Well, writing while under the influence of a bad stomach ache is harder than it looks. But I still managed, I'll probably go back through this when I'm well again and clear up any plotholes and whatnot.

Comments still wanted, as usual.

Episode Sixty-Six: The Thing

"So why did you spotaniously decide to come back?" Squirtle asked, as I sat down a little while off.

"I felt like it. Why do you ask?" I replied, "want me to leave already?"

"No! You are not going anywhere," Pika said with sparks, literally, beginning to fly.

"Why, may I ask, are you covered in mud and stuff?" Squirtle said, politly.

I looked down at myself and was caked in muck and whatnot. My mad dash had involved going though mud puddles. The memory of why I headed back so fast forced me to jump up.

"Oh crap!"

"It doesn't look that bad, I'm sure it'll clean off."

"Not that," I said, "where are the others?"

"Looking for you, why? What's wrong?" Pika asked.

"There is a thing out there and it is looking for something!"

"That's very specific, Flame," Squirtle sighed.

I turned away and tried to figure out some way to get everyone together and fast. Some sort of beacon. Luckily, I had such a thing.

"Let's hope this works," I muttered as I took in a huge breath.

"What works?" Pika said untill the huge fireball I launched skywards forced her to stare in awe.

It was bigger than my head, but I still had enough puff left to shoot a second fireball after it. Although smaller, the second one was much faster and the two collided in midair just above the treeline. The resulting flash of light and explosion was sure to get their attention, that was my thinking anyway.

I flopped back down to the ground, trying to regain my breath. Super huge fireballs take a lot out of you, especially if you are still a little hungry.

"Got anything to eat?" I asked Squirtle, who was remarkably not startled by the random fireball launching.

"'Fraid not, but I could go get something if you want," he replied, getting to his feet.

"No!" I yelled causing him to look at me, puzzled, "don't go."

"Aww, you really do love my company," he laughed.

"Actually, I don't want to be left alone with Pika," I said, hiding my true reasons.

"What is wrong with being alone with me?" She yelled.

"I'm afraid of you and what might happen if I'm alone with you for a little while."

"It'd be like a bad sitcom," Squirtle said with a grin, while I tried to figure out what a 'sitcom' was.

"Do I want to know?" I asked,

"Probably not."

Right on cue, Blacky burst in through the bushes with Scyther in tow.

"What's the problem?" he asked, untill he spotted my mud covered self and tried to tackle me in a hug. I managed to get out of the way in time and looked up at Scyther.

"The others?" I asked the bug Pokémon.

"Scout is with Joanne and she is coming. Scyther does not know about Moron's location but Scyther presumes that Moron would be coming here as well."

"I hope they show up soon."

"Why? What is so damn importent?" Pika started yelling.

"He told you, remember?" Squirtle said, looking at her, "the thing that is looking for something."

Joanne picked this moment to burst into the clearing, just in time to see Pika go psycho-mode and start firing bolts everywhere. Needless to say, Pika was put into her Pokéball very quickly before she got actually hurt anyone that mattered. Like any of us other Pokémon but not Moron, who decided to walk strait into the bolt. I could smell the burning hair.

"Ow," he said, once the twitching had stopped.

"Well, he takes being shocked better than most of us do," I mused.

"It's the shoes, they negate most of it," Squirtle told me.

"I have to get me some of those. Then again, I don't plan on being thundershocked."

"Wise move. Now about the thing."

"What thing?"

"The thing. That wanted another thing," Squirtle sighed.

"Oh, that thing. What about it?"

"What exactly is this thing?"

I took a few seconds to reply, mainly because I was looking the thing in question in the eye, "that thing."

Squirtle turned and quickly spotted the Persian as it moved its gaze to him, "that is one scary thing."

"Would Squirtle and Flame please refrain from saying 'thing' again? Scyther is starting to get annoyed," came the voice as Scyther stepped over towards the Persian, "what is it that cat Pokémon wants?"

The Persian growled as Scyther got closer, forcing the bug Pokémon to stop when out came the claws. Moron and Joanne were staring, and reeking of fear. The smell was even masking my own, which must have taken some beating as I was practicaly a quivering wreak.

The Persian looked over us all, its gaze lingering on Blacky far too long for my tastes, before turning away and leaving without a word.

"What the hell was that all about?" Moron asked, reflecting everyone's thoughts.

"Isn't that the Persian that was with the Hypno?" Blacky asked, turning to look at me.

"Why would I know? It's a Persian and it scares the shit out of me, that is all I know."

"Aww. Is poor wittle Flame scared of the mean kitty?" Squirtle smirked.

"Squirtle was scared too," Scyther said, "Squirtle was trying to hide behind Scyther the entire time."

"Aww, does Squirt wanna hug?" I laughed, before suddenly turning serious when Squirtle moved towards me, "I was joking and you know it."

"Why must you always ruin my fun?" Squirtle sighed, while everyone burst out laughing.

The tension from the Persian's appearence had faded and we finally found our way back to the path.

"I spoke to another Trainer while looking for Flame," Moron piped up, "apparently, Saffron City is closed off by the police so we're going to have to use the subway to get to Vermillion."

"Why would it be closed off by police?" Joanne asked

"I don't know and neither did the other guy. We'll just keep going on our way and let it work itself out."

"Leave it to the professionals."

I was listening in, and wondering if Alpha and his gang were involved at all.

'Knowing them, very probably,' I reasoned with a grin. Those lot were just as prone to getting into scrapes as I was, 'I wonder if Mew keeps an eye on them too.'

"Flame?" Came Blacky's voice, bringing me back to reality, "what do you think the Persian was after?"

"I don't know," I lied, "but we don't have whatever it is."

The way it hadn't mentioned that we didn't have what it wanted and the way it had stared at Blacky had told me what it was after. It wanted Blacky. I guessed that, with its master gone, it was going to obey its last orders and retrieve the Umbreon. I decided not to tell anyone else because they would panic and scream and give me a headache.

'I will just refuse to make it easy for it,' I told myself, looking down at the Umbreon under my care. I was worried about Spiral but I just had to hope that the Persian would keep its focus on us and leave her be.

'I am in way over my head here,' I thought with a frown.

"Flame!" Squirtle yelled at me, "wake up!"

"What?" I yelled back, startled. I glanced round, expecting to see the Persian dragging Blacky away.

"Nothing, you were zoned out and I wanted to inform you that we have arrived. Welcome to the Cerulean-Vermillion Subway. Shame we won't get to see the inside of it."

I was about to ask why when I felt the familiar tug on my spine as I was sucked into a Pokéball, 'well, this sucks.'