I'm finally back in business (well, I don't make money but you get the point). Without more words, let's get back to the story.

Chapter 27: Miss me?

"So that's how we meet again?" Jasmine asked, still shocked. "We haven't seen each other for almost a week since you ran away and now, we have to be partners in this tournament?"

The others were also shocked to see Ryan again. The only one who could talk was Lindy. She ran to him and hugged him.

"I have so many questions to ask you but the first one is: what the hell have you done to your hair?" She asked.

"Well, I just wanted a new haircut and here it is, shorter." Ryan answered. "So, what are your other question?"

"Why are you here and why didn't you warn us?" Lindy asked.

"I'm still not ready to be back to the group but I'm glad to see you." Ryan admitted. "And I think we're gonna have fun in this tournament."

"I want to wish you good luck teaming up with a rival." Delia said. "I know how you and Jasmine are feeling right now."

"I'm right here!" Trip complained. "And it's not like I'm gonna enjoy it either."

"I see there's some tensions here." A red hair girl said.

Everybody turned around and noticed a red hair girl with ponytail hair and wore wears a green and black jacket, green shirt, black pants and boots.

"Don't worry, just the usual." Garrett explained. "By the way, who are you?"

"My name is Aria Wolff but you can call me Ari." Ari said. "I hope I'll see you during this tournament. Bye!"

She left with a smile on her face.

"Well, that was weird." Delia noticed. Everybody was looking at her. "What? I know when something's weird."

Logan was about to talk but he was interrupted by the announcer who declared the beginning of the first round of the tournament.

"Today, there will be two rounds." The announcer said. "You will receive the time and place of your battles through your X-transceiver."

Lindy's and Logan's X-transceiver shone and announced them their battle will begin right now in the main arena. Their friends promised to stay in order to watch them until they receive a message for their battle. While they were taking a seat, Ash noticed that Ari was sitting a rank above them. Lindy (with Accelgor) and Logan (with Elekid) won their first battle easily and Elekid even evolved into Electabuzz and learnt Iron Tail. Ari left the main arena to have her battle along with her partner Bianca in the fourth arena. She used Floatzel and Bianca used Escavalier to win their first battle. At the end of the battle, Ari left the arena but noticed Ryan who was talking on his X-transceiver. She got suspicious and decided to hide in order to overhear the conversation.

"…there shouldn't be a problem." The voice on the X-transceiver said.

"All right. I'll call you when I'm done with my part." Ryan finished the conversation and has a tiny smile on his face.

He made sure no one was here and left for his second battle. Ari wanted to warn Ryan's friends but she received a message for her second battle. She went to the second arena to win her second battle with Umbreon while Bianca used Mienshao. When the battle was over, Bianca and Ari went to the fourth arena to watch the finale battle of the day involving Delia and Trip. Delia used her new Pokemon Metang while Trip also used his new Pokemon Vanillite. Delia's friends were surprised that the two rivals got along despite their rivalry, unlike Jasmine and Ryan who despite their victories, tend to argue. After the battles, Ari made sure Ryan wasn't to gather all the other ones.

"Guys, I need to talk to you really quickly." Ari warned them.

"What's that about?" Serena asked.

"While I was going to the bathroom after my first battle, I overheard Ryan talking to someone and also mentioned a part he has to do. Do you know what this is?" She asked.

"She's right." Bianca added. "You haven't seen him in a long time. Did you talk to him while he wasn't with you?"

Nobody knew what they were talking about. Then, Delia gasped.

"He didn't but I remember something N told me." She said. "While we were on the Rondez-View Ferris Wheel. Before he left, he told me that Ryan saluted us."

"Which means he had met Team Plasma." Brock concluded. "But it doesn't imply what Team Plasma could have done to him."

"In the meantime, it implies that Team Plasma might be in Driftveil and if so, they must be preparing something." Lindy declared. "We have to be careful and avoid to be alone until we know more. I hate to say this but we have to watch my boyfriend until he's no longer suspicious."

"Wait, he's your boyfriend?" Bianca asked, surprised.

"He is and hands off!" Lindy warned her. "He's mine, even if it implies that we have to kill him. I call dibs!"

Everybody smiled at that and went for dinner, included Ryan who joined them later. After the dinner, they made sure to not be followed and went to their hotels rooms. Jasmine left her friends alone to take some snacks before she went to sleep. Although, when she was walking down the hallway, someone grabbed her by her right arm and knocked her out. He left the hotel and took her with him.

Thirty minutes later, Delia became worried when she hasn't seen Jasmine coming back from the ground-floor. She woke Lindy up who also became worried. They left their room and woke Garrett, Logan, Ash, Serena, Brock, Bianca and Ari up. They noticed that Ryan wasn't here either and were worried. Only Delia wasn't and believed that he must have something to do with Jasmine's disappearance. They decided to pair up three by three: Ash, Serena and Brock (Team A) – Lindy, Logan and Delia (Team B) – Ari, Bianca and Garrett (Team C) and decided to look for Jasmine all around the city. Team A was going to the Driftveil Stadium, Team B was going to the docks while Team C was going to the market. Each team ended up trapped by Team Plasma's grunts but the most critical situation was for Team B who found Jasmine unchained and bruised. They got angry and wanted to hit the grunts but someone told them to back off and wanted to take care of this task. The grunts obeyed and stepped aside. When he revealed his face, Team B saw the face of Ryan Hunter.

What is Ryan up to? What has he really done while he was away? You'll find out in the next chapter. Don't forget to review so you can tell your anger about this gap or just be happy that I'm back.

Lindy: Lucario (m) / Staravia (m) / Frogadier (m) / Accelgor (f) / Mismagius (f)

Logan: Shelgon (m) / Grotle (m) / Electabuzz (m) / Magmar (m) / Pupitar (m)

Delia: Skiddo (f) / Braviary (m) / Eevee (f) / Helioptile (m) / Metang

Garrett: Croconaw (m) / Tropius (m) / Espurr (f) / Zoroark (f)

Jasmine: Stoutland (m) / Togetic (f) / Mawile (f) / Frillish (m)

Logan Ryan Hunter: Roselia (f) / Dragonair (m) / Vivillon (f) / Milotic (f)