Hello again! Have you guys missed me? Just kidding, it's been, like 4 days since I put this story up.

I had a great vacation, if anyone wants to know. I went camping at Crescent Lake, and there was some pretty nice weather. Went boating a lot, and tubing.

Getting some more attention would be great, but I suppose I can't be greedy. I'm still happy for the reviews I've received!

And now, the 3rd chapter!

Chapter 3: I Learn to Trust My Instincts

Lily's P.O.V.

I gazed down at the gym below me. If I could claim it (and I was certain I could) then I would have claimed 20 gyms in the 4 weeks since I had chose Team Instinct. The fact I was able to help my team like this made me happy.

"Alright Evelyn, we're almost there!" My Eevee chirped on my shoulder, and I grinned. "Let's see . . . looks like Team Mystic. Sweet, I've only got 7 of those! Go, Shay and Storm!" My pokemon popped out, ready to go.

I looked up at the sky and frowned when I noticed the thunder clouds.

"Jolt-jolt!" Storm complained, huddling up to me. I patted his fluffy fur, recognizing my pokemon's worry.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine!" I reassured, looking once more at the gym. "We just need to get there. Even if we don't battle, we'll have shelter. Come on you guys can protect me!" Storm sighed, and then jumped in front of me.

"Jolteon!" Evelyn and Shay joined him and they looked back, ready for my directions.

"Let's go!"

Spark's P.O.V.

"So she's not here anymore?" I asked, feeling defeated once again.

"I'm sorry, no." the woman replied, a sympathetic look on her face. "This girl must be very important if you're trying so hard find her." I nodded, and turned and left.

"Come out, Pikachu!" My buddy joined me on my shoulder, a determined look on his face.

"Pika!"

"I need you to try and feel Jolteon's electricity again. It's worked before!" Pikachu nodded, and jumped to the ground. I sighed quietly, calling out to Zapdos.

Why is this so hard? I've been searching for almost 2 weeks!

Patience, Spark. You're closer than ever before. After all, she only left that place this morning. Keep going!

Zapdos's presence left, and I sighed again.

"Let's keep going, Pikachu."

Lily's P.O.V.

I stepped carefully down the rocks, eyeing the distance from here to the gym. I still had a long ways to go . . . and a quick glance at the sky probed that the storm was close, and gaining power.

"Jolt-jolt!" My head swiveled towards Storm, who was standing on what seemed to be a path. The path meandered a little, and it would take longer to get to the gym . . . but it was probably safer. Going straight would be faster . . . and the goal was to get to the gym, right?

"Sorry, Storm. I think I'll continue this way." There was a nagging feeling in my mind, but I brushed it away. I turned my attention back to the rocks and took another step. Evelyn clung to my shoulder, and I had put Shay back in his ball a while ago. Storm joined me, and together we continued down the rocks.

It started to rain about 5 minutes later. As I felt the first drop on my head, I groaned mentally.

"Eevee!" Evelyn yelped as I took a step and slid, her paws digging into my shoulder. I took a deep breath and turned to Storm.

"You-" A BOOM interrupted me and I jerked my head up to see lightning strike a tree up above. As it crashed to the ground, it sent boulders hurtling towards me. Storm and Evelyn cried out, and all I could do was toss Evelyn away as a boulder slammed on top of my stomach.

"JOLTEON!" Storm screamed, running to me. I stared weakly at the frantic pokemon, pain shooting through my body. I mentally ran through my list of pokemon, searching for one who could help. Blaze hated rain . . . Luna wouldn't have room . . . I had already put Shay away, and Storm and Evelyn were with me.

"Storm . . ." I whispered, struggling to breathe. He looked at me, eyes wide. "You need . . . to go . . . get . . . help. Evelyn will . . . stay . . . with me." I gently pushed him away, relieved when he finally turned and ran. Evelyn huddled next to me, and I softly stroked her matted fur.

"That was . . . pretty stupid . . . of . . . me, wasn't . . . it? I really should have . . . trusted my . . . instincts." A rush of warmth spread in me as I said that, and I sighed in contentment.

"Eevee?" Evelyn sounded concerned, so I patted her head.

"It was . . . a good sigh . . . of . . . contentment." Lightning flashed again, and suddenly I could feel the rain pounding down on me. Shivers wracked my body, and I coughed a couple of times.

"Some Instinct member I am, right? Here I am, trapped and weak in a thunderstorm. What would Spark say?" I laughed weakly, before coughing again, clenching in pain as my stomach heaved. I looked up at the sky, ignoring the rain on my face. A quiet hum worked it's way out, and a line from the song 'Cold Water' ran through my head.

I'll be your lifeline tonight

I'll be your cold, cold, cold

Cold, cold, cold

I'll be your cold, cold, cold

I'll be your lifeline tonight

Cold . . . yes, I was cold. It was freezing, it seemed, as I shivered once again. But who would be my lifeline?

BOOM! My vision was turning fuzzy, but I could still see the boulder careening towards my Eevee. I yelled, and with a rush of strength got to my knees and covered Evelyn's body with my own. Immediately, black started to cover my eyes. My body tensed, anticipating the boulder crushing me.

A blinding flash of yellow lightning erupted, apparently breaking the boulder as little chips of rock fell around me.

Storm? No . . . I send Storm away. And he's not powerful enough. Then what . . .

I fell to the side, squinting at Evelyn.

"Evelyn . . . I love . . . you . . ." A white flash of light, and a purple pokemon with a red gem on its forehead stood in Evelyn's place.

"Espe! Espeon!" The cries were dim in my ears as I slowly sank into the welcoming pool of black.

Spark's P.O.V.

Electricity sparked on Pikachu's cheek, causing me to stop.

"Pikachu? Do you feel Jolteon's power?" Before Pikachu could answer, a yellow blur darted through the trees and ran into me.

"Oomph!" I grunted, collapsing on the ground.

"Jolteon!" Blinking rapidly, I stared at the Jolteon in front of me. It looked frantic, pawing at my coat.

"Are you . . . Lily's Jolteon?" The Jolteon nodded, and I sighed in relief.

"Jolt! Jolteon!" The wide eyes were still staring at me, and I sat up quickly.

"Why isn't Lily with you? Where is she?" Jolteon turned back the way it had come, gesturing for to follow. Pikachu hopped on my shoulder, and I nodded to Jolteon.

"Lead the way."

More lightning flashed, and Pikachu stared up at the clouds with me.

"It's still going, huh?" Jolteon silently trotted in front of us, focused on a path through the trees.

"Jolt!" A valley came into view, and Jolteon's fur started to shine with energy. My heart rate quickened, and I started walking faster.

"Lily? Lily, where are you? Lil-" my yells died in my throat as I stared down into the valley.

Lily lay on her back, unconscious. An Espeon was sitting next to her, and over them hovered . . .

"ZAPDOS?!" The legendary bird looked up at me, wings crackling with power.

I see you have made it, Spark. This girl's presence called to me, and I flew to her. She appears to be gravely injured, so you must take her to that gym.

"How am I supposed to get her to the gym? It's still a ways away." Zapdos carefully landed next to Lily and slid it's wing under her.

Spark, climb down to me. You will fly with me and the girl, so recall all of these pokemon.

I put Pikachu back in his ball, and glanced at the remaining Jolteon and Espeon.

"I know I'm not your trainer, but as your team leader, please listen to me. Jolteon, Espeon, return!" Two flashes of light, and then the pokemon were god. Keeping my eyes on my feet, I slowly crawled down to Zapdos and hopped on his back.

Hold on.

And that's Chapter 3! I'm not really proud of the ending, but I think the beginning and middle were pretty good.

There will probably be 2 more chapters, for a total of 5. I'm considering a sequel, but I'm not sure when I would start it.

If any of you wondered why Lily didn't call out Blaze anyways, despite him not liking rain, well . . . for Pete's sake, my OC isn't cruel, OK? And sorry if Spark was OOC and serious. I just didn't think I could write normal Spark in this kind of setting. Other people can do it really well, but not me . . .

My next update should be Saturday. I need to unpack and relax a bit, and on Sunday I'm leaving to visit family.

Hope you liked the chapter, poke fans!