Summary: Human turned Pokémon have suddenly started disappearing without explanation. Their teammates and loved ones are left to scramble about in worry and wonder as to where their missing friends may be. However, the arrival of Celine, a newly human turned Pokémon, suggests that the Pokémon world is in danger once again. As she sets out on her journey, she is blissfully unaware of the darkness that follows her and her team…

-x-x-x-x-

Chapter 2: The First Mission

"Well, I'd say that mission was a great success!" Aiden announced proudly as he entered their house. Behind him followed an exhausted Celine. She was panting, almost crawling after her partner.

Aiden looked over his shoulder and chuckled, "You really do need to study your weaknesses and strengths a bit more. Oh, and you need to stop running from them because they're going to catch you eventually. It's best to attack first before the enemy."

"You tell me that now!" she cried. She blushed in reminiscence of what happened earlier that day. Most of the mission had been a complete success – until the very end, of course. At the end awaited the criminal they were sent to reprehend: panpour. Celine had rushed forward without thinking and nearly paid the consequences for it. Thankfully Aiden saved her and handled the panpour on his own.

Celine sighed silently as she sat in the living room. Aiden went into the kitchen to retrieve some drinks. Vivian and Silver must've been in there because she could hear Aiden greeting them.

"You're injured!" Celine's ears perked up. "Oh? I hadn't even noticed it!" she heard Aiden laugh. "Don't worry too much about it – it's just a scratch. I'll take care of it in a minute," he said entering the living room. He looked over to Celine to see her ears were drooped and she was wearing a pained expression.

"You're hurt…?" she asked. Aiden chuckled half-heartedly and placed down the two glasses of water he'd been holding onto. "It's just a simple bruise. Don't worry about it."

"But..." she frowned, noticing the bruise. She looked at him. "I'm sorry. This is my fault."

"Celine, I'm fine, don't worry!" he smiled. He held up his injured arm to reassure her. "See? It doesn't hurt at all!" he winced slightly, but quickly covered his pain with a big, goofy smile.

Celine didn't buy it. She offered him a weak smile. "You didn't need to bring me a glass of water," she said as she eyed the glass. "I'm actually thinking of taking a walk."

"Oh, okay. Let me just finish-"

"No, no. Take care of your wound and relax. It's just a walk. I'll be back before dinner!" she winked as she ran out of the room and out of the house.

-x-x-x-x-

Her feet carried her all the way to the library. At first she was confused, but then realized that she had little to no knowledge of pokémon and their types. She just knew what Aiden taught her and those were just the basics of fighting.

Resolved to find more information and prevent further mishaps in the future, she entered the building. She hadn't seen Gothitelle and the rest of her gang sitting further down the path. "Isn't that the child that stood up to us yesterday?" she asked.

Seviper nodded, a sadistic smile spreading across his features. "Yes, it was her. Her and some other brat. I do wonder what she's looking for in the library…" he trailed off, looking at his partners.

Banette got the hint and grinned. "Shall we take a look and see? Perhaps we can even offer…some words of wisdom?"

All three chuckled darkly as they agreed to follow her. Entering the building, they were unaware of Lizette watching them from the shadows. She was frowning. She quickly turned and ran for Aiden's house. She needed to tell Aiden!

Celine was reading a book about pokémon and their types. She muttered information to herself as she flipped through the pages. "I'm a fire type, so obviously I would be weak against water types…but I have the upper hand when fighting against grass types."

She looked around the library with a frown. "It would be nice if there was a book around here with all the pokémon and their types inside. It would make things so much easier…"

She'd been so deep in her research and discoveries that she had completely bypassed Team Poisonix. They looked at each other in shock; they'd thought the very thought of seeing them would be alone to frighten the young pokémon.

"Aha!" she said, blushing when a nearby pokémon told her to be quiet. She dashed over to one of the tables and flipped the book open, revealing all the pokémon that'd been sighted in the regions.

"You don't know your pokémon and their types?" Seviper mocked as he slithered past her. She looked up from her book; all three members of Team Poisonix surrounded her. Each of them were smirking or grinning down at her in mischievous delight. She frowned. "What do you guys want?"

"Is that any way to greet your superiors?" Gothitelle asked in fake shock. "My, were you not taught manners in school?"

Celine narrowed her eyes. "Yes, as a matter of fact. Though I treat others the way they treat me. And from what I've heard of you I'm only treating you the way you treat others: cold, harsh, and rude."

"You hardly know us!" Banette laughed. "Instead of basing us off of rumors, why not try getting to know us first?"

"No thanks. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to do some reading." Celine said, grabbing her book, and attempting to get away from the trio. Seviper slithered in front of her, halting her. He eyed the books in her hand and then eyed her suspiciously.

"Do you not know your pokémon types?" he repeated.

"What's it matter to you?" Celine asked.

"It doesn't. I just find it oddly amusing that you don't know something as simple as that."

"For all you know it's for a research project," she countered, backing away, "honestly, it's none of your business. So leave me alone."

"A school project? Oh how delightful! Come with us," Banette chuckled as he floated over to her, "we'll teach you all you need to know about pokémon and their types!"

Celine backed away in fright, but a familiar voice immediately soothed her. "Stop right there." The trio stopped and looked behind them where Vivian, Aiden, and Lizette all stood. Each of them was glaring at them.

She winced as Banette leaned against her, smiling all friendly-like at the group. "Why, hello again!"

"I'm only going to ask you nicely once," Aiden growled, "step away from my partner and leave her alone."

Banette wasn't even fazed. Instead, he looked at Celine and chuckled. She was trying her best not to tremble. "We weren't doing anything to hurt her. We were simply trying to give her some good advice."

"Advice that she clearly doesn't want." Aiden grumbled. He put his hands on his hips.

"Isn't that just adorable?" Gothitelle cooed, making her two partners-in-crime chuckle. "His 'partner!' Here, be with your 'partner,'" she said and shoved Celine towards the group.

Celine quickly took shelter behind Aiden, smiling at him gratefully. The trio of pokémon prepared to leave, but not before Gothitelle got her last few words in, "I find it quite disappointing that you didn't accept our help. Well, good luck on your 'project,' dearie!" Gothitelle waved her hand in the air as she escorted her two friends out.

Celine let out a sigh of relief. "Are you okay?" Aiden asked. She nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. How about you?" she asked, eying his bandaged arm.

"It's nothing – like I said, just a simple bruise," he smiled. He turned to Lizette and nodded gratefully. "Thank you for getting us. Who knows what they would've done to her if we hadn't gotten here in time."

"Oh, no problem!" Lizette smiled, her smile slightly faltering. "Truthfully, though, I'm as curious as they are. Why are you looking for books on pokémon and their types? Didn't they teach you that in grade school?"

Celine flinched and looked over to Aiden. Instead it was Vivian who responded in a whisper, "Perhaps that is something better discussed under our own roof. You never know where there are prying eyes and ears. Team Poisonix could very well have a fourth member listening in."

"I agree," Aiden said, looking around the library in worry, "besides, I think we're making the pokémon here a little angry since we're a little loud."

-x-x-x-x-

"So," Lizette began as she settled down in Aiden's living room, "care to tell me why you were looking that information up?"

"First off," Aiden said, "you have to promise me that you're going to keep this a secret. We don't want to go off announcing it. And I rather we keep those who know this secret to a minimum."

Lizette looked confused, but complied. "Okay…"

"I'm human," Celine blurted out, "or was, rather."

Lizette stared at her blankly. Celine, unsure of how to take this reaction, looked over to Aiden. He also looked concerned. He was about to ask her if she was okay when she said, "Well, that explains it all. Though, you might want to make it a little less obvious."

Aiden and Celine were shocked. Celine's mouth was agape while Aiden stared at her with wide, unmoving eyes. "You're…not shocked? Spooked? Anything?"

"Should I be?" Lizette asked with a tilt of her head.

"Well…" Aiden trailed off, uncertain about how to respond. "Wait… if it's that obvious to you, do you think it's obvious to everyone else?"

"Hey!" she cried angrily. "What's that supposed to mean?!"

"N-nothing!" he quickly said, raising his hands in self-defense, "I just meant that if it's obvious to you... then it might be obvious to everyone else!"

Lizette folded her arms and huffed. "I doubt anyone else really notices. I just happen to watch others and their behaviors. I knew something was off about you the day that Aiden introduced me to you. And the reason behind that is because he was helping you more than necessary. She didn't look like she was terribly injured, but you were still helping her around the town."

Celine didn't look convinced. She looked over to Aiden worriedly. "Don't worry about it," Lizette smiled reassuringly at her, "nobody else in town was really paying attention, and those who did assumed that you were injured. Or, at the very least, that's that I told everyone else about you. I figured you two would tell me if something else was up. It's not in your nature to hold lies very long, Aiden."

Aiden grumbled. "That's not what I'm worried about," he sighed a moment later. "It's Team Poisonix. After that little display in Town Square and then the incident in the library…I assume that they're a little angry with us. And, if they're suspicious of us, our actions today didn't really help."

"I wouldn't worry." Lizette smiled reassuringly. "I don't trust Team Poisonix either, but I don't think they'd kidnap pokémon. If they did, well, they'd under the police force's radar."

There was a moment of silence as the information sunk in. Vivian and Silver exchanged looks, feeling oddly out of place. "So," Vivian cleared her throat, "did anyone find anything out of the ordinary besides the Team Poisonix situations?"

Lizette frowned and shook her head. "There's been no update to the rumors around the well. But I definitely have my ears open."

"Seriously? You spend way too much time there." Aiden commended. She stuck her tongue out at him. "You'd be surprised with the power of gossip!"

"Which," he began with a roll of his eyes, "we don't know are even right half the time."

"I have my ways of finding out the truth." Lizette pouted.

"We'd have no choice in the matter," Vivian interrupted the two, "false or not. We would still need to check it."

Silver lifted his head. Vivian, noticing this, looked at him. "Is it Radia?"

He nodded, excusing himself. Aiden, Lizette and Celine looked at her questioningly. "I told Radia to contact us in case anything interesting came in," she explained. "As I mentioned before she is our fourth member; she's also our fourth leader. Since Annabelle is out and Silver and I are out searching for her, Radia is in charge. She's an excellent gardevoir with amazing psychic ability. Even though Silver is a dark type, the two are very close. It's why the two of them are able to use telepathy. We use that ability to keep in touch if we ever get separated."

She looked at the door with a frown. "If she's contacted us it only means that she learned something rather important."

She was about to say more when Silver returned with a scowl. He sat beside Vivian, obviously annoyed with whatever Radia had told him. Vivian eyed him questioningly. He sighed and lowered his head before looking over at her. "Darkrai is missing again. Radia can't find him anywhere."

Vivian had a look of alarm. "Missing?!" she nearly cried. "Oh no, this is a very bad time… Do you think he…?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. Radia said she's kept a rather close eye on him and didn't notice anything out of the ordinary, but you and I both know he was once a trickster. Why did you guys even let him on the team after what we found out? He was evil."

"Keyword being 'was,'" Vivian scolded lightly, "and you know very well that it was Annabelle who believed he would change his ways. For her sake I'll keep my good faith in him. It's best you do as well – we don't have time to look for him. We have to find Annabelle. Anyway, was there anything else?"

Silver nodded. "Grovyle has returned."

Vivian's eyes went wide and her mouth hung open. "But…but how? He… I thought he vanished because the future was changed!"

"Part of me isn't surprised," Silver said with a small smile. "Annabelle was able to return to us even after the future was altered. Perhaps the only thing that changed in the future was the outcome of the world. The pokémon are probably the same. However," he sighed, "he got in contact with Radia and learned the fate of Anna. He's worried and he's coming to our aid."

"Uh, could you clue us in?" Lizette asked as she raised her paw. She looked between Vivian and Silver. "Who is Grovyle? And who is Darkrai? What do you mean about the future changing?"

Vivian laughed weakly. "It's a rather long explanation. Are you sure you want to hear?" Lizette nodded eagerly. Vivian looked over to Silver who shrugged and smiled. "Alright, so… let's start at the beginning."

She told them everything she had learned. Starting from the knowledge that Annabelle was originally a human from the future who'd come to the pokémon world to save it. Grovyle, her best friend and partner at the time, and Annabelle swore to stop the darkness that'd taken over the future. But something horrible happen during their trip to the past, resulting in Annabelle's memory loss and transformation. Vivian went on to tell them that the two partners eventually reunited, but were both surprised to learn about their past relations. After saving the world, Annabelle vanished. She returned weeks later, but Grovyle had not. That's when Vivian began telling them about their adventures involving Darkrai and his involvement with Annabelle's transformation and memory loss.

"Even after his defeat," Vivian started to finish, "Annabelle forgave him and invited him to join our team. He'd somehow lost his memory too, so he didn't remember what he'd done. Radia, Silver, and I weren't fond of the idea, but Anna was set on having him join the team. Any other questions?"

Lizette was staring at her in awe. Aiden chuckled. "Liz, I thought you knew about Team PokéStars and their rise to fame."

"I knew part of the story," Lizette snapped, "but I didn't know all of it! That's so amazing! But… if he was known for nightmares…" she trailed off and looked over to Aiden who narrowed his eyes.

"I don't think he's responsible for pokémon not waking up, if that is what you are referring to. He's known to cause nightmares, but preventing pokémon entirely from waking up?" Silver sighed.

Vivian shook her head. "He's done it once before. For now I wouldn't worry about it. We have other pressing matters to attend to. Once we find Anna, we can find Darkrai."

Celine watched the two as they conversed. Lizette and Aiden occasionally piped in with their own thoughts, adding to the pile of theories the group was building. Celine hadn't noticed it at first, but she found that she was both tired and dizzy. She left the room quietly and entered her room. Lying on the hay pile that served as her bed, she wondered briefly how the other human turned pokémon were doing. Before she knew it she was passed out.

-x-x-x-x-

Annabelle winced as she backed away from the iron bars. For the past three hours she'd been repeatedly ramming into it with her shoulder. She even started using her own attacks against the bars, but nothing was working. With each idea that failed, her hope grew weaker and weaker.

She plopped down on the ground, groaning from exhaustion and hopelessness. "You finally giving up?" came a voice. She looked around, eventually settling her gaze to the cell in front of her.

Inside sat a delcatty with her eyes trained on Annabelle. Part of her purple fur covered her right eye. Wrapping around her tail was a heart with four dots on either side of the heart. Inside the heart was a diamond.

"Who are you?" Annabelle asked.

"Me?" the delcatty tilted her head, her smile growing. "My name is Nyla. I'm the leader of Team Echo Hearts!"

"Team Echo Hearts?" Annabelle frowned, not having heard the name before. Nyla shook her paw dismissively. "You may have not heard about us. We prefer to lay low."

Annabelle raised an eyebrow. Nyla laughed weakly. "Either way, have you given up on your attempts to get out? I've been watching you attack that cell for days."

"I would prefer not to. I've been in situations far worse than this." Annabelle said.

"Ah yes, I've heard. You're responsible for saving the world from paralyze! Team PokéStars name is well known and famous amongst the pokémon. You're their leader and you run the team beside Vivian, a ninetails who is your best friend. I assume your case is very similar to mine with meeting Jaxon."

Annabelle stared at her. She had no idea what to make of the delcatty that smiled brightly at her. "You… know so much about my team and myself…that's rather…creepy."

"Really?" she asked, tilting her head with a look of surprise. "I'm sorry to have frightened you. Your story is well known among the pokémon. Your friend made sure to spread word of it after the incident. And word does travel fast. It reached my homeland. As for the assumptions about your partner, well, you were once a human were you not? I was as well."

"You are? Err, were?"

Nyla nodded. She frowned and looked down at her feet. "Though that was a long time ago. I hardly remember my memories of a human. They're vague now. Meaningless. I had nothing to lose there. Here… here I have friends, a team, and a town to rally behind."

She looked around, a serious look appearing on her face. "With the knowledge that I've given you, why do you think the pokémon here are trapped here?"

Annabelle thought back to how Nyla knew that she was a human and even claimed to have been one herself. She walked over to the iron bars and looked down the dark, but long, hallway. She could see various pokémon trapped in the cells. They all looked sad, disheartened, confused, angry, and even hopeless.

"There's a rumor," Nyla began, breaking Annabelle out of her thought, "that every pokémon trapped here was once human."

Annabelle jerked her head in Nyla's direction in surprise. Nyla nodded sadly. "I don't know why we're all here. I just know that we've all saved the world in some way or another. My team and I were responsible for stopping the unnatural disasters occurring all over the place and stopping a meteor from destroying the world. Your team is known for stopping the planet's paralyze and saving our future from a relentless darkness. Do you see the pattern?"

"So everyone here is a human… or was at one point. Their partners and teammates must be worried sick." Annabelle frowned as the thought of her own team came to mind.

Nyla, seeing this, offered a small smile. "If your team is anything like mine, your partner is out and about looking for you. Don't lose hope. But now I have a few questions for you… I was one of the first few pokémon brought here and confined. I don't know what's happened to our world. What have you heard?"

"Nothing good," Annabelle said, her eyes narrowed. "There have been strange things going on. The world has been shaking with an unknown anger. The sky has brought down fierce winds and rains. And somehow, without any known cause, fires have started in the forests and burnt most of them to the ground. This has forced a lot of pokémon to take shelter in the towns. But that's not the only problem we're facing. We heard rumors in Treasure Town of pokémon who have fallen asleep and have yet to wake. To top it all off, pokémon were disappearing without explanation. My team and I were looking into it before I vanished. Though, if what you've told me is true, everyone here is connected to the missing pokémon cases."

Nyla's face fell as the information sank in. "Either way, we might be here for a while unfortunately. With that being the case, do you mind telling me about yourself? You know about me, but I hardly know anything about you. And please, call me Anna."

"Oh, my story is nothing of interest," Nyla chuckled, "but I was once a human. Apparently I was summoned to this world to help stop the natural disasters that plagued the pokémon. I accomplished this, thankfully, with my best friend and partner: Jaxon."

Her eyebrows furrowed in thought as she lifted a paw to her chin. "He's a rather interesting pokémon, if I may say. He certainly has a lot of spunk for a raichu! He and I clicked immediately when we first met and we've been close ever since. We have a third member. She's an angel! She has such a beautiful name too – Kalista, the fiery arcanine with the heart of a giant. Together we proudly stood against danger. Team Echo Hearts, the team whose heart echo's and inspire everyone to connect and stand together as one."

"It seems we're destined to save the pokémon world when we're summoned here." Annabelle murmured with a small smile.

"Indeed," agreed Nyla as the two exchanged smiles. Both hoped that their friends would find them soon. Neither of them said it aloud, but both worried about the welfare of their friends and family. How were they doing? Were they okay? What was going on?

All these questions, they hoped, would be answered in due time.