Thanks again to Blue Kitten for reviewing! Unfortunately, this time, you are incorrect. :( I'm glad that you like this story though!
Thanks also to the other two reviewers, hi and misdreavious, for your kind reviews!
To everyone: Please enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon Adventures, the atmosphere, or the rights to anything except the plot. Sorry!
I began to breathe as Ruby checked his map and decided that we were close enough to start flying. No one had attacked us; in fact, we hadn't seen anyone at all. We rode the same way we had yesterday, Ruby and Sapphire on Pilo, me on Altaria, and Walo disappeared beneath the surface of the sea.
It was a calm day, no strong winds, the sunlight was just bright enough, without being blinding or hot. I relaxed again, falling asleep despite my efforts to stay awake.
"We're here!" Sapphire yelled, waking me up. I was so startled and sleepy, that I almost fell off of Altaria. She eyed me, making sure I wasn't actually going to fall, before descending lightly in front of the Pokemon Center.
Ruby and Sapphire started walking away from the Pokemon Center, towards the neighborhoods of the city.
"Wait," I said, "Shouldn't we rest our Pokemon first?"
They stopped and looked at each other. "Well, we could…" Sapphire said.
"-but we could also just heal them at Crystal's house." Ruby ended.
"Oh, okay. Let's go then!"
Ruby led us through the streets, occasionally glancing at his PokeNav. Suddenly, Sapphire stopped and I nearly ran into her.
"Somethin's wrong," she said, her eyebrows furrowed in concentration. "It's almost dinner time, but no one's out walkin'. And there's a really intense battle goin' on over there." She pointed to our right.
Ruby looked at her. "You sure? That's where Crys's house is."
My brain was sure something was wrong now. I'm just being paranoid, I thought.
"Let's hurry!" Sapphire yelled as she dashed away.
"HEY! I'm the one with the map, you won't know where you're going!" Ruby yelled back at her as he activated his running shoes.
"Well, go ahead and leave me here…" I muttered, looking at my boots. They were comfortable, sure, but they wouldn't help me catch up at all. I got an idea and pulled out a Pokeball. My Ninetales popped out.
"Would you be a dear and carry me to Crystal's house?" I asked him sweetly.
He immediately lowered himself to the ground and I climbed on. I must ask him to do this a lot, I thought. He didn't even grumble.
We took off at a top speed, and passed Ruby (HEY! SERIOUSLY?!) before keeping pace with Sapphire.
Sapphire turned quickly, and we skidded to a stop outside the one house in the neighborhood that wasn't empty.
There were two kids, a girl and a really short guy, battling for their lives, just as Sapphire had said. They were fighting back-to-back, surrounded by opponents, both wearing grimly determined faces. The guy was okay, with four Pokemon left, but the girl looked like she was about to fall over. Her Pokemon weren't in a better condition. Without thinking, I immediately jumped off of my Ninetales and yelled, "Flamethrower!"
Sapphire sent out her Aggron and attacked too, but as soon as the men surrounding the two kids saw us, they immediately withdrew their Pokemon as one of them yelled, "Abort mission! Abort mission! Retreat!"
Sapphire and I tried to stop them from getting away, but they all sent out Mantines and flew off to the east.
The girl fainted as her Pokemon, a Meganium and a Hitmonlee, slumped to the ground. The guy hastily returned his Pokemon and helped her up.
"Crys, Emerald!" Sapphire yelled. "What happened?"
I knew it wasn't random. They were the same men, with the same Mantines. They were after me for some reason, and I had no idea why.
Ruby turned the corner, panting heavily. He stopped to catch his breath, and looked around, confused. "What'd I miss?"
Please review and guess! A hint to Blue Kitten: all of the men attacking look the same.