Chapter 16: Old Friends

We sat in silence for a second before he asked, "I hate to jump into serious discussions, but do you know anything about the Wizards. I hate them, and I want to help you fight them as well. They just make me so angry."

"I know. They screwed me up. All I know is that I'm the key. Looks like they want to use me to control all the Pokemon, even gods, so they can take control over everything. Using me in combination with a psychic, theoretically allows them to control any Pokemon. That's how they want to rule the world."

"How are the Ranger's doing?" asked Luminous.

"No good. They're running thin. That's why I'm out here, on the run, trying to fight this battle for myself. Otherwise the commander would've had me locked away, some place safe, with an army of rangers for a defense. He says if I can get powerful Pokemon, then that should be enough of a defense."

"So that's why you're out here?"

I nodded. There was another pause before he asked, "Have you ever lived a normal life?"

"You mean go to school?"

"Yeah."

"No. I've been a prisoner all my life. Until just recently."

"Do you remember ever being out?" asked Luminous.

I shook my head.

"Never?" he asked.

"No. But I've been put under some kind of amnesia. I think, so I wouldn't break from all the stuff they did to me." I guessed. I looked down at myself, wondering if somewhere in my head there was some kind of simple solution to ending the suffering. "Sorry."

"No problem. But at least I was able to get some information." said the gym leader.

"Oh yes, one more thing." I said, I remembered. "Be weary of a child, his name might be Shinchi. Beware, he's been sent by the wizards and is going to try taking your position. That's what happened to everyone else."

"I knew about that, but I never would've guessed his name was Shinchi. Thanks for the heads up." said Luminous.

He gave me the badge and I stared at it. It was a simply badge, in the shape of a lightning bolt, on the sides there were silver pieces of metal.

Dragonair woke up and stretched. Then he looked at the two of us and asked, "Did we win?"

I wrapped my arms around him and said, "Thank you! We won!"

Dragonair smiled and pulled away. He didn't say anything, but I could tell, he instead smiled.

"Hey!" said N. I turned around, and there he was by the elevator doors. Beside him was Cell, staring at him.

"Hey!" I returned the greeting.

"Is that Dragonair yours?" asked N, he walked towards me, while inspecting him. "He's beautiful."

"Yeah he just joined the team, yesterday, matter of fact." I said.

"Nice!" said N.

"Did you catch anyone recently?" I asked.

"Yeah, but that will be a secret until for next time." he said with a smile. "Before that I want to battle you." he looked over at Luminous who said, "Sorry, I need time to heal my pokemon."

N nodded and said, "Well, you beat me to it. I guess I can battle you."

"Sorry, so do mine." I said and remembered, "Crud! where am I going to heal my Pokemon?"

"Don't worry, I'll take care of that for you. If it's just a few pokemon I can heal them. I have Nurse joy's machine in here." he said.

I sighed, and said, "Thanks." I handed him my Pokeballs.

N then said, "Some people are looking for you. These teenagers."

'Aria?' I stared at him and asked, "Teenager, or teenagers?"

"Teenagers. About your age. They were tough. I was battling one of them, and I beat him. He got so angry, and he nearly attacked me with his Pokemon!"

I thought about it, not that guy again.

"Do you know them?" asked N.

"Possibly." I said. "I might've taken a Scyther from him, after I realized how much he abused him."

"Well they're in town. I told them that you're probably in this city somewhere." N said.

"Why?" gasped Cell.

"What do you mean why? They were looking for him!" N replied.

"No! Crud, I hope they're not wizards." said Cell.

"I doubt it." I said. "If they are who I think they are, then most like they're just a bunch of trainers." I sighed and said, "None of them was a girl named Aria, right?"

"No," said N.

I nodded and wondered, 'Why do I care? She did save me, but she hurt Latias as well.'

I thought about it for a second before saying, "If you know where they are, tell them to come here."

"What?" asked Cell. "Why?"

"To help stage the rebellion." I said.

"What rebellion," asked N.

I quickly explained the rebellion to N.

"Oh that sounds like fun, count me in." said N. "I'll see if I can go get them. They invited me to a restaurant earlier, they just still might be there."

"That's good." I said and he ran towards the elevator.

"How did the talk with Nurse joy go?" I asked Cell.

"Well I got the cure." said Cell. I read his aura and saw that he was uneasy. "But?" I asked.

"But, I don't trust her." said Cell. He sighed and said, "If she had found the cure already then I think it would be more popular. If it were easy to replicate then,wouldn't people have made home brewed medicine?"

The realization washed cold over me, it made sense. Nurse Joy said she couldn't keep up with the rate. Meaning that there was a limited supply of something in that cure. I rubbed my temples earlier, 'of course! Why was I so stupid?'

If it's just a missing material, then the source was easy, the Pokemon Rangers. But, if I think about it, we had no one to spare. I sighed, 'I'm an idiot.'

"What now?" asked Cell.

I shook my head, " I need time to think. There's got to be a way."

"Verde!" I said out loud, but immediately followed it with, "but chances are he doesn't own the greenhouse because the Wizards took it."
I looked around, like I was looking for an answer in this room. But there was none to be found. 'Even if I could cultivate the plant, how long would it take to grow enough for a city. And at such a speed that the first batch wouldn't spoil over before the next one is out?'

"Can you read me the recipe, maybe, just maybe, I can think of something." I said.

"Okay." said Cell. He read the recipe, as clearly as possible. But I had no breakthrough. "I guess I can't say anything unless I know the way the illness works."

"Alright. I'll go talk with nurse Joy again." said Cell. I nodded and said ,"Good luck."

"Just a quick question, how are you going to read or study if you can't see?" asked Cell.

"Well, I was thinking maybe you can read the notes for me." I said.

"That makes sense. I'll be right back." said Cell. He ran off towards the elevator door.

"Trouble?" asked Luminous from behind me.

"Just a little. I didn't about how we were going to supply the city." I replied.

"Well…" said Luminous, his voice ending on a negative tone. "You don't have to cure absolutely everyone. For all we know we might only need half or a quarter of the city."

"But a quarter of the city is still a lot of people."

"You have a point." he answered. "And you said Verde was out of the picture?"

"Yeah." I said.

"Crud," Luminous complained.

"Well actually. If we could get Verde to tell us where the materials are, and if I can figure out something to replace the materials with." I said. "But then we would need gatherers."

"I've got my crew." said Luminous. "And maybe people from the other gyms would be willing to help."

I nodded, "Then we have to make more calls tonight."

"Yes, in the meantime, we better hope we can get that cure." said Luminous.

I nodded and walked towards the elevator and remembered about Zorua. I hate to let him go, he had such great potential. But I can't keep a Pokemon against his own will. And also I'll need to fill two slots. After all the next gym leader is bound to have five Pokemon. Where four against three might've been possible, five against three is a step too far.

I hit the elevator door and open with a soft ding!

I stepped inside and hit a button that went to the first floor. I wanted to go back to my room. I needed to figure things out one thing at a time.

First I need to get myself over the fact that I was going to throw out Zorua. That's first, and easiest. I nodded to myself. Zorua's been with me since the beginning of the journey. I pursed my lips, I should be thankful. He helped me this far, and it's time to let him go.

That's as far as I can decide and think, I have to wait till Cell returns.

The door dinged open and I stepped straight into the still closed doors.

"Huh?" I focused my eyes and saw.

"Hey are you okay?" Asked Stephen.

I took a step back and said, "Oh sorry! I'm alright!" I said. Stephen was a full head above me. He had leather colored skin and a small mohawk with no sides. He didn't have a beard or a mustache. He wore a green shirt with a minimalistic styled torterra on it.

"Umm… What's up?" he asked.

"Hey did you find him?" asked another familiar voice. Behind Stephen, was Jeane. She wore a red miniskirt with red stockings. She wore leather slacks, and a white dress. Her black hair was tied into a bun.

"Hey!" Her voice faltered. I knew what it was.

"Hey!" I said and added, "I know my eyes. It's a long story."

I took off the black goggles and said, "It's a mess! I can still see a bit!" I looked around and I can see the two freaked out. "It's not so bad." I put my goggles back up and said, " In any case what's up?"

"Nothing much! We went to the Elite Four. But we got destroyed. All of us, including Vice." said Jeane.

"Oh, that's too bad." I said.

When suddenly the elevator doors closed. "Oops." I muttered, and pressed a button to open the door. Stephen chuckled and said , "Let's let you out first."

He stepped back and I walked past him.

"But thanks to you, some of our pokemon got really far. Especially Reuniclus. He swept through three Pokemon, by himself. Until he got struck by a critical Dark attack."

"That's good." I said, nodding to myself. "That's good. How's Vice?"

"Um… After you adjusted our Pokemon. We've completely, turned the tables around. We just about destroyed him." said Stephen. "And after that, we've never seen him again. One night he just, left."

I nodded and said, "I see."

"Yeah. Where's everyone else?" asked Stephen.

I sighed and said, "A lot happened. I know I sound, suspicious. But if I explained it, it's one going to be hard to swallow, and I would put you guys in danger."

"Danger? Wait what do you mean?" asked Jeanne.

I opened my mouth and the words didn't come out. "Basically the Wizards are after us. They have been,all this time."

"What?" shouted Stephen.

"The girl I was with. One of them was a Latias." I explained.

"You're lying!" shouted Jeanne.

"I wish I was." I muttered.

Stephen stared at me for a second and I sighed. "Me? If I explained you guys would really be in trouble."

They fell quiet. We weren't all that close to begin with, I guess. Now they think I'm crazy.

"Actually. If you guys don't believe me. Come with me. I'll show you something. Maybe then you'll believe me." I said and stepped back. I forgot the elevator was open and walked straight into the metal doors. I turned around and heard everyone chuckling behind me.

"What about Aria?" asked Jeanne.

"Aria betrayed us." I sighed. "She got us good."

"Wow," said Stephen.

"But she also tried to help me afterwards. She told the Pokemon Rangers of wear abouts."

I smiled and opened the door and let everyone in. I pressed a button and we went to the floor where Latios was. We stepped out of the elevator and Stephen said, "Wait. Wait. I don't know if we're ready for this."

Jeanne looked at Stephen and said, "I'll look then. Stephen you stay here."

We started to walk away when Stephen said, "Wait. I'll go." he sighed and walked with us. I turned a corner and knocked on Latios' room.

"Latios!" I shouted.

"Who is with you?" he replied.

"A couple of friends. They might help us!" I said.

Latios waited for a second and said, "Alright I'll let them in." The door opened and revealed Latios.

"Are you Latias' sister?" asked Stephen.

Latias nodded and he turned into his Pokemon form.

"Wha-?" shouted Jeanne.

"Oh my," said Stephen.

Latios looked at me and said, "Do humans always react like that to me?"

"Yeah, you kind of are our god, and guardian." I explained to him.

"You can talk to it?" asked Stephen.

"Him." corrected Latios.

"Him," I repeated. "I can speak to all Pokemon."

"That's so awesome." said Jeanne. She hugged me and I said, "Thanks."

I took Latios with us when we went down. They asked him questions like, where did he come from, or how old he is. And I was their translator.

We met up with the rest of the group, Leo, Glenda and N. We ended up staying in my room as I explained to them everything, except for myself.

"So basically, what you're saying is that, we're in the most danger if we know who you are?" asked Stephen.

I nodded.

"So the only way to help you is by helping you release the medicine and fighting the Wizard." asked Glenda.

I nodded again.

"I'll help." said Jeanne. I smiled and said, "Thank you. It would be nice knowing you are backing me up."

"Why not?" Stephen said giving in.

"You saved a Scyther, we never gave you back anything." said Steven.

"If it's for good." said Glenda with a shrug.

"Thank you guys." I said.

There was a knocking on my door. "Yoshi!"

"Yeah?" I asked.

"Your name is Yoshi now?" asked Stephen.

"Umm. Long story. Come in!" I said.

Cell walked in and said, "Oh. I forgot we were expecting company. Hello to all of you. My name is Cell, Pokemon Ranger."

Everyone introduced themselves to Cell and Cell took a seat on the bed beside me.

"I've got the notes." said Cell.

"This is good!" I said. "I just hope we can trust Nurse Joy."

"I think we can. If she made fake notes, and someone told the rangers. She would be in lots of trouble." answered Cell.

"Great. Let's get to work on a cure tonight." I said.

"Is there anything we can do to help?" asked Jeanne.

"Not now. Once we figure out the ingredients for the cure, I would like to ask you to bring in some of the sick pokemon roaming around the city."

"Alright. We'll get to it tomorrow then." said Stephen.

"Tomorrow." I agreed.

"I would still like to know your story." pushed Leo.

I stared at him for a second before answering. "Well I guess none of you guys are spies, and in this room, no one should be able to hear us."

I told them my story, and by the end of it they were in shock.

"Why the heck didn't you tell us from the beginning the Wizards are planning for world domination?" shouted Leo.

"Well like I said, it's dangerous information. So far the Pokemon Rangers, Luminon, and now you guys know of it." I explained.

"No one else knows?" asked Jeanne. I shook my head.

"I guess we should pass the information on?" asked Stephen.

"Don't! You guys will be in real trouble if it you tell the wrong people." I explained. "Well I suggest you guys get going. Come back here tomorrow, we'll tell you if we need you guys. I would ask you guys to use your phones, however, that's a little dangerous with all the Wizards around. I'll see you guys around."

Setsuna Damius notes: I'll let you guys in on something. I'm planning to make a game. An RPG made with Unreal Engine. You guys are probably wondering, what level of quality is it? Is it going to be beautiful, if you're using such a well known engine… My answer? No. It's actually more of an 8-bit (well a little more of a higher quality than Undertale.) I've been writing the story. It sounds good. Much better than the current story I'm working on. So what's the game going to be about and what am I going to do in it that's unique? The game is a little like Persona 3, Teenage school kid by day, savior of earth by night. Except, what I'm planning to do is, Teenage School kid by day, Guild member by night. Basically in the main character's dream, he's forced to teleport to another dimension where the world revolves around magic and a little bit of science.

What's unique about it is three things. During battle, your party member don't just sit around, they are fighting the boss. Next to dodge, you are forced to use a set of 12 keys, the WASD, TFGH, and finally IJKL. (And possibly the YEO keys.) When a boss attacks you, a set of notes will run down the screen, and your dodging reflects how many notes you hit (Also an animation will play as you hit the notes, if you miss you'll see your characters get hit.). The YEO keys are used as counters. So they will be placed in stupid areas of the note map, and if you hit them you get an animation of your party member countering the enemy. Finally the game is rhythm based. (Or so I want it to be. I'm no musician. But I was hoping I could contact a few of the less known musicians on Youtube, Newgrounds, and Soundcloud, and ask if I could use some of their older songs in the game. Of course they will get credit for it.) It's a fun idea I've been tinkering away with for the last week. Welp, I just hope it gets done. To me I really want to see it get done! I want to break this stupid RPG I hit, he hits, thing and really change the way games play, forever. I mean, THIS is why I hate Final Fantasy and Dragon quest. Because of their simple gameplay mechanics. I mean I think the story seems cool enough, but honestly the gameplay is kinda meh. In this game, you control everything, lots of things are to the beat, and hopefully the story comes out sub par. I've written stories, and slowly I've realized what I hate about it. Like this story? Too slow. By far. There's one or two plots and that's it. Stories need to be multi layered. To make the battle scenes interesting I've been thinking of looking at the Newgrounds fight scenes for influence and reference. Why? If you've ever seen something like Super Mario Z, you'll see what I mean. EPIC Crossover fights. I started watching that thing and couldn't stop. Although the creator of the series quit working on it some time ago. But it's so good. And this is coming from a person that hates Dragon ball, and yet when I saw the 8-bit combat, man it was so good. Another one for reference is the Matrix Mario scene. Man that was epic as well.

Stephen

Jeanne

Leo

Glenda