Chapter 6: To Catch a Thief

Edgar's Villa, Olisberg Village, Fepusa Nation, 13th April Year 1468

A few days later after the events of Grim islands. Ray and his friends were relaxing.

"I can't believe sensei had to leave so urgently to Olisberg forest." Reid said.

"He never says a no to someone in need. Especially if they are from this village. He has done so much for this village." Ray added.

"I wanted to play a game with him today." Reina sighed.

"He isn't himself since we came back from the capital." Ray said.

"I couldn't believe that an island like that exists. Also, no one seems to care about it." Reid exclaimed.

Ray stood up and walked towards the window. "And everybody else wants to ignore it that they even erased it from maps."

Just as Ray was looking at the sky. A messenger Pidgeott lands in the backyard. "Looks like we have a visitor." Ray announced.

The Pidgeott hands a letter to Ray.

Ray grabs it. "Who's this from?" But before his question is answered The Pidgeott takes off to the sky. "I guess I'll find out by reading."

Reid and Reina rushed to the backyard. "Who's it from?" Reid asked.

"He didn't answer it." Rays responded. "Reina why don't you read it."

Reina got frustrated. "Why me?"

Reina opens the letter and reads it. "I need your help it's urgent. Come to the new address I wrote below."

"How Strange! Who is it from." Reid asked.

"It says from Doctor Stern."

"Never heard about him. Even sensei never mentioned him. What do we do?" Ray asked.

"I think we should go sensei won't be coming till tomorrow. Someone could be in trouble." Reid said

"I don't know about this but I have a bad feeling." Ray replied.

"Come on, someone could be in a life or death situation and you are just going to ignore that." Reid yelled at the Riolu.

"Reid is right. Someone could be in danger and they send this to Sensei. That means sensei knows this person. Reina added.

"Ok, fine, I get it." Ray reluctantly agreed. "If we leave now we could reach Olisberg city before noon. Reina writes a note to sensei if he gets back early."

Reid smiles and pats Reid's shoulder. "That's the spirit."

Slicton District, Olisberg City, Fepusa Nation, 13th April Year 1468

The trio arrived in Olisberg city in a few hours. They stood in front of a house which seems to be old and could fall at any moment. The paint was decaying and bricks were broken.

"Are you sure this is the place?" Reid commented.

"According to the letter we are at the right place" Reina replied.

Ray walks closer to the door. "Let's hope it doesn't collapse while we are inside." Rays knock on the door. The trio waited for a few minutes but no one responded.

Reid sighs. "I think no one lives here."

"What are you looking for?" A female Roselia interrupts.

Reina shows the letter to the grass types. "Are we at the right address?"

Roselia looks at the letter. "Where did you get this letter from?"

"That's none of your business." Ray looked at her suspiciously.

"Do you know Edgar?" Roselia asked.

"Yeah, we live with him." Reid blurts out.

Ray face palmed and was disappointed in Reid.

The Roselia looks at him confused. "Why didn't Edgar come himself?" She asked.

The house door opens and a male Kadabra comes out. "Lilly, what's taking you so long?"

"I was just seeing who these suspicious pokemon are" The Roselia whose name is Lilly said.

"Excuse me, you were the one who came to us and started poking in our business." Ray got furious at Lilly's accusation.

"Settle down young one. Tell me what you want." The Kadabra tried to calm down Ray.

"We got this letter showing this address. Is this yours?" Reina asked.

"That's the right address but how did you get this letter. Lilly, did you put the wrong address? I was expecting Edgar." The Kadabra said.

"We came on behalf of Edgar. He is not at home at the moment." Reina said.

"But then who are you?" The Kadabra asked.

"We are Edgar's student but we also live with him." Reina said.

The Kadabra was thinking hard. "Ah! Yes, now I remember. Edgar said that he was living with other pokemons. It was a Machop, Meditite and a Riolu. Come in, come in." The Kadabra invited them inside.

Inside the house

Compared to the outside the inside of the house was well kept. As if it was new. The Kadabra leads them to a hidden room. This room is a lab. The lab was filled with various machines.

"I haven't introduced myself. I am Doctor Stern. I am a scientist, engineer, inventor and many things but doctor first." He points towards Lilly. "You have already met my lab assistant but I'll do a proper introduction. Meet Lilly, my lab assistant. She is more than an assistant. She looks after the lab and the house all by herself."

"Why are the inside and outside completely different." Ray asked curiously.

"I don't want everyone to know that there is a science lab down the house. It helps maintain the illusion. Ernest himself funded this facility." Dr. Stern said.

"Ernest did?" Ray asked.

"Doctor, Can we even trust these people." Lilly asked.

"I trust Edgar so why can't we trust them." Stern said.

"If you say so. I am sorry I came as rude." Lilly apologized. "I can't trust anyone easily"

Ray nodded. "That's understandable." He turns his attention to the doctor. "How can we help you?"

Stern sighs. "I'm not sure if you can help I was hoping for Edgar to come himself."

"If you tell us the problem we can help." Reina said.

"My research documents were stolen last night. I thought Edgar could use his sense of smell to find out where the thief is." Stern said.

"I am not as good as my sensei but I can try." Just then Ray remembered something. "Actually I just realized yesterday it was raining people outside were talking about it. Such an odd time to rain. Now it will be impossible to track with scent."

The Doctor thought something for a while. "Well, there is another way."

He rummages through various apparatus and devices. "Ah, found it! With this machine, you can track the safe to the research papers."

"This is convenient thank you for that." Reid said.

"But there is a catch." Stern interrupted.

"Of course, it was not that simple." Ray sighed.

"It can only track the safe within a one-kilometer radius." Stern Explained

"Like what if someone already broke the safe?" Reina asked.

"It will be impossible for them to open the safe." Stern said.

"Why?" Ray asked.

"It will only open with Doctor stern physic energy." Lilly explained.

"But wouldn't other Pokemon with psychic moves be able to open?" Reid questioned

"No, it will only detect Dr. Stern's psychic energy. Each Pokemon has different psychic energy just like their DNA." Lilly Explained further.

"Let's just say If somebody uses fire to open it." Rays asked.

Lilly went speechless for a second. "Oh, I didn't think about that."

"What about brute force?" Ray asked.

"Yeah, also that." Stern said.

"What were the research papers about?" Ray asked.

"We can't tell you that it's confidential." Lilly interrupted.

"We need to know what papers we are looking at when we catch the thief. In case the thief managed to break the safe." Ray added.

"I told you it's confidential." Lilly said with a slightly higher tone.

The doctor sighs. "It's okay Lilly. I was researching a machine that can find soul shards. The soul shards also have unique energy by isolating other energy I can locate the soul shards."

Ray nodded. "Interesting, we promise we won't tell anybody about this."

"I trust you." Stern said.

"I'll take the device that can track the safe." Ray picked it up. "Let's see. I'll look around the dock. You two go check all the city exits."

"You might also want to check out the city bazaar. There is always good gossip going around there. Someone might have seen our thief." Lilly recommended.

"I'll check around at the bazaar then." Reina said.

"We'll meet back here in one hour." Rays said.

One hour later

"Found out anything." Ray asked.

"Sorry, I didn't find anything." Reina said.

"I found nothing solid but this might be related to the robbery. Last night the city guards found a suspicious boat and they confiscated it. I think the thief was going to use it as a gateway." Ray said.

Then Reid spoke. "At the south gate, a hooded Pokemon just ran past the gate. The guards were unable to catch him. They have sent some guards in Olisberg forest to look for the hooded figure."

Ray thought for a while. "It's just a hunch. I think the hooded figure was trying to escape through seaways but his boat was confiscated. So he tried his luck by the exits but he was noticed. We should also go to Olisberg forest."

Reina nodded. "I agree we are at a dead end."

Olisberg Forest, Fepusa Nation, 13th April Year 1468

The trio searched the forest for a few hours. The tracking device started making noise.

"Look the machine is beeping." Reina announced.

"That means the thief must be close to a one-kilometer radius." Reid said.

"Or at least the safe." Ray added. "Does it tell where exactly is it?"

Reina shakes her head. "Not exactly. See there is a dot at the center which means where the machine is. You see the other dot. This is where the safe must be."

"Alright let's go." Reid said.

Somewhere in Olisberg forest, a lonely Monferno was walking holding a safe.

"Damn those City guards why did they have to find my gateway vehicle. It's making my job a lot more difficult. Carrying this safe just slows me down. I hope whatever it is it's in there. This is the most bizarre safe I have ever seen. It doesn't have a key or a combination code. But I know for sure that there is something in there and it must be important. Maybe that is what she wants.

After walking for a few minutes he encountered a Riolu standing in front of him. That Riolu was none other than Ray.

"That locker doesn't belong to you. Hand it over." Ray demanded to return the safe.

The Monferno turns around but his other path is blocked by Reid.

"Give up now you are surrounded." Reid ordered.

The fire pokemon looks around franticly to get away. "I am so close I won't be stopped by some kids." He attacks with Flamethrower on Ray.

Ray jumps out of the way. The Monferno takes his chance and escapes. The three of them follow him. Reid catches up with him and uses Low Sweep to trip him. But the Monferno simply jumps over it. This time Ray catches the Monferno off guard. Ray lands a Force Palm knocking the fire pokemon down and separating him from the Safe. Reina reaches for the sake but the Monferno recovers and uses Flame Wheel. Reina dodges the attack but the fire type again gets the possession of safe.

"This will only slow me down." The fire type uses Flamethrower on the safe door. Then uses Mach Punch to break it. He grabs the paper and runs away again.

Reid groans. "Did it really have to be a fire type who not only used fire but also brute strength?"

"Stop moaning and start chasing him" Ray yelled.

The Monferno kept running. "I should have got rid of that safe earlier." From the corner of his eyes, he saw a blue figure. Ray jumped at him with a Force Palm. The fire type ducks out of the way.

"Let's finish this guys." Reina was determined to not let the fire type escape this time.

She used Confusion to lift the fire type. Ray and Reid understood what she was planning. Ray used Force Palm and Reid used Karate Chop. Both attacks land simultaneously putting the fire type out of commission.

The Monferno Crawled towards the research papers. "No! I was so close. I can't fail now."

Reina picked up the papers and look through them. "Guys this is the thing we were looking for."

The Monferno laughs maniacally. "It must be exactly what she wanted. I was this close and my plans got destroyed because of some kids playing wanna-be heroes. But if I can't have it no one can." He uses Flamethrower at the papers setting them on fire.

Reina uses her hand to extinguish the fire. But the damage was already done half of the papers got burned to ashes.

Reid rushes over to Reina. "Are you okay?" He asked in concern. "Oh, your hand is burned."

"It's ok it will heal. We have a lot of explaining to do to sensei." Reina giggled.

Ray holds the Monferno by the neck. "What have you done?" He yelled at him.

The Monferno laughs not responding to Ray's threat. Ray then uses Force Palm to knock him out.

"Hey, calm down. Beating him won't bring back those papers." Reid tried to calm Ray down.

Ray clicks his tongue and punches a tree. "Reina, are you alright."

Reina smiled. "I'm fine now."

Ray hears some footsteps approaching. "Someone's coming."

Five city guards came to the scene. "What's happened here I heard lots of sound coming from here?" One of the guards asked.

"We did your job for you. That pokemon there is a thief. He was also the one who ran past the gate." Ray points at the unconscious fire type.

"We were notified about a Monferno sneaking through the forest. He's a sneaky one he avoided all our checkpoints and made it this far. You kids need any help?" One of the guards asked.

"No, thank you. We got it. Come on guys let's go." Ray said.

Far away from the shadows, a Gardevoir was watching.

"What a fool he burned the papers just because he couldn't get it himself. This is why I shouldn't have outsourced. Those three again. I never thought I would see them again. That's the second time they have come in my way. Well, actually only one time. The first time they didn't have the soul shard. If they come in my way again I'll have no choice but to kill them."

Dr. Stern's Lab, Slicton District, Olisberg City, Fepusa Nation, 13th April Year 1468

Doctor Stern was disappointed with the fate of his research.

"I'm sorry we couldn't bring you back your research." Reina said.

Stern smiled. "It's okay. It's just a research paper. I'll just have to work harder. Besides at least half of it is salvageable. What matters most is that you all are safe."

Reid was confused. "Does that mean that you are not mad at us for failing?"

"This was not an exam to fail." Stern cleared his throat. "It was better that he burned it himself. Had it gotten into the wrong hands. They defiantly would have made the machine. If that person was a genius like me." He laughs.

"I am sorry I doubted. You really brought those papers even if it was burned." Lilly praised them.

"There is no need to apologize." Reina said.

"I admit when I'm wrong and I apologize when I make mistake." Lilly said.

"We have to leave now before it gets dark." Ray said.

"Goodbye, and take care." Stern said his farewell.

"Maybe we should hang out sometime. That is when I am not doing research and you are not chasing after thieves." Lilly said.

Reina smiled. "Absolutely."

Olisberg Forest, Fepusa Nation, 13th April Year 1468

On their way back to Olisberg village the trio had a small conversation.

"You know, I think it best that the Monferno burned those papers." Ray said.

"Why would you say that?" Reina asked both confused and disgusted at such thinking.

"That way they would never find any soul shards." Ray explained.

"Oh yeah. I almost forgot about that soul shard. We don't want anyone to find that." Reid realized.

"That Monferno was working for someone else." Ray said.

"How would you know?" Reid asked.

"When Reina got hold of those papers. He said that it was those papers she wanted." Ray said.

"Now there are more of them. That means that this person is also looking for a way to get soul shards." Reina said.

"Well, who cares about that? We will deal with her when she comes after us." Reid said.

AN: Characters

Ray, Male Riolu, Ability: ? ?

Move set: Force Palm, Quick Attack, ? ?, ? ?

Reid, Male Machop, Ability: ? ?

Move set: Low Sweep, Karate Chop, ? ?, ? ?

Reina, Female Medittite, Ability: ? ?

Move set: Confusion, Bide, Brick Break, ? ?

Dr Stern, Male Kadabra, Ability: ? ?

Move set: Psychic, ? ?, ? ?, ? ?

Lilly, Female Roselia, Ability: ? ?

Move set: ? ?, ? ?, ? ?, ? ?

?, Male Monferno, Ability: ? ?

Move set: Flamethrower, Flame Wheel, Mach Punch, ? ?

?, Female Gardevoir, Ability: ? ?

Move set: Psychic, Double Team, Light Screen, Psyshock