Hope you enjot the new chapter.
Mack, Tammy, and Ronald had made their way through Sandgem and were heading through Route 202. Their confrontation with Bobby and company was three days ago. Meaning they only had four precious days left to find Rixec. Tammy and Ronald had gotten more serious about their mission, but Mack seemed devoted.
“Perhaps it’s time for a short rest,” Ronald suggested.
“NO TIME!” Mack snarled, making Ronald and Tammy jump. “We spent two days recovering and another during our traveling. We should have found Rixec the moment we won!”
Tammy was scared; she had never seen Mack like this. Normally he was calm, cool, and …
Wait. And… and…, she thought. She was thinking back to their time with Rixec when she was interrupted.
“Tammy!” Mack barked. “We have to keep moving!” Tammy understood and continued.
They continued on for another half hour when Ronald noticed something, a secret base in a tree. Wow, people haven’t used those kinds in years. They’re normally underground now. Ronald stopped and then ran inside.
Mack noticed and yelled for Mack to get out here. He waited and Mack ran in after him. “Ronald, we don’t have time for… for…,” he was saying. Tammy came in and saw what they saw. Ronald had turned on the TV and there was a breaking news story.
“Breaking news,” the newscaster said, “we have been informed that a boy, name and age to be withheld, and his Gallade have not yet awakened from their battle. A pair of twins, with cloned Mewtwos engaged him and lost to him, but not without harm. These clones have been examined, of what’s left of them anyway, by the police.
“They are said to be stronger than one found in Sandgem so the police are now looking into this conspiracy. The twins are now being interrogated about an unknown man called Charon or Pluto. More news when the boy awakens.”
Mack and the others knew where Rixec was. In a hospital of all places. That was a dangerous move; if he was examined…
“He couldn’t have been,” Ronald said, “if he was in that bad a condition they’d be more concerned with his injuries. We still have a chance.”
“How? We have to be discreet, remember? We can’t just walk in…”
“We’ll blast in,” Mack interrupted. When Mack and Tammy looked at him, he explained his final, private instructions from Madam Platinum.
“So it’s come to this?” Ronald whispered.
“There’s no choice now,” Mack said bitterly, “we must get Rixec.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Hikari hadn’t left Rixec’s side as of yesterday. She was not going to separate from him and wouldn’t even leave the room, until he awakened. So the hospital provided a bed for her. Elvis brought her food everyday to comfort her. Joy (teenage) had also been encouraging her with words of comfort.
Gallade had also yet to awaken and was in intensive care at the PC. He was in more critical condition and was being worked on continuously since he arrived.
Hikari looked at Rixec, lying peacefully in his bed. This was the first time she saw his eyes, even if closed. He had never taken off his glasses.
“Hey,” a voice said. Hikari turned and saw Elvis and Joy, with some food.
“Hey,” she said bitterly. Elvis put the food on a table and sat by Hikari.
“He’ll live; he survived an explosion, he’ll get through this,” Elvis assured. Hikari started crying. It wasn’t what Elvis said that did it. It was that she was afraid that he might be wrong.
“B-but what if,” she said through the tears. Joy walked up and slapped her. Elvis looked stunned and Hikari stopped crying.
“Just believe,” Joy said kindly. “Your friendship is some of the strongest I’ve seen. Believe and he’ll recover.” Hikari looked at her and smiled.
Thanks Joy, she thought.
“…And you too Elvis,” she whispered aloud. Elvis brought out two Pokeballs and released the Pokemon inside: Turtwig and Buizel had recovered. Elvis and Joy left the room and Hikari was alone with Rixec, Turtwig, and Buizel. Hikari brushed some hair out of Rixec’s eyes; his bangs were getting long. Turtwig and Buizel looked worried.
“Believe,” Hikari repeated. She gave a reassuring smile and Turtwig and Buizel lightened up a bit. Hikari decided to distract herself by thinking about Elvis and Joy. Those two seem to be getting real close; when they weren’t with her they were with each other. She thought about what they might be doing, but when she did Rixec and herself took their places.
Hikari blushed redder than she’d ever done. She remembered when she first saw Rixec. She and Elvis had been blamed by the bombing, still no idea who’d done it, and he showed up and saved them. He had looked like a knight in shining armor, yet at the same time a hero who concealed his identity beneath his sunglasses. He’d agreed to travel with them and had treated her when she was injured by that Tangrowth.
She remembered him laughing when Turtwig jumped on him, and how he battled that pyromaniac so Elvis could get to her. Hikari wondered how painful it was for him when he left because he thought he was trouble. Piplup had hated her and Rixec-And Elvis too I think- took a fall so she would gain its respect.
Throughout everything she grew closer to Rixec and she wondered how he felt about her.
Hikari leaned over Rixec and whispered, “Rixec, I love you.” And she kissed him on the lips, never wanting it to end. But it did when the earth shook beneath her and she fell on top of Rixec. There were explosions and crashes and Hikari opened the window to see what was happening.
“WHAT THE F*CKING CRAP?!” she yelled.
Jubilife buildings were wrapped by thorny vines; others and the streets were on fire. The earth was cracked and rubble was rising as more earthquakes continued. It was only noon, but the sky had turned blood red and smoke was wasting over the town.
Hikari saw Elvis and Joy running out to see what was happening. Normally, she would have gone too, but she didn’t want to leave Rixec alone with all this happening. She walked to Rixec and held his hand and whispered, terrified, “Rixec! Wake up!”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Mack, Tammy and Ronald watched at the work their Pokemon did. Magmortar, Tangrowth, and Rhyperior waste the city, taking their powers beyond their limits. It would serve as a distraction while they retrieved Rixec. Trainers and the police were busy dealing with the disasters, no one would notice them. And they descended into the city, grim looks on their faces.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sunnyshore City
Mary Louise Platinum had finally gotten her battery powered TV. “How long does it take to restore the power?” she whispered. Volkner had always liked tinkering with devices, even when they were little kids. She hadn’t seen him in years despite living in the same city. She flipped on the TV and saw the news.
A reporter was in Jubilife avoiding earth, vines, and fire. “This is Jamie Simons from Jubilife. The city is facing natural disasters and half of it is gone! It is unknown what is causing this, but the city is being evacuated…”
She flipped it off and sighed. Rixec was there. “‘If there comes a time when the secret is in danger, use violence, screw discrepancy’,” she remembered telling Mack. She had hoped it wouldn’t come to this.
“Mack, bring my son back,” she said through tears.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Elvis and Joy were helping people out of the city; they would be heading east to Canalave City. “Come on now,” Elvis said to a little girl, “we’re gonna get you out of here.”
“I want my mommy and daddy!” she cried.
“June!” a voice cried. Elvis turned and saw a man in his thirties come running over.
“Daddy!” she screamed and ran into his arms. The two ran away after that. Elvis and Joy continued on through the city, looking for stragglers. They could not believe these were natural; someone had to be causing this.
Another earthquake arose and Joy lost her footing. Elvis grabbed her hand and they both fell to the ground. Elvis maneuvered himself so Joy would be on top of him instead of the concrete. Unfortunately he hit the concrete face first. He spat out some blood.
“I’m sorry,” Joy said. Elvis turned his face to her.
“It’s nothing”, he said. Their faces were close together and they immediately stood up blushing. Suddenly, the ground cracked again and a huge hole appeared. Out of it, climb a Tangrowth, a Rhyperior, and a Magmortar. They were surprised when they saw Elvis and Joy; they were expecting everyone to have run away.
Elvis and Joy were thinking the same thing: these Pokemon were what were causing the trouble in town And Elvis recognized two of them. The Tangrowth that attacked them at the lake and the Magmortar that was with some red hair kid back at Sandgem. Elvis had never met Rhyperior, but Gallade look like he had been hit by a truck when he came back in Sandgem.
“So that’s the truck,” Elvis whispered.
Joy ran forward and demanded, “Why are you doing this?!”
Magmortar raised its gun-arm at her. Mack’s orders were clear: Avoid killing, but do what you have to to make people leave. It was hoping she would get scared and back off. A sudden jolt of electricity charged through Magmortar and it saw a Shinx cackling with electricity. Magmortar fired a blast if fire at Shinx, but a Chimchar jumped in front and took the blast.
“Joy, get back to the hospital,” Elvis whispered. “Leave them to me. You make sure Hikari and Rixec are alright.” She nodded and ran off.
“All right,” Elvis said, stretching his arms in front of him. “Let’s see what you can do…”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Mack, Tammy, and Ronald were walking at a steady pace through the streets. This was their only chance to get Rixec; failure meant…
The terrified people ran past them; it was hysteria. Some people were getting hurt because they were too frenzied to see a clear path to safety.
“All this destruction,” Tammy said, “it has sheer beauty and yet…”
“It bears pain, just as our souls bear our sins,” Ronald finished.
Mack didn’t like it just as much as they did. They didn’t want to do this to the most populated city in Sinnoh, but Rixec was far too important. They had gone down a few more blocks without realizing it.
A man and his son were running and tripped. The man was about mid twenties. His son looked about six. He was about the size of a six year old, but a bit thinner. He had purple hair and hazel eyes. They were standing up when some rubble fell from a building above. The boy tried to stand, but had gotten his foot stuck in a hole.
“Dad!” he yelled but his father was running, abandoning his son. Ronald ran first over the boy and caught the rubble. He held it long enough for Tammy to come over and help the boy out. Mack went to meet his father.
“What were you doing?” Mack asked furious.
“Running for my life,” he panted, “I didn’t want to die!”
“Yet you’re fine with you son dying?”
“He’s just a kid; no one will miss him…”
Mack grabbed him and hurled him into a building. “Despicable. A father’s bond with his son should be strong, and yet you toss him aside at a moment’s notice! You don’t deserve this life.” Mack snapped his fingers.
Even far away, Magmortar knew his Masters snap and he flung the Chimchar aside and fired a Fire Blast from hid gun-arm.
The blast traveled to a building above and a whole bunch of rubble fell and the man screamed at the flaming pieces fell on him, killing him instantly. Mack turned to see the boy they had saved but he was running northwest; no doubt heading to Canalave. Mack, Tammy, and Ronald kept walking and made it to their destination: the hospital.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Elvis had been backed into a corner. Rhyperior took Shinx out instantly and Chimchar was struggling against the three Pokemon. A fissure laid right behind them, so it was either break through or fall.
“Chimchar!” Elvis yelled. “Use…”
Tangrowth unleashed a Stun Spore and Elvis and Chimchar leapt back and fell into the fissure. The Pokemon ran forward but there was no sight. They hadn’t meant to kill him, but they left to rejoin their trainers. Tangrowth stayed behind longest. It had seen the boy before and knew he had gotten stronger. He had a Chimchar, as its mistress did once. The boy was dead, and Tangrowth had tried to kill him before so it shouldn’t have mattered.
But it did. It left wondering what had made it want to kill him before. All of them wanted to kill Gallade when they started, but now…nothing.
Elvis opened his eyes, surprised he wasn’t dead. Something was holding onto him and onto a broken pipe in the side. He looked up and saw Chimchar…no. It looked similar but it wasn’t. It was bigger and its arms were more capable of combat now. It had blue over its eyes and a flame at the end of a long tail.
“Monferno!” it cried. Chimchar had evolved.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Joy and Hikari were packing everything that would be of use; they had no idea what would happen so they had to be prepared. “Do you think we’ll need watermelon?” Hikari asked.
“Too heavy,” Joy replied, “we need light food.”
Another earthquake shook and they fell to the floor. “Ow,” Hikari moaned. She looked at Rixec and really wished he’d wake up. This was the worst time for him to be out. And if that wasn’t bad enough, Gallade was farther away from them in an even worse condition. Plus there were three Pokemon here causing the damage, two of which sounded all too familiar, Hikari knew while looking at her arm, a faint scar on it.
“O.K., let’s go!” Joy screeched. They put Rixec into a wheelchair and started pushing it out. As soon they came out the door the elevator opened up at the end of the hall. Three figures exited it and walked into the hallway. They all called out their Pokemon. They were Magmortar, Tangrowth, and Rhyperior. Hikari unconsciously reached for her Pokeballs.
Mack, Tammy, and Ronald faced down the two girls in the hall. “Hello,” Mack said politely, “I am Mack. These are my friends Tammy and Ronald.”
The girls were silent so Ronald said, “It is polite to introduce yourselves.”
“This is Joy, and I’m Hikari,” Hikari replied, she grabbed her Pokeball and released what was inside. “And this is my partner, Piplup!”
Piplup popped out and stood in between everyone. Joy called out her Chansey and Hikari decided to bring out Kricketot because she thought these guys wouldn’t fight fair.
Everyone was silent for a few minutes until Hikari broke the silence. “Why are you doing this? What’s the point of attacking Jubilife?”
“A distraction,” Tammy said. Hikari thought she saw a glimmer of sadness in her eyes but disregarded it.
“A distraction?” Hikari repeated dumbstruck. “For what?”
“For Rixec,” Mack said. Hikari and Joy glanced back at Rixec, unconscious in his wheelchair.
So this is why Rixec said he was trouble, Hikari thought. Those weren’t random attacks, these people were after Rixec.
“Piplup, Bubble,” Hikari commanded. Piplup shot bubbles at them.
“Rhyperior, Rock Blast!” Ronald ordered. Rhyperior fired a bunch of rocks and obliterated the bubbles. “Don’t try it. I know all of Piplup’s attacks, and how to counter them.”
Hikari growled at this. Joy stepped up now. “Chansey, Egg Bomb!” Chansey took out its egg and hurled it at the enemy. Tangrowth threw itself in front and met the attack. The egg exploded on impact. Tangrowth was hurt, but not down.
“Kricketot, Bide,” Hikari said. Kricketot glowed slightly but Mack stepped up.
“Magmortar, Fire Blast,” Mack commanded. Magmortar fired fire from it gun-arm and it went down the hall into Kricketot, fainting it.
“No!” Hikari yelled, or whispered. She didn’t know.
“Power Whip,” Tammy said. Tangrowth’s arm stretched and knocked Piplup to the ground.
“Rhyperior, use Rock Wrecker.” Rhyperior roared and banged the walls and it came tumbling down.
“Chansey, Healing Wish,” Joy said. Chansey ran out and pushed Piplup aside, getting knocked out by the attack.
“Joy, your Pokemon,” Hikari cried but Joy held up her hand.
“Healing Wish Hikari,” she said recalling Chansey. Hikari was appalled for a moment but then remembered; Healing Wish recovers a Pokemon completely, that is, when the Pokemon who used the attack fainted. Hikari turned to Piplup and it was fully healed.
“I’m not letting you touch Rixec,” Hikari told them.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Elvis and Monferno ran down the street, making their way to the hospital. He had to make sure his friends were O.K. It was hard to navigate though, with fire, rock, and plant tearing the city apart. Flaming rocks fell from above and Monferno jumped and punched it at an incredible speed.
“Mach Punch,” Elvis said approvingly. Monferno gaining a sub-fighting type was gonna be useful. Elvis made it to the hospital and made his way to the elevator. But then the cable snapped and it came tumbling down. Elvis and Monferno stared dumbfounded.
“The stairs are better for exercise,” Elvis mumbled, and started running.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Though Piplup had recovered, Hikari was still having a hard time. These three were skilled, and playing with her, she knew. She’s seen what they can do, against Gallade and Rixec; she knew they were going easy. “Piplup,” she said.
“Hammer Arm,” Ronald said. Rhyperior brought its arm down on Piplup and fainted it. They were out of Pokemon. Rixec was theirs. Hikari ran forward swinging her fist. Ronald grabbed her when she got close enough and held her still. Joy ran forward but the Pokemon glancing at her froze her in place.
“You know,” Mack said, “I don’t want to harm you.”
“Why not?” Hikari asked furious.
“I can tell, you’re special to Rixec,” Mack explained. “In the two times I met him in the last week I could tell he held you dear in his heart. Why do you think he nearly killed himself at the warehouse?”
Tammy and Ronald took note of what Mack said. ‘Two times’. He had met Rixec at another time then the warehouse?
“And as for the blond boy, he’s the best human friend Rixec has.
“Hell yeah!” a voice screamed. Right behind them was Elvis with a butt kicking Monferno. “Mach Punch!”
Monferno ran up to Ronald and punched him in the leg, releasing his grip on Hikari. Hikari and Elvis jumped back to Joy and were facing down again.
“Elvis, how many Pokemon are good?” Joy asked.
“Just Monferno; you?”
“All ours are fainted,” Hikari replied. Three vs. one, not good.
Elvis remained silent for a few moments and then said, “What about those two?”
“Huh?” the girls questioned.
“Turtwig and Buizel, Rixec’s other Pokemon,” Elvis said irritably. Hikari and Joy gasped. They had put them back in their balls and on Rixec’s belt. They ran to Rixec and called them out. Turtwig and Buizel looked ready for a smack down.
“Lava Plume!” Mack commanded.
“Rock Blast!” Ronald roared.
“Power Whip!” Tammy shrieked.
“Monferno, Ember!” Elvis shouted. “Turtwig, Razor Leaf! Buizel, Water Gun!”
The attacks collided in midair. Water Gun extinguishing Lava Plume, Razor Leaf slashed the Rock Blast in half, and Ember burn, Tangrowth’s Power Whip.
“This kid knows how to strategize,” Mack noted, seeing the shadow of someone behind the boy, “but at the same time hates it.” Mack couldn’t afford to hold back anymore.
“Get into position,” he whispered to Tammy and Ronald. “Fire Blast!”
“Rock Wrecker!”
The attacks started to destroy the room as they came toward them. Elvis checked the Pokedex real fast. Turtwig knew a new attack, how, he didn’t know, or care. “Buizel, Aqua Jet! Turtwig, Earth Power!”
Buizel shot toward the Fire Blast, covering itself in water while Turtwig summoned its energy and canceled out the Rock Wrecker with the earth.
“Now!” Mack shouted. Tangrowth got right in front of them.
“Sleep Powder!” Tammy yelled. A blue powder came over them and they all started conking out. The Pokemon fell first, then Joy and Elvis. Hikari tried to stay awake. She could not lose Rixec.
She tried standing up, but she could only do it halfway. Mack started walking over and then hugged her. “It’s for his own good,” he whispered. “And I wasn’t lying; I can tell he loves you.”
And with those words in mind Hikari was succumbed by sleep. Mack laid her down and picked Rixec up. He looked so peaceful.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“NO!” Hikari yelled. She was in a bed, Joy and Elvis next to her. Hikari put her face in her hands; Rixec was gone.
“Oh my, you’re awake!”
Hikari looked up, tears streaming, and saw Nurse Joy. “I found you asleep on the floor of the hospital after the disasters stopped. Oh! You’re in the PC and your Pokemon are recovering.” Nurse Joy closed the door and walked downstairs.
“Not one of our best days,” Elvis said. Hikari turned and saw him and Joy waking up.
“They took Rixec, Elvis. They took him,” Hikari cried.
“I know,” he said with a serious face, “and we’re gonna get him back.” He got up and started for the door but Joy beat him there like before. “Joy…”
“Are you nuts?” she whispered. “They’ll kill you.”
“They could’ve easily done it already. I’ve seen what they can do, so we’ll go after Rixec. Joy, please.”
They looked each other in the eye for five minutes straight. Then Joy stood aside.
“I can’t say no to that face,” she said.
Elvis opened the door and asked, “Coming?” Hikari jumped out of bed and made her way downstairs with Elvis. Nurse Joy wasn’t around so they grabbed their Pokemon and Rixec’s from the machine that heals them. Before they got to the door a voice rang in their heads.
Hikari. Elvis.
They jumped at this, wondering what was happening.
Hikari, Elvis, it’s me…
They didn’t’ know how to respond at first but then Hikari figured it out. Gallade?
Yes, he thought to her.
“Elvis, we need to think what we want to say so Gallade will hear us.”
What’s up G? Elvis asked.
Don’t call me that, Gallade warned. Just come to my room so I can use less energy to communicate with you.
Hikari and Elvis made their way to the back room and saw Gallade, unconscious, and bandaged. Gallade?
I know Rixec has been captured and you intend to go after him…
Of course! Elvis thought. We’re gonna leave now so…
NO YOU WILL NOT! Gallade bellowed through their minds. Hikari and Elvis were shocked he wouldn’t want them to leave right away. What I mean is, he continued, is that you can’t rescue Rixec without knowing the truth.
Suddenly, the room around them disappeared, it became dark, then there was a bright light and they were in a hospital room. They saw a girl a little older then them in a bed and looked in pain She had beautiful skin, short brown hair, and emerald green eyes. There was a Ralts yawning next to her.
Where are we? Elvis thought.
In my memories, Gallade’s voice boomed. Hikari and Elvis jumped at this.
Then that Ralts is…? Hikari thought.
It is me. I am going to show you all that is important, Gallade sent to them. So don’t talk, just watch. Like a day at the movies.
The girl gave a scream and Elvis and Hikari saw a baby come out. The doctor helped take it out. “It’s a boy,” he said.
“Rixec,” she said. “His name will be Rixec Platinum.” The doctor gave her Rixec and she held him in her arms, smiling happily. It became dark again, a new memory forming.
Was that...? Hikari and Elvis asked.
Yes, it is Rixec, and that cute little Ralts was me, like I said before. I was born the same day, just seconds before.
The room reformed and the girl was in the bed sleeping. This took place later that day, Gallade told them. They saw Ralts waiting next to the girl, Rixec’s mother. The doctor came back in holding Rixec. Hikari walked over and saw his eyes, emerald green, like his mother. But there was something else in them.
Rixec’s mother woke up and asked, “How’s my baby?”
“Healthy, but…”
“But?”
But? Hikari and Elvis thought.
“Ms. Platinum, your baby is completely healthy. But he’s been born blind.”
Next Time: Chapter 11: Memory Road!
Hikari and Elvis go through Gallade’s memories to learn more about Rixec. Meanwhile, Mack and the others reminisce on their past as they take Rixec back to Sunnyshore.
Hoped you liked my little twist. What do you think?
Chapter 10: Siege of Jubilife
Mack, Tammy, and Ronald had made their way through Sandgem and were heading through Route 202. Their confrontation with Bobby and company was three days ago. Meaning they only had four precious days left to find Rixec. Tammy and Ronald had gotten more serious about their mission, but Mack seemed devoted.
“Perhaps it’s time for a short rest,” Ronald suggested.
“NO TIME!” Mack snarled, making Ronald and Tammy jump. “We spent two days recovering and another during our traveling. We should have found Rixec the moment we won!”
Tammy was scared; she had never seen Mack like this. Normally he was calm, cool, and …
Wait. And… and…, she thought. She was thinking back to their time with Rixec when she was interrupted.
“Tammy!” Mack barked. “We have to keep moving!” Tammy understood and continued.
They continued on for another half hour when Ronald noticed something, a secret base in a tree. Wow, people haven’t used those kinds in years. They’re normally underground now. Ronald stopped and then ran inside.
Mack noticed and yelled for Mack to get out here. He waited and Mack ran in after him. “Ronald, we don’t have time for… for…,” he was saying. Tammy came in and saw what they saw. Ronald had turned on the TV and there was a breaking news story.
“Breaking news,” the newscaster said, “we have been informed that a boy, name and age to be withheld, and his Gallade have not yet awakened from their battle. A pair of twins, with cloned Mewtwos engaged him and lost to him, but not without harm. These clones have been examined, of what’s left of them anyway, by the police.
“They are said to be stronger than one found in Sandgem so the police are now looking into this conspiracy. The twins are now being interrogated about an unknown man called Charon or Pluto. More news when the boy awakens.”
Mack and the others knew where Rixec was. In a hospital of all places. That was a dangerous move; if he was examined…
“He couldn’t have been,” Ronald said, “if he was in that bad a condition they’d be more concerned with his injuries. We still have a chance.”
“How? We have to be discreet, remember? We can’t just walk in…”
“We’ll blast in,” Mack interrupted. When Mack and Tammy looked at him, he explained his final, private instructions from Madam Platinum.
“So it’s come to this?” Ronald whispered.
“There’s no choice now,” Mack said bitterly, “we must get Rixec.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Hikari hadn’t left Rixec’s side as of yesterday. She was not going to separate from him and wouldn’t even leave the room, until he awakened. So the hospital provided a bed for her. Elvis brought her food everyday to comfort her. Joy (teenage) had also been encouraging her with words of comfort.
Gallade had also yet to awaken and was in intensive care at the PC. He was in more critical condition and was being worked on continuously since he arrived.
Hikari looked at Rixec, lying peacefully in his bed. This was the first time she saw his eyes, even if closed. He had never taken off his glasses.
“Hey,” a voice said. Hikari turned and saw Elvis and Joy, with some food.
“Hey,” she said bitterly. Elvis put the food on a table and sat by Hikari.
“He’ll live; he survived an explosion, he’ll get through this,” Elvis assured. Hikari started crying. It wasn’t what Elvis said that did it. It was that she was afraid that he might be wrong.
“B-but what if,” she said through the tears. Joy walked up and slapped her. Elvis looked stunned and Hikari stopped crying.
“Just believe,” Joy said kindly. “Your friendship is some of the strongest I’ve seen. Believe and he’ll recover.” Hikari looked at her and smiled.
Thanks Joy, she thought.
“…And you too Elvis,” she whispered aloud. Elvis brought out two Pokeballs and released the Pokemon inside: Turtwig and Buizel had recovered. Elvis and Joy left the room and Hikari was alone with Rixec, Turtwig, and Buizel. Hikari brushed some hair out of Rixec’s eyes; his bangs were getting long. Turtwig and Buizel looked worried.
“Believe,” Hikari repeated. She gave a reassuring smile and Turtwig and Buizel lightened up a bit. Hikari decided to distract herself by thinking about Elvis and Joy. Those two seem to be getting real close; when they weren’t with her they were with each other. She thought about what they might be doing, but when she did Rixec and herself took their places.
Hikari blushed redder than she’d ever done. She remembered when she first saw Rixec. She and Elvis had been blamed by the bombing, still no idea who’d done it, and he showed up and saved them. He had looked like a knight in shining armor, yet at the same time a hero who concealed his identity beneath his sunglasses. He’d agreed to travel with them and had treated her when she was injured by that Tangrowth.
She remembered him laughing when Turtwig jumped on him, and how he battled that pyromaniac so Elvis could get to her. Hikari wondered how painful it was for him when he left because he thought he was trouble. Piplup had hated her and Rixec-And Elvis too I think- took a fall so she would gain its respect.
Throughout everything she grew closer to Rixec and she wondered how he felt about her.
Hikari leaned over Rixec and whispered, “Rixec, I love you.” And she kissed him on the lips, never wanting it to end. But it did when the earth shook beneath her and she fell on top of Rixec. There were explosions and crashes and Hikari opened the window to see what was happening.
“WHAT THE F*CKING CRAP?!” she yelled.
Jubilife buildings were wrapped by thorny vines; others and the streets were on fire. The earth was cracked and rubble was rising as more earthquakes continued. It was only noon, but the sky had turned blood red and smoke was wasting over the town.
Hikari saw Elvis and Joy running out to see what was happening. Normally, she would have gone too, but she didn’t want to leave Rixec alone with all this happening. She walked to Rixec and held his hand and whispered, terrified, “Rixec! Wake up!”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Mack, Tammy and Ronald watched at the work their Pokemon did. Magmortar, Tangrowth, and Rhyperior waste the city, taking their powers beyond their limits. It would serve as a distraction while they retrieved Rixec. Trainers and the police were busy dealing with the disasters, no one would notice them. And they descended into the city, grim looks on their faces.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sunnyshore City
Mary Louise Platinum had finally gotten her battery powered TV. “How long does it take to restore the power?” she whispered. Volkner had always liked tinkering with devices, even when they were little kids. She hadn’t seen him in years despite living in the same city. She flipped on the TV and saw the news.
A reporter was in Jubilife avoiding earth, vines, and fire. “This is Jamie Simons from Jubilife. The city is facing natural disasters and half of it is gone! It is unknown what is causing this, but the city is being evacuated…”
She flipped it off and sighed. Rixec was there. “‘If there comes a time when the secret is in danger, use violence, screw discrepancy’,” she remembered telling Mack. She had hoped it wouldn’t come to this.
“Mack, bring my son back,” she said through tears.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Elvis and Joy were helping people out of the city; they would be heading east to Canalave City. “Come on now,” Elvis said to a little girl, “we’re gonna get you out of here.”
“I want my mommy and daddy!” she cried.
“June!” a voice cried. Elvis turned and saw a man in his thirties come running over.
“Daddy!” she screamed and ran into his arms. The two ran away after that. Elvis and Joy continued on through the city, looking for stragglers. They could not believe these were natural; someone had to be causing this.
Another earthquake arose and Joy lost her footing. Elvis grabbed her hand and they both fell to the ground. Elvis maneuvered himself so Joy would be on top of him instead of the concrete. Unfortunately he hit the concrete face first. He spat out some blood.
“I’m sorry,” Joy said. Elvis turned his face to her.
“It’s nothing”, he said. Their faces were close together and they immediately stood up blushing. Suddenly, the ground cracked again and a huge hole appeared. Out of it, climb a Tangrowth, a Rhyperior, and a Magmortar. They were surprised when they saw Elvis and Joy; they were expecting everyone to have run away.
Elvis and Joy were thinking the same thing: these Pokemon were what were causing the trouble in town And Elvis recognized two of them. The Tangrowth that attacked them at the lake and the Magmortar that was with some red hair kid back at Sandgem. Elvis had never met Rhyperior, but Gallade look like he had been hit by a truck when he came back in Sandgem.
“So that’s the truck,” Elvis whispered.
Joy ran forward and demanded, “Why are you doing this?!”
Magmortar raised its gun-arm at her. Mack’s orders were clear: Avoid killing, but do what you have to to make people leave. It was hoping she would get scared and back off. A sudden jolt of electricity charged through Magmortar and it saw a Shinx cackling with electricity. Magmortar fired a blast if fire at Shinx, but a Chimchar jumped in front and took the blast.
“Joy, get back to the hospital,” Elvis whispered. “Leave them to me. You make sure Hikari and Rixec are alright.” She nodded and ran off.
“All right,” Elvis said, stretching his arms in front of him. “Let’s see what you can do…”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Mack, Tammy, and Ronald were walking at a steady pace through the streets. This was their only chance to get Rixec; failure meant…
The terrified people ran past them; it was hysteria. Some people were getting hurt because they were too frenzied to see a clear path to safety.
“All this destruction,” Tammy said, “it has sheer beauty and yet…”
“It bears pain, just as our souls bear our sins,” Ronald finished.
Mack didn’t like it just as much as they did. They didn’t want to do this to the most populated city in Sinnoh, but Rixec was far too important. They had gone down a few more blocks without realizing it.
A man and his son were running and tripped. The man was about mid twenties. His son looked about six. He was about the size of a six year old, but a bit thinner. He had purple hair and hazel eyes. They were standing up when some rubble fell from a building above. The boy tried to stand, but had gotten his foot stuck in a hole.
“Dad!” he yelled but his father was running, abandoning his son. Ronald ran first over the boy and caught the rubble. He held it long enough for Tammy to come over and help the boy out. Mack went to meet his father.
“What were you doing?” Mack asked furious.
“Running for my life,” he panted, “I didn’t want to die!”
“Yet you’re fine with you son dying?”
“He’s just a kid; no one will miss him…”
Mack grabbed him and hurled him into a building. “Despicable. A father’s bond with his son should be strong, and yet you toss him aside at a moment’s notice! You don’t deserve this life.” Mack snapped his fingers.
Even far away, Magmortar knew his Masters snap and he flung the Chimchar aside and fired a Fire Blast from hid gun-arm.
The blast traveled to a building above and a whole bunch of rubble fell and the man screamed at the flaming pieces fell on him, killing him instantly. Mack turned to see the boy they had saved but he was running northwest; no doubt heading to Canalave. Mack, Tammy, and Ronald kept walking and made it to their destination: the hospital.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Elvis had been backed into a corner. Rhyperior took Shinx out instantly and Chimchar was struggling against the three Pokemon. A fissure laid right behind them, so it was either break through or fall.
“Chimchar!” Elvis yelled. “Use…”
Tangrowth unleashed a Stun Spore and Elvis and Chimchar leapt back and fell into the fissure. The Pokemon ran forward but there was no sight. They hadn’t meant to kill him, but they left to rejoin their trainers. Tangrowth stayed behind longest. It had seen the boy before and knew he had gotten stronger. He had a Chimchar, as its mistress did once. The boy was dead, and Tangrowth had tried to kill him before so it shouldn’t have mattered.
But it did. It left wondering what had made it want to kill him before. All of them wanted to kill Gallade when they started, but now…nothing.
Elvis opened his eyes, surprised he wasn’t dead. Something was holding onto him and onto a broken pipe in the side. He looked up and saw Chimchar…no. It looked similar but it wasn’t. It was bigger and its arms were more capable of combat now. It had blue over its eyes and a flame at the end of a long tail.
“Monferno!” it cried. Chimchar had evolved.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Joy and Hikari were packing everything that would be of use; they had no idea what would happen so they had to be prepared. “Do you think we’ll need watermelon?” Hikari asked.
“Too heavy,” Joy replied, “we need light food.”
Another earthquake shook and they fell to the floor. “Ow,” Hikari moaned. She looked at Rixec and really wished he’d wake up. This was the worst time for him to be out. And if that wasn’t bad enough, Gallade was farther away from them in an even worse condition. Plus there were three Pokemon here causing the damage, two of which sounded all too familiar, Hikari knew while looking at her arm, a faint scar on it.
“O.K., let’s go!” Joy screeched. They put Rixec into a wheelchair and started pushing it out. As soon they came out the door the elevator opened up at the end of the hall. Three figures exited it and walked into the hallway. They all called out their Pokemon. They were Magmortar, Tangrowth, and Rhyperior. Hikari unconsciously reached for her Pokeballs.
Mack, Tammy, and Ronald faced down the two girls in the hall. “Hello,” Mack said politely, “I am Mack. These are my friends Tammy and Ronald.”
The girls were silent so Ronald said, “It is polite to introduce yourselves.”
“This is Joy, and I’m Hikari,” Hikari replied, she grabbed her Pokeball and released what was inside. “And this is my partner, Piplup!”
Piplup popped out and stood in between everyone. Joy called out her Chansey and Hikari decided to bring out Kricketot because she thought these guys wouldn’t fight fair.
Everyone was silent for a few minutes until Hikari broke the silence. “Why are you doing this? What’s the point of attacking Jubilife?”
“A distraction,” Tammy said. Hikari thought she saw a glimmer of sadness in her eyes but disregarded it.
“A distraction?” Hikari repeated dumbstruck. “For what?”
“For Rixec,” Mack said. Hikari and Joy glanced back at Rixec, unconscious in his wheelchair.
So this is why Rixec said he was trouble, Hikari thought. Those weren’t random attacks, these people were after Rixec.
“Piplup, Bubble,” Hikari commanded. Piplup shot bubbles at them.
“Rhyperior, Rock Blast!” Ronald ordered. Rhyperior fired a bunch of rocks and obliterated the bubbles. “Don’t try it. I know all of Piplup’s attacks, and how to counter them.”
Hikari growled at this. Joy stepped up now. “Chansey, Egg Bomb!” Chansey took out its egg and hurled it at the enemy. Tangrowth threw itself in front and met the attack. The egg exploded on impact. Tangrowth was hurt, but not down.
“Kricketot, Bide,” Hikari said. Kricketot glowed slightly but Mack stepped up.
“Magmortar, Fire Blast,” Mack commanded. Magmortar fired fire from it gun-arm and it went down the hall into Kricketot, fainting it.
“No!” Hikari yelled, or whispered. She didn’t know.
“Power Whip,” Tammy said. Tangrowth’s arm stretched and knocked Piplup to the ground.
“Rhyperior, use Rock Wrecker.” Rhyperior roared and banged the walls and it came tumbling down.
“Chansey, Healing Wish,” Joy said. Chansey ran out and pushed Piplup aside, getting knocked out by the attack.
“Joy, your Pokemon,” Hikari cried but Joy held up her hand.
“Healing Wish Hikari,” she said recalling Chansey. Hikari was appalled for a moment but then remembered; Healing Wish recovers a Pokemon completely, that is, when the Pokemon who used the attack fainted. Hikari turned to Piplup and it was fully healed.
“I’m not letting you touch Rixec,” Hikari told them.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Elvis and Monferno ran down the street, making their way to the hospital. He had to make sure his friends were O.K. It was hard to navigate though, with fire, rock, and plant tearing the city apart. Flaming rocks fell from above and Monferno jumped and punched it at an incredible speed.
“Mach Punch,” Elvis said approvingly. Monferno gaining a sub-fighting type was gonna be useful. Elvis made it to the hospital and made his way to the elevator. But then the cable snapped and it came tumbling down. Elvis and Monferno stared dumbfounded.
“The stairs are better for exercise,” Elvis mumbled, and started running.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Though Piplup had recovered, Hikari was still having a hard time. These three were skilled, and playing with her, she knew. She’s seen what they can do, against Gallade and Rixec; she knew they were going easy. “Piplup,” she said.
“Hammer Arm,” Ronald said. Rhyperior brought its arm down on Piplup and fainted it. They were out of Pokemon. Rixec was theirs. Hikari ran forward swinging her fist. Ronald grabbed her when she got close enough and held her still. Joy ran forward but the Pokemon glancing at her froze her in place.
“You know,” Mack said, “I don’t want to harm you.”
“Why not?” Hikari asked furious.
“I can tell, you’re special to Rixec,” Mack explained. “In the two times I met him in the last week I could tell he held you dear in his heart. Why do you think he nearly killed himself at the warehouse?”
Tammy and Ronald took note of what Mack said. ‘Two times’. He had met Rixec at another time then the warehouse?
“And as for the blond boy, he’s the best human friend Rixec has.
“Hell yeah!” a voice screamed. Right behind them was Elvis with a butt kicking Monferno. “Mach Punch!”
Monferno ran up to Ronald and punched him in the leg, releasing his grip on Hikari. Hikari and Elvis jumped back to Joy and were facing down again.
“Elvis, how many Pokemon are good?” Joy asked.
“Just Monferno; you?”
“All ours are fainted,” Hikari replied. Three vs. one, not good.
Elvis remained silent for a few moments and then said, “What about those two?”
“Huh?” the girls questioned.
“Turtwig and Buizel, Rixec’s other Pokemon,” Elvis said irritably. Hikari and Joy gasped. They had put them back in their balls and on Rixec’s belt. They ran to Rixec and called them out. Turtwig and Buizel looked ready for a smack down.
“Lava Plume!” Mack commanded.
“Rock Blast!” Ronald roared.
“Power Whip!” Tammy shrieked.
“Monferno, Ember!” Elvis shouted. “Turtwig, Razor Leaf! Buizel, Water Gun!”
The attacks collided in midair. Water Gun extinguishing Lava Plume, Razor Leaf slashed the Rock Blast in half, and Ember burn, Tangrowth’s Power Whip.
“This kid knows how to strategize,” Mack noted, seeing the shadow of someone behind the boy, “but at the same time hates it.” Mack couldn’t afford to hold back anymore.
“Get into position,” he whispered to Tammy and Ronald. “Fire Blast!”
“Rock Wrecker!”
The attacks started to destroy the room as they came toward them. Elvis checked the Pokedex real fast. Turtwig knew a new attack, how, he didn’t know, or care. “Buizel, Aqua Jet! Turtwig, Earth Power!”
Buizel shot toward the Fire Blast, covering itself in water while Turtwig summoned its energy and canceled out the Rock Wrecker with the earth.
“Now!” Mack shouted. Tangrowth got right in front of them.
“Sleep Powder!” Tammy yelled. A blue powder came over them and they all started conking out. The Pokemon fell first, then Joy and Elvis. Hikari tried to stay awake. She could not lose Rixec.
She tried standing up, but she could only do it halfway. Mack started walking over and then hugged her. “It’s for his own good,” he whispered. “And I wasn’t lying; I can tell he loves you.”
And with those words in mind Hikari was succumbed by sleep. Mack laid her down and picked Rixec up. He looked so peaceful.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“NO!” Hikari yelled. She was in a bed, Joy and Elvis next to her. Hikari put her face in her hands; Rixec was gone.
“Oh my, you’re awake!”
Hikari looked up, tears streaming, and saw Nurse Joy. “I found you asleep on the floor of the hospital after the disasters stopped. Oh! You’re in the PC and your Pokemon are recovering.” Nurse Joy closed the door and walked downstairs.
“Not one of our best days,” Elvis said. Hikari turned and saw him and Joy waking up.
“They took Rixec, Elvis. They took him,” Hikari cried.
“I know,” he said with a serious face, “and we’re gonna get him back.” He got up and started for the door but Joy beat him there like before. “Joy…”
“Are you nuts?” she whispered. “They’ll kill you.”
“They could’ve easily done it already. I’ve seen what they can do, so we’ll go after Rixec. Joy, please.”
They looked each other in the eye for five minutes straight. Then Joy stood aside.
“I can’t say no to that face,” she said.
Elvis opened the door and asked, “Coming?” Hikari jumped out of bed and made her way downstairs with Elvis. Nurse Joy wasn’t around so they grabbed their Pokemon and Rixec’s from the machine that heals them. Before they got to the door a voice rang in their heads.
Hikari. Elvis.
They jumped at this, wondering what was happening.
Hikari, Elvis, it’s me…
They didn’t’ know how to respond at first but then Hikari figured it out. Gallade?
Yes, he thought to her.
“Elvis, we need to think what we want to say so Gallade will hear us.”
What’s up G? Elvis asked.
Don’t call me that, Gallade warned. Just come to my room so I can use less energy to communicate with you.
Hikari and Elvis made their way to the back room and saw Gallade, unconscious, and bandaged. Gallade?
I know Rixec has been captured and you intend to go after him…
Of course! Elvis thought. We’re gonna leave now so…
NO YOU WILL NOT! Gallade bellowed through their minds. Hikari and Elvis were shocked he wouldn’t want them to leave right away. What I mean is, he continued, is that you can’t rescue Rixec without knowing the truth.
Suddenly, the room around them disappeared, it became dark, then there was a bright light and they were in a hospital room. They saw a girl a little older then them in a bed and looked in pain She had beautiful skin, short brown hair, and emerald green eyes. There was a Ralts yawning next to her.
Where are we? Elvis thought.
In my memories, Gallade’s voice boomed. Hikari and Elvis jumped at this.
Then that Ralts is…? Hikari thought.
It is me. I am going to show you all that is important, Gallade sent to them. So don’t talk, just watch. Like a day at the movies.
The girl gave a scream and Elvis and Hikari saw a baby come out. The doctor helped take it out. “It’s a boy,” he said.
“Rixec,” she said. “His name will be Rixec Platinum.” The doctor gave her Rixec and she held him in her arms, smiling happily. It became dark again, a new memory forming.
Was that...? Hikari and Elvis asked.
Yes, it is Rixec, and that cute little Ralts was me, like I said before. I was born the same day, just seconds before.
The room reformed and the girl was in the bed sleeping. This took place later that day, Gallade told them. They saw Ralts waiting next to the girl, Rixec’s mother. The doctor came back in holding Rixec. Hikari walked over and saw his eyes, emerald green, like his mother. But there was something else in them.
Rixec’s mother woke up and asked, “How’s my baby?”
“Healthy, but…”
“But?”
But? Hikari and Elvis thought.
“Ms. Platinum, your baby is completely healthy. But he’s been born blind.”
END
Next Time: Chapter 11: Memory Road!
Hikari and Elvis go through Gallade’s memories to learn more about Rixec. Meanwhile, Mack and the others reminisce on their past as they take Rixec back to Sunnyshore.
Hoped you liked my little twist. What do you think?
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And why would the barrier end at twelve? It seems to be that the barrier would be up after twelve to prevent people from escaping.