Bam! I'm keeping my word.

Enjoy.

Chapter 87
Investigation

"Plasuplaaaa!"

Marina didn't have time to react. The moment Professor Elm's assistant let her and Kenta inside, Amber bounded across the room, climbed up her legs and into her arms. She stumbled, still feeling drained of energy. Marina slowly petted the Pokémon as Amber's squeaking echoed across the spacious laboratory.

"Oh, Amber...! Did you miss me? I'm sorry if I scared you."

"Plasu, plasu!"

"It's okay, it's okay! This is a fun place, you know. The people here aren't meanies. You're fine..."

The excited chirps lessened in volume, and in seconds, Amber quieted down. She hugged her Trainer with her little paws, content.

"At last! Peace," said Professor Elm's assistant. Marina giggled when he dramatically faced the ceiling to express his relief.

"Sorry about all this."

Professor Elm himself, who had been holding the previously inconsolable Plusle on the other side of the room, walked over to them. He wore a cheerful grin at the sight of the two young Trainers.

"That's just what the little one needed," he said. He opened his arms. "Anyways, it's great to see you again! Look at you. You've grown so much, and I imagine your Pokémon have too."

"Absolutely!" Kenta responded. His eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as he took out one of his Poké Balls. "Spending every day traveling and training with my own Pokémon is like dream."

"Yup," Marina agreed. "Even when things get rough, I haven't regretted becoming a Trainer one bit."

"I'm glad to hear that. I heard a lot about you two from Jackson, so I didn't worry." Elm peered at Marina's jacket. "And you have plenty of Gym Badges already. That's impressive!"

"Yeah, we're trying our best to make it to the Elite Four!"

"The Elite Four?"

"That's my goal, anyway. I saw the Lance, the Champion, battle with my own eyes while I was in Mahogany Town, and I knew then and there that I just had to challenge them!" Marina pumped her fist, ecstatic. Elm raised his eyebrows.

"The road to the Pokémon League is no easy task. I'm surprised you're taking it on."

"Marina's already ahead of everyone," Kenta said. "You should see her battle; she has a real knack for it."

"I wish I could say it's nothing, but...ahaha," she replied with a bashful grin.

"Yeah, seven Gym Badges in eight months isn't nothing. You've really gotten strong."

Marina just smiled. His face suddenly twisted in embarrassment.

"Wh-What?"

"Oh, nothing. I'm just happy you think that!"

Professor Elm laughed. "You're both amazing. Truly, I hope your time spent at my lab has helped you during your travels."

"I think it has. Thank you!"

"Yeah. Seriously, Professor, thank you," Kenta echoed with a nod.

"The pleasure's mine." Professor Elm held out Amber's Poké Ball for Marina to take, which she did. With a light pat, she recalled Amber back inside.

"Oh, Professor?" she began with a start.

"Yes?"

"Um, about Silver," she began with careful hesitation. "He was supposed to get his first Pokémon from you, right? My old Totodile? I'd just like to ask; why weren't we told about him?"

His grin mellowed into a subtle frown. He turned back toward his desk, which was filled with stacks of paper and various post-it notes. On the opposite side of the main room sat an also cluttered table, where he had given Kenta, Jackson, and Marina their starter Pokémon. When he turned back to the kids, he saw both looking at him expectantly. Professor Elm moved to clean his spectacles with his lab coat.

"I knew this would come up sooner or later...

"Unfortunately, I don't have much time to talk. I'm in the middle of preparing a presentation for the Johto Tournament. If you please, Marina, take Amber back home and see if you can leave her with your mother."

"Can't you tell us, Professor?" Kenta asked. "If we had known about it sooner, there wouldn't have been so much drama back then..."

The man closed his eyes and sighed. Standing next to him, his assistant remained silent. He wasn't curious—rather, he seemed to hold back his words. If Professor Elm refused to explain it, then so would he.

"...Yes, I'm sorry," Elm eventually said. "I suppose you deserve to hear it, after all this time."

Marina's face brightened up while Kenta's matched the atypical, grave mood of the scholar.

"You see, it's true; I was supposed to provide Silver with his first Pokémon. It was a favor from Professor Oak, and I simply couldn't turn him down. Since Chris called telling me he would have a Pokémon ready for Marina, I had three starter Pokémon prepared for Silver, Jackson—and you, Kenta.

"But when the day came, Chris was unreachable and hadn't sent anything. I didn't want to disappoint anyone, and Silver just slipped my mind. He came to pick up his own Pokémon after you all left...and well, he stormed out of the lab—understandably, I suppose—when I told him what had happened. You know the rest; he decided to take matters into his own hands. I'm sorry you had to meet the boy in such unpleasant circumstances."

"That's okay, don't worry about it!" Marina reassured. "It all turned out well in the end."

"I really do apologize," Elm insisted. "When you coped with losing your Totodile so easily, I was relieved. My biggest mistake was letting Silver pick before he got to the lab. I told him I couldn't guarantee that you or Kenta or Jackson wouldn't pick Totodile, but he was very insistent."

"Oh, he got to pick first! So that's why Totodile liked him so much."

That's a relief more than anything. Marina could feel her old regret wash away. She tried to wave away the Professor's mild distress with a satisfied smile. Kenta crossed his arms, silent in thought. He spoke up.

"Why didn't you tell us?"

"Well...To be perfectly honest," Professor Elm said, "Professor Oak asked me to keep quiet as much as possible."

"Professor Oak? Why?" Marina asked.

"Professor Oak was the one who asked him to do it," Kenta reminded her. Still, she tilted her head in confusion.

"Yeah, but why couldn't he give a Pokémon to Silver? I'm sure he has a lot at his lab in Kanto."

"In his words," Elm replied. "It was so he could have a fresh start."

"A fresh start?" Marina asked.

"Silver wanted to travel in Johto. There were...certain matters that might have made traveling in Kanto impossible for him."

"Like what?" Kenta asked, his curiosity overpowering his distaste for the boy.

Professor Elm let out another sigh. It was rare to see him weighed down by such serious matters. When he didn't say anything, the Trainers gawked at each other and then back at him.

"It sounds really serious," Marina said.

"Yeah," Kenta replied. "Professor, is it okay to tell us?"

Elm frowned. "In the light of what has happened since all of you started journeying...maybe not."

"That's okay. Professor Oak didn't want anyone to know about it, so—."

"I want to know."

Everyone looked at Marina. She stared straight ahead, determination simmering in her gaze.

"He's been having a tough time lately...and I'm worried."

Professor Elm's stern expression loosened, curious. "Are you friends with him?"

"Silver's my rival," she said with a slight smile. "When I was going through a tough time because—."

Marina's evergreen eyes glimpsed at Kenta, who gave her a knowing frown.

"Well, it doesn't matter now. I was just so upset, I couldn't even battle him. He offered to hear me out, but I didn't want to talk about it. Now, he's the one who's upset. I sort of understand why, but I don't think arguing is going to help. If there's anything I can do, I'd like to know.

"I want to understand, no matter what it is," she reaffirmed.

The Professor looked away at the bookshelves surrounding them. He let the girl's words to sink in. In the distance, the humming of machines accompanied the silence. He grinned a little.

"It's good to see you coming into your own, Marina," he said. "Before, you would have left it at that and pressed down all your worries until someone asked."

Marina listened without a response.

"Then, if you swear to secrecy, I'll tell you. I can't go into many details since I really must get back to work, but I can afford to give you a rundown of how Professor Oak came to me with his request..."

In ten minutes time, Marina and Kenta left the laboratory. Their hometown's familiar afternoon view filled their sight. A chilly wind and the warm sun welcomed them as they walked down the path, which they had taken countless times before they became Trainers.

Marina giggled.

"I can't believe we're back home! We should've done this sooner."

"Are you sure you're okay?" Kenta asked.

She looked at him.

"I mean—earlier," he quickly clarified. "With the Unown. You kept spacing out the whole way to the lab. Are you still feeling alright?"

"Oh." She suddenly smiled and nudged into him. He broke eye contact. "Of course I am!"

"C-Come on, I just want to make sure."

"I'm okay," she said. "I'm kind of tired, that's all. Nothing a quick nap can't fix. Cilice might not be happy about it...but you're right. If only I knew it was fake...I thought it was haunted this whole time."

"At least you're safe. It's been bothering me since you told me about it."

Marina nodded.

They stopped at a fork in the road, where they used to split up on their way home. Almost unconsciously, they began to go their separate ways. She stopped and turned back to Kenta, who had done just the same. The moment their eyes met, they laughed to themselves.

"I'll call you later, okay?" Kenta said, waving. "Later."

"Yeah, see you later!"

Marina trotted ahead, admiring the sparkling water of the cove. As her familiar house came into view, however, she slowed down. Green shingles, pastel yellow siding with wood accents, and a small balcony that led into her and May's room... She'd been to so many places that the house seemed almost alien to her. But the warmth she felt reminded her that it was home.

With a deep breath, she knocked on the front door.

The moment Caroline appeared, shock hit her eyes. She released the doorknob to cover her mouth.

"Marina...?"

"Hi, Mom! I'm home."

"You didn't tell me you'd be coming!"

"I thought I'd surprise you," Marina laughed.

"Oh, sweetie..." Surprise yielded to joy, and Caroline hugged her daughter tightly. "Welcome home! It's so good to see you...!"

Marina relaxed into her shoulder. She focused on Caroline's soft, brown hair and the familiar living room inside. Worries concerning the Unown, Silver, and everything else melted away. She hugged back.

"Thanks, Mom."

Meanwhile, Kenta exchanged a calmer, but warm welcome with his own mother. With a quick hug and a peck on his cheek, she ushered him inside. As he had expected, she wore her blue police uniform. Her hat and prim jacket had been placed on the coat hanger by the door, however, and her blouse covered by an apron.

"I'm glad you called me," she said. "They let me off work early to meet you."

"I hoped they would," Kenta replied with a grin.

Barking and fur brushing against his calf brought his attention to the floor. His mother's Growlithe gazed up at him with irresistible brown eyes. Despite its fluffy body wriggling in excitement, its disciplined nature kept it sitting on the floor and waiting for a good petting.

"Hey there, buddy!" Kenta dropped to his knees and ruffled his orange and cream coat. "How are you doing? Still fighting crime?"

Growlithe whined happily, licking his face.

"As always," his mother responded.

After a dinner complemented by typical discussion of recent events, they settled into the modest living room. Kenta's Pidgeot took up most of the floor, but it and Spear the Beedrill chattered with Growlithe, who gave their mature forms nosy looks. The black-haired woman relaxed in the reclining chair. She spotted Kenta putting away magazines and other clutter into their proper places.

"Oh please, Kenta, you don't have to."

"It's nothing," the boy insisted. "Doesn't even take five minutes."

Her usual tired and merry expression lightened with gratitude. "My little Hiro."

"M-Mom—!"

"You said you wanted to talk to me about something at the dinner table," she undercut his complaints about using his middle name. "I don't believe you said what it was?"

Kenta turned to her. "Oh. Yeah."

"Do you need time to think on it?"

"No, I'm good."

He sat down on the couch. Growlithe jumped up next to him, and the boy gave it a few playful pats. With a quick breath, he looked back at his mother. He displayed slight hesitation as his mind wandered to earlier that day. But, he shook it off and focused.

"I...I want to know more about when Marina disappeared a few years ago."

Reading her son's serious stare, she slowly sat up straight.

"What do you want to know?"

"Did you ever find out anything? Or...anything you haven't told me?"

"Anything..." She closed her eyes, picking up some of the sternness that her work demanded. "It's been five—no, six years since then, hasn't it? I still remember the day she disappeared in the woods..."

"Can you tell me anything?" he pressed.

"The case has been closed for some time, Kenta. We never found solid leads, and when she returned, her testimony was deemed unreliable. And then, Team Rocket disbanded and every station across Johto and Kanto was searching for their boss, who escaped without a trace."

Kenta's frown twisted.

"Marina was found in Ecruteak City, the day the Brass Tower burned down. She was confused and seemed to suffer some kind of amnesia... Caroline and Norman insisted that, anyway."

"But what did she say?"

"Hasn't Marina talked about it? You and your friends used to play around with what she claimed to happen."

"...She can't remember it as well anymore."

"Hmm. Her story seemed like a tall tale. The very existence of Legendary Beasts is sometimes doubted, and they were never found in the rubble of the Burned Tower. I believe that wild Pokémon did take her in—it's happened before with injured people and sympathetic Pokémon. But, understand that her parents didn't want to bring on scrutiny over something that could've been thought up by their traumatized daughter."

Kenta looked down. The policewoman took a sip of her tea.

"...I didn't want to tell you this since you were so young and I didn't want to scare you," she explained. "But, we did find something in the woods. A Pokémon seemed to have gone on a rampage, damaging the trees. Nearby, we found blood. When we checked the DNA, it was Marina's, yet her body was nowhere to be seen."

His hands clenched and slipped away from the comforting fur of his mother's Growlithe.

"What happened?" he asked.

"Like I said, part of her testimony seemed to ring true. She ran into that Pokémon, who then attacked her. I believe she called it 'Deoxys'."

Coldness blanketed Kenta's skin. A nagging theory of his, born from his research in Violet City, was confirmed by that one name.

"But I'm not sure what happened after that. We just couldn't find a blood trail. Even if she were carried instead of dragged away, her injuries should have been serious. It was as though she'd somehow been healed and walked away from it unscathed."

"...Thank you for telling me, Mom."

His quiet response made the woman look him in the eyes. "Did you find something?" she asked.

"...Maybe...But," he shook his head, "I need time to think."

Kenta felt a soft hand on his shoulder. Kindness returned to his mother's eyes, and she smiled.

"Of course. Take your time. There's no good in rushing when you don't need to."

Pokémon Training had a way of stealing away a lot of time. Before Marina knew it, late spring had arrived.

Rain from the morning had drenched the balcony. Drying laundry fluttered outside, and the breeze trailed inside the open glass door. It almost made Marina want to spend the day in bed. She sat on the floor with King, who was sprawled over the fluffy rug.

"Marina! Lunch is ready!" Caroline's voice called from downstairs. The girl looked toward the open door of her room, standing up. She adjusted her lavender skirt and thigh-high socks with awkward care.

"Okay!" she replied.

Her Quilava huffed, watching with begging eyes as she stowed away the brush she'd been grooming him with. She scoured the room and substituted her backpack for a new khaki messenger bag. Glancing at the vanity mirror, she smiled at her more cutesy attire. It wasn't something she'd wear while traveling. But today, she ignored its impracticality. She wasn't planning on braving the wilderness.

Her eyes briefly stared at her bare neck. As if to make sure, she felt it. She then fluffed up the white folds on her sleeves and continued to get ready.

Her bedroom was the cleanest she'd ever seen it. Caroline kept it that way, and Marina didn't make herself too comfortable. For the past few weeks—with the exception of her eleventh birthday, which was celebrated jubilantly by her friends and family—she'd spend only an evening home before heading out to Blackthorn City again. Reliving New Bark Town's quaint charm was relaxing at first, but the longer she stayed, the more she wanted to travel.

Flying to Blackthorn City was easy and quick, but she went home on foot. She had taken on a self-imposed challenge of battling every Trainer and wild Pokémon that faced her. Now, she didn't even need to go back to the Pokémon Center to complete the trek through Routes 45 and 46.

A brightly-colored calendar on the wall caught her attention. The first Wednesday of May was marked with sparkling purple pen.

I hope all my training will be good enough this time, she thought. When I battle Clair again...

She'd battled Clair a second time almost exactly a month after her first challenge, but the Gym Leader's Kingdra proved impossible to defeat yet again. Marina felt she'd gotten closer, though, and looked forward to trying her best next time.

Marina recalled King back into his Poke Ball. With a last look at her sister's unused bed, she headed downstairs for lunch.

"Plasupla!"

As she sat at the table, she was greeted by both her mother and her Plusle. Amber jumped into her arms to give her a hug, while Caroline smiled warmly. Even with her child's constant periods of absence, just having Marina home at least once a week made Caroline perk up more than she ever had over the phone. Amber helped liven up the empty house, too. She got along well with Caroline and stuck to her like glue. They complemented each other well, which was a relief.

When they finished their meal, Caroline and Marina took their plates into the kitchen. Marina held onto the edge of the counter, watching Caroline turn on the faucet. Amber settled herself on Caroline's shoulder.

"You can go now, honey. You don't want to be late meeting your friends." Caroline moved to kiss the girl on the cheek. Amber attempted to mimic her, but couldn't quite reach in time. It made Marina smile and pet her for the effort.

"Um...Mom?"

"What is it?"

She rocked on the heels of her feet. "Do you remember...when I used to play pretend?"

"Of course. You and May would come up with all sorts of games together."

"Um...I mean..." Marina backed off and held her hands behind her. "Yeah! That was a lot of fun. Remember the whole thing about Suicune and the island of different-colored Pokémon?"

Caroline laughed softly. "Oh, you were so adamant that it was real. Your brother encouraged you a little too much, I think. It's good to have such a creative imagination, but there's a time and place for playing. "

"...Yeah..."

"Oh, that reminds me: have you decided on registering for the Johto Tournament yet?"

"No, not yet."

"You're going to Goldenrod City today; it'd be a good idea to do it since you'll be in the area. There isn't much time before the opening ceremonies. Next week, I think?

"You'll do well, I know it. The Elite Four and Kanto are too dangerous for you. So think about it, okay?"

But Red traveled in Kanto and he was eleven, too.

"I will. I gotta go," Marina instead said.

"Be sure to be back by dinner."

"Plasu plasu pla," Amber mimicked happily.

Marina left the kitchen, hearing the sound of clinking dishes grow distant. She put on her shoes and left the house in a hurry. She kicked herself for her hesitation. But she tried her best to hide the feeling away as she made her way to Kenta's house.

"Oh, sorry," the boy said when he opened the door. Wearing his backpack, he seemed about ready to head out himself. "I'm going to train in Kanto."

"Kanto?" Marina's eyes widened. She turned back to the tiny bay on the northeastern side of town. Just across the inlet was the Kanto Region, more specifically Route 26. It was the path that led to the Indigo Plateau. She'd been too focused on Blackthorn to consider training there yet. Her mother wouldn't permit it if she found out, either.

"But what about the Tohjo Falls?" she asked. "Don't you need a Pokémon that can climb waterfalls? None of your Pokémon can Surf on water, either."

"Pidgeot can fly me over the cliffs," he answered with a smile.

"Oh, I guess that would work!"

"I'm just going to scout it out; the Trainers are probably too much for me. But you said Goldenrod City, right? Why's Bugsy there?"

"He's friends with Whitney," she replied. "You know, the Goldenrod Gym Leader. We get along pretty well, too!"

Kenta froze and looked away. "Yeah, I'm good."

"Aww, you don't want to? I got all dressed up and everything."

"What? I-It's not that. Whitney...she's the one with pink hair and the Miltank, right?"

"Yeah! Why?"

"Ugh..."

"What is it?"

"Nothing, she just..." He sighed. "When I battled her, she cried when I won..."

"Really?!"

"Apparently it happens every time she loses. Didn't she do that with you, too?"

"No, Whitney gave her Gym Badge to me, remember?"

"Oh, right." Kenta shook off his remorse, but seemed uncertain. "Deoxys."

"Yeah..."

"Is...Is that the only time you've met Deoxys?" he asked.

She put her finger to her lips, thinking. "Hmm...I saw it in my dreams afterward, but that's it."

"I see..." Kenta smiled at her. "You can call me if you find anything out about Latios."

"Okay. Will do!" Marina said and sent out her Fearow.

The second Whitney saw Marina from the window of the café, she ran over and wrapped the younger girl up into an excited hug.

"Ohh, glad you could make it!" Whitney cheered.

"It's good to see you again! You're looking great," Marina snapped her fingers when they moved away, "still rocking the pigtails."

Whitney haughtily flipped her hair. "Of course!"

She led her to their table, where a boy with purple hair watched. He looked youthful and friendly, almost like a child. Rather than the crimson hue Marina remembered, his eyes were a deep violet. The girls sat down, and Marina ordered a glass of milk.

"Look at those Badges!" Whitney tapped the girl's collar covered in pins. "Someday I'll have to battle you for real. You don't even look like the rookie I last saw!"

"Ehehe..." Marina strained a laugh and recalled what Kenta had told her earlier.

If it came to that, she thought, I'll have to prepare more for the aftermath than the battle...

"How are you doing?" she asked.

"Peachy!" Whitney exclaimed. "We've been moving the flowers outside the Gym since it's warm now. Oh, and well, this is Bugsy."

She motioned to the boy beside them. Marina smiled uncomfortably, and he did the same. They were supposed to know each other, supposed to have met, but they were strangers.

When Marina received a call from Whitney the previous week, the blue-haired girl had brought up the rumor about Bugsy's imposter. Instead of waving it off, Whitney suggested they all meet up in the Goldenrod Department Store. The way she perkily evaded the issue intrigued Marina. She couldn't pass it up.

"Hello," Bugsy said.

"Hi!" Marina waved in response. He bowed his head.

"I appreciate all that your brother's done for me in my absence. I thought he wouldn't tell anyone, but I guess he trusts you. If you could tell him thanks for me..."

"My brother?"

Seeing her tilt her head, Bugsy's shoulders tensed. His choppy locks of hair flipped wildly as he turned toward Whitney.

"This is Chris's sister, right?" He asked, keeping his voice quiet.

"Yeah. I thought she knew." The pink-haired girl was unfazed by his panic. She smiled and rubbed the back of her head. "Whoops!"

"Knew? Knew what?" Marina asked.

"That wasn't the reason why you brought up Bugsy to me?"

"No, but...I was wondering if you knew anything about it."

"Of course I do," Whitney leaned back, "Bugsy had a double covering for him in secret for a while last year—."

"Shh!" Bugsy shushed and glanced around. "Not so loud."

"Oh, right."

Marina gawked at the two young Gym Leaders in front of her. Of all the explanations she imagined, she hadn't expected this.

"My brother...helped cover for Bugsy when he was gone?"

"Yup," said Whitney. Bugsy himself sighed.

"I had family matters and I didn't know how long I'd be gone," he explained. "Then I ran into Chris, and he told me he'd take care of it. I still have no idea how he managed disguise as me so well..."

"The Pokémon League wouldn't let you take time off?" Marina asked.

"Well, they could, but..."

"Rumors will start," Whitney finished. She rested her chin on her hand. "Don't tell anyone, but he's got a distant relative in the Orre Desert. Bugsy wanted to help him establish his own Gym over there, of all places."

Bugsy shushed her again. She covered her mouth with her hands in response. Marina was so stunned that she didn't thank the waiter when he brought her the milk she'd ordered.

Then my brother...had Latios disguise himself as Bugsy? She thought in disbelief. He knows Latios already?!

Whitney laughed at her dumbfounded face. "You really didn't know! Still...Setting up a Gym in a place like that, full of criminals... Is it even legal to set up a Gym without a Pokémon League to approve it? The Orre Desert's not even a defined region."

"Well," Bugsy replied, "my relative lives in a rich area so it was safe. Plus, it's not really an official Gym; it's a place to teach Trainers. They do battle there. A lot, actually."

"You're lucky you got back alive." Whitney took on a remorseful expression. "I don't know what I'd do if I never heard from my Gym Leader buddy again!"

Bugsy slouched in his chair. Marina tried to cheer him up with a bright smile and optimistic words.

"I'll tell my brother you said thanks the next time I see him. Don't worry; your secret's safe with me! And it's really nice of you to go out of your way for your family. He must be a strong Trainer."

He grinned a bit. "I think he is, too."

The three moved onto other topics for some time. Bugsy broke out of his shell the moment Bug-type Pokémon were brought up. He adored researching in general. However, most of his archaeology work focused on the people that had once lived in the Ruins of Alph, rather than the Unown that currently thrived in them. What he knew about the myth of Aura and Maya was negligible—nothing that Marina didn't already know from Cilice, Eusine, Kudou, and Kenta. She traded phone numbers with him anyway, just in case he found out anything new.

But it was nice, in an odd way, to meet the real Azalea Gym Leader. Marina made sure to compliment his Scyther. His Pokémon, the ones she'd seen, held their own very well even when commanded by an imposter—by another Pokémon, at that.

Of course, she didn't mention that little detail. With one mystery down and yet another cropping up, she kept it to herself and eventually said farewell to the two teenagers, who left the café to return to their Gym Leader posts.

A/N: Things are moving along quickly.

See you Friday, hopefully!