Chapter 29

"Zane's Crest." An old voice muttered.

"I felt it too." A female voice said.

"It disappeared." A deep voice said. "I told him not attempt stealing Jirachi unless we joined him."

"I knew he wasn't going to listen." The female said.

"Worst of all we have no one monitoring Jirachi." The deep voice added.

"Do not bother with Zane, it's too late to think about what happened to him. The two of you should continue to monitor the King." The old voice said.

"What about Titus?" The female asked.

"Once Abyss Arceus is released we will deal with him. Prepare yourselves, the Storm is near."

"Yes Master." The two said together.

Route 110

Blake observed the family of four in silence as they talked and laughed with each other happily, each of them taking turns to hold the baby Toby as they walked.

"Blake, why are you looking at us like that?" Arika asked, directing everyone's attention at the sixteen year old boy who was subconsciously glaring at the group.

Blake snapped out of his daze, realizing everyone was looking him now.

"Hmm?" Blake said, raising one eyebrow.

"You were glaring at us." Marilyn explained. "Is something wrong?"

"No, nothing's wrong. It's just that I've never traveled with this many people before so it just feel kind of...off." Blake replied.

"Off, what do you mean by that?" Marilyn asked, accepting Toby from Arika since he had begun to pull at the girl's hair again.

"Well you're all just plain weird." Blake answered, gaining a laugh from them.

"You think we're weird?" Jim asked motioning to his family while receiving a nod from Blake. "Well what's your family like if you think we're so weird."

"I wouldn't know, my parents are none existent to me." Blake said with a blank expression, causing all the smiles to disappear.

"You're an orphan?" Arika asked, looking at Blake who never broke eye contact with the rest of them.

"Yeah, it's no big deal though. The first half of my childhood I spent alone in Goldenrod City and I was fine. I didn't need anyone to take care of me, I did everything myself." Blake said. "After a while this lady named Lola took me to New Bark Town to an orphanage she and her husband were running. There were like thirty other kids at the time so I didn't bother to try competing for their attention. It was just me and my Larvitar."

"Don't you have any brothers or sisters?" Marilyn asked.

"No." Blake said quickly before looking up in thought. "Although there's this group of crazy girls I met in Ecruteak City that keep telling me I'm related to this girl I met in Violet City."

"Are you actually related to her?" Arika asked.

"I have no idea. She says we're related too, but I honestly don't know." Blake responded.

"So you've been traveling with your sister and you didn't know it?" Jim asked.

"Well she didn't know either. I had to bring her back from Mt Mortar but I passed out at some point but apparently I got back to Ecruteak City so they kidnapped us and took us to Mt Tsuji." Blake explained, getting several confused looks from the family.

"Kidnapped you? Why'd they do that?" Marilyn asked.

"As if I knew. A ton of weird crap happens around me on a daily basis, like the girl from Team Rocket that recruited me and dragged me halfway across Johto to get my face punched in my some buff guy." Blake said, recalling some of the events that happened to him in Johto.

"And you have the nerve to call us weird?" Jim mumbled, receiving an elbow from his wife. "Well it's true."

"So you have no family, but you're surrounded by freaks?" Arika inquired for clarification.

"Pretty much." Blake said.

"No family? Who gives you hugs then?" Arika asked, gaining a glare from Blake.

"I despise hugs." Blake said to them in a harsh whisper.

"But hugs make everything better." Arika reasoned with Blake, causing his glare to darken. "Do you want a hug right now?"

"Never." Blake replied in a whisper.

Arika looked back at her parents, nodding to both of them which they returned before looking toward Blake with growing smiles.

"Why are you guys looking at me like?" Blake asked in a deadpan as they all took a step toward him.

"Get him!" Arika shouted as they all jumped toward him.

Blake jumped backward, taking the remaining three Poke-balls he had on his belt off, giving them a toss to release his Pokemon. Poliwrath, Quilava and Shelgon appeared in between Blake and the family of four, each of them staring at the family while sensing Blake's move.

"Woah, a Quilava!" Arika exclaimed, snatching the Pokemon from the ground. Quilava hissed at the girl as she held it up, but that went unheard as she crushed the Pokemon in a hug.

Blake watched as each of his remaining three Pokemon were accepted by the family. Quilava continued to growl and snarl at Arika who was completely oblivious to the Pokemon's attempts to try and break out of her grip.

Poliwrath had begun to flex is muscles, gaining Jim's attention which resulted in the two having a competition of posing, each trying to outshine the other. The moment Toby had seen Shelgon he began to reach toward the Dragon type Pokemon, cooing at it. Shelgon was quick to approach the baby, Marilyn allowing Toby to feel the texture of Shelgon's skin.

'Traitors.' Blake mumbled.

"I really like you're Poliwrath Blake." Jim said now that he had finished wrestling with the Water type Pokemon, holding his own for a good three minutes before Poliwrath pinned him down.

"Yeah, and you're Quilava is adorable." Arika exclaimed, still holding the Fire type Pokemon that was trying to escape.

"And Shelgon is so friendly." Marilyn added, getting an agreement from Toby. Blake just glared at them, tempted to just walk away while he had the chance, but as long as Gallade, Tyranitar and Absol were in Slateport City he couldn't leave yet.

"So what did you drag me out here for?" Blake asked.

"Oh yeah. Welcome to you're week long crash course on how to use you're Crest." Jim began. "I guess we should start with how to open your Crest."

Jim raised his right arm, rolling up his sleeve where a black circle formed on his wrist, emitting a dark light.

"When you open your Crest, all of your physical abilities receive a huge boost. That's why we could jump so high and move so fast back in Slateport City." Jim explained. "You try."

Blake took a moment to stare at his right wrist. Staring intently at his blank wrist for a good two minutes, Blake finally drew a breath of air.

"I don't get it." Blake said, looking up at the man. "How do I open it?"

"Haven't you met with the Legendary Pokemon that's connected to your Crest?" Jim asked. Blake shook his head.

"I don't think so." He replied.

"Hmm, you haven't met with your partner but you were able to open your Crest and even jump up to level 3." Jim said before looking toward his wife. "Can you explain that?"

"No, I've never heard of that. How did you open your Crest in Slateport City?" Marilyn asked.

"It was when he touched Toby. Both his Crest and Toby's opened." Arika chimed in.

"Hmm, and once it was open you're emotions allowed you to progress to the higher levels." Jim said, nodding his head.

"Higher levels?" Blake repeated.

"Yeah. You're Crest has three levels you can use. Level 1 is simply when you open it and this appears on your wrist." Jim explained, pointing at the dark circle on his wrist before two lines began extended from the circle, circling around his forearm. "This is level 2, this one varies from Crest to Crest, like yours. Mine stops at my elbow while your's makes it all the way to your face."

Blake looked down at his right wrist again, clenching his hand into a tight fist as he tried to open his Crest.

"Don't worry about opening it right now, you shouldn't be able to open it until you meet with your corresponding Legendary Pokemon." Jim explained before Blake grunted, holding his forearm. Just making a fist was painful and now the veins that had disappeared back into his arms were bulging out again. "Marilyn, can you help him out?"

"Sure." She said, passing Toby to Arika. Marilyn rose from the ground, opening her Crest as she strolled over to Blake.

Grabbing the boy's forearm, a sharp pain ran up Blake's arm causing him to yelp in pain. For the few moments Marilyn had her hand around Blake's arm, her hand had grained a green glow which had been actively healing some of the damage done to his muscles until he pulled himself free of her grip.

"What are you doing?" Blake asked, glaring at her.

"Helping you." She replied.

"How are you helping me?"

"Just look at your arm."

Blake did as he was told, noticing that the area Marilyn had taken a hold was free of any bulging veins. Poking the clear area, Blake found the pain caused had greatly been reduced compared to the rest of his arm.

"What'd you do?" Blake asked.

"It comes with having a Legendary Grass type as your Crest. I have healing abilities that I can use on myself and others around me." Marilyn replied, taking a hold of his arm once again.

"Depending on the type of Legendary Pokemon you're partnered with can give you independent abilities for you to use. Like I can blend melt into someone's shadow or completely disappear at night when my Crest is open." Jim explained as his wife finished the healing process for Blake's arm.

"And I can breathe under water and match the swimming speed of a Floatzel." Arika added. "Can you do anything cool Blake? Toby can float."

Blake looked at the small child that clapped his hands together.

"So what." Blake said, looking away from the group.

"My my, could Blake be…jealous?" Marilyn asked. Blake gave her a dark glare and snorted.

"Jealous of a one year old? Never." Blake said, walking over to Arika and Toby where he took Toby from the girl.

Just like it had in Staleport City, Blake and Toby's Crests lit up, surprising Jim and Marilyn.

"Hmm, do you think his Crest reacts to him coming into contact with another Crest?" Jim asked, looking at his wife.

"He is the King so his Crest must be different from ours." Marilyn said, watching Blake pass Toby back to Arika.

"Alright, let's see what this thing can do." Blake said, tightening his right hand into a fist, staring at his wrist. Even though there was no physical evidence of this, Blake could feel his wrist swell up for a moment like a balloon.

Jim, Marilyn and Arika raised their eyebrows as five gray lines extended form his Crest, swirling around his arm all the way to his shoulder where each of the lines branched out onto his torso.

"Not bad, you got to level 2 on your own." Jim said. "Level 2 will allow you to call your Legendary partner, but since you haven't met it yet you won't be able to call for it if you need to. Now try getting to level 3."

Jim raised his right arm over his head the dark circle on his wrist expand, completely engulfing Jim's arm in a black color. His fingers became longer, sharper and knife-like.

"Level 3 is a bit more dangerous since your power increases greatly and you can now use some of your more powerful Crest attacks, but the longer you stay on level 3 the more damage your Crest can cause your body." Jim explained.

"Attacks? You mean like the beam thing I used back in Slateport City?"

"Yes, that's a Crest Beam, or at least that's what we call it. And this…" Jim pointed his arm straight up at the sky, a black lightning bolt dropping down on his hand with a loud clap even though the sky lacked cloud cover.

Jim then slapped the earth beneath him with his right hand, releasing the built of energy into the ground where several bolts of black electricity began to jump around the ground within a fifty yard radius. "Is a Crest Bolt."

Blake looked around the air before looking toward Jim with a smirk.

"Nice." He said. "Teach me."

8/5/0046/Night

Slateport City Pokemon Center

Blake groaned as he, Jim, Marilyn, Arika and Toby entered the Pokemon center, the teenage boy being slung over Jim's shoulder since he could no longer stand on his own two feet.

"This is what happens when you over do it Blake." Jim said with a smile.

Blake had spent the entire evening failing to mimic the Crest Bolt and Crest Beam he had seen Jim use, but once the sun had set, the boy collapsed from how much energy he had wasted.

"Let's get him a room and put him to bed." Marilyn suggested.

"Wait, I need to make a call." Blake said weakly.

"To who?" Jim asked.

"Professor Elm."

"Hello?" The semi bald man said as he appeared on the video screen.

"Professor Elm? It's me, Blake."

"Oh Blake, how are you...who's that?" Elm asked, noticing Arika standing beside Blake, holding the phone for him while Jim was behind him, allowing Blake to lean against him so he didn't fall out his seat.

"Just some friends I made." Blake replied. "Anyway, I caught this Pokemon but I have nothing to do with it. I figured you might be more interested in it than me."

"Sure, send it over." Elm replied, a smile growing on his face.

"Alright." Blake said before motioning for Marilyn to place the Ultra Ball in the transporter. Once it was in place, the woman pressed the go button underneath the small platform that located next to the video phone, the spherical device disappearing in a small flash of light.

"I got it." Elm said, showing Blake the Ultra Ball on the other end of the line.

"Enjoy." Blake said, motioning for Arika to hang up.

"And Blake, good luck in the IBF Tourney. I know you can win it." Elm said, receiving blank stare from the boy for a moment before he motioned to Jim.

The man lifted up Blake's arm, allowing him to give Professor Elm as thumbs up before Arika ended the call.

Johto Region

Olivine City

Pokemon Lab

Professor Elm turned around in his seat, looking down at the Ultra Ball Blake had just sent him.

"Hmm, he used and Ultra Ball. Whatever Pokemon it is must've been a strong opponent for him." The man said to himself, giving it a toss to release the Pokemon that was inside.

As the white flash took its form, it collapsed to the floor with a groan, coated in large bruises and its eyes replaced with swirls. Professor Elm's glasses slid down his nose as the man stared at the Pokemon, his mouth wide open.

"That can't be…" The man hastily readjusted his glasses before hunting down one of the Pokedex's he had in the messy room.

Finding one of the devices underneath a large pile of papers, Professor Elm turned to the unconscious Pokemon, taking a quick snap shot of it.

"Heatran, the Lava Dome Pokemon. Class – Legendary. Heatran is the dual type Pokemon of Fire and Steel said to live in the deepest volcanos on the planet." The Pokedex said with its electronic voice.

"How…How did Blake capture a Heatran?" Elm exclaimed, rushing over to the Pokemon to observe it closely.

8/10/0045/Morning

Hoenn Region

Slateport City

"Rah!" Blake shouted, slamming his right hand down on the ground once more, but just like it had during the past four days, instead of evenly distributing a charge into the ground over a wide area, Blake let it all go in one burst, putting a large crater in the ground.

"Blake, how about you take a break." Marilyn suggested as the boy climbed out the newly created crater, the skin on his arm sizzling, producing white smoke.

The boy sighed, allowing his Crest to recede back to level 1 which faded away after a few moments.

"You'll over work your Crest if you keep going at that pace." Jim said.

"Yeah, and then won't be able to move for at least a week." Arika jumped in, getting nods of agreement from Jim and Marilyn.

Blake looked toward Jim first who gave him a smile before looking at Marilyn, Arika and Toby.

Even though he wouldn't admit it verbally, Blake was enjoying the time he spent with the family of four. Each of them, including Toby had discovered a way to get under his skin with ease, forcing him to be part of their conversations and even making him watch and hold Toby every so often.

Having a family felt…nice. It was odd feeling to Blake. Not that he didn't enjoy traveling with the people he had before, but the family and squeezed their way into Blake's life a little bit each day he spent with them.

At first Jim, Arika and Marilyn had trouble breaking through Blake's steely exterior that did nothing but glare at them. But one afternoon they found Blake and Toby napping under the shade of a tree, the small child resting on his stomach with their Crests shining brightly. They found the scene so cute that all of them took multiple pictures to use for blackmail later on. This was the start to Blake being accepted into their family.

Jim had been the closest thing to a father for Blake in the past four days than anyone had in his entire life. He provided guidance for Blake and gave him proper instruction on what to do so that he could utilize everything he had learned.

Marilyn was easily a close second to Lola. Blake had hurt himself so many times in the past weak but Marilyn was always there to tend to his wounds, even attempting to give him a hug on several occasions which Blake refused with a hiss although he was grateful for the woman for how much care and concern she had showed for him.

Arika was nothing short of Grace when it came to being an annoying little sister. She could be just as bratty as Grace, but at the same time she, like Marilyn, showed a lot care and concern for Blake, and always gave him some support when it was needed.

Toby was a mystery to Blake, despite being a baby. Their were many occasions when Toby would cry until he was in Blake's arms which caused their Crests to open, but as far as his family had seen, Toby had never acted like that before. Once Toby was in his arms, Blake felt a weird sensation wash over him. Not just his Crest opening, he felt like he was floating. He saw images, but none he could describe. They would flash by within a fraction of a second Blake dazed for a few moments. Blake didn't know what to make of this, but simply decided to shrug it off.

Although having a family came with moments Blake would never be able to understand, like one morning when they were eating breakfast.

"Blake, do you have a girlfriend?" Arika asked, looking up at Blake who choked on the water he had been drinking as a picture of Lana suddenly flashed in his mind.

Arika broke out in a fit of laughter as Jim began to slap Blake's back.

"So you do have a girlfriend!" She exclaimed based on Blake's reaction.

"She's not my girlfriend." Blake said quickly once he could speak again.

"Then what is she?" Arika asked, giving him a sly glance.

"…Uh, well she said she's my fiancé." Blake said, his cheeks gaining a slight pink tint that went unnoticed by the family who's jaw dropped.

"Fiancé! Aren't you sixteen?" Jim exclaimed, receiving a nod from Blake.

"How do you have a fiancé?" Arika asked.

"I have no idea. That's just one of the strange things that happened to me." Blake replied before Arika's eyes narrowed, a small smirk forming on her face.

"Do you like her?" She asked.

"I'll never tell." Blake replied quickly.

"Not unless you want everyone to see this!" She said, showing Blake her phone where she had a picture of him and Toby napping as her background.

"Where the hell did you get that?" Blake exclaimed before noticing the stern look Marilyn was giving him.

"Watch your mouth Blake. Haven't I told you that already?" Marilyn said, causing Blake to bite his tongue before glaring at Arika. "So...do you like her?"

Blake's glare was directed at Marilyn next as she took out her phone as well, showing him the same background Arika possessed just at a different angle.

While they did torture him on many occasions, Blake was sad when the week had come to end. He had never enjoyed himself so much, but the IBF Tourney wouldn't be put on hold for just anyone.

8/12/0046/Morning

Slateport City Pokemon Center

"Thank you Nurse Joy." Blake said, accepting the three Poke-balls she held on a tray for him with small indents to keep them in place.

"It was no trouble at all. But for the next week, they're only allowed to take on light exercises until those wounds close up completely." Nurse Joy said, receiving a nod from Blake as he placed the three Poke-balls back onto his belt.

"Hey Blake, you're famous!" Arika called out to him once he finished with Nurse Joy. Blake gave her a confused look before she motioned for him to come over and look at the television screen that had been mounted on the wall of the empty lobby.

Blake joined the group of four in front the tv. The television was showing a rerun of a news report about events in Slateport City, obviously a rerun from a while ago.

"It was crazy! This Pokemon just came flying outta the sky and crashed into the fountain. Then this kid with awesome tattoos came outta the sky too and caught it." A short man being interviewed by the reporter shouted, looking directly at the camera.

"Can you describe the kid for us?"

"He was kinda tall, black hair. Crazy tattoos. Not much I can say with how fast everything happened."

"Do you know where he went?"

"No. Everyone started cheering before another freak came outta the sky and grabbed the kid in a headlock. Then he did something to the kids Pokemon and the kid went berserk and blew off the guys arm with some weird beam thing. I have no idea what it was, but if it was special affects, I give it an A plus."

"I guess I better leave before someone recognizes me." Blake said, turning away from the tv screen.

"Heading for Meteor Falls now?" Arika asked.

"Yup. I only have about a month to get there so I have to get on the move now." Blake explained.

"Good luck Blake!" Jim said, waving to the boy as he began to make his leave.

"And remember, we love you." Marilyn said, causing Blake to freeze, his eyes widening.

"Wh…What?" Blake said, glancing over his shoulder to look at the family.

"We love you Blake. I always wanted a son, and since Toby is only one, I can't expect him to hold a conversation like you do." Jim said, giving him a wide smile.

"Yeah, and I wanted an older brother. Toby never gets annoyed like you, although he is a lot nicer." Arika said, smiling as well.

"The past week spent together was wonderful Blake. We can't thank you enough for helping us save Toby and we all want to remember that if you ever need some support, you're always welcome in our family." Marilyn said.

'We love you.' The words hung in Blake's mind. They felt so foreign to him that he didn't know what to do. The option of actually taking a moment to thank them properly flashed in his mind, but that was pushed into the background but Blake who instinctively gave a response that was expected by the family.

Raising one arm, Blake pumped his right fist into the air, the family of four doing the same as the boy made his way toward the exit of the Pokemon Center.

Part 29, finished. This chapter was basically Blake's week with the family of Crests, what he learned and any new abilities he gained while Gallade, Tyranitar, Absol rest from the dangerous wounds inflicted on them by Zane.

If you were wondering why any of the people with Crests need any more Pokemon besides the Legendary Pokemon their tied to, Blake hasn't met his Legendary Pokemon so he can't call it out so Pokemon are his only weapons at the moment. As for the others, when used in battle the Legendary Pokemon need time to rest after since they can't be taken to Pokemon Centers to be healed, which means there's about a month of waiting time before a Legendary Pokemon can fight at full health.

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