Page 3
Bat Attack
"Get your ass back here before I...." I let the threat hang. As usual, Bolt ignored me. We had entered the Cave the day before, not that you could tell in this timeless vortex, with Bolt leading the way and within half an hour the absent minded Mareep had us hopelessly lost.
After a show of temper I recalled him and for the rest of the day relied heavily on Fury's collar of embers. That night she was utterly exhausted and I didn't have the heart to ask her to try again for the rest of the trip through the network of caves that made up Union Cave.
I tried Chilun. The Artico illuminated the area sufficiently, but took one look at the enclosed vicinity and hurtled into the darkness like a Crobat out of Hell, leading us on a merry chase further into the impossible labyrinth.
When we caught up to him we decided to try Fruean, the electric dragonfly
Suma had bought at the Ruins of Alph. He buzzed incessantly. The noise echoed around us so I felt like I was standing next to a propeller of the Spruce Moose. My patience cracked again and Fruean returned his Pokeball a little ruffled.
Maverick was another problem. Who'd have thought such a blithe little Totodile could be afraid of the dark. It seemed he was attached to Sumalee with a 30 cm invisible cord. If he lost contact with Suma's ankle, he'd scuttle around yelping like Donald duck with his hand on fire. "Toto Toto Toto!" If the rest of the cave was going to be this vexatious, by the end I'd have no teeth left and would be bald as an Eggsicute.
Soon, to my distaste, it was obvious Bolt was our only choice. The ruby orb that sat on his constantly wagging tail always kept the area within 3 meters well lit.
Unfortunately, most of the time we weren't in the bright spot.
"There! Up ahead!" Cal yelled and took off at a run, chasing a glint of light that was disappearing around the far corner. Suma ran after him with Maverick in hot pursuit. Fury and I tried to keep up but as soon as I gained speed I tripped over a rock. I rolled to a stop. I crawled back and picked up the rock about as big as my fist, ready to heave it at the unseen wall. But I felt a pattern carved into the unusually smooth rock.
"Fury, little light." A short distance off flames flared around Fury's neck and back. With the extra spark I could make out its shape. It looked like an egg sliced in half. It shimmered blue as the light shone on it. Faint blue ink was inside the etched teardrop.
"A Water Stone," I whispered amazed. "Heh heh, a bargaining chip against Cal.
He could evolve his Eevee or his Poliwhirl. What do you think he'd trade for it."
"I don't think we need to worry about that now," Fury said sceptically.
I looked up and there wasn't a trace of Bolt, Cal or Suma.
"Damn it!" I swore. With out light, we'd be lost here for infinity, and next to no hope of finding the guys. I didn't say anything to Fury. "We better find Bolt soon, I'm beat." Her collar burnt low giving just enough light to see the out line of my hand.
"Conserve your energy. We may need it later." At that the suffocating darkness closed in us. The totality of it gave me shivers. We hugged the wall of the tunnel, tiny steps so our feet wouldn't catch on loose stones and sprain an ankle. As we got used to the lack of light we grew bolder and travelled along at a quicker pace. I called out once or twice, hoping to hear Suma and Cal yell with reassurance and that they'd found an easy way out. No such luck.
The darkness was morbid, not that I had anything against that, Morbid was another of my nicknames from school. So we sang songs, not only to let the others know where we were, but to keep our spirits up.
"Everybody wants to be a Master, Everybody wants to show their skills," I warbled.
"Everybody wants to get their faster, make their way to the top of the hill," Fury chorused.
"Pokemon Joht... Whoa!" My singing was interrupted unexpectedly as the wall ended and I fell forward into an open space. You couldn't seen the cavern but you could feel its immense size.
As I lay on my stomach I felt something like steel wool brush my leg. A low moan escaped my lips. "What I wouldn't give for a light!"
Everything that happened after was in rapid succession, so fast my mind eye saw it all happen at once.
Bolt appeared beside me with the dazzlingly bright sphere bobbing on the end of his tail. A loud screeched above. I jerked my head up and saw them, Zubats. Huge masses of them hung from the ceiling amid the stalactites. They attacked. I screamed!
On a neighbouring island some campers had stayed outside a cave. They had returned the nest day with just enough blood to keep them alive for a few more hours. The bites all over their bodies had been identified as Zubats.
I screamed again. "Run!" I darted for the opening on the opposite end of the great hall. My steps faltered as a Zubat latched onto my arm and pierced my skin. I ripped it off, but another soon took its place. I swatted them left and right but still more were ready.
I pivoted and saw Bolt sitting in the middle of the floor as if it were nothing more than a light shower, gazing into space. Zubats that had tried to work through his fleece were caught and struggling frantically to escape the wool that held them.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw a flame leap into the air. At its source was a multitude of Zubat's and Golbats. At all corners of the cave they swooped on for a free feed.
"Fury!" I pushed though the fray and found her at the centre. She was a mass of blood and bites. He legs splayed out before her and her flames did nothing to keep away the hordes of bloodsuckers. She didn't seem to be breathing. There it was! The faint rise and fall of her chest. But it wouldn't for long. I smacked away a bat that had latched on to her haunch. It hit the floor with a slapping sound. I scooped her up as quickly and carefully as I could, but it was a lot easier when she was a Cindaquil. I heaved her out of the knot of leathery wings.
It was no use. A Golbat slammed onto my shoulder, knocking me to the ground. Its teeth slipped through my T-shirt and into my skin. I felt my life force flow out of me with each pulse. I did my best to shield Fury, but bats attacked from the front, seeing my preoccupied.
"Bolt! THUNDERSHOCK!"
"Huh?" he said snapping out of his Ivory tower and back to reality. He shook them from his coat.
"Do it you dumbass sheep!" my voice getting weaker. Another Zubat impeded my view. Suddenly crackled overhead. It coursed through the bodies of the horde. They convulsed and jerked in midair. Then it stopped and each felt to the ground smoking.
I tore the Golbat from my shoulder and limped towards the opposite end of the hall before the Zubat regrouped and readied for another attack. I tucked Bolt under my arm as the first began to stir. I limped faster and faster until I broke into an all out awkward run. My feet slapped an irregular staccato rhythm against the stone as I entered the tunnel.
"Bolt. Dim light please?" No answer. A large stone connected with my bite-ridden shin. I screeched as pain screamed through my body. Then the light blinked on.
"IF THESE ZUBATS DON'T KILL US FIRST, I'M GONNA THROTTLE YOU!"
Too late the Mareep had slipped back into his daydream. I looked ahead, skidded to a halt then gapped like a Magikarp. I had narrowly missed landing in the inky black water that could have fatal to Fury! I heard the drip, drip, drip into the water.
So its under ground pool or lake and not and underground river, I thought to myself.
Behind me I heard the flitting of wings. I quickly surveyed the area. The roof was too low for Talorn to carry us across and the water was too deep for me to wade through. Mystic's Teleport. I pressed the button on his Pokeball and the red light formed the Natu.
"Mystic. Can you Teleport us to the side of the lake?"
He hesitated than shook his head. "Dangerous. Teleport drain much energy, make tired and not direct where be. Only one peoples at time."
The bats were getting closer.
"Mystic Teleport Fury and my pack to the other side. Try to get Fury in a safe spot in case the Zubat's try to follow. Go Aqua!" Aqua zapped out of her Pokeball. Fury, Mystic and my stuff winked from sight.
"Bolt get on Aqua's back. Bolt? Bolt, did you hear me?" With a frustrated yell, I grabbed him and pushed him beneath the water for a moment, than sat him on Aqua's back.
"Huh... What?" The Mareep spluttered.
"Pay attention. Aqua swim beside me and try to keep the Zubats off my back." I was painfully reminded of the Golbat as the first of the Zubat latched to my arm. It was stubborn. I finally freed him from my arm, taking a lot of skin with it. I was down to my last reservoir of strength and the excitement of the past week caught up with me.
I fell in rather than dived, but that made me no more prepared for bitter cold and I was immediately sorry for dunking Bolt. The icy water made me gasp and sucked in a mouthful of water. I coughed and tried to reach the surface, which seemed ages away. I broke through the water and started to stroke, none to gracefully, to the other side of the lake.
My body ached and begged for rest but every time I seemed to slack off, Aqua came to my side and supported me until I caught my breath. The bats swooped and tried to catch a bare limb but were beaten of constantly by Aqua's Bubblebeam. Many were wary and kept their distance until I collapsed of exhaustion.
After what seemed and eternity, my fingertips brushed solid ground. I dragged myself up and just lay their like a beached whale. The water had washed away the congealed blood and the loss was taking its toll. Golbats and Zubats seized their chance and rocketed across a swarm of Beedrills. The Aquatro saw my peril, and sang.
A soft sweet melody drifted through the air like a breeze on a Spring morning. In response to the music, the water stirred. Unnoticeable at first, then small ripples across the surface of the pool. Ripples turned into gentle waves, lapping against the shore and licking my fingers. The song reached its climax the waves spiralled in the centre of the lake, faster and faster. A strong penetrating note pushed through the harmony just as a waterspout pushed through the rolling swells. She lifted from the water with the grace of a dancer, with Bolt still on her back, her exquisite plumes swaying with the music.
Meanwhile the cascading tower sucked in one Zubat after another with a bubbling sucking sound, like water down the drain. Bolt leapt from Aqua's back and into the air when the last one was slurped up, and an imagined burp.
"MaaarEEEP!" A jolt of thunder vibrated of the walls and I was blinded but electric white light. My eyeballs seared through their closed lids. When the fireworks display was finished, I forced them open and saw Aqua catch Bolt inches before he struck the water.
She pulled up and glided on unfelt air currents. She fluttered beside me.
"Wake up Topaz. Don't go to sleep," she whispered, nudging my head. But I had watched all this with distant fascination, like watching a really late movie on T.V. You tell yourself "I'll just shut my eyes for a moment..."
"Fury. Mystic." I muttered but not really caring. All I needed was sleep. A familiar shadow fell over me. A cool laugh was the last I heard before I slipped into a deep sleep.

The Union Reunion
Nothing.
That's what I first saw when I woke up. I tried to reach up and shift the position of my lopsided Orange League cap, but my hands were wrapped around behind a stalagmite, tied tight. I jerked my head and my cap flipped sideways and hung from my Ponyta tail. I should have left it on. Instead of the cold wet stone floor next to the churning water were the eight beginning trainers I'd started with and three others I didn't know. Each was tied to a stalagmite next to another pool of water. A shadow floated in the centre and I could hear it whimper sadly to itself.
Adam and Ashlee were tied together on a stalagmite opposite me. They snapped and barked at each other, blaming the other for the mess they were in now. Tiffany, the blond hair girl how had taken Cleffa, and another girl, short with spiky green hair jutting from her head, sat talking quietly to one another against the pillar that held them tight. Ryan, the short kid who'd chosen Charmander, and Matthew, the owner of Pichu, were tied to another but stared into the distance as if imagining this wasn't happening and all was fine.
Sky, tall blond boy who'd chosen Mareep, sat cracking jokes trying to cheer everybody without much success. He was constantly told to shut up by Adam and Ashlee, without much success.
A shot distance away, Kylie the brown hair mouse who'd left with Igglybuff, a girl with long curly pale rose colour hair, and a boy with long blonde hair were around the same stalagmite. The boy looked ready to blow. His sat with his knees to his chest muttering in a low guttural speech. The girls were sobbing, I couldn't tell if it was there lack of freedom that made them cry, or Sky's corny jokes.
Behind me bound to the same stalagmite was Sumalee, snoring softly and drooling slightly. Her red streaked black hair fell into face, her legs outstretch in a V. All the trainers were helpless and Pokeless, as was I, but I had hope. At least a few of my Pokemon were hidden and could try to free us. I twisted my head for a better view of our surroundings. A pile of our Pokeballs was sorted by colour.
I spied my crimson Pokeballs near the edge of the pile. Only five of them were full. My mind raced as I tried to determine who was missing.
"Fury, Chilun, Mystic, Aqua, Talorn," I murmured to myself and then groaned loudly. Bolt was missing. With that inattentive Mareep wandering around we had next to no chance of escape
I shook my head to relieve it of the fog that wrapped around my brain but only made it ache. My mind stumbled along trying to think of anything to escape. From Superman, to the Wings of Council swooping in and beating the stuffing out of these morons. As they say, Faith has to do with things that are not seen, and hope with things that are not in hand.
I groaned again at the thought of Bolt sitting in the middle of the Zubat hall twiddling his paws and Suma's snoring changed note. Adam and Ashlee stopped bickering and squinted in the gloom.
"Your awake!" they said, and than glared at each other as if arguing who said it first. Like it mattered.
I nodded slowly so not to aggravate my throbbing temples. "How long have you been here?"
"Four days. They took us by surprise and before we could use our Pokemon we were out like a light by some sort of sleep powder. When we woke up they had our Pokeballs. Some of these guys were here before us. Sky was and hasn't shut up about, Did you here about the one why the Farfetch'd crossed the road," Adam said, his shoulders sagging.
Ashlee continued to explain. "They give us minimal food and water and than taunt us by making our Pokemon do humiliating chores. Each time they're let out of their Pokeballs they try to escape. And because only one or two are allowed out at a time they overwhelmed by the other Pokemon. Your lucky you didn't see what they did to your Natu."
Imagining was a lot worse than actually seeing it. My mind eye concocted nameless forms performing various tortures on Mystic. All the while she cried out to me for help. I shook away the images and growled as loud as my parched throat would let.
"If I get my hands on whoever has my Pokemon, they're going to be cleaning their teeth by shoving a toothbrush up their as...."
My threat was interrupted as five shadows slipped from the shadows. "Big words for one in such a condition as you," Angel said in his whisper soft voice. His white hair and ice blue eyes gleamed cold in the darkness analysing every detail of my pathetic state. I looked down and saw for myself.
My red and black sneakers were a ghost of there former selves. The shoelaces were ragged and the soles were melted from the fire. My legs were shredded and congealed blood was matted everywhere, I couldn't have stood up had I wanted too. My poor uniform! Charred at the cuffs, bloods stains were everywhere from the Zubats attack it would have taken a miracle wash to restore it to its former glory. Rips and holes were so numerous I was lucky it covered the essentials.
Too bad I failed Home Economics, I thought mournfully even though it wasn't the least of my problems.
My arms were scarred so badly I almost couldn't believe what they had looked like when Healtia had cured my burns. My fingernails were nothing but nubs as well as chipped and dirty. I couldn't see my face and I didn't want to.
"Can't do your Karate now can you," he scorned.
To my utter surprise Suma snapped awake and roared so loud I think even Angel was taken aback.
"WHY YOU SPYING LITTLE PERVERT! WHEN I'M THROUGH WITH YOU NO
ONE WILL BE ABLE TO TELL YOU FACE FROM YOUR ASS!"
"No one can do that anyway," I said as I glared daggers at Angel.
"Come come, that's no way for guests to speak of their host," he chuckled. "Why don't you meet my associates? Ricky, Renee, Kathy and Pug. I'm sure they'll do they're best to keep you comfortable," Angel mocked.
Ricky stood tall and erect beside him; his broad shoulders back so to make himself look more dangerous than he really was. His orange hair looked more like the spines of a Quilfish and his hazel eyes glittered venomously. His mouth was set in a permanent sneer. A real braggart.
His partner Renee was another matter altogether. She hung off Ricky's arm possessively, but if did have any interest in her other than business, there's no way I would have guessed it. Short and stubby, her identical rocket uniform seemed to strain to keep her bulge hidden. Fire engine red hair was coiled around her head like a beehive. Way too much blue eye shadow was heaped under her bland green eyes. It was amazing she had any confidence at all, let alone all she had.
Kathy and Pug were so much alike the must have been related. Each had a slim frame, Pugs more masculine and Kathy's shapelier. Both had a mass of lavender curls, Kathy's cascaded down to her waist and framed her delicate heart shaped face. Large green eyes were her main feature but her soft pink lips were a close second. Sky ceased his eternal yammering to stare.
Pug was the other side of the same coin. His hair was a shade darker and hung by his ears, adorned by a single gold stud. His eyes were more of a sea green and studied everything with great interest. He must play chess because I could practically here the wheels in his head thinking six move forward.
I was suspicious. "Where's Tobias?" I asked slowly.
"Here," he smirked coming out of the darkness out our left. It was my turn to yell and scream.
"YOU SNIVELING WORM! YOU COWARD!" I screamed even though my throat protested. My tone then turned soothing, and desperate.
"Come on Noctowl, you remember me don't you? You were a HootHoot and you were hiding from him. I caught you, fed you and trained you. He stole you, Noctowl. Please help us?"
The Noctowl on Tobias's shoulder cocked its head and looked at me quizzically. I noticed its feather shone, brightening the area and I could make out the silhouette on the water. A long elegant neck arched from a spiky shell that covered its back. Thinking through my studies I placed it as a Lapras. But it was so tiny and frail. No more than a child.
"What's with the Lapras?" I changed the subject coldly.
Tobias's usual scowl changed to one Caesar must of worn before he crushed Hannibal on the Alps.
"Our latest triumph! A Lapras, no matter how weak, is worth more than all your Pokemon put together. When we show it to our superiors we will be forgiven for our last mess up.
Angel sent he a cold stare that said all to clearly who had bungled it.
"Then why isn't it in a Pokeball?" Adam pointed out.
Renee spoke up and I wish she hadn't, though the information proved useful.
"We haven't caught it yet. Our Pokemon can't reach it. Tobias's Wartortle and Ricky's Tenticool can't weaken it and your Pokemon refuse to battle."
God! If I were Ricky I would have jumped off a building long ago, or at least asked for a new partner. Anything was better than listening to Renee's nasal, squeaky gate voice. But then again flattery works wonders. Probably explained his big head too.
The green haired girl near Tiffany scoffed. "So, six incredible Team Rockets can't beat one baby Lapras? Pitiful! How far is the image of the greatest Pokemon thieves of all time gonna fall when the world hears of this!" She snickered but was cut off by Tobias's punishment of no food for tonight. We all groaned but no one turned on the girl. It was good to see our team still had spirit left.
"Your braver than you look," I complemented.
"You too, I didn't believe Sumalee when she first told us of your adventures, but
from the looks of you, now I'm not to sure."
I nodded. "Zubat's," I said as if it were no more than blowflys on a summers evening. Yes I know, flattery gets you nowhere, but I wasn't immune. "And you are?"
"Darcy Daniel's, or DC for short, soon to be Master of the Johto League!"
After a round of protests, I answered with a grin, "Topaz Matthews, soon to be Master of the Wings of Council!"
"Shut up or no food tomorrow either," yelled Tobias.
I decided not to argue. I whispered goodnight to my friends, old and new, prayed, to who I don't know because I'm an atheist, that the Pokemon were alright and for strength, courage, and knowledge to survive the following days.
It was difficult to get to sleep, none what so ever for Sumalee who after minutes was snoring soundly, but after struggling with the chains for a while, I manoeuvred into an almost comfortable position so that they didn't dig into my wrists a as much and stared into the darkness....

I must have fell asleep because when I woke up, I was famished. An enticing smell fluttered under my nostrils, but when I peeled my eyes open, I saw it was nothing more than a slice of bread with honey on it. But I didn't complain, I tried to grab it but my chains yanked me back.
I took my eyes off the feast for a moment to see who offered it.
"Go torment someone else, Angel," I barked, trying to reach for my food.
"So be it, Topaz," he smiled with contempt and placed the bread on the ground on front of me. He picked himself up of the ground with the grace of his name, laughed at me again and turned to feed a Ryan.
Gawd! I make us sound like a pack of mongrel dogs.
Anyhow I twisted and turned until I had the corner of the crust and pulled it closer. I ripped off as much as I could and swallowed greedily, another strip and another until it was all gone. I frantically tried to lick the last of the honey around my lips. It was demeaning, I know but I needed energy if we were to escape. The others had settled back into being good little prisoners while I studied my surroundings further, hoping for inspiration. There were three exits, one to the left where I had apparently come in, one to the left, which the Rockets kept disappearing in and out of. That was two down and out. The third was across the water and seemed to be guarded by the tiny Lapras. The first specks of a plan were forming in my itty-bitty brain.
I saw four Pokemon being lead out of the second exit, a Smeargle, his tongue hanging out, panting. Cactokori the grass type Pokemon that looked like a cactus and a beginning Pokemon of the Metone area, his green eyes tinged with sadness as Ricky whipped him. Suma's Fireline yowling like, well, a cat on a hot tin roof and embers flashing in the gloom. Abra, fading in and out as it tried to teleport, but a silver devise wrapped around its bony wrist somehow kept it from using the technique.
A flicker of movement suddenly caught my eye in the first tunnel. I turned and focused on the wisp of blue just inside. Cal's mischievous grin widened as he saw I knew where he was. At his side was a dazed Mareep. This had changed the situation for the better and I nodded that I had a plan.
"Who trains Abra?" I whispered and waited till the message was passed down the line. I was lucky when the reply returned that it was Rose, the girl that sat with Kylie and she was to the right and ahead of me so we could talk easily.
"Do you have a TWT?" A TWT was a Telepathic Wave Translator. You hooked it up to your ear and allowed you to control a psychic Pokemon without having telepathic powers and this was what my new plan relied on.
Rose shook her dainty head. My heart did a double beat, but I couldn't get head of myself, pride comes before a fall, so to say. She may have caught Abra, not knowing about the requirements.
"Are you psychic?" She hesitated, and then nodded again.
"OK, now where in business! Look behind you out of the corner of your eye and you'll see a kid with blue hair. That's Cal and we need him to escape. Would you be able to tell him what I tell you? Guys, your gonna have a game of Chinese Whispers. Ready Rose?"
"I can direst your thoughts to him and his to you," she said, barely a whisper.
"Can you broadcast it to the others and those Pokemon?" I asked, my grin widening. She nodded eagerly.
I focused my mind and began to relay my plan to my friends, Cal and the captive Pokemon.
"Don't jerk. Continue with what you are doing and make no sign your listening to me. Now pay attention, I've got a plan to get us out of here and I need everyone's cooperation. Jump in if you've got something that may improve the plan, telepathically. OK now.............Cal...............Keys..................Bolt............Now everyone got it?"
People and Pokemon gave some indiscernible sign they'd acknowledged the final plan.
"Break communication," I said to Rose, who was looking a little weary. "You did well. When this is over, I'll make sure you get the credit."
I sighed. "Step One, diversion. Hey! Angel!"
He looked up from supervising the Pokemon and walked towards me, a swagger in his steps. "Yes Topaz?" He said in his soft, musical voice.
"These guys have had at least one meal more than me, so how about another slice of bread, eh?"
The others immediately began to complain loudly, just as I had told them to. The Rockets turned to watch the commotion. Ricky, Renee and Tobias started to chuckle like Shuckles, Kathy and Pug stood together only observing.
"Topaz! That's quite unlike you," Angel said, basking in delight as I sucked up to him.
"Please," I implored, playing him like the arrogant fool he was. "Look, here I am kissing your ass, at least give me something to get rid of the taste!"
He smiled slyly to his team members and than replied, exaggerated. "Of course Topaz. Anything to make your stay more comfortable."
Angel shot a glance at Kathy and she returned with a slice of bread, handing it to him. Angel smirked again and placed the bread on the stone floor, just out of my reach. This was too easy.
I made a show of straining to get the bread, making animalistic sounds, and smearing honey all over my face. I made my eyes wide with the thought of food, all Rockets roaring with laughter. I should have earned some kind of acting award it was so good. None of them were paying to the Mareep waddling behind them. Bolt stopped directly behind Angel loving every moment as I degraded myself further.
"Mreeeeeep!" Team Rocket was so surprised they ignored me and twisted to see the Pokemon sitting in the middle of the floor as innocent as Seraph, a crystal messenger bird used by skilled trainers.
"FLASH!" I screamed and screwed my eyes shut, hoping the others did too. Someone could have been shining a powerful spotlight in my eyes, detonated a nuclear warhead or made the sun explode because Bolt's flash felt like that all rolled to one. I felt the darkness settle again and when I opened my eyes,
Rockets were stumbling around blindly and Cal and the other Pokemon were already in action.
Cal ran to where Tobias leaned against a wall and punched him in the jaw. He slammed against the wall and slid to the bottom, out for the count. Cal snatched the keys from his belt and soon knelt before Ryan to unlock his chains. After freeing him, he tossed him the keys and joined the scrum between the Rockets and our Pokemon.
Smeargle dabbed Renee's face with an acid substance from his paintbrush. Cactokori clutched Ricky's leg, driving his needles in with a vengeance. Cal's Marill shot a blast of water at Pug, who had been standing near the edge of the water. I say had because after a moment of windmilling his arms to regain his balance, gravity won out and he fell in with a huge splash. Meanwhile Fireline and Poliwhirl set to work releasing our Pokemon from their Pokeballs. After a moment's hesitation, they too joined the fight. Ryan was in a frenzy trying to unlock the chains. As each was freed they grabbed their Pokeballs and packs, and leapt into the water to swim to the other side. As Ryan came to kneel beside me, he whispered with a smile, "Genius this was!"
"You guys helped as much with your ideas, this is all our plan." I heard the click of the lock as it opened and he tried Sumalee's. I tried to stand but my legs felt like rubber and refused to obey.
"Damn it!" I swore to myself. There was one variable I'd forgotten in my brilliant equation, me. My inability to move could cost me my freedom. I decided to rest and try again in a few minutes.
I saw Cal had Ricky, who was considerably larger, in a complicated arm lock with Renee pounding on his back squealing, "Let him go! Let him go!"
Sumalee was let loose and saw Cal's distress. She ran and took Renee out with a simple crack to the temple. Her Butterfree soon had Ricky paralysed and the two were taken captive. I surveyed the area and it seemed the other four had fled and we were safe. I cursed again and got to my feet using the stalagmite for support.
It seemed I spoke too soon about being safe as I felt Angel's slender hand on my shoulder and a cold, steel knife across my throat.
"Everybody stop," he said calmly and clearly. The Pokemon and their trainers obeyed. Fury growled from the corner she had taken refuge and tended her wounds.
I, Topaz, who had survived rival jealousy, suicidal falls, raging bushfires, suffocating darkness, hungry Zubat's and Sky's corny jokes, shook, ready to pee my pants, as the knife pressed lightly against my exposed throat.
"All Pokemon follow me. Any refuse to comply and Topaz here will be extremely sorry."
I snapped. I reacted with such speed it must have been instinct. I drove my elbow in his stomach, as quick as thought I brought my fist into his groin and then flicked my arm upwards and into his face. Angel dropped the knife and curled into the fetal position cupping his hands between his legs.
I laughed. It felt good to deprive the arrogant fool deprived of his manhood. I kicked the knife weakly away and stumbled a short distance to where Fury lay and comforted her. I turned just in time to see a cloud of smoke sweep through the air, obscuring all movement.
"Pidgey, Whirlwind," I heard a trainer call from across the water. The cloud was whisked away, Angel with it.
I guess I should have been angry he'd run, but to be honest, I was relieved. There's was know way I'd have been able to get him to shut up until we handed him over to Officer Jenny.
Cal was the hero, he lead the way with Ricky and Renee in tow and a Lapras in his Pokeball. She was too young to fend for herself and Call offered to train it. No one was sure what happened to her mother, but Lapras was happy to leave the eternal darkness.
I, on the other hand, was on the edge and the whole group was threatening to push me off. I spent most my time hanging between Adam and Sky, being jolted every five seconds. Adam spent most of the time arguing with Ashlee, while Sky was always trying to crack on to her. Locklen, the boy who owned Cactokori, which evolved into Cactori in the battle along with a few others, was picking fights with every one. I was so close to ripping his spiteful little tongue out, except Adam and Sky held me tight. The only one he respected was Sumalee, after she told him about her brown belt and hectored him about using the same technique I did on Angel.
Fury was as happy as a Cloyster. After a Superpotion she was on her paws again yapping with Maverick and burning everything that looked remotely like a Zubat. Can't say I blamed her, I was pretty jumpy, even though it was the last thing I could do.
We emerged into the sunlight two days later, me clutching the last threads of my sanity. My legs her healing fast but were still dead weights. Fortunately once in the open I could balance on Chilun. I made a note to myself to try getting some riding lessons so we could travel faster in the future.
The group dispersed in different directions, most towards Azalea and its gym, some into the long grass trying to flush out Pokemon, Locklen was crazy enough to go back into Union Cave claiming to catch the other Rockets and get a huge reward.
I didn't like it. It was like having a younger Tobias, selfish, egotistic and primitive. If there's two things I can't stand in life is arrogance and ignorance, yet every where one looked...
Unfortunately, we were put in charge of Ricky and Renee. I demanded we gagged Renee, but she still made squealing noises through the material. Ricky was easy, we kept filling his already oversized head with more complements. I guess Renee thought we were trying to steal him off her.
Yeah, right.
As we walked through the twilight towards Azalea Town I said to Sumalee, looking like a Sunflora with her grin, "Alright little Miss Sunshine, if your such an optimist, what's the silver lining to this little day at the beach? My legs are stuffed, we're dragging along two convicts and if we don't want Tweedledee and Tweedledumber to escape, we'll have to take watches during the night."
"We triumphed and came out stronger, in mind, body and spirit!"
I choked! "Speak for yourself!"

Damn it!
"Topaz, wake up."
"Grnummmble."
"Get up, its your watch!"
"Grrnummmble."
"Wake up or you'll be sorry."
"Grrrr."
"Fine, Renee sing Brother my Brother."
I jolted awake as Renee butchered the notes to my favourite song. "Shut up Renee. Cal, if you do that again you'll sincerely regret."
Cal didn't care, he had already recalled Wartortle and in his sleeping bag. I grumbled some more and dragged myself to sit by the dying embers of the fire. Seemed Cal was too lazy to throw another log on. I wiped the sleep from my eyes and stood to grab some more wood from the pile we had collected that afternoon.
"Damn it!" Cal had also used the last of the firewood too. Since it was my shift, I knew it was about three in the morning and had to guard these misfits, Ricky and Renee, from escaping. They were more trouble than they were worth. They were obviously of low ranks due to their stupidity, Renee in particular who sounded like a squeaky gate, but then again both had IQ's in the high sixties at the most.
I stared moodily at Fury. She still lay snug as a bug in my sleeping bag. I know she was awake when it my watch started, but she was just too lazy to get up. Now I know
Pokemon take on qualities of their trainers, but aren't they meant to be the good ones? I am a pretty loyal person, aren't I? Shouldn't she be loyal and keep me company?
Maverick stay with Suma on first watch, Cal and Wartortle shared their turn and here I was by myself with no fire.
"Damn it!" I repeated with a little less aggression and a little more depression. I didn't want to leave Fatty and Skinny unguarded, but I didn't want to wake my Pokemon. After a long debate, comprising entirely of should not and should too; I decided Mystic should keep watch because he liked to stare. After promising not to stray to far, I set off in search of the rare and elusive firewood.
Let me tell you, it is considerably hard navigating in the dark looking for firewood and there wasn't a Chansey of me using Bolt to light the way. After wandering in circles dragging a huge log that should have lasted at least an hour, I made it back to camp.
"DAMNIT!!!" I screamed and cursed some more. Suma and Cal stirred from their slumber.
"What's wrong?" Suma said bleary eyed. Maverick waddled with her to stand by Cal.
Fury didn't even roll over. They all stared at me as I yelled obscenities to the heavens above.
"Ricky and Renee escaped," I said through gritted teeth as I scooped up Mystic. Team
Rocket had trampled him as they made their getaway. I could still see their footprints stamped on his lovely green and black patterned feathers.
"Never mind," Suma smiled sympathetically. "Now we can get a good nights sleep and we don't have to worry about telling officer Jenny when we reach Azalea."
I looked up from where I sat cradling Mystic. "Have you ever had a bad hair day?" I cried in shrill voice.
"Forget it, both of you. We'll find them in the morning; they've got the combined IQ of a brick. If you want to find them we need to sleep." Cal got back into his sleeping bag and pulled over his face.
Sumalee shrugged, picked up Maverick and crawled inside her sleeping bag. Within moments I could hear their relaxed breathing and the swish of Mavericks tail against the material.
I clenched my fists and wished for something hard to throw at her, preferably a bowling ball. I gave up on the idea a rolled Fury from the centre of the bag so I could fit. She opened one eye and bared her teeth.
"Shut up or your going in the Pokeball," I said non diplomatic. She closed her eyes and promptly fell asleep. I stared into the sky with a weird feeling at the base of my spine, like something was missing. I shrugged it off and drifted into slumber dreaming about what I would do to those two Rockets once my hands were around their necks.

My hunch the night before was right. When I last saw Ashlee I had forgotten to give her the Egg and now it was missing.
Watch out Ricky and Renee, I thought with a lot more than intended malice in mind.
Topaz is on the warpath.
"They're not here!" I yelled. Even Fury was keeping her distance and she was used to my temper by now. I lashed out at an unlucky overhanging branch and leaves fluttered to the ground. A green and black face poked from beneath the leaf litter.
"Spinna?" It emerged entirely from the fallen leaves allowing me to stop fuming for the moment. The face was not a face at all, but a pattern on the Pokemon's abdomen. Three furry green and black striped legs extended on both sides. Its head was composed of only its beady little black eyes and wicked venomous pincers.
Without thinking I snatched a Pokeball from my crudely mended uniform and threw it at the Pokemon. It struck the Pokemon and rolled away. The clear lid popped open and played the Leagues Anthem. My Zephyr Badge Flashed in the almost nonexistent sunlight due to the low hanging clouds.
I pitched another Pokeball twice as hard at the Pokemon, not wanting to be outwitted by the bug. It was sucked in without hesitation. My customized entirely red Pokeball rocked back and forth. I practically dared it to open so I could through something else. It came to a standstill and I reached out to put it with the others but it shone with a fierce white light like it was evolving, and then flickered from sight.
"Damn it," I spat through my teeth. I wanted to check out the creatures Pokedex before it disappeared but I actually had to know the Pokemon's name if I wanted information on it
now.
I picked my Badge Case off the grass and placed it in its on my shirt. I calmed a moment, took a deep breath and said in a dangerously low voice, "Combined IQ of a brick, eh Cal. Well that brick has not only eluded us but has stolen Ashlee and Professor Elms Egg. Man, they're gonna kill me."
Foolishly, I thumped a defenceless tree as we passed. The punch jarred my wrist sending shock waves up my arm. With a "Damn it!" I jumped up and down like my feet were on fire and waved my hand frantically trying to relieve the pain.
"Hey, you!" I turned towards the source and saw a middle-aged man in one of those long grey trench coats. "Wanna buy a Slowpoketail?" He said and opened one side of it to reveal carious pale pink and white tipped appendages. I could almost see them flopping about like a lizards when it comes off. My mouth dropped open unbelieving. "What? Don't like Slowpoke? I got Raichu, Meowth and Vulpix." He flipped open the other, like a watch salesman displaying his wares.
I didn't wait. I rushed forward to pushed him inside the well he was standing in front of but Suma and Cal grabbed my arms and Fury and Maverick took my ankles an a sharp hold.
"Heh heh," Suma said with a fake laugh. "She's such a kidder. You haven't seen two kids a bit older than us. A short girl with red hair in a weird hairdo and a tall boy with spiky orange hair?"
The man's eye's widened, as if he recognized them I reckon, and answered a snooty offended no. Cal thanked him and pushed me in the direction of Azalea town. When were out of view Fury put her paw on my shoe.
"You trying to get yourself killed," she asked, her ears erect.
"Shut up, who asked you," I snarled and kicked her paw away.
Fury's eyes turned the size of golf balls. "Well! If that's how you feel, you can forget about me battling for you at the Gym!"
"Oh come on Fury," I whined, regretting what I said. "Who ever heard of a Quilava giving someone the cold shoulder? She ignored me. I grumbled a damn it and looked out at the Skyscrapers rising out of the grass in front of us. I groaned and hoped my luck changed by the time we challenged Bugsy.

It didn't.
The only thing worse than an excessively idealistic Joy is an extremely depressed one.
While we sat in the waiting room shovelling down our first unburned meal since we left the PokeCentre outside Union Cave, she stood at the counter staring outside. Every now and again she'd sigh sadly. Sumalee finished her share and went to talk to her.
"Come on Nurse Joy! Turn your frown upside down and let it be your umbrella!"
I snorted. "Yeah Sumalee. You stay outside in the middle of tonight's storm and see how you feel in the morning."
Cal, Maverick and Fury started to laugh at her. Even the corners of Nurse Joy's mouth turned up a little. I looked down at Fury to see if she'd forgiven me yet. She saw me staring at her and stopped at once. Guess not.
Suma stopped giving us dark looks when she realized it wasn't working and asked Nurse Joy what was wrong.
"Oh my," she replied melancholy. "Our towns Slowpokes have gone missing. It may not seem like a lot to tourists, but Slowpokes are a part of Azalea Towns history. There's a legend that says a long time ago there was and extremely bad drought. The crops wouldn't grow and livestock wouldn't produce. That's when a strange shiny Slowpoke appeared in the well just outside of town, Slowpoke's Well. It crawled across town and to the pinnacle of the Forest Guardians Tower, in Ilex forest. It yawned. Clouds gathered form all directions to linger of the Slowpokes Well. The moment the Slowpoke closed its mouth the drought ended. They've been out towns emblem ever since. They are highly respected and when a Slowpoke yawns its meant to summon rain." Nurse Joy sighed again. It was beginning to get irksome. "And now all the Slowpokes in Azalea have disappeared without a trace four days ago. I'm very worried about the PokeCentre's resident Slowpoke. He's wonderful at getting patients to calm down. I'm not the only one worried though. Kurt, the towns resident Pokeball maker, has been searching for his daughters high and low. She's become quite depressed and doesn't come down here anymore."
"We might have a lead," Cal said soberly. "Come on let's go talk to him." He hefted his pack onto his shoulders and made for the door.
"Cal, two things. (a) We've got better things to worry about, namely the Egg and Team
Rocket. (b) Your not going to be much help with out your Pokemon."
"Topaz, two things. (a) We're only going to talk and (b) I did plenty in Union Cave without my Pokemon."
"You did not," I retorted. "What about Bolt, huh? You wouldn't have been able to do anything if the Rockets weren't stumbling around blind as Zubats. And Suma's Butterfree used its stun spore so they wouldn't get away."
"Could too."
"Could not."
"Too..."

"Not," I said knocking on Kurt's door. "The only reason your arguing is because you're denying the truth."
Before he could come back with his usual "cutting wit" the door swung inwards.
"Yes?" the man, most likely Kurt, asked. He was short, shorter than me and I'm about 1.4m (4 ft?). Bald as an Eggscute on top so that if he stuck his head in a shoe shine it would have been mistaken as a bowling ball. But not entirely, tufts of greying hair semi circled the bottom of his head. He stared solemnly from beneath big bushy eyebrows.
Cal coughed. "We think may have a lead to the missing Slowpokes."
Kurt raised his eyebrows. "Really? Please come inside." He stepped out of the way so we could follow him sown a long hall into beautiful sunroom, despite the lack of sun. He motioned for us to sit on a comfortable sofa and took a seat across from us.
"What news do you have of the missing Slowpokes?" he inquired as his granddaughter came into the room.
"Have they found Pokey?" she asked. Her eyes were sad and lonely, like she lost her best friend.
"They think so, sweety. Now what?"
"As we came into town, there was a man by Slowpokes Well. He was selling Slowpoke and various other Pokemon's tails." Cal sounded like a professional, acted it too. Kurt on the other hand, went nuts. He shot out of his chair and flung open a cupboard. He took out four Pokeballs and before we could ask him what was up, he was down the hallway, out of the house and racing in the direction of Slowpokes Well leaving only a cloud of dust behind him.
"What do we do?" I turned to them, flabbergasted.
"Easy," Suma said losing the bright tone of her voice when she gets serious. "We follow him. He took his Pokeballs so that means he's going into trouble."
"We'll stop by the PokeCentre and grab our Pokemon. Come on we gotta hurry." Cal said nodding and breaking into a loping run. Suma chased after him.
"Easy for you to say!" I yelled angrily after them.

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