Only A Dream

First off I wanna say well done on probably the best chapter you may have done so far. It was an emotional ride, seeing everything from the one perspective we've longed to see for a while. It's nice, I must say, to have Dawn back again, to have her the main focus of the story, not that I didn't like the others, but everyone prefers a character that they're used to.
3 parts of this chapter start with that dream again, I liked that, also the other starts pf the different sections, but I'll get to that in a minute.
I'm just wondering who Lyxah is, what her role is in Dawn's life and why she's been introduced. She seems like a rock for Dawn and a really good emotional support. they must have known each other for a while.
I also like the fixation of saying "It's only a dream", just reinforcing the whole title, and yes I liked that ^^ I also liked the whole relevance to the movie, and the connection between what's happening with Dawn and Darkrai. And as we know Darkrai was giving visions then to help people for what was t come and so i can surmise that, it's what's happening here too, or what was happening.
The fourth part has the be the most intense though, the paragraph detailing exactly how Dawn was feeling and exactly how someone else was feeling at that time...it's probably why it was emotional for me ...and you to an extent, you know what I mean. The whole psychoanalysis or how Dawn is, is just almost spot on as it she's putting herself down in a way, making herself worth nothing, and it's heart breaking to read, it really is.
I kinda thought that after that, the dream, was meant to be in italics, but I got that she was just reciting it to herself or telling us about it.
The other "revelation" come when Darkrai tells Dawn that "they" have Arceus, almost and might mean that Arceus is being controlled, in order to take away powerful trainers in order to be able to do something without getting stopped. It's rather frightening to think that someone could control such a Pokémon, but why would they do that? Is it tea, rocket, a new team, or someone completely different, and who would have power like that?
Dawn when she's allowed to see things from on high, must mean that she's almost like an omnipresence, like a god, so someone like that must be helping her if they let her talk to her mum and ultimately come back. i really do wonder what's going on, I really do bibi XD
Also when Darkrai starts t o talk about Ash, it is the only time since the beginning of the story that his name, and full name is mentioned, instead of the Typical "him" , "that boy", "that man". Why is he being named properly now?
I also wonder who the calming voice is that directly talk to Dawn, could it be Arceus, Cresselia or a lake trio legendary trying to get through to her wherever she is?
Another thing, Dawn mistakes the woman Rekka is with, for a guy, why? It's a guy first and then changes. And why the "yes master?"
It all seems very strange, and would love to discuss this with others, either on here, preferably or over PM.
Well done again for a perfect chapter, if there's more then hopefully, it'll just keep getting better.
 
Yeah, I feel the same, I loved writing this chapter for a lot of reasons. It was an emotional ride for me as well, there were actually a few times where I had to stop writing because I was tearing up.

Essentially, Lyxah can be attributed to that girl with the Swinubs - they're said to be really close but you don't really see much of them. Lyxah was added primarily to show that Dawn has friends and that her life is much more than just the aspects we are witnessing.

I loved writing the movie segment ^^ Rise of Darkrai is not only one of my favourite Pokémon movies but also one my favourites on a more general scale. It was really interesting to write it myself, it made me feel a bit more connected to the story and to Pokémon. In my opinion, it also adds to the realism of the fic as I am drawing on events that, to us, have actually happened, you know?

The section in which Dawn details her mind-set and thought process was, in a way, my favourite part, but also the most painful. It was a good release for me, but difficult in that I've recently gotten over feeling much the same, as Artek is aware. For me, even with the anime, I've always had an affinity with Dawn in that I feel that in situations presented to her on the show, I would react just as she has done. I put a lot of myself into the character of Dawn and like to draw on my own experience to help in the writing of her character and it appears to flow very well together ^^

With regards to Dawn reciting the dream in her head, it is shown as the first time she's really done that without it appearing as an actual dream (ie, in italics). This is representative of the fact that she's just went on this huge emotional journey to recognise that something is wrong in her head and now that she is openly recognising and acknowledging the dream, it is symbolic of her beginning the healing process as she is accepting that this is happening and she has to see it through. This is what provides Darkrai with an opening, this is what allows him to get through to her as he recognises that she has begun to accept her newfound fate and that gives him the opportunity to properly speak with her because he knows that she'll be more willing to hear him out. Did that make sense?

Ah, yes, "they" ^^ I love "them", I know who "they" are, I've got "they're" story sussed and am looking forward to their inclusion ^^ I won't say anything beyond the simple fact that "they" could be anyone - "they" might be Team Rocket, "they" might be Team Galactic, Team Aqua or Magma or three babies with spoons. I would like this in particular to become a discussion, I would like to hear what you all think of who "they" are given the information provided - "they" have the power to control Arceus. Who would have that kind of power?

Ash was properly named and acknowledged fully as being Rekka's father, May's past lover, for the simple reason that I felt it was becoming a bit dragged out and that, particularly in chapter 06, it was becoming a bit more confusing. To clarify fully - Ash was the man in the maternity ward looking through the glass at baby Rekka, he was also the guy from the other flashback featuring him walking away from a woman apparantly pregnant with his child. Who the other child is and why he is like that will be made clearer soon enough ^^

The end of chapter 07 has been altered. Rekka was originally in the water with another guy and the woman was essentially a third partner who was acting as a look-out. She had a bit more of a backstory and was going to become terribly important to the main plot, but I chose to scrap that idea for the simple reason that it was going to become much too complicated to have that run along-side the main story. For now, chapter 07 ends with the same scene from chapter 06 and we do not know who Rekka is with, whether it be male or female is still a mystery.

Chapter 08 is slated to be called Unnatural Progression, Naturally and will hopefully be posted nearer the end of the week, possibly Thursday or Friday. I'm putting off a little longer to give people more time to comment on chapter 07... we seem to have lost a lot of readers, I wonder if the extra week away waiting for chapter 07 did more harm that good...?

Anyways, I hope to hear from you all soon *cookies*
 
Chapter 08

Well, it's been about two weeks since I last posted a chapter and there have been no comments so I am left with little choice but to move on and post chapter 08 and hope that there will be more feedback. Thanks once again to Artek Oublier for remaining with me and offering me his opinions, thoughts and comments *cookies*

Chapter 08 is my favourite chapter to date for several reasons. There is a mild nudity scene, but nothing is explicit, it's actually hardly worth mentioning because there's like nothing in it... you'll understand when you read it, but just be aware. Also, there is some mildly strong language just as there was in Chapter 07.

Anyways, enjoy ^^

Chapter 08 ~ Unnatural Progression, Naturally​

There is very little time to react as I move almost bouncily from lying in the water to swimming away from the shadowed figures. My instinct is to run and so I follow it naturally. It's something I have always done is follow my instincts. Right now, they tell me to swim to the other side of the lake and just get back home.

I clamber out of the water and begin to run, slowly at first as my body's actual circuitry kicks in and I realise that I haven't eaten for days. I collapse to the ground, my beautiful fluffy white skirt now totally ruined as the dirt splashes all over it. I can't stop. I jump straight back up and continue running as small branches snap against my legs, holly leaves and nettles scratch at my arms. I am covered in tiny cuts but I see it, I see the edge of the town glistening through the trees. one more little leap over a uprooted root and I'm within the town's boundaries.

The street lights are glaringly bright, but I don't care, I can't care about them right now. I must get home. I have retained my knowledge from being up on high, I know my daughters are out in the forest, but I must get home to my mother. I know Lucas doesn't like her and is too embroiled in his work, she'll probably be sitting at home all alone. I'm nearing the front path, the garden is sitting pristine clean again, something my mother has always boasted about. I waste no time, however, and dive in the front door.

Darkness. The entire house sits in darkness. It is night-time, I fumble around for a small clock that I know sits on a chest of drawers just next to the stairs. The hands tell me that it is 2:32. I know that it is no coincidence that I have been returned at this time. Judging by what Darkrai told me and what I have learned through the view of the world I was granted on that dark plain, I know I was meant to return to this earth ant this point and save it.

"Who's there?" an unfamiliar female voice calls down the stairs.

"Celina?" I hear my mother's voice up there too. "What's going on?"

"Mommy?" I moan. "Mommy!" I scream.

"Dawn!" my mother gasps and the hall light is switched on.

The room brightens up immediately, not by the lights above but by my mother's relieved and smiling face looking down the stairs at me, her dazzling blue eyes meeting with mine as tears fill them.

"Dawn," she whispers and hobbles hurriedly down the stairs to embrace me.

My aging mother wraps her arms around me, her frail arms tightly squeezing me as he softly fall into her, completely breaking down.

"Mommy," I manage to wheeze.

As my mother and I hug, I chance a glance over her shoulder to the woman coming down the stairs behind her, the young woman named Celina.

I pull away from my mother and ask her directly, "who the hell are you?"

Celina stood maybe five and a half feet tall with autumn brown eyes and short green hair with two longer strands falling in front of her face. She stands before me, in pink fluffy pyjamas with a flashlight in hand, her face filled with intrigue and surprise.

"My name is Celina," her voice is very soft yet croaky. "I was hired by Professor Lux to care for Johanna."

I eye her up and down, this stranger to my home who had evaded my on-high radar. With everything that I saw of my mother, she was alone. It appears that someone has gone to great lengths to keep this... Celina out of my field of vision.

"We need to talk," I say to my mother and then glare at Celina, "privately."

I lead my mother, my hand on the base of her back, through to the wine coloured living-room. I find the light switch just by the door and turn it up just to provide a dim light, just enough for us to see, but not enough to wake up the street. I close the door slowly so that I can watch Celina go back up the stairs to what ever room she had been sleeping in. When I am satisfied that we had adequate privacy, I turn around to see my mother sitting on the leather couch just inside the door. I sit down beside her, our backs to the outside world.

"What happened?" my mother asks instantly.

I look at her, my jaw open, my eyes wide.

"I don't want any secrets, I don't want you to hold anything back," she explains.

"But," I move to interrupt.

"No!" she yells. "Dawn, my sweet, do not lie to me, do not protect me because that in itself is killing me, damn it, you are my daughter, I need you to talk to me openly and honestly."

I don't know what to say. I understand where she is coming from, but I can't find it in me to act upon what she is saying. My instinct is to protect her.

"You didn't tell anyone of your nightmares, you didn't give us any clue that something was wrong until it was too late," she speaks more calmly, "and it tore this family apart."

Tears fill my eyes, I can't think of anything.

"Because of your secrets, you vanished with no trace, your daughters felt the need to protect me too and it nearly killed me," she continues. "I can't let you bear that, I won't let you keep things from me for that reason," she places a shaky hand on my shoulder. "If anything had happened to me, you would've found a way to blame yourself and I can't let that happen, I love you too much."

I begin to sob, my body convulses uncontrollably and I collapse once again into her arms. My cries are wheezy, my sobs muffled as I nuzzle into her shoulder. My mother holds me tight and gently calms me.

"Ssh, ssh," she whispers. "It's alright, ssh, ssh."

I begin to pull myself together. I know she is right, I shouldn't have kept that from them. I should've told them, they could've helped me but I, for God knows what reason, couldn't let them in to that part of me. I felt like I was self-destructing and I couldn't chance taking them out with me.
"You're right," the words manage to escape me lips. "I'm sorry."

"It's alright," my mother smiles and pulls away from me slightly. "Now, what was it you wanted to discuss?"

I wipe my eyes with my fingers, my runny nose with the ball of my hand as I try to compose myself once again.

"While I was in that dark space, with Arceus, I saw things, things that lead me to believe that this world is in grave danger from a force with almost inconceivable power," I begin. "They have the power to control Arceus, they have captured other Legendary Pokémon and have used their powers to take certain powerful trainers, such as myself and even Ash, out of their way so that they may act on this world without interference."

"Wait, stop," my mother holds up her hands as a signal for me to stop. "Who are they?"

"They are known as The Coven," I say their name out loud for the first time since hearing it.

"The Coven?" my mother's jaw drops and she staggers to her feet.

"What?" I rise too. "What is it?"

She turns to face me, her long house-coat swishing as she swirls around. Her eyes are wide, tears glistening over them.

"Look at all those cuts and scrapes," she says in a shrill, shaky voice. "You'd better go and get yourself cleaned up and head to bed, it's been a long night."

With that, my mother walks away from me, reaching out to the oak door of the living-room, pushing it open and walking so slowly up the stairs. I watch her, puzzled as she wanders up the stairs and to her bedroom, the door slamming behind her making me jump out of my skin.

What could be wrong with her? Why did the name of that group freak her out? I must find the answer.

I head up the stairs, dashing up them quickly but quietly, two at a time, down the hall a few paces to my mother's bedroom door. I go to knock but stop as I hear muffled sobs coming from inside. What could be wrong with her? Rather than disturb her, i decide to head down the hall, walking just a few steps beyond the two empty rooms belonging to my daughters to the bathroom at the end of the hall.

I open the white door and enter the blue-tiled room, looking behind the door at a full-body-size mirror. My outfit is totally wrecked as I presumed earlier, my fuzzy white skirt must be tossed, my shirt, my beautiful scarf... my body is covered in cuts and scrapes as my mother pointed out. They are not deep and won't take long to heal, but I don't want anyone to see them. I take my clothes off gently, tossing them in the waste basket by the cream toilet and climb over the edge of the bath and turn the shower on, pulling the shower curtain around me for privacy and to stop the water from spraying everywhere. I take great care in washing myself as I do not wish to aggravate any of the cuts and was my hair with coconut-scented shampoo and conditioner. As I turn the shower off and climb out, I reach out towards the wicker hamper to pull out a large towel and wrap it around my body, tying at just above my chest to hold it up. I then pull out another smaller towel and flick my hair forward, several specks of water lash out and whip the mirror. My hair is all short and frizzy, I never realised how much I looked like the way my mother used to until now. I hated it for the simple reason that I didn't want to be like my mother and that's exactly the type of person I became. Interesting...

My feet are wet on the dark green carpet of the hall, they make a padding, patting sound as I make my way to my bedroom. I open the door tentatively, peeking my head around the solid frame as I step quietly into my room. It is dark, it is creepy, but it is mine. I smile and swing the door open and triumphantly step through it, my head held high as I scare away the previously terrifying shadows with my presence. I close the door behind me so as to not wake anyone up. I dry off my body and drop the towel as I walk towards my closet to find something new to wear. After choosing what I want, I lay it out on a chair and climb into bed after putting on a pair of pink fluffy pyjamas.

Before I can even blink, it is morning. The summer sunshine leaks in through my window, their angel rays forcing the darkness to hideaway. I let out a happy sigh of relief has the long night has said goodbye, with no nightmare in sight, there is time enough for tears for other things in life, more important humdrum things. Even if I live in this temporary borrowed heaven, this bubble of perfection, just for a moment, I know I will have confidence for quiet.

"Baby, be brave," I offer myself a few words of encouragement as I look out my window to the shoreline, that silver strand of life, that small miracle of nature, of life.

I turn around to face that bamboo chair that I laid my clothes out on last night and begin to pull them on. My light blue jeans with white ladders up the knees come on and I pull a silky light pink shirt over my torso. I run through once again to the bathroom and give my red boots a wash so I can get more wear out of them, they were about the only thing that survived my ordeal last night. Back in my room, I go into the chest of drawers across from my bed and pull out some Prussian blue hair extensions, clipping them in place to make my hair just a bit longer than usual in order to accommodate this new look I crave. Just where they had been, I see my old red scarf, the one I wore on my first journey and whip it on, wrapping it around my neck, under my hair. Lastly, a replacement bandanna for my head, one that is not as tatty as the one that got wrecked last night.

"That's me," I feel no need to look in a mirror as I feel good enough with it all on. "It's time for a change."

I run down the stairs two at a time, immediately running through into the wine-coloured living-room to the green video-phone. I press "two" on the speed-dial and, after a few rings, my so-called husband's face appears on-screen. His chiselled good looks and sharp features floor me every time.

"Dawn," he gasps.

I let it settle for a moment before proceeding. I know that from my position on high that he has been aware of my absence from this plane and has aided some in the search for me, but I cannot forget that he did not care for my mother as asked.

"Who is Celina?" I jump straight to my point. "Where I was when Arceus had taken me, I could see everything, that was granted to me by him against the wishes of a group known as The Coven," I explain.

"The Coven?" he asks quietly.

"However," I continue, ignoring him, "this Celina was out of my field of vision at all times, she was hidden from my radar even though I could see me mother," I let this sink in before finishing. "I need you to do some digging and find out all you can about both Celina and The Coven, do it discreetly and I'll contact you again once I reach Sandgem, do you understand?"

"Yes," he dares not question my resolve.

Lucas knows that once I'm set on something, it's just best not to argue with me.

"Moreover, I'm going on a journey, it's too important to go into now," I carry on, not giving him time to speak. "Celina is here taking care of mother, I don't trust her as I've made clear, so please check in from time to time," I pause to hear him.

"But, my research, I'm so close to breakthrough," he whines as usual.

It's alright that I ask him to do research because that means that he doesn't have to leave the comfort of is sterile, computer-controlled laboratory, but that line is the reason why he left this house, it is the reason his daughters grew up with a teacher, a boss at that damn school and not a real father, it is the reason I am alone.

"Save it," I snap. "Do it, this one thing, take some responsibility for your family for once in your life, please!"

He draws back, his dark eyes flitting from side to side as he tries to think up an argument.

"I don't want to hear anything you have to say, this is not open for discussion," I say harshly. "I have done plenty of things for you in my life and now it's time for you to give me something back, something just as good," my voice softens. "Please, Lucas, do this for me because... because..." I stop, tears welling in my eyes.

"Because what?" he says kindly, moving closer to the screen, like we're actually face-to-face.

"Because I love you," I whisper.

"Professor?" a young female voice calls out from somewhere in the lab.
Lucas turns away, he looks back to me, his eyes pleading and then the screen goes black with only my empty heart-broken reflection staring back at me.

I stand up and move absent-mindedly away from the phone. I look up from the carpet to see a slender woman in a long white ball gown. Her red eyes reach out to me and I hear her voice.

~What is wrong?~ Gardevoir asks me telepathically.

"Where are Twila and Skya?" I snap out of my head and jump right back into my previous train of thought. "I need to get to them now."

Gardevoir's short green hair lifts up slightly to show both her eyes as she searches for them using some kind of psychic radar.

~Just a little beyond Lake Verity, a few days yet from Sandgem however,~ she responds.

"Take me," I grab a long white leather coat and toss it over my shoulders, sliding my arms in quickly.

In a flash of brilliant white light, I appear in the forest. I am standing on top of a rock, surrounded by tall trees. I look down at the ground beneath me, my eyes stretching down a hill and I see my daughters faces, their eyes filled with awe, love and surprise as I appear above them, all in white with the sun forming a halo around my head, like an angel.

"Mommy?" Skya whispers.

~~~END OF CHAPTER EIGHT~~~​

Oh my! Very interesting, dontcha think? As always, please give me your thoughts, comments and feedback. Thank you *cookies*
 
Hey hunni

Loved this chapter just as always, had an odd feeling about it, as if it wouldn't mean as much but some points through it were important.

I am covered in tiny cuts but I see it, I see the edge of the town glistening through the trees. one more little leap over a uprooted root and I'm within the town's boundaries.
Click to expand...
Just one mistake. Capital letter at "one".

I love how you started the chapter just off of where we left off in Chapter 6. Also that she's been away for a few days and obviously hasn't eaten. That also makes you think, has she been in the river all this time and her consciousness somewhere else?

Celina makes me think of Gardenia with longer hair. Nice choice of name btw, just off of a certain someone you know I like. I do wonder though why she was kept off of Dawn's radar, why she wasn't showing up. As soon as Dawn comes back and Celina is in view, Dawn doesn't like her, she trusts her instincts. Also the way she just glares back at her when she needs to "privately" speak to Johanna.
2:32am again, how weird that she should come back at this time, but not as weird as it was maybe the only time that she would be allowed to be sent back at by whoever let her go.

The next part with Johanna and Dawn is very reminiscent of another two people we both know, I believe, especially in both their old mindsets. One being Johanna asking for honesty and open mindedness and the other trying to holdback for whatever reason, but finally relinquishing control and just telling her everything. Very emotional moment. Johanna is very "you" in this part, although you have said that you base Dawn off of yourself, I think you may do this, perhaps with other characters to give it a personal touch. I like the idea ^^

She was in this place she was with Arceus….other legendaries and other trainers. And "the coven" are obviously using the powers of these Pokémon to do their bidding. They seem rather ominous and powerful as the name suggests. They seem like they would harness magic or enchantments in order to get their work done. And in this Dark manner it seems that they can take control of pretty much anything they like.

The fact that Johanna recognises the name is rather bewildering to say the least. I can only surmise that she has had dealings with them in the past or that she was once apart of them or perhaps still is or knows people who she is friends with that may be part of it too. lso, who else is in this coven, are there any previous charaters going to be a part of it?

Changing her clothes and washing is perhaps significant of her washing all the fears and doubts she had before and maybe even some previous knowledge of things so that she can get ready to try to fight this new evil. Her new clothes and more centred attitude emanate that she is different, even Dawn herself says "It's time for a change".

Dawn looking or resembling her mother is probably what most people expect as she had been following the same path in the episodes. It just means that no matter how hard you can try not to be like someone, on some level, subconscious even it may still happen.

Dawn almost adopts a new attitude when talking to Lucas, as if she can bear being nicey nicey to him no longer ands that he just needs to listen this time without excuses. She seems harsher and like she'll take no nonsense. Is this the new Dawn we're going to see?

It's obvious to see that the closest one you love, you hurt the most, which can be the case in almost any relationship. It as nice to see that she still loves him even after all this time.

The lasting image of Dawn…as an angel coming to see her daughters. A lot of children especially young girls look up to their mothers as the epitome of womanhood and this resembles that too.

Really great episode, sorry chapter ^^ I always see them as you say yourself, as episodes. I also feel that I have more to comment on as the chapter come up now. There was more in the last chapter and even more in this one.
Anyway the next instalment should be just as great, please keep it up I'm loving it ^^
xxxxxx
 
First of all, I want to say sorry for not reviewing chapter 7. I have been busy, and didn't have time to get on PC. But I'm back, and you can expect regular reviews from me^^

Ok, now for the actual reviews!

Chapter 7: I loved this chapter, so descriptive! Also very suspenseful. Makes you wonder what's going to happen next! I didn't see any mistakes here, and if there was any, they would be very small^^

Chapter 8: Also a very nice chapter. Suspenseful and dramatic! Still loving the mother-daughter bond between Dawn and Johanna.

Keep writing Laterna, you're an amazing writer!
 
Finally, finally I were able to read these past two chapters - and I've never been this glad about being able to do something. This story has taken a step to be even more interesting while I wasn't looking. If there had only been more, I bet I couldn't have stopped...

First of all, I have to say that your language is a bit hard for a non-native like me. I have been a bit lost at times because I haven't fully understood some crucial sentence. For example, the ending of chapter 6 was a bit foggy to me before, but I now think I understand well enough what happened. I also think I understood 99% of the two latest chapters. So, I'm doing fine now, but I might need to ask you some clarifications later on ^-^'

In the 7th chapter, I have to admit I got a tad annoyed by the repeating of the dream again. I can see why you repeat it from word to word and I know you need to do it, otherwise it just wouldn't be the same, but it still annoys me slightly -_- More than anything, that chapter creeped me out. I started to feel like a mental case myself, so I'd say you were pretty succesful ^-^ The emotions really come trough. Writing emotionally might even be your strongest point, actually.

Also, the story is getting über-interesting. I love it how you let the story untangle on its own, sort of. I like Darkrai and the mysteriousity of Johanna and Celia and I also like how Dawn's turning out to be. I'm feeling a bit sorry for Lucas, because it seems to me that he has been forced to make a horrible coice between his family and his passion and I don't think Dawn really fully understands me. Am I weird for taking Lucas's side in this? Well, it might be because I also intend to be a researcher (as well as an author) one day and because I'm lazy that I feel I understand Lucas so well. I just hope everything ends up well for Lucas and Dawn and their daughters. Well, and Johanna. But mostly Lucas and Dawn. They need to be with each other, I think.

The Coven sounds also intriguing, expecially after Johanna had such an odd reaction to it. I want to hear more about The Coven, about Celia, about Rekka, Ash and May, about Dawn and Lucas and about Skya and Twila... In other words, I want to read more. And if I want to read more, you've been succesful.

Thank you for these chapters. As I said, I can't wait to read more!
 
Hey ya'll ^^ thank you all for your lovely comments, it is very much appreciated ^^ and to show you my appreciation, I've got Chapter 09 with me!!!

First off, to comment on the comments ^^

Celina is an interesting character, definitely a favourite to come ^^ that scene with Johanna and Dawn you reference Artek is one of my favourite scenes in that chapter, but it was actually quite difficult to write because of the amount of personal emotion and thought I put into it as you can imagine. The last image of Dawn as the angel has been in my head since the start, I was gonna save it for the final scene at the end, but I changed the entire story-line and was able to include now ^^

As you pointed out, An-chan, the dream had to be repeated and all I will say about what's to come is that the dream will be a recurring theme all throughout and will appear lots more :-P with regards to Lucas and Dawn... well, you'll need to wait until she gets back home wontcha... or will you?

Chapter 09 ~ Battle Cometh!
​
"Mommy?" Skya whispers.

I stand above and look down the hill at my beautiful daughter. Her long Prussian blue hair streams out behind her, falling over her pristine black shirt and scarf.

"Skya," I let out a huge sigh of relief before jumping down towards her, stumbling down the hill into her arms. "Oh God, oh God, thank you, thank you," I begin to weep.

"Hey," Twila taps me on the shoulder, practically crying for attention.
I reluctantly pull myself away from Skya and move across the damp grass to Twila, my arms wrapping around her.

"Yes," I say softly. "I see you too."

I quickly pull away from her and turn to address them both.

"Where are May and Rekka?" I ask.

"Who?" Skya stares at me with a blank expression.

"You probably don't remember," I smile. "Rekka was in the lake last night with someone I couldn't quite make out, while May was just a short distance away with a girl named Cheri," I explain very briefly.

"What? May is here?" Twila asks, her voice piercing right through the conversation.

"Well obviously!" I snap at her, causing her to back off and pout.

"Hey," Skya places her hand on my arm. "What's up with you? You're like just back two minutes and you're acting like that?"

I can't tell her. I can't let this information go until I'm sure. It could ruin my life, their life, this could kill mother...

"It's nothing," I lie. "I'm just anxious to get on with this, there's just so much to explain and I'd rather do it when we're all together," that should ease Twila, but Skya will remain slightly suspicious.

I know it is wrong to lie to my daughters, but I cannot voice this yet, it is far too soon and could potentially destroy everything I hold dear. I believe that there is still time to save my family from that destruction.

"They can't be too far from here," I turn back to my main point. "If you were both near the lake, they can't be far," I find myself unusually addressing only Skya here, something I need to stop in order to not arouse suspicion.

"So," Skya looks at her sister. "How do you think we should go about this."
I look at Twila, "we should probably split up, I think it's for the best."
Twila sighs and reluctantly agrees.

"Skya, go that way," I point in the direction they were originally headed, "Twila, you back-track as you may have been a head of them," I turn to face the direction away from both, "and I'll go this way."

We all nod in agreement and head off in our respective directions.

Truth be told... I just wanted away from her, Twila, with what I know now, nothing can be left up to chance. Priority is to find May and Rekka and fill them in on what I know, then to stop the Coven and save my family.

I approach the eastern edge of the forest. Through the brown and green of the trees, I see a stretch of plains and a path and the faint signs of civilisation - Sandgem Town! I place my hand on the rough bark of a tree, I run my hand up and down it, feeling it as if for the first time. Oh how I missed having a physical form... I missed touch, being able to smell, to feel, to eat, to even breathe in actual air. It felt so good to be back.
"Ambi!" a familiar voice from above!

I look up sharply and see a large purple monkey creature swinging through the trees, coming to a stop on a branch above me. She hangs from one of her long tail arms while the other hand gently grazes my cheek.

"Ambipom," tears fill my eyes.

Her eyes glisten at the sight of my joy. Ambipom holds out her two shorter arms coming from her torso, handing me six Pokéballs.

"Alright," I smile as I take the balls. "I think this search could use some more teamwork!" I cry as I throw five of the balls into the air. "Everyone, spotlight!"

In a brilliant flash of intense white light, a group of Pokémon appear. Standing before me are a large Prussian penguin in fancy dress; a long floppy-eared bunny with great style; a powerful dominating fox with nine tales and soul; a large and interestingly naked sheep with enough energy to power a disco; and a little panda with spots and swirls who sure can dance.

"Alright everyone," I say with a silly grin. "We got a mission and that's to find a good friend of mine - May Branson!"

"Empoleon!" my first ever Pokémon cries in acknowledgement.

"Lop!" my albino rabbit raises her arm and strikes a pose as she prepares to begin.

"Nine!" my foxy fox whips her tails and begins to sniff the air for May's scent.

"Phaaaaarossss!" my nekkid sheep's voice crackles with excitement.

"Dah?" my spot panda tilts his head as he fails to comprehend.

"Bi!" my purple friend hops to join the others, ready to help out.

"Let's go!" I jump into the air with my team and we all run off into the forest and surrounding route and hunt high and low for our friend.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

"This is hopeless!" I scream into the forest causing a bunch of grey starling Pokémon to flee from a nearby tree and I collapse onto the dirty ground, moaning, "we're never gonna find them."

The sky is turning a beautiful shade of red, with streaks of blue and yellow rising over the green trees. The sun glistens like gold as it settles behind the shimmering silver horizon on the lake. A Pokémon suddenly appears before me with eyes of ruby and a body of sapphire, its brilliant gems on its two tails reflecting of the emerald greenery.

"Of diamonds and pearls the journeys begin," it speaks in an all too familiar feminine voice. "Of platinum the journeys divided."

To me, it's riddle is painfully obvious - Ash and May both rose to success, earning riches such as diamonds and pearls through their respective careers and now they have been reduced to nothingness... a precious metal is hardly as priceless as diamonds and pearls, particularly with Iron Island in operation again.

"You're talking about Ash and May, aren't you?" I ask it. "And how their paths have diverged from each other's lives?"

It nods confirming my initial thoughts.

"The paths began as one, but split in twain as success was earned," the small floating Pokémon explains more clearly. "The paths meet once more but are once again riven and a child is born of sadness."

"Rekka..." I sigh. "What does this mean? Is Rekka significant in all this?"

"Compensation required," it cocks its head, its dazzling red eyes glistening as its tails whip around its four thick strands of hair. "The child is fathered without his father but with a strange man, his life torn asunder."

"What?" I move close, growing more and more agitated by its words.

The creature raises its blue arm to calm me, my emotions suddenly under control, and it continues, "but his destiny, his destiny is restructured, reconfigured, stabilised by one man's dream," it stops.

There is a long silence between us. The night fully settles in and a cold breeze blows through the forest, lifting up several leaves causing them to dance all around us.

"What do you mean?" I ask softly.

The creature appears to sigh, "I am Mesprit, being of emotions, giver of inner-life and ruler of the ever-changing seas," as it speaks a loud crack of thunder sounds. "Many creatures have come and gone in my time, some far worse than anything ever imaginable, this is the nature of the Coven."

"The Coven," I repeat silently.

Mesprit continues uninterrupted, "older than the old ones comes the sun, the crescent moon; older than life comes the ancestors; older than the universe comes time, space, the world; and older than all that comes the Coven."

"Are they really that ancient?" I ask.

"Team Galactic is gonna seem like cake compared to all this," the aged raspy voice of an old friend speaks in my head.

The G-Incident!

When I was just a ten year old beginning trainer, a group of people under the rule of a man named Cyrus stole priceless artefacts to summon two incredibly powerful Pokémon in order to reshape the world as he wanted it. Several years later, Team Galactic returned and the events that followed were hidden from the world and known to only a select group of people as the G-Incident. During this event, all three lakes were partially destroyed and the Legendary Pokémon living in those caves vanished from the earth with no trace. Sinnoh was thrown into disarray - a part of Mt. Coronet crumbled and destroyed Oreburgh City, Floaroma Meadow erupted and became a barren stretch, lifeless up to the dead Eterna Forest; Celestic Town was forced to develop into a metropolis-style city to compensate for the extreme loss of homes, losing all of its nature and relics in the process, which led to Dialga and Palkia to leave and never return so far. During the event, many good people were lost including a close friend and mentor of mine, Fantina... beyond that, Pastoria and the nearby lake became pure swamp land and is totally sequestered from the rest of Sinnoh, leading to the building of a new city, Valor City. The people of Veilstone also became isolationists, using ruins of Mt. Coronet to build over the city and make it completely underground. The city is now best known for being the crime capital of Sinnoh. Sunyshore City stretched down to the coast to help alleviate the housing situation. With all of this madness all across Sinnoh, it was decided that people should be continued to live the way they have now chosen, but without the pain of what has actually transpired. With the help of the people involved, the remaining members of Team Galactic, the Elite Four and Champion along with several very powerful people with extraordinary powers... wait a second...

"Who are the Coven?" I inquire. "And I want a straight answer!"

It suddenly occurs to me that the Coven could well be more involved in the G-Incident than I initially realised. The connection is so obvious - the powerful people who helped wipe the memories and experiences of the public... they must be connected to the Coven!

"Your question is a difficult one," Mesprit evades.

"How so?" I frown and put my hands on my hips.

Large sparkling balls of blue and green lights begin to flitter about and surround us, spinning and fusing with each, creating a huge tornado, concentrating all of their energy into a vortex that twirled and shimmered around Mesprit. A creature with a human-ish appearance walked calmly out of the vortex. She lifted up her arms draped in loose blue cloth and examined her baggy blue leggings. Her face was contorted - her lips with harshly pink and her eyes and glimmering yellow. The giveaway was her hair, which was matted and pink, coming down in four long dreads, two on either side of her head.

"Mesprit," I gasp.

"This will do," she smiles and looks at me, her eyes bright and happy. "What?" she asks, surprised by the gaping hole where my mouth hangs.

"Wha-wha-wha-what? What?" I stammer and back away.

"To answer your question clearly," she speaks fluently, "it is imperative to take on this...this..." she looks herself up and down once more and plays with the large ruby broach hanging around her neck, "this appearance."

"Whi-whi-whi-why? Why? Why?" I can't get over this.

"Being in this form allows for me to speak to you in a way that you can understand," the human Mesprit explains. "It allows me to organize my thoughts and explain things more clearly in order to give you a straight answer as you asked for," and all she does is smile.

I close my eyes and shake my head, shaking off this odd feeling.

"Alright," I open my eyes and smile back at her. "Who are the Coven?" I ask again.

"The Coven can not be quantified in such limited terms," it, she, whatever it is answers. "The Coven have existed since the ancient ones in some fashion, whether it be in the form of Pokémon or as humans."

"Okay," I sigh. "What does that mean?"

"The Coven first appeared in the form of a Pokémon," the human thing continues, "and a lonely Pokémon at that. This Pokémon," Mesprit lowers her head in sadness, "was named Mew for the simple reason in that it was unique but it was shunned for being a mutant."

"By who?" I ask, puzzled. "Mew is one of the most well known myths of all time, I've never heard of anyone acting like that towards Mew," I fold my arms over my chest, creasing my white leather jacket.

"By Arceus," Mesprit's voice lowers to a whisper.

"What?" my voice grows sterner and I move closer.

"Arceus has forever been heralded as the Original One," the creature does its best to answer, "and with the creation of Mew, who was unique, was seen as a random mutation by Arceus, a kink in his master plan, a programming error in the world."

"Wait," I raise my hands to signal her to stop. "Are you telling me that... I mean, do you mean that Arceus... that Arceus..."

"Arceus is the Coven," Mesprit finishes my sentence for me.

"Holy..." I begin but am interrupted by a brilliant flash of blue and green light. "Ow!" I groan as I rub my agonising eyes.

"What the?" I hear Twila's voice.

"What happened?" Skya is here too.

"What was that light?" the familiar female voice belonging to May.

"Is it a wild Pokémon using Flash?" a younger male voice speaks out too.

"May?" I ask, still unable to see.

"Mom?" my daughters both call out.

"Dawn?" May's voice shakes as her eyes are naturally tearing up.

"What? Dawn?" the young male, obviously Rekka, sounds surprised.

"Can anyone see?" I pose a question to the entire group.

A rally of "no"'s soon follows.

"Great," I sigh. "Thanks Mesprit!" I yell to the sky.

With that there is another... well, I guess you could call it a flash, but it was of darkness and everything suddenly just settled into view.

"You are most appreciated," the echoing voice of my new-found friend chimed in the distance.

The greenery all around lightened up and allowed itself to be seen. We were all standing on this high hill looking down on the forest behind us, the tree-tops hiding the edges of the lake but it was still perfectly visible. Before us, down the grassy hill was the large town of Sandgem, it's lights sparkling and flickering all across the town and, even further away, the bustling night-life of Jubilife City.

"Perfect," I smile.

"Dawn," I feel a pair of arms wrap around my from behind and a face nuzzle into my now long Prussian hair.

"I know," I smile as I place my hands over hers. "I know... but we don't have a lot of time," I whisper, "I have a lot to tell you..."

~~~END OF CHAPTER NINE~~~
​
I hope you all enjoyed it. I realise it lacked description, but, in all honesty, the description all the scenery and such was, in my opinion, not needed - the focus of this chapter had to be on Mesprit and Dawn and the realisation of who the Coven are, about the G-Incident and Rekka's past. I hope you all understand that.

Beyond that, all I can say is thank you for reading and I hope you all join me once again for Chapter 10 ~ The Gem In The Sand ^^​
 
Thanks again for another great chapter biabi ^^ Leaving off this time exactly where things were left last time ^^

Great thing is that I only noticed one spelling mistake throughput the while thing J Yay me.

"Twila, you back-track as you may have been a head of them,"
Click to expand...
It should be ahead here, all the one word hunni ^^
Now onto the actual chapter :
Having Dawn react to Skya be Twila almost could make you think that the twin that Is most favoured is Skya. Her intelligence, her long her etc. Whereas Twila has to try to get her mother's attention before any is actually paid to her.

You can tell then that Skya is the favoured child when it's dawn that snaps at her and when she acts calmly when Skya talks. I love family dynamics…sometimes XD Something must be obviously up with dawn to make her react that way just out of the blue. Maybe it is just favouritism, or is it something else?

It's very nice to see all of Dawn's pokémon back. Including some new ones. An…Ampharos, I think, which to me looks more like a kangaroo mixed with a light bulb, but it's whatever you think ^^. Buneary has evolved I see, and in god time, was also nice to see Ambipom, probably the only one that could carry all 6 poke balls in it's larger 2 hands. I love Ninetales…^^ not so fitting that she should have one, maybe if it's female I guess, but that doesn't really matter, I'm not sexist.. That's my view on it. Obviously Dawn's chance at having a fire Pokémon. And a Spinda he he he, I'm dizzy already! J

What was your decision is giving May a last name? We know that Ash's is Ketchum, obviously not to do with ketchup lol. Maybe the phrase "gotta catch 'em all" so "catch 'em" becomes Ketchum because of the way is sounds. What was your thinking behind it then?

He way this part ends with "Lets go" an the page break, then the next part begins with "This is hopeless!" It clearly shows contrast here, that even with 20 years experience, even with pokémon to help nothing is ever made any easier.

Mentioning Diamond, Pearly and Platinum was very sneaky, and referencing it throughout this part with Mespirit. Although my favourite part is when Mespirit turns into a human ^^ Why did you decide to do this. We know why Mespirit did it and we know of other legendaries and other pokémon sometimes having human forms and some standing on 2 legs. But why was this done? Would be interesting to know your reasoning behind it hunni ^^

I really enjoyed this sentence:
Mesprit continues uninterrupted, "older than the old ones comes the sun, the crescent moon; older than life comes the ancestors; older than the universe comes time, space, the world; and older than all that comes the Coven."
Click to expand...
This obviously refers to other ancient legendary pokémon. Cresselia(crescent moon), Darkrai(the moon), Dialga(time), Palkia(space), the ancesctors(Mew), but who is the sun? That is the only one that eludes me. When reading on the Coven can be related to Arceus.

Who is that raspy old voice that speaks to awn? The only raspy voice that I can recall is that of Ash's, as it's always been like that ^^ Hope I'm right ^^
I love the full low-down description of the whole Team galactic thing and what exactly happened. It would be weird to see Sinnoh like that, they should have done something like this for Platinum would have made it that little bit more exciting. J Also can I ask, who were the ones that were left in the know about the G-incident?

I do love however that dawn isn't afraid to speak to a legendary that way, kind of the same way that Delia spoke to the "Entei" in the Spell of the Unown movie.

I do like however Dawn' reaction to what Mespirit becomes. I have already asked however for your reasons behind this, so I won't go into much more on that.
The Coven have been in many forms…we now know of me and the reason why it was classed as much by Arceus. It was the Original one but Mew is the ancestor and so there would be fights against which was which, whether Mew was the reason for Pokémon or whether it was Arceus. But now Arceus is the Coven. But above all this there must be a proper Arceus, I'm sure a Pokémon of that incredible standard wouldn't allow humans to take it over willingly. The Arceus that is the coven that as we have only seen in the visions of Dawn could well be considered to be a fake if…my theory is right.

I do wonder however how all of them, including the ones that Dawn was looking for all got there and why it was so bewildering. I do wish this to be cleared up ^^ xxx pweeeeeeeez J

I do like the end of the chapter particularly, May and Dawn have obviously been friends for years now and the last part shows this, it shows them being happy together as friends and comfortable with each other in the knowledge that each of them are there, firstly and that secondly, Dawn can count on may support in her future venture(s).
I did love this chapter as I have loved on previous ones, this can only get better ^^
YAY BIBI ^^
xxx
 
Dark_Aero said:
I LOVED IT! I didn't find anything wrong for the most part,
Click to expand...

I hate having to do this... one-line reviews break the rules of the forum, plese do not break the rules on my thread or anywhere else for that matter. I would appreciate it if you would edit your post to make it a bit more substantial, thank you.

Thank you for the lovely comments Artek. It's not so much about Skya being favoured as it is Dawn has learned something that could damage her family in some fashion and it has something to do with Twila, making her fall out of grace with her mother... does that make any sense?

It took a while to pick out Dawn's Pokémon, it was difficult choosing who i wanted to come back and what new critters she would've obtained over the years... but it was all good and I'm looking forward to exploring each of them as characters ^^

May's last name comes from her in-game rival's name of Brendan, although I tweaked it a bit to make it slightly different from his name ^^ I felt it would be better rather than going for something a bit more obvious.

I feel the need to point out that I didn't just reference Pokémon Diamond, Pearl and Platinum in that segment ;)

The sun is something else, something new... technically. It's hard to explain without giving too much away ;)

The raspy voice is Ash, yes :D

I didn't realise that end scene where they all find each other was bewildering... I will ake it clearer - basically, what happened was that Mesprit teleported Dawn and her friends out of the forest, but, with Mesprit being in the more emotionally unfocused form of a human, she went a bit overboard and the blinding light they all saw during teleportation didn't dissapate.
 
Chapter 10 ~ The Gem In The Sand

Hey guys!

Sorry it took so long but between work and college and other projects, I just haven't a proper minute to really get into writing this. But it's done now and it's getting posted. One thing to note is that the reason this chapter took so long was because I wound up totally changing the entire story of it XD

Enjoy!

Chapter 10 ~ The Gem In The Sand​

The sandy town... connected to the ocean.

Sandgem Town.

"Finally," I smile as I gaze along the short drop down the semi-steep hill that leads into the main town.

Truth be told, the town was not much to look at - the houses are brown, barren and like they haven't been cleaned in thirty years. Sand stretches all around, sometimes even flowing right in through broken doors and windows. There are hardly any people around and I'm more than certain I can see some tumbleweed rolling by. The place is like a ghost town, totally void of all life. This is obviously the result of the G-Incident and the collapse of Mt. Coronet. My mind can't help but wander and picture all the lives that would've been lost, all the devastation that must be hidden under these timeless dunes. I remember when I first visited here, running all around the town to find Professor Rowan's lab, hunting high and low for that big fancy building and ending up half knocking the poor man to the high heavens. How much this place has changed...

"What a dump," my ignorant daughter Twila immediately starts up.

I turn to face her, glaring at her for ruining the moment, the memory of this once wondrous place.

"A little respect please," I snap at her. "A lot of lives were lost here, please do not call this place a mere dump...it deserves more than that!"

My daughter looks down at the grass at her feet, her eyes watering and her lips pouting - a trick she always pulls. My daughter has a knack for making people, especially me and mother, feel guilty for giving her into trouble for something she has done wrong and I can tell you that now really isn't the time for that attitude.

"Oh don't give me that," I can't help myself. "A little maturity, please!"

"Mom!" Skya scolds me, forcing me to back down. "What is up with you? Why are you being so hostile towards Twila?" she asks me directly.

At this point, Twila looks up at me and glares, her eyes blurry and red as tears stream down her face. She grits her teeth and clenches her fists as she awaits an answer.

"Let's just go," I sigh as I avoid the question and begin walking down the relatively steep grassy hill.

About halfway down, sand begins to crop up through the blades of grass until, as we reach the bottom, we are basically standing on a beach. The sun is beating down sharply on us causing my leather coat to kill me.

I take it off and say, "we should look around, maybe split up?" I turn to face the surprisingly non-shocked faces of my friends and family. "Okay then," I continue, "May, why don't you come with me and we'll let these young people do their thing."

I don't give her time to respond and simply grab her by the hand and drag her off to the left, exploring the northern section of the town. Skya, Rekka and Twila, seeing this, head off to explore the southern section of the town.

"So," May speaks up after we are safely away from all-hearing ears, "what was all that about?"

"What was what about?" I ask as I look in the dusty window of a desolate building.

"That, back there, with your daughter," her voice grows agitated.

"I dunno," I sigh as I walk on a bit to check out the side of the house. "Skya's just been a bit weird since I got back," I turn to face May and smile. "No need to worry though."

"Hey," as I turn back away she grabs my arm, spinning me back round. "You know damn well I was talking about Twila, please do not do this to me given all the years I've been by your side."

I don't speak. I don't know what to say. Yes, I should've controlled myself better, I should've made more of an effort to hide my feelings on this but sometimes it's just too hard, sometimes I can't just let things slide and I thin and act without speaking. It frustrates me to no end because of the turmoil and pain it can cause and I recognise that part of myself as a flaw but it's difficult to just accept things like that and move on regardless of the impact it can have on people, especially people I love.

"Can we just drop this?" I say with a snippy tone, like I'm uninterested almost.

"What's with the 'tude Dawn?" May puts her hands on her hips.

"If I wanna discuss this, I'll discuss this," I speak plainly. "I don't wanna discuss this, so we ain't discussing it," I finish and walk away.

"Fine," May snaps, anger in her voice. "If you're gonna be like that, I'd really rather not finish it!"

I hear a crunching sound, like she's stamped her foot on the ground and is stomping away from me, but... the faint sounds of what could almost be a scream if it were louder cause me to turn around. When I turn to face where she once stood, I find not my friend but a giant gaping hole in the once tightly packed sand.

"May?" my voice quivers as I stare from a distance. "May?" I say louder as I move closer to the hole, crouching down to peer inside. "MMMAAAYYY!!!" I, too, scream.

I scurry around the hole on my hands and knees, sand falling deeper and deeper into the pit as my scrambling causes it to widen. I am careful not to fall into the darkness myself, but I fear I have no choice.

However, what of the others? Skya, Rekka and Twila?

"I need some help!" I call out as I through a ball and white orb into the air.

In a flash of dazzling white light a large bouncing bunny pops up before me, her glossy coat glistening as the sun shines down on her fur. Her fluffy cream ears perk up and her eyes widen as she immediately catches on to where Rekka and my daughters are.

"You're a good girl," I say sweetly as I nuzzle under her chin. "You heard everything, right?"

Lopunny nods causing her ears to flop around her slender figure.

"Find them quick," I reiterate, "and bring them back here."

In a quick flash, she jumps up on top of one of the run-down buildings, a stream of sand trailing behind her as the force of her jump causes it to uplift with her. Lopunny takes a moment to examine the area - her eyes are closed, but her ears are slowly lifting up as she catches minute sounds of their voices. Then... boom! She's off again like a shot, going to places I cannot follow.

"No," I speak my thoughts aloud as I turn to face the hole. "There's somewhere more important I need to be."

I take in a quick breath, but decide not to hesitate for if I hesitate I will not follow through on my mad idea. I jump into the hole, catching the sand, allowing it to slightly slow my descent as I tumbled and slide and fall into the put of darkness. All one can really do in this situation is scream, not just because it is horrendously terrifying, but also because it is such a rush, such a buzz and so very exhilarating.

Suddenly everything stops.

I find myself frozen in mid slide, my entire body is frozen but I can see the sand on the other side and whirling around me, tiny grains, the miniscule particles of yellow just floating in perfect harmony in front of me.

~What is happening?~ my thoughts echo as if they had been spoken aloud. ~Wow... weird~ I... think.

What an odd sensation, hearing one's thoughts as if you had actually said them. It is highly disorientating and uncomfortable, especially as I am very aware that some being must have done this and is thereby listening to everything am I... thinking.

~Alright!~ I call out with my mind. "Who's there-eeeeEEEEEEE!!!!!!!" As I begin to ask who has done this, everything falls back into motion and I find myself once again plummeting to whatever it is below.

Then I sharply stop again. This time round, my stomach jumps up into my throat and I feel like I am going to be sick.

"Oh..." I groan as I move my hands to my abdomen.

Wait. It suddenly occurs to me - I can move this time!

"You alright there, Deedee?" the soft, yet sharply sarcastic, voice of my previously lost friend speaks.

I look down to see her green bandanna covering her chocolate brown hair then her sweet face, her glistening blue eyes smiling up at me. I fall down to the ground and we embrace, our arms wrapping tightly around one another.

"I'm so sorry," my words are muffled by her shoulder and by my tears.

"No, I'm sorry," her voice is so high I cannot hear it. "I shouldn't have pushed you."

"No," I stress as I pull away, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have pulled away."

"No, Dawn," May shakes her head, placing her hands on my shoulders, "I'm sorry, if you want to tell me something, it has to be on your own terms, I shouldn't be forcing your hand like that."

"No, May," my voice becomes a little more annoyed as this latest spat kicks up. "I'm telling you, I'm sorry, I should have more trust and faith," I place my hand over my heart, "in our friendship."

"Well this is going well," the croaky old voice of a tiny frog-sized man sounds from below us.

May and I both look down at the significantly short man and say together, "this is a private conversation," as it is spoken, we look at each other and smile and then say, "who the hell are you?"

I look him up and down, surveying his tribal clothes, the white cloth draped across his shoulder coming round like a tunic with green floral patterns sprouting and growing around the bottom front and stretching around the side to come to bloom on his shoulder as a tattoo. Next him stands a taller, much younger woman wearing a long white sarong and tight white shirt with red designs of fire across both and almost connecting with her hair and next to her an even taller man, older than her, wearing just a blue lungi with a white wave-like design across the bottom rim, which had coming out of it a Milotic that stretch up to become a tattoo on his chest, with her head ending on his heart.

"Ah, yes," the old man runs his frail hand across his shiny bald head. "I am Elder Poverrow, and these are my associates," he motions to a young woman with fiery hair and a big muscle man with short spiky blue hair.

"Hey ya'll!" the girl jumps up and strikes a pose, her wavy red hair firing off everywhere. "Ma name's Elder Nlaz and this here be ma bro, Elder Yorren."

"Yo," the big guy lets out causing an echo to resonate through the entire tunnel.

I take a moment to appreciate that we are in a cold dark tunnel.

"And," I look around, surveying the large hole above and the two corridors of darkness running down either side of me, "where are we?"

My body then suddenly realises just how cold it as and I slip my hands through the sleeves of my leather coat and wrap it around my body.

"These here are the Sandgem Catacombs," Nlaz responds. "After the G-Incident, we built these here tunnels to survive the collapse of that there mountain."

Wait.

"You remember the G-Incident?" my eyes widen as I ask the question.
May places her hand on my arm, inquiring, "I thought The Coven made everyone forget about the G-Incident?"

"Well they did young'uns," Poverrow answers.

"Ya see here," Nlaz explains, "we had already built these here tunnels in preparation for the collapse and so them there Coven folks couldn't reach us."

"Right," Yorren confirms their story loudly.

Yorren's voice echoes throughout the entire tunnel once again causing May to shiver a little.

"Okay," my eyes still wide. "Good to know."

The three odd people in front of me all smile, happy that they have helped but highly ignorant of how weird they are...

"How's bout we all show you guys here to the main city yeah?" Nlaz grins and turns away from us.

May and I walk behind the three Elders as we are led through dark damp brown tunnels of rock that are seemingly endless due to the lack of light. Water drips from loosely mish-mashed pipes on the ceiling signifying that we are nearing civilisation of sorts. After a few metres more in the dank tunnel, it opens out into a large cavern that is a bustling underground metropolis!

"Wow!" May exclaims.

Looking down into the cavern we can see huge... skyscrapers, small houses, roads, lakes, greenery, everything you could possibly want in a city.

"Wow!" I gasped myself.

"It's not much, but it is home," Elder Poverrow says contently.

"Ya'll are free to stay as long as you like!" Nlaz perks up.

"Yeah!" Yorren bellows.

His voice resonates once again, filling the entire cavern below, which erupts in a response of "yeah!" back to him.

"Wow," I whisper as I gaze to the centre of the city.

At its heart is a large building with a brown roof and the letter "G" on it... a Gym! I race down to it, scuffing my once perfectly white coat as I slide down the sandy edge of the wall. My feet are not given a chance to rest for as soon as I hit the ground I tear through the city, running for its epicentre. I run by people all dressed in similar outfits to the Elders, some with very intricate designs, some just plain colours. This barely registers as I continue my mad dash for the Gym. I see the white building just a few paces away, its brown roof with the "G" calling out to me, screaming for me to enter.

I swing the doors open a yell, "I challenge you!"

~~~END OF CHAPTER TEN~~~​

Hope ya'll like it ^^

The next chapter is Chapter 11 ~ Roxi, Gym Leader Extraordinaire!

As always, pleae give me your thoughts, comments, suggestions, anything of relevance ^^
 
First of all it was weird seeing Sandgem like that, but I suppose that's where the title comes from considering what happening, them finding a city under that sand and the name of the town too. The sand streaming into the places seems very reminiscent of something we partook in, and judging by the three elders 2 males and 1 female as it was there too. Little bit of a personal touch between us there, once thing I liked.

We see Dawn just almost brushing off her snaps at Twila as if it's nothing and almost forgetting about when asked by May. She seems like she's being a shoulder to Dawn in this time of need and she's not even confiding in her friend. I suppose breaking the kids away from the adults brings them back to older times, when they became closer, as they both did contests and Dawn would feel safe with just her and May instead of any other childlike interruptions.

In their argument I can see another little personal touch, very reminiscent of 2 other people we know oh so well, stubborn and neither of them giving in until something distressing happens. Even when they both apologise to each other, they are stubborn, one wanting to take precedence over the other.

When May falls, Dawn's attention just slips out of the argument into trying to help May out of it. The elders seem rather strange especially their clothing and the names of their clothing. I do like the idea of the design of their clothes continuing on round to be a tattoo; I can imagine that the clothes are really held together perfectly not to mess it up at all, and it would be really hard for them to move because of that and perhaps fear of messing the design up.

I like the differences between them, the old man, signifying the earth, old and wise. The woman as fire, feisty, wild, unpredictable and possible infectious. The other man, strong as the sea, dependable, solid (no pun here ^^). I like what you did there very much.

Lastly about the actual city, it would be amazing to see that, although I have read a book before a serious of medieval sorcerers and whatnot, with people who live in caves so imagining didn't take too much effort as your description I felt was easier to picture. I love Dawn's reaction, just seeing the gym, something new, seeing the "G" and just running no thought, even though she's in her 30s.

At first I have to say I didn't like the chapter, felt it was empty but after careful consideration there is still a lot it. So my mind has changed, 1st impressions really don't mean a lot actually. The next chapter is set to be even better.
Love you ^^
xxxx
 
Both of these chapters were amazing! The story has more of a action-y air to it in chapter 10 ^^ Sorry if you don't get what I mean...^^;

I can tell the next chapter will be even better than this one! Keep writing!
 
Chapter 11

Thank you Artek and Snow for your amazing comments ^^ it is very much appreciated and inspires me to write even more!


And, in light of that, here's Chapter 11, done in quick-time to make up for the recent lateness of chapters *cookies*


This chapter is the longest by far and is definitely ranked as my favourite so far - it was a long of fun to write, very exhilirating and insightful.

Chapter 11 ~ Roxi, Gym Leader Extraordinaire!​


I swing open the doors of the Gym, yelling "I challenge you!"

I immediately recoil, however, as I observe a battle...

The battlefield is covered in sandy rocks, the terrain rough as the two combatants stand on either side of the field staring each other down. The challenger is a young man, a mere boy by standards, with messy jet black hair and a coarse voice. His eyes are filled with fire as are his Pokémon's - a small yellow creature with a zigzagging tail. Sparks are literally flying as these two new-comers to Sinnoh prepare to win their first Badge. Across on the other side of the field is the Gym Leader, a man by the name of Roark, dressed in a grey mining suit that is almost identical to the colour of the giant rock snake he commands.

"Pikachu! Quick Attack! Now!" The boy orders.

In a streak of light, the yellow mouse creature dashes forth towards its colossal opponent.

"Come on!" The Gym Leader scoffs. "Normal type attacks aren't going to cause much damage at all," he smiles. "Onix, let's show them!" Roark instructs. "Use Slam!"

With that, the titanic twisting beast lunges forward, going straight on against the miniscule Pikachu.

"I'm not using it to cause damage," The challenger smirks.

"Huh?" The Gym Leader responds, naturally shocked by this tactic as he has no way of knowing what his opponent is planning.

Onix raises up its rocky tail in preparation to slam it down on its foe.

"Pikachu, dodge and climb onto Onix now!" The boy stretches out his arm, freeing up his palm, almost like he is trying to project his will into his Pokémon.

He really puts his heart and soul into battling...

The giant tail crashes into the dirt field as the tiny mouse Pokémon nips out of the way in the knick of time. Pikachu takes the opportunity while Onix is recovering from its move to hop onto its tails and run up it high speed.

"Excellent!" Roark exclaims, excited to see such innovative strategy. "He used Quick Attack to build up speed, which helped Pikachu to climb onto Onix," he says, impressed by the challenger, but there is a time and a place. "Onix, use Screech, let's go!" Roark returns his attention to the task at hand - defeating his opponent.

Onix opens its massive muzzle and cries out sharply causing a wave of energy to resonate across the entire room, startling Pikachu leaving it open to attack. However, Pikachu is not deterred from its trek up the mobile sculpture and grits its teeth and bears it out until it reaches the top. Once on Onix's head, Pikachu leaps into the air and latches on to the large spike protruding from the Pokémon's crown.

"Hold on tight!" The challenger calls out support to his Pokémon in peril.

"Onix, shake it off!" The Gym Leader stays smiling, confident in his Pokémon and over-confident in its abilities.

Onix begins to writhe about wildly, thrashing and twirling, twisting its mass in all directions to get the petite pest off its body.

"What's Pikachu gonna do?" I whisper as my counterpart cries out.

"Buneary!" The small rabbit in front of my double in the stands also cries out, mirroring my own actions.

Pikachu holds on to the spike on Onix's head for dear life as the giant rock snake continues to thrash about.

"Pika!" It screams as its arms are strained, the agony it is enduring must be unbearable, but it does it... for its trainer...

"You can do it Pikachu!" The boy yells more encouragement. "Use Iron Tail," he changes strategy, "and give it your best shot!"

Pikachu spins itself around Onix's spike to build up momentum, its tail aglow as it concentrates all of its power into it. The mouse lets go of Onix's head and whips its tail around to slap the colossus across the jaw. Onix falls back, wincing in pain as it receives double damage from the Steel type move.

"Right on target," I whisper again as my counterpart continues to cheer.

"And a strong hit too," the man beside my doppelganger in the stands exclaims.

"Way to go!" The boy says happily as his Pikachu touches down on the ground before him. "Great Pikachu!"

"Pika pika," the Electric type confirms, its eyes showing its desire to win.

"Pikachu's speed and power are much sharper than last time," Roark interjects, his voice sounding angrier as he recognises just how tough his opponent is. "It looks like your special training has paid off," he sneers. "See how you like this!" Roark returns his focus to the battle once more. "Quick! Onix, Double Edge!"

Onix shakes off the damage sustained by the Iron Tail and gathers all of its strength causing an aura of pure power to envelope it. It shouts out its resolve as it charges forward, the entire weight of the monumental snake thrown full force at the microscopic mouse.

"Whoa," I whisper as my counterpart gasps at the strength and surprising speed of the beast.

"Let's go Pikachu!" The challenger calls out confidently to his partner.

"Pika!" Pikachu yells as it leaps into the air, its yellow body stretching out as far as it can as it heads for the Onix.

My counterpart and friend, along with the Pokémon, in the stands watch with wide eyes and dropped jaws as Pikachu goes to intercept the attack of its opponent. How on earth could it survive if that attack hits?

"Now spin!" The boy clenches his hand into a fist as he watches in excitement, the battle really beginning to peak his interest as victory draws near.

"Pika!" Pikachu exclaims happily as it successfully dodges the attack.
Pikachu's yellow body rotates as it skims across the body of Onix, hardly touching it at all. Roark gasps as his Pokémon turns to see the tail-end of the mouse spiralling to safety, its attack wasted.

"Wow!" The challenger's eyes light up as he sees the technique executed perfectly. "That really worked great!"

"Go!" My mirror spurs the challenger on from the stands.

"Whoa, what a dodge!" The man next to her grins widely as the Pokémon all cheer.

"There's nothing like when a new move works," my counterpart smiles, happy that the strategy we perfected was instrumental in this battle.

"Brilliant," Roark beams. "Pikachu's spinning creates a lot of wind pressure and that acts just like a dodging cushion and the stronger and faster we are, the more effective their move is," the Gym Leader comments on the strategy as Pikachu continues to spin.

Onix finally comes to a stop, twisting its grey rocky body around to glare at the tiny pint-sized Pokémon that has bested its titanic mass.

"Now, let's finish it with Iron Tail!" The challenger resorts back to the tried and tested technique of using super effective moves.

Pikachu curves its body while spinning to move its momentum so that it heads straight back for Onix at intense speeds.

"Dodge it!" Roark yells, the lights of the stadium reflecting off his glasses, half hiding his eyes.

Onix draws back as Pikachu comes in close.

The challenger gasps as Roark issues another command, "Quick Onix, use Slam!"

Onix pulls its tail forward and bashes the Pikachu square across its front, the weight of its tail combining with the speed Pikachu was coming in at to cause massive damage. Onix's tail is locked onto Pikachu's body as Onix directs the force of the attack into one of the many sandy rocks scattered throughout the field. The force Pikachu hits it at with Onix's tail in tow causes the boulder to smash into a million pieces and dust to hide the injured Pokémon from the view of both trainers. The smoke clears to reveal only a pile of rocks with Pikachu presumably trapped underneath.

"But..." my counterpart's voice filled with worry, "how does Onix move so fast?"

"I don't know," the man next to her grits his teeth, "but Onix is a lot faster than last time."

"Ash, in-between battles, I don't just sit around and read comic books," Roark smirks. "I've been training with Onix just as hard as ever."
Ash stares at the devastation with wide eyes.

"You may have dodged Double Edge," Roark continues, "but there's a lot more to deal with than that in this Gym!"

Ash clenches his teeth as he watches, utterly frustrated that he cannot do anything to help his Pokémon.

"Onix, use Stealth Rock," Roark allows no time for Ash to recover.

Onix's body begins to glow in a shimmering white force.

"Why would he use Stealth Rock now?" my counterpart asks, obviously recognising immediately what the attack does.

"Remember," Brock explains, "Stealth Rock is a move that deals damage to each new Pokémon that comes out as a sub," his voice remains calm as always. "Like using it now, Roark is really ratcheting up the pressure on Ash."

The aura that was around Onix fires out as a dozen missile-like beams fire out towards the pile of rocks that have buried Pikachu.

"Now, Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!" Ash finally acts.

From in-between the rubble comes an equal number of bolts of electricity followed by the scream of Pikachu as it releases all of its power into one mega-volt that frees it from its pebbly prison.

"Ah!" Roark and Onix gasp in unison at the sheer force the Pikachu commands.

The bolts of lightning that fire out shatter the flying rocks and break through the Stealth Rocks that had been fired by Onix, continuing on even beyond them to completely zap the entire mass of the monstrous monster.

"Oh no!" Roark cries out.

Onix cries out in pain as its master watches on helplessly.

"Pikachu, finish this up with Iron Tail!" Ash gives one final order.

The battered and beaten Pikachu musters the last of its strength to make on final dash at Onix, its tail glowing brightly as it focuses its energies once more.

"Now! Screech Onix!" Roark makes one last ditch attempt to recover.

Onix shakes off the electricity and lets loose a giant wave of energy from its mouth. However, it is too late and Pikachu's Iron Tail connects across Onix's mid-section.

"Ah! Onix!" Roark yells as his Pokémon takes the full force of the attack.
Pikachu lands safely on the ground, its breathing heavy as it struggles to keep itself standing. It senses that victory is close and finds the adrenaline pumping through its veins keeping it up.

"Pika," it sighs just as Onix collapses to the ground in defeat.

What an amazing battle...

The memory fades from my mind as I find myself staring across the stadium to view the same field my old friend had once battled in - sandy with many rocks and bumps on the road, ironic considering the hurdles many trainers face when they first begin their respective journeys.

"And I accept your challenge!" a coarse yet loud female voice follows.

The podium at the far end of the field lights up to reveal a half-cast woman with long braided brown hair and sharp green eyes.

"Dawn Inautia," she grins showing off gold braces. "Your are well known, but believe me I will prevail!" The Gym Leader repeats.

"My... exploits?" I raise my eyebrows, I didn't think I was that famous.

"You helped in the banishment of Team Galactic twice," she lists my... exploits. "You rose up through the ranks to become a top Co-ordinator, defeating your own mother to fill the final slot of the first ever Recital Five formed and even moving up beyond that to become Contest Master, only to be bested by Wallace's daughter Miriam," the Gym Leader continues.

"True..." thinking back on the experiences, why should I not be famous?

"And even further," she carries on, "you drop out of the Recital Five to have a family and, now," she finally finishes up, "here you are, taking on the Gyms of Sinnoh to become even more famed."

"That's not why I'm doing it," I quickly snap, cutting her off.

The Gym Leader backs downs slightly, taken aback by my sudden outburst, "then... why?" She asks hesitantly.

"I owe it," I look up and smile as I envision his face, "to a friend," I smile and look at her. "So, yes," I point out to her, singling her out, "I, Dawn Inautia, challenge you!"

She simply lets out another toothy grin and responds happily, "then I, Roxi Stonsruff accept your challenge!"

I produce a small red-and-white orb from my belt, pressing the button in the middle to enlarge it significantly and toss it into the air.

"Alright Empoleon!" I cry out as the ball is hurled onto the field. "Spotlight!"

"Haha," Roxi laughs and also yields a ball, "Bastiodon! Battle Stations!"

Both Pokémon materialise from the white energy that contains them within the ball simultaneously.

The energy from my ball stretches up to just a head taller than me, the energy being dispelled by two large dark blue fins as my Pokémon strikes up its battle stance and lets out a terrifying shriek from its crowned beak. From Roxi's ball comes a much smaller creature, but not weaker by a long shot - its craggy face provides full-blown protection for its stumpy yellow body.

"Both sides will use only one Pokémon each," Roxi lays down the law. "Allow me to introduce our ref," she stretches out a hand to a set of blue double doors at the middle side of the field.

The doors slide open and an oddly familiar looking man with long wavy olive hair wearing a yellow shirt comes out.

"The name's Ian." He gives both sides a thumbs-up and shouts, "begin!"

"Empoleon," I flick a strand of my Prussian hair out of my face, "Drill Peck!"

In a streak of blue, my Pokémon becomes air-borne. He pulls in his razor sharp fins close to his body while his crowned beak glows in a dazzling light and extends. With no chance to blink, he shoots off towards the Bastiodon, spiralling his body to increase his speed and overall potency of the attack.

"Iron Head!" Roxi hollers

Within an instant, Bastiodon's entire craggy face shine intensely and, as Empoleon's strong beak connects, Bastiodon lunges forward to deal damage back using the sheer force and speed behind Empoleon's attack to deal massive damage!

"Empoleon!" I shriek.

Empoleon bounces back to my end of the field, quickly regaining his footing on his webbed orange flippers.

"Surprised?" Roxi giggles. "Just because this is the first Gym of the region does not mean it's an easy win," she sneers. "Gym Leaders have many Pokémon, all raised specially for combating trainers of different levels."

I suddenly realise how obvious that is and how I never thought of it in the past - during Ash's battle with Roark, it was primarily little Pokémon like Pikachu and Cranidos that did the battling, but that doesn't mean that those were his only Pokémon. Just like Misty of the Cerulean Gym who has Horsea, Seel and Staryu to battle weaker trainers, she also has her Gyarados and Azumarill for stronger opponents.

"Thanks for the advice," I grin as I prepare a new tactic, "but, rest assured, I will not make the same mistake twice!" I stretch my arms out wide, "Whirlpool!"

Empoleon does a short spin and raises his fins above his fancy-dressed body and launches a tornado of water towards his opponent.

"Bastiodon, use Metal Burst!" Roxi commands confidently.

The metal beasts huge jowls open to reveal huge stumpy teeth and, form deep within its diaphragm, comes a large effervescent wave of shimmering metallic energy that sparks towards the on-coming waves of water. Both of the attacks collide to create magnificent fireworks of water and steel until all energy is extinguished and both Pokémon left unharmed, albeit a little tired.

"No..." I moan as I look on in anger.

"Now show her your Iron Defense!" Roxi smiles.

Iron Defense would raise it's defense quite sharply, I have to act now.

"Quickly Empoleon!" I order. "Brine!"

Empoleon opens its orange beak and fires out a jet stream of pulsating water straight for Bastiodon, but it is too late - just before his attack connects, a sheet of metallic armour flares up to completely encasing Bastiodon's body, fully protecting him from the attack.

"Not again..." I sigh as I see another attack fail.

Now isn't the time, the strategy is right, we just need a way to fully execute it.

"Your attempts are actually rather pitiful," Roxi sneers. "I mean, I thought this battle would be more of a challenge."

How's it challenging? I wonder how she possibly thinks she is really doing anything to win, all she is doing is having her Pokémon perform defensive mover after defensive move. However, maybe there's a way to use that against her.

"Now, Empoleon," I look directly into Roxi's eyes showing her my determination. "Aqua Jet!"

Before anyone can do anything, Empoleon is enveloped in a powerful shield of water and launches himself through the air directly at his opponent. Roxi is given no time to react as Empoleon's shimmering shape heads straight for Bastiodon, immediately making contact before Roxi can order up another defensive move. Empoleon then uses the left over momentum to hop back to his own side of the field, preventing Roxi from pulling the same trick she did earlier with Iron Head.

"Now that was slightly more impressive," Roxi's attention perks up as her Pokémon shakes off the attack and regains its composure. "But this is far from over!" She yells. "Metal Burst, one more time!"

Bastiodon opens its huge mouth once again and fires another barrel of vibrating metal sparks at my Pokémon. However, the attack moves slowly just like the Pokémon using it, allowing me time to mount my own defensive assault.

"Dodge with Mist," I say simply, closing my eyes and shrugging.

Empoleon performs another little twirl, releasing a wave of mystic blue fog from his fins that encompasses the entire field. What Roxi does not see, however, is him leaping it the air, out of sight of both her and her Pokémon. Bastiodon, disorientated by this, stops its attack, the pulsating energy it had fired dissipating as it hits... well, nothing.

"What the?" Roxi gasps, drawing back to view the field more widely. "Bastiodon, exert caution."

Bastiodon looks around nervously, its dumb-founded eyes showing an expression for the first time - fear.

"Hydro Cannon!" I call out assertively.

Empoleon cuts through the mist with his fin revealing his dark blue body to be just above Bastiodon! Within a second, his entire body glows a sparkling blue and a total onslaught of water torrents down towards his opponent.

"That's it!" I cheer, confident that victory is within my grasp.

"I don't think so," Roxi raises a finger and wags it from side to side. "Protect!"

Before the cascade from Empoleon can hit, a barrier forms all around Bastiodon. It shimmers blue and green as all of the water from Hydro Cannon just washes off it, the attack ultimately failing. My overgrown penguin lands on the ground just a few steps from his opponent, completely wiped from using that powerful attack.

"And that's where you've made a fatal error," Roxi smirks. "Empoleon must now recharge, leaving it totally open to my next attack, so let's make it count," she points out my Pokémon. "Finish it with Ancient Power!" She hollers.

Bastiodon lets out an authoritative cry as, using some mysterious power, rocks from all across the field rise out of the ground, the sand around them shifting and filling the holes. The rocks are lightened by an otherworldly purple aura and fly through the air towards Empoleon. Each of the massive boulders hit on after another until Empoleon is completely buried.

"No!" I shriek. "Empoleon!"

"While Hydro Cannon is one of the most powerful moves in existence," Roxi says sympathetically, "and I totally commend you for receiving such an honour," she smiles falsely, "it really is a terrible choice of move given my protective strategy," she laughs, mocking me.

I grit my teeth and clench my fists. There's only one way out of this.

"Bubblebeam!" I bellow, hoping against hope that he hears me.

There is no reaction from the pile of rocks that have buried my Pokémon. I look on in despair, tears filling my eyes. This can't be it... this can't be the end. How can it end just as soon as I begin? It's not fair. I defeated Team Galactic. I was Contest Master. I am and have always been a mother. This cannot be the end.

Ian looks out at the rocks, awaiting some kind of sign that Empoleon has survived. He looks from me to Roxi and then back to me, his olive hair shaking from side to side as he tries to decide if the battle is over. He begins to raise his hand in favour of Roxi.

"Wait," Roxi closes her eyes and looks down at the ground. "Give it a few more minutes."

I look up at her, my tears dwindling away like falling stars.

"This woman with this Pokémon defeated Team Galactic twice," Roxi explains her decision, "and even went on to become a member of the first Recital Five and then Contest Master," she looks up at me and smiles gentle. "You don't get that far by getting beaten so easily."

I nod, my tears now completely dry. I know she is right. I cannot and will not let this be the end.

"EMPOLEON!" I scream.

The rocks suddenly burst away, combining with the most powerful jet of bubbles you've ever seen, every bit of it flying straight for Bastiodon.
"That's the ticket!" Roxi winks at me. "Iron Head, let's go!"

Bastiodon's face begins to shimmer and glow as it intercepts the attack, once again protecting its body from taking any damage.

"No," I groan and drop my head.

How can this keep happening? I look at my battered and beaten Empoleon and once again remember how Ash's Pikachu looked when it defeated that Onix all those years ago - its body defeated, its energy totally depleted, but it's mind and spirit still going strong, still determined to win even after taking such an assault. I have to believe in Empoleon just as Ash believed in Pikachu during that same situation.

Suddenly it hits me - all of those times Roxi ordered Bastiodon to either protect itself or intercept attacks with Iron Head, all of those attacks were concentrated at its face, protecting its exposed body at the back.
"Empoleon, jump up now and spin!" I dictate my new strategy.
Empoleon leaps into the air with little effort. As he does, his fin grazes the ground, allowing him to propel his body around and around as he gains more and more height.

"Now, let's finish this," I give one final command. "Bubblebeam!"

Empoleon twists his body so that he is positioned directly in front of Bastiodon, but high enough to see around its rugged metal face. The bubbles launch one by one at first and then a full blown spiral of them, twisting and turning, hurtling towards Bastiodon at intense speeds.

"You should've learned from the last time," Roxi grins confidently. "Iron Head, one more time!"

Her Pokémon's face glows exponentially, fully prepared to intercept the attack with minimal damage to itself.

"No," I shut her down completely. "You're the one who should've learned from last time."

The bubbles swirl as they head for Bastiodon, some of them are destroyed and nullified by its shimmering facial armour, but the majority of the bubbles, thanks to Empoleon's amazing spin, weave around its body and connect with Bastiodon's soft sides, dealing massive super effective damage. Before long, Bastiodon can take no more and collapses to the ground in defeat, its eyes closed as it falls unconscious.

"While using Iron Head and Iron Defense does provide a good defensive strategy," now it's my turn to sneer, "damage from Empoleon's attacks still got through, whittling down Bastiodon's hit points enough for my final attack to finish it off!"

Empoleon lands safely on the ground and cries out triumphantly as Ian officially announces me the winner. Roxi runs over the her Bastiodon, embracing as she would an injured child.

"You did great old friend," she says happily. "You've earned a good rest," Roxi pulls out the Pokéball that had once held her Pokémon and orders it to "return," in a beam of red light.

I, too, recall Empoleon back to his Pokéball as well, saying, "thank you for being strong enough for the both of us... I don't deserve you."

Roxi walks across the rough field. Out of respect, I do too, meeting her halfway.

"That was a great battle," she grins, showing her lunch this time. "You've earned this," she extends her hand revealing the Gym Badge in her palm. "I officiate to you the Desert Badge," the Gym Leader says happily.

I reach out my hand also and take the badge from her, cheering, "we did it! We got the Desert Badge!"

~~~END OF CHAPTER ELEVEN~~~​

Just a bit of trivia before you go ~ Ian is the name of the referee from Ash's battle with Roark and he also had olive green hair and wore a yellow shirt ;)

Next chapter is Chapter 12 ~ Bounding Along and will hopefully be posted for Friday night ^^ Chapter 13 ~ The Plight Of Jubilife will come early next week and Chapter 14 ~ Special! First Snow will be up on Christmas Day just for you guys ^^​

See ya'll soon ^^​

*cookies*​
 
First of all hunni, great job on another chapter so short a time after the last one.

Now the story was extremely detailed and I know you spent a lot of effort into describing that battle between Onix and Pikachu, it's almost exactly how it happened and with you being you, it probably is ^^
I loved how she just opens the door and it's straight into a past battle. Also commenting on herself, as a counterpart, not giving herself a name, and Buneary mirroring her actions. Mirrors have come up before, it is shown here and also in the personalities of Dawn's daughters.

I did like the theory about starting town Gym leaders having other Pokémon depending on the challenger's level, because I mean they could train for about 10 or 20 years then start taking on the Gyms, or just do contests like Dawn.

I loved the battle and I love Roxi's attitude. Can I assume that she is a relation to Roark then, possibly his daughter, maybe a niece? I did lie the tactic of attacking the rest of Bastidon's body as that not what you see, because you mostly just see its face and that's where most of its energy is concentrated. It's kinda typical for Rock/Ground types I think to use really defensive moves like that, but Dawn saw through it. I was also glad t see Empoleon in action, were it should be.

Another amazing chapter, and congrats to Dawn for winning the Desert Badge, I'm so proud of her. ^^
 
Sorry for the wait. I'm sure you remember your junior year in highschool...long story short, mine sucks.

Your story however, does not. I believe I began to review it on serebii, in fact, I know I definetly read it. An excellent premise, coupled with an immensly improved writing style provides a very enjoyable and thrilling read, to say it briefly.

The Onix and Pikachu gym battle was excellent, good imagery, very true to the actual battle, with a unique spin and technique added to it. Description has always been a fairly strong point of yours (since I've been reading your work, at least) and that is clearly evident from this chapter.

I also liked Dawn's gym battle, it was written well and exciting to read. The comments I have about it are pretty much covered by the above poster, so for the sake of saving time, I'll just say it was captivating and be done with it.

Overall, excellent work, I shall be following this patiently.

And it seems you missed a deadline date too? Welcome to the club ;]
 
Hey ya'll ^^

Thankies MM for your comment - is it alright to call you MM for ease? It doesn't matter that you don't have a lot to say, if someone's already covered your thoughts then that's fine ^^ I'm glad you got round to posting and more-so glad that you've enjoyed it.

I apologise for my lack of recent activity (I have my reasons, including family things due to holiday seasons, work and illness, among other things). More-over, it just seems that since the two Sandgem chapters, the first two that were really quite non-relevant to the overall story, the number of posts here have significantly dwindled, which led to me wondering if I should just pack this in or not. Well, in light of these recent thoughts, I have come to a decision...

The story will continue, but in a different format than I first intended. I will not turn this into just another journey fic of collecting Badges or Ribbons, but I will say that it will crop up from time to time (there is at least one more Gym Battle and one Contest still to come for reasons that will become obvious). Beyond that, I will stick to my main plotlines and try to avoid the needless fillers (there will be some all the same) that serve no purpose other than filling a gap. This will shorten the fic significantly, but I am alright with that.

This is my main reason for being absent as I have had to re-work some ideas and, indeed, alter my plans for the next few chapters. So, for those interested, here's how the next few chapters are looking:

Spoiler:


Any thoughts on what those chapters may be about (ie, speculation), should be PM'd to me rather than posted here in the main thread in order to avoid potential spoilers.

Hopefully I'll have Chapter 12 up by the weekend.

*cookies*
 
Sounds good. Everyone around the forums calls me MM, so its all good.

I do have some comments about your recent revelations, so to speak. Everything is of course up to you, but I do not believe the recent turn in the story is behind the lack of posting. That just happens from time to time. People are busy, people change, ect and so forth. Don't let a lack of reviewers affect how you write.

Fillers are often times not needless, as they are essential for time managment, plot development, ect and so forth.

I think you should write it the way you want to, and not the way you percieve your readers want to.

Whichever way you write it, I'll be reading.
 
Hey everyone ^^ Just so you know, there's some bad news. Laterna's internet is down, so he won't manage to post Chapter 12 until about midweek. Sorry for all those who are waiting and eager to read.

Ps. Thanks to MM ^^ for egging him on. I tel him that constantly, well as often as I can, I adore the story wholeheartedly and I'm happy that you do too.

Anyway

Byes

xxx
 
Chapter 12

First off, thank you Artek for passing along my message. Long story short - the bank cancelled the direct debit that pays for the net and our service got cut. Then the modem broke. We managed to get it repaired (not sure on details) and we're back online WOOOHOOO!!!

Thank you all for your unwavering patience, here is Chapter 12 *cookies*

Chapter 12 ~ The Rocket Project​

I swing open the pale blue doors of the Sandgem Town Gym and once again look out of the magnificence that is this huge underground metropolis. I look up and see huge blocks of flat stretch right up to the ceiling, trees that grow downwards towards the ground and tiny reservoirs of water flowing here and there, dotted right across this amazing landscape.

"Wow," I sigh happily as I fully take in the view.

"Mom!" The sweet voice of my daughter, Skya, calls out to me from afar.
I turn to my left to see her running towards me with my albino rabbit, her long red scarf and Prussian hair dancing all around her as she dashes towards me happily.

"How did it go?" she asks me in her soft, yet oddly firm, voice.

I produce the Desert Badge, which I still hold in my hand. I watch her as she gazes at it, marvelling the perfect curse of the sand to form a miniature tornado of dust with a glistening silver outline.

"Amazing..." she whispers.

"Where are the others?" I ask as I pin the Badge onto my jacket.

"They're at the Pokémon Centre," Skya smiles, her face warming as she does. "Come on," she takes my hand, "I'll show you."

Through the streets of the underground city we walked, giving me to time to gaze upon the beauty I had so missed on my run to the Gym. Or so I thought... there were fountains blazing water up as far the roof, watering the roots of trees on the land above. This water rained down in patches randomly, giving some semblance of indiscriminate weather these people had lived with for so many years. The city itself was bustling and, to be perfectly honest, not that tidy - there was litter scattered all around and oh so much dust! It was actually quite... well, horrid!

"How do these people live like this?" I suddenly find myself asking.
"Well," Skya says in her usual matter-of-fact tone, "they've obviously been forced into an inhospitable living environment and adjusted it to conform to their old life on the surface thereby making an inhospitable environment a hospitable one," she simply smiles at me as if what she said made perfect sense to little old me.

"Right," I've learned over the years just to nod along. "Of course."

"So," Skya speaks, anticipating the oncoming silence, "how did the Gym Battle go?" She asks.

"To be honest," I say with a tone of unhappiness, "I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought..." I trail off.

Now there is a silence between us, particularly because Skya is waiting for me to finish what I was saying.

"Well," she sighs, "why do think you didn't enjoy as much then?"

"I just realised how unimportant it was in the grand scheme of things," I explain. "I mean, here we are on the trail of Legendary Pokémon trying to uncover the secrets of, potentially, our entire existence by learning about the Coven and hopefully save the world from another disaster, " I pause, "and all I can think of is competing in some silly, trivial display of strength."

"It was a Gym Battle," Skya scoffs. "The first one you've ever won if memory serves, I'd hardly call that trivial!"

"Yes, but," I huff, "I just mean that I know I'm strong, "I don't need nor want to be tested like that when I know that there are bigger things out there that I am more than ready for," I clarify.

"Well," Skya smiles as we approach a large white building with an orange roof, "there may be good news just beyond those doors," she motions to the double-doors made of glass.

I peer through them and see my friend with her green bandanna, red shirt and blue jeans. Beside her on the plastic blue seats is her hot-headed son in primarily dark clothes and across from both of them sits my other daughter in a ridiculously short pink skirt and tight red jacket. Standing at the counter, which I can just see given the angle I am at to the door, is a woman with long Prussian blue hair wearing black all over save for a red scarf. I know my daughter a mile away and the woman standing next to me is not my daughter.

I turn to my supposed daughter, "I have a question for you."

"Anything," she says as she pushes up her thin glasses.

"Do you think this would've been easier if your father had stayed home?" I ask plainly.

It may seem a silly question, but if she was my daughter she would know that Lucas had stayed home, but, unless she had intimate knowledge of what had been going on these past few days, if she was someone, or dare I say something, else altogether, then she should not know if he is with us or not.

"Well, considering his age, I feel he slows us down a tad," she answers honestly. "However, he is my father and it would not be the same without him by my side."

"Who are you?" I question her sharply, stepping up to her.

"How'd you guess?" The stranger before me smirks.

"Lucas, Skya's father," I look inside the Center to my actual daughter, "did not join us for this journey, so, unless you possessed intimate knowledge of us beyond what you can see, which I highly doubt," I pause briefly, "you would not be aware of this fact."

"Yes, but, obviously I would be able to see that he's not here," she argues.

"Skya knows why Lucas isn't here and is confident enough to tell it to me straight," my turn to smirk. "You gave the wrong answer and, in doing so, gave yourself away."

"Good," she simply smiles. "Nurse Joy is giving your daughter directions to my laboratory," the stranger tells me. "I'm looking forward to meeting you in person."

Her face and indeed her whole body collapses into a thousands blue cubes and disintegrate into the ground beneath our feet.

"Lovely..." I groan.

I get the strong feeling that nothing good can come of this, but there appears to be little choice. With a sinking feeling, I push open the double doors and join my family and friends inside the Center. Within the orange hall with the blue seats, I am greeted by my friends.

"Hey, how'd it go?" May asks.

"Did you get the Badge? Did you get the Badge?" Twila perks up.

"Congratulations either way," Skya, the real Skya, joins in too.

"I'm sure it was a satisfactory battle," Rekka says in a gruff voice.

I produce the Badge once more, allowing them all to marvel at its pristine shine and glimmer.

"Wow," the girls gasp.

"Humph!" Rekka huffs and flicks his long hair out of his face. "One Badge isn't all that."

"I would take that as a challenge," I smile briefly as I pin the Desert Badge to the inside of my coat, "but we've got work to do," I look to my daughter.

Skya nods, "Nurse Joy told us we had an invite to some Professor Rowan's lab," she explains in an authoritative tone, "and was even kind enough to provide us with directions."

"Let's go then," I decide its best just to go along with what that... clone wanted for the simple reason that if this Professor Rowan (obviously not the same kind-hearted man from my time as a trainer) can reproduce a woman who looked like my daughter, it's best just not to argue and go along with what we've been asked to do. "Where have we to meet this... Professor?" I ask.

"Said just to wait outside," Skya answers with a perplexed tone. "I don't really see how those are directions unless the Professor is actually out there waiting for us now, but then how would he or she know and how would you have not of passed them?" Her voice runs on as she tries to contemplate the scenarios, playing them in her head and trying to comprehend every minutia of detail.

With nothing else to say - I have no desire to get warped into the complex mind of my daughter after the long day I, and indeed we, have all had - I turn to face the door, almost gliding across the blue tiled floor as if drawn by a magnet. The others follow in tow, all remaining silent and oddly still as we each wonder of who this person is and what he or she wants of us. Indeed, it must be to do with the Coven and our upcoming adventure, but that still begs the questions - who is this person and why the hell is it their business? As a group, we exit the Center via that glass double doors and stare outside to see... no-one?

"What the hell?" Rekka looks around, circling the group in a cautionary manner.

"I don't like this," May says in a low tone.

"Yeah," Twila nods. "Über creepy"

"Everyone stay close," I wrap my arms behind me, shielding them with my body.

There is a loud whirring noise, growing stronger and stronger until we can almost see it.

"Mom," Skya's voice is shaky.

The noise's volume progresses exponentially and a stream of blue and red lights shoot up from the ground around us, surround us all.

"What is this?" Rekka cries out and goes to step out.

"Don't move!" I snap at him.

I have seen this before - when I was up on high, we were all standing outside a Pokémon Center, I was seeing it all happen from above. The noise sounded, encircling us, the beams appeared, enveloping us and, in an instant, we vanished.

Whoosh!

Just as I saw happening to myself and my friends during my time on that other plain, we are whisked away somehow to another place. All I see for a few moments are blinking lights and circuitry, like I'm inside a computer. It is very surreal and the worst out of body experience I have had since I was up on high. After a few seconds have passed, I find myself, along with my friends, in some kind of laboratory.

All around us is this super clean room with tall box-like things with hundreds of buttons, monitors and all manner of blinking some of which flashing colours I didn't even know existed. Screens show waves of some kind, charts and graphs, images and research notes. To my left is a large cabinet over-flowing with folders, images and notes. The cabinet hides a small desk full of clutter and junk, papers lying about in stacks all over, under and just about in every inch of space there is. At the desk sits a woman with frizzing grey hair, which looks like it could've once been blonde. She doesn't not notice us.

"You're wrong in that my friend," her voice is quick, yet I catch every word as she shares the same tone and strength as the old Professor Rowan of my day held.

"Wrong in what?" Skya asks as I look over at one of the monitors.

I do not register the remainder of the conversation as a single piece of writing appears on the screen directly across from me in the form of an a e-mail. It reads as follows:

Coronation is coming.

​
Within the screen I can see what looks like some kind of creature, possibly a Pokémon. Its face is red, but its beak is a stark contrasting blue with yellow eyes as crazy as that combination of colours. it looks to be in pain. The screen flickers and turns blank suddenly.

"I thank you not read my mail," the grey-haired and apparently grey-eyed woman is standing next to me.

"I didn't catch what it said," I lie. "No need to worry."

She mutters something that I don't quite hear and turns away, heading back to her desk.

"If you don't mind me asking," May perks up, "how did we get here?"

"More importantly," Rekka cuts in, "who are you?"

I turn my attention to my companions to see May and Rekka squished in at the back of this tiny room. They are pressed up against a fridge of some kind, next to a small ornate table that has been broken several times over and stuck back together with what appears to be cello tape.

"It's actually industrial tape," the woman's old voice croaks. "You got here by way of a matter transportation device, essentially I downloaded you from the surface, transferred you into this machine," she motions to the blinking boxes, "and then re-materialised you in this room with me."

We all look from each other to the machine to the woman with wide eyes.

"What do you mean by downloaded?" Twila asks, her face covered with concern.

Skya studies the machine up and down. I notice an expression creeping on to her face, one that I have seen many times before as she begins to piece it all together and realise what the woman has explained. I fear that I too understand what has transpired and, while it is a outstanding achievement, it fills me with a sense of terror.

"This is a glorified Pokéball!" Skya gasps.

"A what?" Rekka cries out with extreme shock and anger in his voice.

"You, essentially, recalled us into this machine and then let us out of it where you wanted us to be," Skya explains. "Basically, what you have done is very similar to what humans do to Pokémon, but instead you put us into the ball, carried us here and then released us," my intensely intelligent daughter concludes.

"That explains the red and blue lights we saw," I continue. "Red is indicative of a Pokémon being returned to its ball, while blue symbolises a Pokémon being realised," I finish. "Or, in this case, us, humans, being recalled and released."

The woman says nothing but nods.

"But that doesn't answer the question of who you are," Rekka's voice grows more and more agitated with each passing moment.

"Or why you brought us here," Twila interjects.

"My name is," she answers, "Susan Rowan, Regional Professor and fore-most expert on Pokémon energy signatures, waves and spectrums."
There is a long silence as we absorb that rather surprising piece of information.

"As to why I brought you here," she moves to her desk, clearing enough space for us all to gather around as she pulls up an image of a skyscraper. "Jubilife City," Susan motions to the screen, her hunchy shoulders twitching slightly.

"What about it?" I ask sincerely, gathering she must want us to go there and do something for her or something.

"It is under attack," she explains, "by The Coven."

May and Twila gasp while Rekka grunts and turns away, disgusted by this. I do not flinch - I knew this was coming, just one of the memories I have retained from on high. To be perfectly honest, I remember a lot of what I saw of the past, present and future, but I feel I cannot share it as I cannot afford to have it changed otherwise I will no longer have the knowledge as it would be different. To change things now would alter everything that is to come, causing me to lose my only advantage.

"You want us to go there," I comment, "to help them out."

"Yes," Susan nods. "As soon as possible I might add, the people of Jubilife do not have much time."

"So how to we get there quickly?" Rekka asks, his voice full of conviction.

Susan Rowan says nothing, but rises from her seat and leads us to the back wall of her tiny room, to a space void of computers, papers, blinking lights and human Pokéballs.

"This," she presses a button on the side of the wall.

The white stone wall rises up causing the entire building to shake.

"One thing I should mention," she grins as the wall continues its ascent, "I designed this entire underground complex, the place you know as New Sandgem."

The wall reaches its pinnacle, the shaking stops and we see only a darkened room and the faint shape of something very long and very large inside.

"May I present to you," the Professor says proudly, "the Turboprop Omega Jet Stream X550KL2!"

My jaw drops at the sight of a huge upright silver cylinder, as big as a skyscraper, tipped in red with folded in wings and a fearsome sight overall.

"Woah!" Rekka gasps.

"This will have you in Jubilife City in a matter of minutes!" Susan shouts happily, naturally excited at showing off a more than likely new invention. "Just everyone go round the back, get in and off to Jubilife to save the city!"

We don't even question her. I lead the way round to the back end of the room, walking around the large silvery rocket that shows me a mirror image of myself. I stop to stare at my reflection, a realisation suddenly hitting me. I look back at my twin girls, walking side-by-side, total opposites of each other, always have been and always will be.

"My God," I whisper.

It is so painfully obvious. The twins, the constant mirror images that have kept cropping up, things I've seen on high, things I know will happen. it's all connected somehow. It's almost like a shadow, a distorted reflection you never really see until it's too late - Twila, my daughter corrupted by the Coven, is the distorted reflection of the prim and proper Skya.

"Yes," I hear Darkrai's gruff voice.

A horrible thought suddenly jumps into my head, I feel sick at it - is Twila really my daughter or some kind of shadow that has come to me from another place?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Johanna wanders into the blood-coloured living-room of the little house in Twinleaf Town. Her head is aching and she has been ordered for a little lie on the leather couch by the window to rest and take in some fresh air. While she is doing that, Celina is helping Gallade and Gardevoir with the housework.

Gallade whooshes around the kitchen, making dirty plates vanish into the sink. Gardevoir employs her psychic powers to wash the plates until they are clean enough to eat off of and Celina dries them and puts them by by hand.

"We're almost done here Gallade and I know you've been itching to go back and train at the lab," Celina grins wickedly. "We'll be alright, on you go."

Gallade does not hesitate in rushing out the door, eager to get back to battle practice and teaching under Lucas, the closest person he has to a master until Twila returns.

"Good," Celina smiles and licks her lips.

Gardevoir stares at her blankly, sensing some kind of evil emanating from her...

~~~END OF CHAPTER TWELVE~~~
​
Hope you all enjoyed it ^^ will try to have Chapter 13 for middle of next week *cookies*​
 
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