Chapter 43 - In-Between Down Time

If Khrista hadn't left so early and so quickly, Birch would have kept her another two hours by asking her to tell him how much she knew about their world. The simple fact that she had managed to get Delia Ketchum (who wouldn't have left her house until everything was taken care of and her son was back to his normal self) to come out and ask to help in any way possible was enough to get the Hoenn professor to try and hunt down her Trainer record.

Birch shook his head quietly as he went through the records they had managed to sneak away from Cyrus' grip. It wasn't much, but it had been enough to help identify the first few kids who had come into their hiding place. Unfortunately, they didn't have Khrista's, but they did have her cousin's. And Joshua had run into her enough times that Birch could gauge her strengths, as well as figure out what specific realms the girl had visited over the years.

When they had first interacted, Joshua had been in the Kanto segment of his journey, having started off in Hoenn and gone off to help quell a sudden uprising of Team Rocket trouble. After the team members had scattered, the boy had done what most otherworlders did at one point or another - trade their Pokemon to themselves in some sort of roundabout way that the Professors had never really bothered to try and understand. During that time, Joshua had traded with Khrista - a Charmander for a Mudkip, which made sense because Joshua had't had any data on the Hoenn Water Starter before then. The next day, the two of them had a Double Battle, with Joshua using a Alakazam/Gengar combination he had managed to perfect - Alak and Gangrene, no doubt. Joshua ended up coming out victorious, despite his Charizard almost fainting to Raichu.

Later on, when the boy had continued to Sinnoh, the same sort of thing took place, but with a Chimchar being traded for a Piplup, and the match ending in a tie when Blaze - Khrista's Blaziken - fainted from a Flare Blitz recoil, and Cedar - Joshua's Sceptile - fell to a burn. Then, in Unova, it had been a Tepig for a Snivy, and five battles - one per a team from the specific regions they had visited, Unova being first, and Hoenn last. Both Trainers had been experienced enough to win two of the first four battle each, with Joshua coming out on top in the Hoenn match. And then there were the records of the two teens helping out each other as Rangers and leaders of their own Exploration teams, but those recordings were less detailed.

"These kids must have nothing else to do," The Professor muttered in amazement. "No one can do this much in six years."

"Hey, Professor!"

The Hoenn Professor turned his head, catching sight of Cedar and Raze - Joshua's Blazikan - standing in the lab's entrance.

"What is it?" Birch asked, glancing at the two Hoenn Starters.

"Khrista found Jirachi," the Sceptile replied.

Birch jumped up in surprise, almost knocking the box of files off his desk. "What?! Is he all right?"

"The little guy's fine," Raze responded calmly. "They didn't have Ash do anything to him." The Blaziken smirked. "He brought company, too - a whole squadron of Psychic-Types."

Birch's surprised look became one of eagerness. "Khrista is doing her job well," he noted. "How is Delia doing?"

"Working non-stop," Cedar answered. "For a woman who's been staying in her house for who knows how long, she can move pretty quickly. It's like she's been drinking Carbos smoothies or something."

Blaze grinned. "I wouldn't put it past her," he agreed. "Come on - I think Flint wanted our help in getting those cannons ready."

As Cedar and Raze left, Birch put the box of files back in the secret compartment behind one of the cabinets, sliding it back into place after the Pokemon were long gone. After sending a quick glance around the room to make sure that everything was in place, the professor left the lab and made his way over to the Square, where the other professors and four Trainers were discussing The Plan, and making sure that nothing had been left out.

"There you are, Dad!" Brendan exclaimed, waving from his position at the table, which was between May and Ruby. "We were wondering when you'd get out here."

"What took you so long?" Sapphire asked, looking down from her Tropius.

"I was just looking a few things over," the professor responded. "Is everything going according to plan so far?"

"There have been a few minor problems," Oak admitted. "When Green took Jirachi to where Tate and Liza were working with their Pokemon, they almost dropped a cannon they were trying to move into place. Sabrina just happened to be there, and managed to pick up the slack with her Alakazam."

"The Psychic Gym Leaders are working with Jirachi now to round up a few Legendaries to supplement the first wave," May added. "Last I saw of them, they were looking for Chaos."

"The Pokemon are getting antsy, as well," Ruby continued. "A lot of them want to go up there now, whole the others are willing to wait until the last minute to head up there."

"And then there's Cackle," a Swampert behind Norman's son stated grumpily. "That Haunter really should be put on a leash and kept near Sabrina 24/7. Or, better yet, in his PokeBall."

"He's a Haunter, Zuzu," Sapphire reminded the Pokemon. "They're known for their tricks, remember? Besides - it's the only reason that Sabrina really kept him around at first. Be glad Ash got him for her to get her out of her funk."

"And we are," Oak responded. "Now, as for the report Green gave us concerning Khrista, it seems that Joshua has found some allies within the tower."

Rowan frowned. "Allies?" he repeated. "I find that highly doubtful."

Oak handed Rowan a sheet covered in writing. "See for yourself." While the Sinnoh professor was looking the paper over, Oak continued, "Apparently, the communicator Green designed also picks up on psychic waves, or telepathy. Khrista had a conversation with Darkrai, revealing that not only is the Legendary's work actually affecting the rest of the tower in a roundabout way, but it has also allowed me specific group to break away. Team Aqua, to be precise."

"WHAT?!" Sapphire exclaimed. "That can't be right - we made sure that they were disbanded after the otherworlders had caught those versions of the Legendaries."

"Team Rocket came back," Elm pointed out. "I wouldn't out it past any other team if they did."

Birch frowned. "Well, if they're back, then Magma has to be somewhere in the tower, as well. And then there's the Rocket and Plasma goons they might have picked up."

"And the children," Juniper added. "Depending on who Cyrus brought through, we could be in deep trouble."

Birch nodded in agreement. "Right. How's the progress coming along? Will we be prepared to attack on time?"

"More like ahead of time," Brendan responded. "If we keep working in day and night shifts like this, we should be able to get everything ready soon enough - a day from now, at least; on time at most."

"The Pokemon are helping a lot more than you'd think possible," May added. "The Legendaries, especially."

"You wouldn't believe how many Pokemon those Exploration Teams have!" Sapphire continued. "They only sent out half of their teams to stock up and had the rest help out back here. For the most part, they've been handing out items to help strengthen Pokemon abilities and moves. They've probably got at least fifty of each item, maybe even more stored under lock and key somewhere."

"The Exploration Pokemon have even been handing out evolutionary items for those who want them," Ruby stated. "Luminous Spring is also officially open to those who can't evolve otherwise, whether or not they're on a Team."

"We're taking this extremely seriously," Zuzu clarified. "This could be the one chance we have of taking Cyrus out. No one is leaving anything up to chance."

"No one should."

The group's heads turned, catching sight of Red, Pika, and Mrs. Ketchum as they approached.

"The cannons are in position," Pika reported from Red's shoulder. "We just finished moving the last one."

"And Luminous Spring is practically overflowing, what with all the Pokemon who are trying to gain access to it," Red added. "A Thunderstone almost affected Pika on our way over." The Pikachu on the Champion's shoulder let out a shudder. "So, I saw Jirachi appear out of nowhere. Where have you guys been hiding him?"

"Actually, Khrista just rescued him from up there," Ruby explained, pointing upwards. "He and a whole lot of Psychic-Types that Ho-Oh sent over when they appeared in his mountains."

Mrs. K looked surprised. "She managed to do that?"

Birch nodded. "That, and it seems as though Team Aqua is on our side."

"The Kyogre lovers?" Red asked. "I don't suppose those Groudon swooners are up there, too."

"It's a possibility," Birch admitted, a sly smile coming across his face at the names Red had given the Hoenn organizations. "The two leaders are actually brothers."

"Seriously?" Sapphire gave her father a curious look. "Since when?"

"I think I heard about that," Mrs. K remarked. "Hasn't it been said that they had some sort of argument over which Type was better when Archie turned ten?"

Birch nodded. "There was another Professor who had been running my lab in Littleroot at the time, but I remember when those two had come into town to get their Pokemon. Maxie had turned ten a few years before, but had opted to wait until Archie was ten so they could get their Pokemon together. I had been the professor's assistant at the time, so I had already gone through a journey of at least some sort - I had decided against joining the League, knowing my path already.

"Archie wanted one of the Mudkip that we were keeping nearby, but Maxie wanted the both of them to have Torchic. It was obvious that the two of them had talked about this for some time, because Archie instantly burst out with "For the last time, I said that I wanted a Water-Type!" Then they started fighting, right in the middle of the lab. I had to have my Sceptile and Swampert step in to pry them apart. The Professor decided to have them settle it in a battle. You can probably guess who won."

"Archie," Red stated.

Birch nodded. "Maxie was absolutely furious. He vowed that he would try to beat his brother at everything, including their wishes to find the Legendary Pokemon first."

Ruby snorted. "Well, he certainly did. But we took care of that, right, Saph?"

"Right," Sapphire agreed. "Did you ever run into them again, Dad?"

Birch shook his head. "I didn't really see them after that, but I heard about them on TV - Archie and Maxie ran into each other in the League, a few years after the fiasco in the lab. Neither of them had reached the final round, but they were pretty close. They tied up to the point of their final Pokemon, which happened to be that Sharpedo and Camerupt they used after their Swampert and Blaziken were returned to the lab. Most of the Water and Fire Starters we handed out during the Aqua/Magma crisis were actually their kids, in fact."

Zuzu's eyes widened. "You have got to be kidding me."

"You were actually one of the few who weren't, Zuzu," Birch assured the Pokemon.

The Swampert let out a sigh of relief.

"Khrista's Swampert, on the other hand..."

"What do you mean, 'on the other hand'?" Swamp asked as he approached from the direction of the Deep Coronet Tunnel.

"It's nothing," Birch stated quickly. "Khrista's inside, and Joshua has found allies in the remnants of Team Aqua. All we can really do now is hope that they manage to take out the outer defenses and give us the opening we need by causing general chaos."

Swamp's eyes widened. "No way. Archie's actually working with us?"

"In a roundabout way, yes."

The Pokemon smirked. "Man, Marsh is not going to believe this. I'd better go find her!" Swamp turned and lumbered off.

"Marsh?" Brendan repeated, blinking in confusion.

"Joshua's Swampert," May explained. "Khrista gave her to him as a combined birthday gift from her and Swamp, who had been more than eager to get the Trainer something special. Joshua had given her a Charmander in exchange, not realizing that Swamp's daughter had managed to contract Pokerus and suddenly changed color to accommodate for it." The Coordinator smirked. "She turned purple."

"A purple Swampert?" Red blinked in surprise. "That's a bit...odd."

"At least she didn't turn black, like some Rayquazas I've heard about," Sapphire remarked. "Wasn't there one in ancient times, owned by some king?"

Birch shrugged. "Perhaps." He looked over at the other professors. "I'm going to turn in for the night. If anyone needs any help with anything, you can come right on up and wake me."

Brendan grinned. "You got it, Dad. Come on, guys - we'd better let everyone else know to pick up the pace - the only time Dad sleeps is when he wants something done in the morning." He turned and dashed off, the others in pursuit.

Mrs. K smiled at Oak. "Looks like we're in for another adventure."

"Indeed," the Kanto Professor replied. "It feels good to be able to actually participate in something like this again. I haven't felt this energized since...well, since I don't know when!"

The two adults laughed at the Professor's statement.

"Well, we'd better get going," Mrs. K stated, turning her attention to Red. "I've got a feast in mind for this occasion!"

The Kanto Trainer's red eyes brightened, and the Pikachu on his shoulder looked eager and excited at the idea.

"I could help, if you want," Red offered, grinning.

Mrs. K gave her eldest son a knowing look that bordered an annoyed, but then offered a smile of her own and grabbed his arm. "Come on. And I expect you two to actually help, not just snack on my cooking."

Red let out a laugh in response to the jest as he and his mother walked off. It seemed that some things never changed.

A little break in Khrista's activities, so I hope you all don't mind. We'll get right back to her tomorrow.