Pokémon

Dear goodness it's been a long summer. I spent all of August studying for "A Music History and The Enjoyment of Music" exam, which I wrote last week =.=' Enjoyment my butt. But I got through it, writing some while procrastonating, ended up hating it and had to do a lot of revisions. I don't even know if I like it now, but I have something planned for the next chapter. Everything shall by explained soon, my young readers. MWAHAHA!

...Ahem. Without the writers notes at the begining and end, my word count came to be an even 5000 words, which I found ensanely awesome until I realized I had to ruin it :\ Oh well...

K, I think I checked over this...at some point or another. If it's littered with mistakes (which it shouldn't be, I'm usually quite careful while writing) blame it on the stupid exam!

Please let me pass...please let me pass...please let me pass...I don't wanna write it again...

...Please enjoy while I continue my rant...

Chapter # 31 – Kendrick Corp. Caper part I

"Ouch! …Ouch! … Ouch! …Quit it!" Alex exclaimed, trying to put her hands up to protect her poor abused scalp, only to have them restrained airtight to the arms of the rolling chair. The television inside the Library blared, the building in which the Soul Salvation was temporarily commandeering, talking about trivial things on everybody else's completely normal, inconsequential lives. Oh, she remembered when she was like that.

Now she was a dress-up Barbie doll, or worse, a puppet complete with strings for the use of some manipulative people…

She was now wondering if she made her decision too hastily when asking the devil-maids for assistance. One of said ladies was directly behind her, pulling at the rollers none-too-gently from her chocolate locks, feeling like the strands were being pulled from the roots as she picked at them. The second was in line for her to glare at, painting the nails, which were forcefully being held in place, with a soft shade of black.

"It wouldn't hurt as much if you would stop fidgeting," the maids simultaneously answered in a sickeningly sweet tone.

"I'm fidgeting because it hurts!" the girl winced as the next curler was tugged out even more harshly. "Ow! You're enjoying this, aren't you, you sadistic bastard?" she cursed across the room.

Chuckling darkly, the person slumped in the chair watching with a smirk replied, "Now, now, Shadow darling, I would watch what you say if I were you. You are the one who asked for this."

"Actually, Master Dimentio, perhaps it would be better if you were to wait outside for the finished product. We still have very far to go," the maid working on the girl's hair told him, momentarily pausing in her assault.

Shrugging and standing, grin never leaving his complexion, the man went with a, "Very well then, see you in a bit. Ciao!"

Alex sighed, admiring her sleek nails to take her focus off her aching skull.

"So, are you excited for your date?" "Yes, are you?" the girls demanded, not relenting their primping.

"I suppose," Alex answered, pursing her lips. She still wasn't sure. Kyler was amazing and all, handsome, kind, clever, but something felt…unusual. She didn't know what. She thought back to the afternoon she had bumped into the boy on her and Paul's way back to the Pokemon Center.

Kyler had been pleasant to her each time he came into contact with her, but tried to make it seem like Paul wasn't even there, and acted uncivil to her purplette partner when he actually did acknowledge him. However, Paul also reciprocated this feeling, it appeared, and tried his best to show his dislike of the blond. Alex assumed that their hostility was a cause of the circumstances of which they met under.

"You suppose? You better be more enthusiastic on your date or he'll get bored with you." "And we don't want all this time of preparation to go to waste."

With a blank face, Alex replied, "My enthusiasm is a mirror of what I'm feeling at the moment- Ow!" She frowned as the last curler was released from her hair.

"Oops, sorry," the maid said with false remorse, plopping the hollow cylinder into a small basket with the rest. "Now for the makeup."

The brunette groaned. "Is that really necessary?"

Both women stopped what they were doing and looked at her insensitively. "Yes," they answered bluntly together.

"Tch, so could you," Alex huffed, sticking her nose up in the other direction.

"…"

"Ouch!"

"Whoops! Sorry again!"


Finally, after hours of brutal and unremitting torture, Alex stood in front of a full-length mirror, with the maids circling her, looking for flaws that they may have missed. Her mouth was slightly agape as she stared at the reflection, turning to regard from a different angle. "…Holy crap!" she wheezed. That may have been since her dress just got on her body and was now so tight it felt like a second skin.

Long brown hair fell in loose, delicate curls swept over her shoulders and down her back with the top half pulled up and piled in an untidy bun, clipped with sparkling flower clips. Her dark eyes were surrounded by a blue liner and a silvery shadow disappearing in the crease; cheeks displaying a faint, pink blush; lips glossed with a nude pink.

Clinging to her small frame was a strapless ball gown of a beautiful turquoise color with a notched neckline. The fit bodice appeared as though it has two layers. The base layer was decorated with transparent white and blue gems like water droplets, with a satiny material encasing over top of it with a v-neck to show the slightly scooped beading part. An empire band with a small, flowerlike gem pinned in the middle is attached under the breast line. Following the band was another section of the beaded base in a stretched V shape, cut off at the sides as another satin band wraped around the small of the waist, set with another gem. Then the pattern starts again with the glittering accent, with the last belt rounding her hips, finished with a gem. In the back it was laced up like a corset. The full length, slightly voluminous skirt gave it a princess feel, falling in soft, sheer layers with a small flare, water-drop beading shimmering here and there.

Crystal studded, silver, kitten heal sandals with an open toe adorned her feet. Alex was just happy they weren't too high so she would kill herself, or her feet.

"You look beautiful, Miss Shadow," Dimentio said, sneaking up behind her and examining her over with his emerald orbs. "Are you all ready?"

"One moment!" one of the maids called as she ran to a closet door and returned after a few minutes of shuffling. She intrusively lifted the skirt of Alex's dress, receiving a yelp from the brunette before the maid explained, "It's a thigh pack. You can keep your pokeballs, Soul Salvation phone, weapons, anything you need in it for the night."

"We also fixed you up with a hidden earpiece, so you can cover for anybody on the inside," stated the other maid, while the first continued, "As well as a microphone in your necklace. We'll be able to hear everything around you."

Patting her dress back down, Alex nodded with a relieved smile. "Thanks. I'm ready now."

"Please, allow me to escort you to the door, Shadow." Dimentio held out, which the girl accepted as they began to walk. "Chaos has just begun to prepare himself as well and will meet his date at the destination you gave him."

"Good," Alex nodded.

"I want you to focus on watching all of the Kendricks. Don't let them out of your sight. Also, we would appreciate either you or Chaos would tell us about any suspicious figures wandering about. You have the advantage, since you have to go through nearly all of the guests anyway."

"Right."

"Then-"

"Dimentio, you're rambling," Alex bluntly stated, becoming restless that the man wasn't even going to be inside the building, yet was showing nervousness. It seriously made her reconsider her situation. Her heels hastened ahead, and she noticed the shadowed ones halt as the arm left hers. She peered over her shoulder and stopped.

The man's raven hair fell over his features, hiding his visage. His hands clenched at his sides, rustling the white material covering them. "It's been over ten years…ten years since we were in the exact same situation. We almost lost that one, and we did in a way. We lost a few of our own. We need to make sure that doesn't happen again."

Alex's eyes softened. She never saw any of the Soul Salvation members look so vulnerable before. With a deep breath, she forgot all of her uncertainties, her doubts, and her fears. "And we will," she said, walking closer, then stopped. "Right?" she asked apprehensively.

Shaking his bangs out of his face with a clearing of his throat, Dimentio positioned his hand on her lower back, pressing her onward. "Come on, now, we can't have you being late."

'…Damn that snake.'


Alex stared up at the large building lit up with a warm, inviting glow at every window. A giant banner swept beneath the roof, glinting with flashing lights. Slowly pressing up the wide, white steps, her hand brushed over the flower-garlanded railing. She reached the doors and stepped in on the luxurious, vibrant red-carpet that showed the floor of the upper lever in which she stood, as well as the stairs leading down to the polished, white and black marble ballroom. The staircase was mirrored on the opposite side, leading to a long hall that branched out to others in the shadows.

Gripping her full-length skirt in both, teal-clad hands, Alex carefully stepped down, precautious of her small, elevating shoes. Self-consciously, she wrenched her bodice up and patted down the folds, tiptoeing across the floor.

At the top of the next steps, a blond woman pushed up her black-rimmed glasses, wearing a simple little black dress that complemented her figure and held a clump of ruffles down the front. Her voice came out stern. "Alex?"

"Yes," she timidly replied, shrinking against the fixated gaze.

A smile flashed onto the woman's cherry-red lips. "Wonderful, you're right on time. Follow me," she demanded, begging a brisk strut away in her five-inch stilettos.

Frowning at her feet, Alex padded up to the top and attempted not to let the female out of her sight, wondering how long it took to master the art of unnaturally walking on the balls of your foot with a slim pole as the only support. She commended the woman for that, but she severely wished she would slow down for her sake.

The doors that passed on each level all looked to similar and symmetrical that she lost count of where she was several times, and wondered if they were just wandering round and round to make the building seem more spectacular. Every time they came to a stairwell, Alex cursed her slightly puffy skirt and shuffled up them slowly, nearly losing her guide each time.

Finally, the woman knocked on a door at the end of the hallway, giving time for Alex to shuffle up behind her before the door was opened. "Master Kyler, your date has arrived."

"Send her in!" came the angelic tone of the teen.

Turning, the woman bowed her head to the girl and bade her to enter first. Alex huffed, straightening her spine and confidently glided into the room. She barely got a few steps in before the boy was in front of her, lifting her hand and laying a kiss on the back of the glove. His blue hues appreciatively roamed her full appearance before he spoke.

"You look stunning, Alex, like a princess."

Cheeks tinting a shade darker, she smiled shyly. "Thanks. You look quite handsome yourself."

Kyler had a classy black suit that you could just tell by looking was made of high-quality material. A pure white button up was tucked into his trousers, a tie circling the collar to match his eyes, somehow coincidently matching the color of Alex's dress. Alex fluttered her eyes up to his, catching the grin plastered on the boy's face. With a tiny collision to her back, she fell into Kyler's chest with something clinging to her waist while the boy caught her by her arms with a displeased sigh.

"Wow, I can't believe it's really you!" A delicate female voice exclaimed elatedly. After letting go of Alex's waist, a little girl beamed up at her, about the age of ten. She had a sparkle in her mystical, wide blue eyes. "You're so pretty!"

"Manners?" Kyler asked with a thwarted expression as he looked down upon the much shorter girl. He had let go of Alex so she could turn and look at her attacker.

The little girl sported beautiful tawny hair pulled up in two full, fluffy, buoyant pigtails that flounced to her slim shoulders, which rather resembled two eevee tails, and forked bangs showcasing her heart-shaped face. She was a bit short for her age, but it only made her look even more adorable. Her outfit was a short-sleeved pink princess dress with a lighter skirt. Over the skirt was a sheer material to make it shine, and a big bow finished off the waist.

"Sorry, big brother. Hello, I'm Cassy Kendrick. It's a pleasure to meet you," the little girl politely greeted, finishing with a quick curtsy.

"Awww," Alex cooed, gathering the girl back to her in a hug. "You're sister is so cute!"

Kyler chuckled dryly. "Yeah, she sure is."

"Do I hear voices?" Another man followed out of the back room, garbed in a sharp business suit. He his blond hair was slicked back, leaving his blue eyes to stand out over his tired face, not as bright as they probably once were like his children's, but still quite stunning. He smiled, laying eyes on the group. "My, my, who do we have-" Mr. Kendrick bustled out of the back room, tightening his tie, and stopped mid-sentence after looking at the young girl standing close to his son and wearing his daughter like a belt.

Alex turned nervous about the man's eyes boring into hers. Was she doing something wrong? She felt it would be rude to look away, so remained uncomfortably making eye contact with the blond-haired man.

"Father?" Kyler asked quietly with a growing frown.

"Oh, yes!" the man laughed, centering his tie with a clearing of his throat. "Sorry, you just look very familiar, it took me off guard!" He laughed once again, quite uneasily in tone.

"Of course she looks familiar, Daddy. This is Alex Summers! Oh my goodness, I loved the combinations you used in your last contest, and the battle you had this afternoon! And I bet you got the Canalave gym badge too, didn't you?" Cassy looked up at her expectantly, clutching a handful of Alex's blue skirt.

"Actually, I just got it today," Alex replied, rooting through her purse in which she put all her necessary items from her backpack that wasn't necessary to hide. Her fingers found the black, rectangular case displaying her gym badges and handed it to the young girl.

Her eyes caught the older man's again as he stepped farther into the room. "And don't worry about it. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir."

"And polite too! The pleasure is all mine, Miss Alex. Well, I suppose it's time we should head downstairs to let our guests in."

Alex released a sigh of relief. She was worried about what Kyler's family would be like, but she now saw there was nothing to worry about. They were just the same as any other family, albeit having a huge, extravagant ball and being extremely rich. She trailed behind the family with Kyler lagging to walk with her. They led her to an elevator in which they all stepped in. Then it hit her.

"There's an elevator in this building?" she asked Mr. Kendrick's secretary, who was sticking to him like an unseen shadow in the background.

The woman shrugged. "I'm trying to loose a few dress sizes. You could have taken it if you had wanted."


"Goo-oood evening! This is Reporter Jackie Styles coming to you live from Canalave City in the Sinnoh Region. Right now, we're just outside the building were the Kendrick Corp. ball is just getting underway. Everybody is in high spirits as they get to see the family once again after such a long time. But that's enough of that, let's take an inside look."

"Oh my gosh, look! There's Kyler and…wow, is that Alex? I really need to meet her makeup crew. Seriously, they look so cute together. Awww. Man, I wish I were there. I'd be all over him." Xena sat cross-legged, close as she could to the television screen in her PJ's tuned into Sinnoh Now! to watch the festivities take place.

Reggie walked into the room, followed by Xavier, each with a cup of tea. "So, she managed to get invited after all?" Reggie asked, relaxing on the far side of the couch so he could see the majority of the screen with Xena's head in the way.

"Ah, yeah!" Xena stated as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"We should have gone too. I bet there would have been a bunch of cute girls there," the girl's brother simpered.

Reggie nonchalantly tossed a couch cushion at the boy's head, making him once again spill his tea for the second time that week. "Oh, sorry Xavier."

"It burns!" he cried, hopping off of his seat and running all over the house like a berserk chicken with its head cut off. "Ouchie! I wish Alex was here to kiss it better!"

"Xavier, no! Alex belongs with Paul! He's going to confess to her from jealously at her being with another, super-hot man and because she broke through his unemotional, black little emo heart and then Alex and I will be cousin-in-laws and we can torture Paul together and they'll be together forever!" Xena sighed blissfully.

Reggie blinked and hummed. "It would be nice to have a normal family member for once."

The purplette girl glanced back with a grin. "I know right! Xavier and Paul are just so…" she twirled a finger by the side of her head, making her golden orbs go cross-eyed and stuck out her tongue.

"…Yeah, that's who I was referring to…"

(In Pallet Town)

Ryan was curled up on the sofa, slumped over the arm with a stack of thin books on the coffee table and spilling off of his lap. A loud THUMP THUMP THUMP! resounding off the door made him bolt with a start. "You'll never take me alive!" he shrieked, leaping over the back of his seat and covering his head.

"Excuse me? Ryan Summers, what are you doing in there? Open the door this instant!"

Ryan poked his head up so his eyes and the top of his head was the only thing visible over the couch. "Ms. Ketchum! Sorry, I'll be right there!" he shouted, gathering all the books up hastily and dumping them inconspicuously out of sight in the next room over. He sighed, fixing his out-of place hair and unlocked the front door with a bright smile. "Come in."

"What was all that about?" demanded the redhead, marching through the small gap Ryan had created and suspiciously inspecting the dark living room.

"Nothing, nothing. Just, you know, fell asleep while watching TV. Darn those criminal shows." The brunette tittered timidly. "So, what brings you here this fine evening."

The redhead woman pouted her lips, sitting quietly down on the couch after folding the messy blanket and fluffing the seat cushions. "I'm worried about Alex. She still hasn't called yet."

Ryan threw an unseen reproachful glance to the side while cursing his sister. "You don't say." He faked a sympathetic smile toward the woman. "I'm sure she's just a little busy. She'll call soon. Hey, how about Ash, how's he doing?"

Ms. Ketchum waved her hand. "Yeah, yeah, he's fine. I want to know where my daughter is!" she cried.

"I think I have a pretty good idea where," the boy said, looking at the television with astonishment.

Delia gasped, grasping the remote to blast the volume on the News channel where the brunette girl waved at the people entering a grandly decked out building with a tall boy standing close to her. Clasping the device close to her chest, her eyes sparkled. "Oh, I just knew she was alright. See, nothing to worry about, Ryan," she said, patting his knee.

Ryan sighed, rubbing his temples. "Of course you did."

(The Professor's Lab)

Gary strode through the door of his grandfather's lab, removing his jacket as he went to tell the man he was back. He found the gray-haired man situated on the floor in front of his table, eating tofu with a pair of chopsticks with the TV on.

"Hey Gramps, watcha watching?" the brunette asked, moving to the kitchen to find something edible to eat.

"Oh, welcome back," Professor Oak said to the boy, blowing on his steaming meal. "You're just in time to watch the Kendrick Corp. Gala and Ceremony."

Gary walked back to the room with a glass of water. "Why would I want to watch that?"

"Well, I assumed you would have since Alex is in attendance."

The boy choked on his drink. "Alex? My little Lexi…at a dance? I don't believe it."

Pointing his chopsticks at the screen, the man replied. "See for yourself. She's right there."

"You're eyesight's going bad, Gramps. There's no way Alex is-" his jaw dropped, seeing his childhood friend garnished in a bedazzled feminine dress, hair and makeup all done up, and her signature fake smile plastered on her lips uncomfortably.

"Told you," the Professor stated smugly, popping a piece of tofu in his mouth. He spat it out a second later exclaiming, "Hot, it's hot!"

Gary placed a hand over his face with a sigh. "This is even worse then the emo-kid. I wonder where he is, anyway…"

(Canalave Pokémon Center)

Paul shoved his way through the mass of accumulated people in the Center's lobby, all of which were only there to watch the television set to the grand event happening at that moment. He was sick of it all. It was Kendrick this and Kendrick that. All he wanted was to train his pokemon, beat the stupid gym leader and leave. But no, all the pathetic people with no lives just had to get in his way.

Alex just always had to contradict his plans.

And he hadn't even seen her all afternoon.

Who would want to be at a stupid gala with the stupid Kendrick boy anyhow?

Honestly, he couldn't even stand hearing about it anymore.

The purplette somehow squeezed himself out on the other side, at the exit so he could escape the oppressive room. He huffed in the night air, walking away from all of the bustle and noise, retreated to the quiet forest where he could do something beneficial for a change.


Alex finally broke away from her date, fleeing and blending into the crowd for a few, cleansing moments, twisting her mouth and rubbing her cheeks. "Who knew smiling could be so painful?" she murmured, weaving past the waltzing people with her head down. She placed her hands on the refreshments table and sighed.

She had spent an hour smiling and nodding to each person that entered, her arm held captive by her tall, blond date, and there were a lot of guests. Then, they walked around the room and talked to people, which meant Kyler and the person talked about things and she silently stood there like arm candy and smiled the entire time. And then they danced for a little while, being interrupted quite a few times by guests either wishing to talk to the future Kendrick Corp. President, or wishing to dance with Kyler, eying her jealously. But he refused the requests and wouldn't let Alex escape for a single minute. It was Cassy, Kyler's adorable little sister, that set her free long enough to slip away. She was envious of her eevee, having let her free to wander and spot out any suspicious characters around the room.

Looking down at where her feet would be through the fluffy skirt, Alex rolled her ankles, feeling them slowly becoming tender from the heels, despite their low height. Her eyes were growing tired and all the shining lights were beginning to give her a migraine. She took a glass of whatever kind of drink it was from a waiter as he passed and sipped it while edging along the wall, watching the crowd. It was amazing that everybody could fit in the large room and still have a generous amount of room to move about.

"How's everything going?" she asked, obscuring her painted lips with the glass.

A low chuckle rumbled through her right ear. "Why, are you worried?"

The brunette let out a low hum, locking in on a spiky, raven-haired boy awkwardly gazing about the entirety of the spacious room with his arm loosely connected with a blond girls, who was wearing a short, gothic black dress with sparkles and a pair of converse sneakers showing from her feet. She smiled as Nicky caught her eye and waved, meanwhile Dark gave her a sharp glare.

"We've reached the bottom floor. The security is getting even more severe, but we should arrive in the room shortly now. Everything is according to plan," Grim's voice crackled through the speaker.

"Good. Any sign of people out there?"

"Mmmmm, nope."

"Alex! There you are!" Kyler exclaimed, spotting the brunette and immediately rushing over to her.

"Oh God," Alex muttered, plastering a smile on her face.

"Is that the boy? Aw, isn't Shadow-dearest having a good time?"

"I'd like to see you in here and see how you like it," Dark's soft tone rang through her ears.

"Hey, I just came to get something to drink," Alex said, ignoring the little voices flittering into her head. Dark had somehow managed to escape as well and was arguing with their leader. Kyler had returned to her side, taking her open hand and holding it in his own.

The boy grinned down at her. "No problem, Alex. You should have just told me and I would have come with you.

"Well, that wouldn't really be necessary." Kyler smiled, although he didn't really look like he liked being contradicted. Alex decided not to say anything more on the subject, allowing the boy to pull her to a table as he said, "Here, we can sit for a while if you like."

"Thanks," Alex breathed, taking a seat when Kyler shuffled it out before she could reach for it. Her browns eyes scoured the room again while she slowly drank from the glass.

"Are you alright? You look on edge. Just like the day that I met you." She looked back at her date, who was leaning forward with his chin planted on his fists and a smirk adorning his lips.

The brunette smiled. "Of course. I'm just…not used to being surrounded by so many people is all. Or being at a ball, for that matter. I bet all the people back in Pallet Town would have a heart attack if they're watching me like this," she chuckled, gesturing to the frills and sparkles of her ball gown.

"Excuse me, but did you say you were from Pallet Town. The Kanto Region Pallet Town?" Mr. Kendrick, who was coming to talk with his son and partially heard their conversation, asked. He gazed at her face searchingly, blue eyes enlarging.

Nodding proudly, Alex replied, "The one and only."

"Very interesting," he stated soft, staring a few moments longer before snapping out of it like he suddenly remembered his reason for approaching the table in the first place. "We'll be ready for the presentation within the hour."

"Yes, Father."

"And find Cassy and tell her, would you?"

"Oh, I'll do it!" Alex interrupted, scooting her chair so she could arrange herself in a standing position. "You two can talk while I go look for her."

Kyler frowned, moving to follow her example. "No, no. That's not necessary."

"It's no problem!" Alex called back, closing her eyes with a huge, phony smile as she was blended into the moving flow of the dance floor. She took a glace back and saw the deep scowl etching harder into Kyler's expression as the she vanished from his sight, turning to his father and saying something. She exhaled totally, changing her façade to a severe one as she spoke into the microphone. "Did you hear that? You're running out of time; they're going to start the presentation within this hour, and that's less than 30 minutes!"

"Grim, status report," Dimentio demanded.

"Workin' on it," Bull retorted, a loud thump! echoing in the background as if a fight were taking place and someone just got knocked out.

Dimentio's voice went strict, rising in a rather furious tone. "What's going on? You weren't supposed to be seen at all. Bull, I swear-"

A sharp hiss cut the man off, then Grim's whispered, and also angered voice drifted through the earpiece. "A small problem arose. It turns out we need a key to get into the final set of doors. The walls are created out of some sort of material that we cannot break, nor can our ghosts pass through. Even the guards don't carry them. What do you propose we do?" The man swore a few select words.

"Um," a soft voice chimed, although not nearly as eerie as Grim's. Alex believed it was Aqua, Scarlett's sister, one of the ones watching the outer building. "I hate to bring this up now, but there some people in black clothing on the roof."

Were these the party crashers that they had been warned of? Would anybody make it out alive? Who is this mysterious team? Should I stop asking so many questions?

Stay tuned to Off to Sinnoh!


You have no idea how much I love Xena xP Thank you so much, Crimson (Xena's owner). And of course little Lexi. Aw heck, I love everybody. And ~Paul~y's jealous~ xP

I think I shall go sleep for a good 12 hours! Sounds delightful! Perhaps if I'm feeling extra motivated over the rest of my summer vacation, I'll get another chapter out.

And a lot shall be explained in these next few, so...yeah.

Thank you to all who support the story :D lovessss yaaa! Ciao for now!