, beginning to peel his orange.

"Oh yes," Amanda laughed, "I wondered that myself. Either he has some true spunk…or he just didn't know the storm that he was driving into."

"I'm surprised that he didn't just sense the snootiness' radiating from Josh," Ellis said, taking a bite of the orange slice.

Then, just as if someone had flipped a switch, the Pichu (who was curled up on Amanda's lap, seemingly dozing) jumped up like he had been energized by a lightning bolt.

Eyes fixated on the orange, the Pichu leaped and snatched the whole, peeled orange straight out of Ellis's hand.

Surprised, Ellis looked at him, who was practically inhaling the orange. "Hey! You little orange stealer!" Ellis laughed, watching the Pichu eat it.

"Well, we know what that little guy likes," Colby commented with a smile.

Amanda looked apologetic to Ellis, but couldn't stop herself from giggling.

"Now I think I have decided on a name," she said with a grin.

"What would that be? Orange Stealer?" Ellis asked.

"I'm going to name him Citrus because of his apparent love of oranges," Amanda said, looking at Citrus who was now licking his paws and completely done with the orange.

He was looking at Ellis with huge, puppy dog eyes, practically begging for another orange.

"Sorry Citrus! You ate my last one. We'll get you some more in the next town, buddy," Ellis said, petting Citrus.

Citrus yawned, and Colby glanced up at the sun that was at the halfway point in the sky. The day was half way over, but already so much had happened. Her new life was so much more exciting than the old one! "Where are we on the map now, Ellis?" Colby asked, stretching out against the back of the tree.

Ellis pulled out his map and pointed to the edge of the first claw, and the bridge back over to the mainland.

"We should be getting really close to the next bridge. We have almost cleared the first claw!" Ellis said excitedly, showing Colby and Amanda his map.

Colby nodded, "That's great! We are moving along! But still have a long way to go."

"Why don't you two let your Pokémon out to meet Citrus? I'm sure he would love to meet the group!" Amanda said, releasing Zero from his Poke Ball.

"Ze- Zero!" He called, shaking his fur off and looking at Citrus curiously.

They sniffed each other, and almost instantly seemed to make friends. Colby grabbed Nicksy's Poke Ball from her knapsack and called him out.

"Murr!" Nicksy mewed, rubbing Colby's hand.

After catching sight of Citrus, Nicksy looked a bit puzzled, but sniffed at Citrus. Citrus licked Nicksy on the nose (much like Josh's episode moments ago) and Nicksy seemed to like Citrus.

Emmera burst from Ellis's Poke Ball and also fit in with the group well. Colby grabbed Mara's Poke Ball and released her also. Everyone seemed to get along fine, and before they all knew it the Pokémon were playing like good friends.

"That's good that they all get along!" Colby said, watching Nicksy wrestle with Emmera.

"Well, all of our Pokémon seem to have great temperaments," Amanda said, pushing her glasses up and also watching the wrestling match with amusement. "Either that, or we are all just awesome trainers!" Ellis laughed.

Colby rest her head against the tree trunk and listened to Ellis and Amanda chatter. Her mind was tired, though they were only halfway through the day. She kind of wondered where Josh had run off to… He had left his pack and Pokémon, so he was going to have to come back eventually.

It had been a good day so far…because they hadn't run into Riley Giaden. He was such a…Colby really couldn't put it into words what he was. She sighed despite her natural hate for him, and laughed to herself.

"Aw, well isn't this just cute? A little Pokémon reunion is it?" A threatening voice said, jerking Colby out of her doze.


Her eyes snapped open to see guy with light brown hair looking at them with a dangerous glint in his eyes. Colby's mouth about fell open to the interesting design and colors of his apparel which was unlike any she had ever seen.

A purple, long sleeved shirt and a pair of loose fitting grey pants with adorned him, along with black boots.A peculiar design was stitched into the shirt that sort of resembled a moon with a star on the inside of the moon, and some interesting jagged lines rose up from above it. A purple headband with a star in the middle of it stretched across his bangs.

His smile was one of malice and obvious dislike. His nature was almost one of haughtiness and superiority.

"Huh?" Ellis said looking a bit confused as they all stood up to meet the kid. "Those are some cute Pokémon," he sneered, "too bad that I have to take them from you."

Even the Pokémon looked frightened, and had immediately crowded around the three in a protective (but frightened) manner.

"What are you talking about?" Ellis said sternly, starting to figure out that this guy didn't seem to be kidding.

The guy now was smiling even more devilishly. It wasn't like Riley's devilish smile, which always ended up being harmless pestering; this was a smile of pure evil. Colby felt a surge of fear, despite the guy seeming to be their age or not much older.

He started to advance towards them a couple steps, but stopped and studied all of them (Pokémon in particular). Could he possibly be a Pokémon thief? They could take him…maybe.

"What is to be confused, green one? I said I am taking your Pokémon. End of story," he said in his smooth, but dangerous voice.

Colby's eyes narrowed at the guy, and her unhappy face came back. "These are our Pokémon. You won't take them from us, so buzz off," Colby snapped, taking a step towards the invader.

Instead of fear, she now felt a surge of anger towards the boy. Who was he to come and steal their Pokémon? They had trained them, and captured them themselves, not him. No one was going to steal Nicksy, or any of their Pokémon for that matter.

She felt confident and all…but Josh was a bit more intimidating. For once, she wished he was here to give her some back up. Amanda looked pale, and gathered Zero in her arms.

Citrus was standing firmly in front of her with a growl escaping his lips and electricity discharging from his pink cheeks. The gesture was quite cute actually…

The guy gave a half hearted laugh and fixed his piercing gaze on Colby, who held her ground.

"I didn't give you a choice, my dear. I am going to take these Pokémon, whether it's the easy way or the hard way. But I can assure you, the hard way… Well, let's just say that things might get ugly," he returned with malice dancing in his eyes. Ellis snorted, "Yeah, you and what army?"

The guy face palmed and sighed, "You are the chattiest group that I think I have ever seen. I'm done with this inconsistent babbling. Look, I know people, and can really mess you up. Now, any more questions before I proceed to take your Pokémon?"

Colby looked between Amanda and Ellis, who seemed utterly annoyed by the stranger.

"Who do you think you are?" Amanda challenged, speaking for the first time.

He briefly glanced at her, but made sure his glare was sharp.

Amanda didn't flinch as he answered, "I am a grunt for Team Lunar. I take Pokémon, like yours-"

Colby's temper flared once again, "Where you then experiment on them, and dump them in dumpsters half dying."

The guy looked between her and Nicksy who was standing firmly at her side. Seeming to get something that she didn't, the guy's smile increased.

"You would know a lot about that, wouldn't you?"

Fear shot through Colby's body as she glanced briefly at Nicksy. Could he know? For once, she regretted saying anything.

"Enough with this nonsense go Lunatones!" The guy yelled, throwing out two silver Poke Balls.

Colby glanced at Ellis and Amanda, who were calling out their Pokémon. "Go Emmera!" Ellis said.

The little Leafeon stepped up in front of him, ready for battle.

"Go Zero!" Amanda called, letting Zero flank Emmera.

Citrus looked up at her with fire in his eyes, but Amanda mouthed a no. Colby guessed he just wasn't ready for battle yet…after all, he was just newly hatched. Citrus, seeing that he wasn't going to get a chance this time, stepped back to fiercely guard them.

"Let's go Nicksy!" Colby finished, letting the three face the guy's two.

Colby quickly recalled Mara to her Poke Ball and stuffed it in her backpack. Amanda pulled her Unknown cap down on her head, and looked between Colby and Ellis. This was going to be their first battle together. Team Lunar was the opponent.

Just as the guy was about to call out his first move, an all too familiar voice of Josh screamed at them.

"What the hell is going on here?"


Author's Note: Hope you liked it guys! :) Nice to introduce Team Lunar, who have more to hide than you think. But, all their secrets are safe with the stars, and not ready to be told yet. So you know what that means…you'll have to wait for more! Let me know your thoughts and comments!

OH! I almost forgot! Want to see a rough sketch of what Team Lunar grunts look like? Our wiz drawer, real life Amanda, has brought that available to your viewing! Go check it out on Sumo Paint!

Website: Sumo Paint .com

Artist: Mayamayagirl

Any other drawings that are completed will be posted on my profile, or the Author's note at the end of the chapter. Sorry we can't put a link :( But it won't let me put one...

Thanks a bunch to all you fans! Enjoy, and hope you're having a great summer!

-colbyjackchz