True Dedication

Chapter 6

Author's note: You know why I never write ultra-long chapters? I never have the time, or the patience to read them in other fics, and I doubt you do either. I also don't have the kind of determination to sit down and write them. Sorry, but I don't think they'll ever be longer than they currently are unless inspiration strikes.

As Zapp, Typhlosion, Char-Char, and Meganium sat together, the tension in the room thickened quite a bit. The piece of paper they had managed to take from a passing human was covered in scribbles and diagrams, all done by Meganium, who had the most readable writing out of all of them.

"Well, the people who captured Damien are not going to make themselves that obvious to us, are they?" Zapp thought aloud, his fur sparking as it did when he was on a particularly important train of thought. Typhlosion snorted through his nose.

"That's a given," he said, scratching his head. "And we can't exactly track him by scent now, can we? We don't even know where to begin." His fur sparked with embers, making everyone sitting close to him feel particularly warm.

"We should leave here first," Char-Char said determinedly, tail waving from side to side. "We can't do anything until we leave." He pounded his fist into his other paw. "That's our first step."

"I don't know," Meganium said thoughtfully, her antennae twitching slowly. "We have to think about the basics. Food. Shelter. A route. We're going to need to get a map, or at least make one as we go along. And we need to think about safety."

Zapp nodded his head as he listened to her. "That's all well and good, but where will we get food from? All I have is some of Seth's food, which I can easily get, mind you, but what will we do when that supply runs out?"

"Berries." Meganium smiled. "They grow almost anywhere, so we're bound to find edible ones." Char-Char pulled a face.

"I hate Oran berries." He said, to no-one in particular, but his comment was generally ignored. Zapp paused, and then faced Meganium.

"Yes," he agreed. "I believe that would work. We could bring Seth's Altaria, Ablu. He could help us by taking to the air and finding places we can't, keeping watch for us from in the air, and by picking berries we can't reach."

Typhlosion voiced his concerns. "What if Ablu refuses to go? Then it's just us: a Grass type, two Fire types, and an Electric type. What do we do then?"

"Ah, my friend," Zapp said, sidling up to the larger Pokèmon with caution. "Have you ever heard of bribery?"

"We're not bribing him." Typhlosion said in a severe voice. "The last time you suggested that, I didn't eat berries for three months straight."

"Please," Zapp begged. "I won't promise him your berry rations for three months! I swear!"

"What will you promise him, then?" Typhlosion asked, looking irritated.

"Your Pokeblock rations for three months," the Jolteon said with a straight face, dodging Typhlosion's Flame Wheel.

"No!"

"Please, we need this, we really do."

"No, I said no already!"

"Two months." Zapp offered sincerely.

"No."

"One month?"

"If it's for everyone's good, then fine." Typhlosion relented.

"Yay!" Zapp hugged Typhlosion around the stomach, causing him to go pink out of embarrassment.

"Get lost," Typhlosion replied, pushing him off. "And don't forget who's doing who a favour here."

"I'll go fetch him." Zapp sauntered off down the corridor, and came back 10 minutes later, covered in bruises and holding a great ball in his mouth.

"He... he agreed. It took me time to convince him, but he agreed." Zapp groaned, dropping the ball. It slammed off of the ground, bursting and releasing its occupant: a shiny Altaria with a silver star mark over his left eye.

"Hello." Ablu said, inclining his head towards everyone except Zapp, who he chose to tactfully ignore. "Zapp tells me you require my abilities."

"Oh yes," Meganium nodded eagerly, twitching with excitement. "You see, our trainer-"

"Say no more," Ablu interrupted her with a wave of his wing, much to her irritation. "I know of a Pokèmon's deep bond with their trainer, so I am willing to help you anyway. For only a week of Typhlosion's Pokeblock rations."

"Thank you, Ablu." Zapp said, through gritted teeth. Meganium looked almost as frustrated as he was. He turned to her.

"Meganium, is there anyone you want to bring with you?"

The dinosaur-like Pokèmon nodded. "I want to bring Freezia with me. She's Damien's Eevee... she evolved into a Glaceon a few days before he disappeared."

"Alright, you go fetch her. We'll stay put here until you do." Zapp and the others turned back and chatted amongst themselves.

Meganium turned and walked down the opposite end of the corridor. She felt a heavy weight in her stomach as she walked. Bad feelings... fear, worry, sadness... Could she do this? She'd never been without a trainer for her whole life. As long as she could remember, ever since she was young, she had a human by her side, leading her, showing her the right path.

And now, no human. She was a big Meganium. Not the scared Chikorita she began training as, or the reckless Bayleef who believed the world would bend to her will. She had to be strong. If the others couldn't, she would have to be the one who stayed calm while things fell apart around her.

She was lost in her thoughts when she bumped into Freezia.

"Alright?" the Glaceon asked. Meganium nodded her head. "Liar." Freezia grinned. "What do you want anyway, Meggy?" This was her nickname for Meganium, one which the other Pokèmon hated.

"We need you, Freezia. Damien's gone missing."

"Well duh," Freezia said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "So, you want me to help out? I mean, I noticed he was missing this morning, and I thought "My gosh! Whatever will the others do if I don't help?" So, yeah... If you need it, Meggy, I'm ready to help."

Meganium nodded. "Thank you, Freezia. I appreciate it." The two of them walked back to meet the others, Freezia's paws leaving little patches of frost where she walked.

"Freezia said yes," Meganium announced when they were in full view of the others.

"Thank you, Freezia." Zapp said, busy looking over their list of plans one last time.

"Yes, thank you," Ablu said, preening his wing. "My, but you are an awfully common little thing, aren't you, dear?"

Freezia gave him a false smile and said acidly, "Oh yes, I am. I'd rather be common than a Swablu dressed as an Altaria, however." Meganium gave her the look that suggested she might want to quit while she was ahead.

Zapp cleared the atmosphere by packing up the map, clearing his throat, and saying "Perhaps we ought to go. Time waits for no Pokèmon."

Typhlosion gathered the little food they already had and nodded. "Everyone, we're on the road." They all nodded, and the feeling of adventure in the room was somewhat catching. Everyone cheerfully marched to the front of the building, and using all their strength, they pushed open the double doors. Together, they made their way out onto the open road.

Author's Note: Well, what did you think? Man, this came out longer than I thought…