Chapter 23
6/29/0046/Morning
Olivine City
Seaport
"Big bro, I back!" Robbie shouted, barging into the small shop.
"Robbie, what are you doing here, I thought you said you wouldn't be back until you could afford to feed yourself?" A kind of deep voice asked from the back.
"Is it wrong for me to drop in on my beloved brother Ricky and see how he's doing?" Robbie asked in return.
"If you're going to eat something, get out now." The voice replied as an older version of Robbie stepped out from the back of shop carrying a crate in his arms.
"Is that a new shipment?" Robbie asked curiously as his brother placed the crate on the counter.
"Nope, don't you remember this box? It has our prized possession in it."
"Oh right, the Mystic Water."
"Yep, I've been wondering what to do with lately since its just taking up space and no one wants to by this old relic." Ricky explained, opening the crate that was obviously to big for the small necklace it held inside it.
The necklace was nothing but string and a small, water drop shaped pendant that appeared too filled with a blue liquid.
"Anyway, I saw you on tv last week, Olivine City's newest C-Class trainer." Ricky said, pointing at Robbie who grinned.
"That's right, soon to be Olivine City's first Battle Circuit World Champ." Robbie corrected him, Ricky rolling his eyes. "But I've got some news for you bro, I decided that I'm going to Sinnoh."
"Sinnoh? What for?"
"Well simply because the Battle Circuit standards are higher there since the trainers are so much stronger than what I can battle in Johto." Robbie explained. "I lost in the Rookie Kings so I need to focus on my training, and what better place than where the Golden Flash made is rise to stardom."
"Hmm, I see. The trainers in Sinnoh are tough. Don't be a sore loser if you get beaten there." Ricky said with a smirk.
"Don't worry bro, you'll be hearing all about how I won every match in Sinnoh pretty soon, I'm going straight to the top." Robbie declared.
"So you have everything planned out?"
"Yup, I already have my ferry ticket to Canalave City." Robbie responded, giving him a thumbs up.
"And how's Pidgeotto?"
"Perfect condition, in fact I think its going to evolve pretty soon."
"Alright then, good luck in Sinnoh Robbie, I'll be watching from here." Ricky said, getting a smile from Robbie who gave him a wave before heading toward the exit. "Hold up Robbie, take this with you."
Robbie turned around, barely managing to catch the Mystic Water which Ricky had tossed to him.
"Take it with you to Sinnoh, consider it a good luck charm."
"Thanks Ricky, see ya." Robbie said, pocketing the old item before rushing out the door when he realized his ferry to Sinnoh would be leaving pretty soon.
"Crazy kid." Ricky mumbled to himself with a smile as he walked toward the door, remaining at the entrance to the store to watch Robbie disappear into Olivine harbor where his ferry was located. 'Good, at least the Mystic Water will be out of Team Rocket's reach for now.'
Harbor
Robbie pushed his way through the crowded area, the large ferry boat he would be taking to Sinnoh looming over the area. It matched the size of a cruise ship since so many people were heading to Sinnoh now that vacation was rolling in.
"Whoa!" Robbie exclaimed as the boardwalk leading to the ship came into view, dozens of people filling it as they waited to board. "This is going to be so awesome."
Following Robbie from a distance was Victory and Gwen. The duo Robbie had met up in had been tailing him for the past few weeks.
They followed him down , through Ecruteak City and all the way to Olivine City.
"Can you feel that?" Victor asked Gwen, getting a nod from the girl.
"That dark presence?" Gwen asked in return.
"It must be a Dark Crest." Victor whispered as they watched Robbie began to walk up the ramp that led up to the deck of the ship. "Come on, let's hope this ship leaves before he or she locates us."
The duo quickly joined the line that led onto the ship, planning to act as stowaways to follow Robbie to Sinnoh.
The ship's horn blared as it surged forward, leaving the harbor, a crowd of people on the top deck waving to the friends and family they were leaving behind as they took off for Sinnoh.
Robbie himself was waving to Ricky who he had spotted in the mass of people, his brother returning his wave until he was nothing but a speck in the distance.
'Well, now I'm off to Sinnoh.' Robbie said once the Olivine harbor had become too small for him to see anymore, the vast ocean and blue skies being the only thing he could see to his left and right. "Croconaw."
Robbie released his partner from its Poke-ball, inviting the Pokemon to follow him as they began to head toward the lower levels of the ship through a small staircase at the end of the deck.
6/29/0046/Noon
Kanto Region
Celadon City
A lone male trainer ran through the outskirts of the city, using the tree line as cover while trying to steady his breathing.
"Mightyena, are you okay?" He asked, looking around for his wolf-like partner Pokemon. After a few moments, he heard a soft growl from behind, the black, four legged Pokemon standing behind him with a small gray U-shaped object in its mouth.
"Ragh." It replied before shaking itself so that it could get the dust and dirt off its fur.
"And the Magnet?"
Mightyena dropped the Magnet onto the ground in front its trainer so that he could collect the object and place it in his back pack again.
"Good job. We almost lost it that time." He said, wiping the dust and dirt off his blue denim jacket and jeans before checking his hair. The usual mess of black of hair he possessed had nearly been lost earlier today in his latest confrontation with Team Rocket.
"Boy, now I need a haircut." He mumbled to himself as he tried to smoothen out his hair. "Come Mightyena, it looks like Celadon City is getting way to dangerous for us."
Roy, the twenty two year old Pokemon trainer sighed to himself as he was forced to leave yet another city because he was being hunted by Team Rocket.
6/30/0046/Late Morning
Johto Region
Olivine City
A single male quietly approached the large city by air, standing on the back of the Legendary Eon Pokemon known as Latios. He wore a plain brown cloak that covered his entire body, hiding everything but his head from sight.
"Latios." Alan began, looking down at the blue and white Pokemon. "Morph into a Pidgeot, we have to look normal."
The Eon Pokemon hissed at him before grumbling to itself as its became enveloped in a white light. Its body shape changed from that of a well designed aircraft to an actual bird Pokemon, a form Latios hated.
"He lives somewhere in the harbor so we'll start there." Alan said, pointing toward the market at the southern end of the city where ships were docking and leaving constantly.
Ricky sighed to himself since Robbie was probably halfway to Sinnoh by now.
"Boy, he's still just a C-Class trainer, but who know what'll happen to him." Ricky muttered to himself as he took off his store apron. "I hope he does well in Sinnoh."
Ricky tossed his apron onto the counter and exited the shop, leaving the door unlocked in case a customer dropped in while he was gone.
'First I have to stop at the fish market, then the produce market and then I'll head over to Maria's house and see if she wants to go out to dinner.' Ricky said to himself mentally, looking down at the list he held in his hand.
Lake Rage
Team Rocket Bunker
Blake and Matt stood before the Admin that sat behind his desk, writing out a check for the two of them for capturing so many Gyarados' in the past two weeks as well as for helping out with a few of the deliveries.
"We're getting paid?" Matt asked out loud as the Admin placed the check in his hand.
"Yup, its rare jobs get done so efficiently here so I reward my workers when they do their work properly." The Admin explained with a small smile.
"Thanks." Blake said, folding up the check. "I'm going to change and then I'm out of here."
Blake turned on his heels, giving the Admin a wave before exiting the room in silence.
"Hey Blake, wait up." Matt said, waving to the Admin before chasing after Blake, leaving the older man alone in his office.
The Admin chuckled to himself, looking back down at the paper work he still had to fill out.
'Great, even in this organization the young are out on adventures while us oldies are stuck doing paperwork.' The Admin muttered to himself mentally, tempted to flip over his desk and leave work for the day, but the higher ups would have his head if this wasn't in by the end of the day.
Route 43
Blake and Matt, who had changed back into their casual clothing, leaving their Team Rocket uniforms in the Bunker, were now traveling through the grassy Route, heading for their next destination.
"To Blackthorn City, and the IBF Tourney!" Matt declared, pointing at the sky with his index finger while Blake sighed. "Can you believe Blake, this is our chance to go straight to the top of the IBF."
"Yeah, I made it this far, but the IBF Tourney is going to be filled with trainers from every region, including the Champions." Blake stated, his excitement beginning to rise when he realized that he would be battling trainers that meant business now.
"I could care less who entered, cause I'm going to beat everyone and show them all just how strong I am." Matt replied confidently.
"We're the super rookies in this tournament so everyone expects us to loss early on. But we're going to prove them wrong right?" Blake asked, glancing at Matt who gave him a nod.
"Yeah, super rookies unite!" He shouted as he and Blake bumped fists.
"To the top." Blake began, pausing for Matt to continue.
"Of the world!" Matt finished with an overzealous shout.
6/30/0046/Night
Olivine City
Residential District
"Thanks for such a wonderful date Ricky." Maria said kindly, getting a nervous chuckle from Ricky as they walked up the pathway to her house. His amber haired girlfriend matched Ricky at the humble age of twenty two.
"It was no trouble, Robbie left for Sinnoh so I want to celebrate with someone." Ricky said with a sly smile, causing Maria to giggle.
"And by that, you mean you're lonely?" Maria asked, getting a snort from Ricky.
"Please." Ricky replied sarcastically before pausing. He glanced at Maria who was waiting for the real answer. "…Just a little bit. But I was hoping you would help me keep the loneliness away."
Ricky produced a small velvet box from his pocket, opening it to reveal a small silver ring with a semi large diamond on it. Maria gasped when she saw the ring, covering her mouth with hand.
"Will you marry me?" He asked genuinely before he found two arms wrapped around his neck.
"Of course I'll marry you Ricky!" She shouted, throwing herself on him in a hug, Ricky barely managing to catch her as he spun in a circle the two of them laughing.
After a good minute, the two of them quieted down, Maria placing a small kiss on Ricky's cheek before retreating into her house.
"Yaahooo!" He shouted, taking a leap into the air where he clicked his heels together before taking off in a sprint.
During his entire walk home, Ricky was as happy as he could possibly be, skipping through Olivine City without a care in the world.
Ricky opened the door to his shop, humming a happy tune until he spotted a brunette sitting on one of the seats in front of the counter clothed only in a cloak.
"Oh, I'm really sorry." Ricky said when he remembered that he hadn't come back to the shop after he left in the morning. "How long have you been here?"
"Not long. I came this morning and waited." He replied as Ricky quickly got behind the counter.
"I'm really sorry, I had a date." Ricky said shamelessly.
"It's no trouble at all. My name is Alan, I'm what you'd call a pack rat but I collect rare treasures."
"So, what can I do for you?"
"I heard I could get find a Mystic Water here."
"I'm sorry, but it's gone."
"…Gone?" Alan repeated the last word of the sentence.
"Yeah, I sold it earlier today." Ricky replied.
"To who?"
"Sorry, but I don't share that kind of information, customer security and all that."
"No, I think you can tell me."
"Umm, no I can't. It's for my safety as well as yours since we'd get sued for telling that kind of stuff to other people."
Alan's dropped his cloak, revealing his Team Rocket uniform as well as an enraged facial expression.
"Tell me where the Mystic Water is!" He shouted at Ricky, reaching over the store counter to grab his shirt collar.
"Team Rocket…I knew you'd come back, so I gave the Mystic Water to someone you'll never find." Ricky said with a smirk, causing Alan to visibly become angrier.
The store exploded, a cloud of purple rising into the sky from the store as debris flew out in all directions, causing some damage to the surrounding buildings while the explosion set off a few car alarms.
After a few moments the purple cloud was swallowed up in black smoke, Alan bursting out of the smoke on Latios' back, disappearing into the night time sky.
Sorry if it seemed short, but now everything is moving along steadily with Alan's third appearance. Please Review, I'd like any feedback on how everything seems at the moment.
R & R