Author's note: Hi! I am so, so sorry for not updating over the past few weeks. I had a major project in school, and then I got the flu. :( Thank you so much for your patience, and please forgive me if this writing isn't as good as usual. Also, thank you to everyone who reviewed, and for not reviewing with hate and other similar stuff. I really can't thank you enough!

Disclaimer: I promise you I don't own pokémon. No, seriously. I don't own Pokémon, the characters, the games storyline, or whatever else I forgot. This is a fan-fiction.

(Chapter 11: Gigaremo, and Other Pressing Issues)

(Kate's P.O.V., Present day)

I walked back into the base. The operator, Shannon, was talking to Barlow, Crawford and Luana. She looked rather serious as she fiddled around with several pieces of information on her desk. I snuck over, because I didn't want to disturb them. They must've talked for a good five minutes before anyone noticed me, at which point they all stopped and put uneasy smiles on their faces. Shannon quickly shoved the papers into a file, which I noticed had a small crest on the top right corner. Luana was the first to break the ice.

"Hi, did you enjoy your walk? We were getting a little worried 'bout you taking so long. I was considering hiring a search party," Luana said with a sharp laugh.

I was rather suspicious at this point. Why would Luana's attitude shift from solemn to happy in the blink of an eye? It was like they were hiding something from me, which always peaked my curiosity.

"Yes, I enjoyed my walk. Actually, I saw a strange guy messing with a Gigaremo. He was wearing a black uniform with a creepy purple swirl. I think the Gigaremo was controlling the pokémon, because some of them soon began to attack me," I signed.

I pretended not to notice anything of Luana's attitude. Why alert them to my suspicions when I could still glean more information. I always loved playing detective, and I had learned a little from some old friends of mine.

Suddenly, an older woman burst in. She looked rather disheveled with frizzy hair and a sooty dress. Her eyes were in a panic, and she was coughing as she spoke.

"Please! My little Mimi is in the Vien Forest, and the forest is aflame! Please help!"

"Okay guys," Barlow began, "I hate to ask, but Crawford, you go ahead and secure the area. Luana, you take Kate and go help Mimi. I will stay here and attend to her mother, okay?" We nodded.

Now, let me get this straight. Personally, the idea of going into a fire, rescuing a little girl, and watching the home of so many pokémon burn down hit a little too close to home for my comfort. At the very least, I knew that Crawford wouldn't let the forest burn to ashes, so I was willing to focus my energy upon rescuing Mimi.

Luana grabbed my hand, and proceeded to drag me towards the forest. Once we finally arrived, I was shocked both to feel how hot it was, and to see how quickly the fire must've spread. Wow. Just one little spark can destroy everything. Nature's destruction is almost as terrifying as that of humans. Almost, because we destroy all that comes across our path. Nature at least finds a way to survive.

It didn't take long to find Mimi. She was walking around, as if she were looking for something. Luana came over to the little girl and began to speak,

"Mimi, it's dangerous here. Your mother was really worried about you."

"Mimi can't go home. Mimi's happiny are still in the forest. Mimi must find her happiny," Mimi said. She looked around some more for the happiny as Luana and I formulated a plan.

"Okay Mimi. How about Kate finds your happiny, and I wait here with you." Luana didn't even wait for Mimi to answer before ushering me away. Now, I guess I was supposed to find some happiny.

"How many," I signed to Luana. I always worked with a goal in mind, and I needed as much information as possible to make that goal.

"Four! Four happiny," Luana responded. I quickly rushed off. Now I had my goal, rescue Mimi's four happiny.

I walked onward down a small path, and was nearly flattened by a flaming log. Several sunkern leapt out of the brush in a panic, and I immediately went into a capture. It wasn't hugely difficult, but the amount of pokémon made it a little difficult. I always have a difficulty capturing several pokémon at once, as they almost always impede my capture line. Of course, this was no exception.

By the time I finished capturing the sunkern, the fallen log had all but burned away. I jumped over the remaining parts, and continued on my way.

Wait for me! I'm not used to this kind of flying!

Sorry Starly. I didn't mean to leave you behind. Did you happen to see any happiny?

No, they must be further along the path. Wait! Did you just hear that?

I nodded. The two of us continued around the corner until we finally came across a small clearing. There was the first happiny, looking rather in a panic. I brought out my styler and decided to capture it.

I was shocked to see how difficult a capture happiny was. I decided to use Starly's poke- assist, and was happy to see how much it helped. I finished the rest of the capture without a hitch, and we continued on our way.

It wasn't too difficult to find the rest of the happiny, they were in plain sight as we continued down the path. I quickly captured them, and ran back to Luana and Mimi. Of course, what did I do but fall face down in the dirt. After laughing for a good while, Luana and Mimi helped me up. Mimi returned home with her happiny, and Luana and I continued onward to find Crawford.

"There you two are! Kate, I need your help. Find me a Blastiose, okay," Crawford said with a quick nod. I nodded back.

I quickly noticed a stream running through, so I decided to take a look downstream. After all, it was only logical that a water pokémon like blastiose would be hanging out by the water. I finally found the blastiose, and went into a capture.

Ouch! Note to self: when you see a pokémon move coming towards you, it rather helps to dodge.

I finally completed the capture, it having been far more difficult than I had envisioned. I walked back to Crawford and Luana, who seemed deep in conversation.

"You know though, I've been wondering about her...," Crawford's voice trailed off when he saw me.

"Okay, now you, Kate, can find the proper spot to use Blastiose's area move."

I nodded. I was curious about Luana and Crawford's conversation, but it seemed all hush-hush. I finally spotted the perfect spot, and had Blastiose use his rain dance. I patted Blastiose on the head on thanks, and released him.

You could've warned me!

I grinned. Oops… another note to self: warn Starly, he doesn't like to get wet.

Crawford and Luana came rushing up to me, cheesy grins plastered on their faces.

"Why is it raining?" Joked Crawford. Luana rolled her eyes, and I did too. The three of us walked back to the base together, arm in arm and laughing.

'It's good to have friends,' I thought, 'If only it could stay this way…'

Thank you for reading! Sorry if this wasn't as good, or as long, as usual, I'm still dealing with remnants of the flu, but I hope you enjoyed it anyways. Thank you, and please review.