Update December 2025: Thank you to all the readers and special thanks to those that are still following this story after all this time. Life has changed significantly and I am no longer the writer I was when this story was written. That said, minimal revisions will be made to the remainder of this story but it will be republished for completion.

Happy holidays.
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Stars glitter on the water's surface. Boats pass under the bridge's high arc.

~It's a nice view here,~ Dewott murmurs. I nod.

"Yeah, you can see everything from here..." The Castelia City skyline glowed only a little farther away. I tell my partner, "it's late. Let's go, Dewott."

We decide to spend the night in the Pokémon Center for the night. After all, it's not like we could spend the night outside here in Castelia. Dewott comes with me to the Nurse at the front desk.

"I'd like a room for the night please." She smiles, and hands me a key.

"Here you are, Dear. Have a nice evening."
"Thank you." I find our room, and unlock the door. As soon as we get in, Dewott flops on a pillow.

~G'night, Corona.~

"G'night." I take a shower, and change into night clothes. When I come back, Dewott is fast asleep already.

"You really were tired, weren't you?" I murmur. My blue partner only responds with gentle snores. I fall on the bed and fall asleep myself.

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''""""""""
In the morning

"So your friend is here, you say?" I hear a girl say loudly.
Another person sniffs quietly. "Yes... She wouldn't have stayed on the streets all night... " I shoot up from my bed, starting Dewott. I recognize that voice; its Bianca! I pull my door open, surprising a shorter girl with huge, puffy purple hair. Bianca is slightly behind her. Her green eyes are puffy from crying.

"Bianca! What's wrong?"

"...They took Munny..."

The fluffy, purple haired girl looked at me. "I take it that you're Corona?" I nod silently. "Good. I'm Iris. Now we need to find those Team Plasma people who took her munna."

"I had just won my gym badge. I was going back to the Pokémon Center to heal my team, when a pair of Team Plasma guys hit me over the head. When I woke up, all my pokéballs were still with me. The ones in my bag, at least. But... Munna's pokéball had been in my hand. She was gone..." Bianca whispers. I stay silent, but my thoughts are racing. I'd understand this Pokémon Liberation if it truly were so. If Team Plasma were actually getting pokémon away from abusive Trainers.... I think I might've actually helped at some point.... But Munna... No. The Dreameater Pokémon chose to go with Bianca. She wanted Bianca to be her Trainer. That means Team Plasma is not liberating the pokémon; they are kidnapping them.

"Corona?" Iris asks.

"Hm?"

"I said, would you mind if we split up? Castelia City is huge, and we'd have better chances of finding her pokémon if we split up." I nod.
"Okay. I'll be with Dewott." Iris turns back to the blond.

"Don't worry! I'll be your personal body guard!" Then she grabs Bianca's hand and drags her out of the Center. I quickly go back inside for my things, then Dewott and I leave.

~Poor Munna,~ my partner murmurs. I sigh.
"Yeah... She's still really just a baby. She doesn't have the strength of an adult Munna. Team Plasma probably were able to take without a fight."

~I really hope we find her.~

"So do I, Dewott. So do I."

After searching for a few hours, we turn right onto the Gym street. Iris comes jogging down the street towards us; pulling a panting Bianca behind her.

"Any luck?" She asks. I shake my head.

"Nothing." Bianca looks like she's about to cry again. A door on the building behind us opens, and Cheren strolls out with a grin on his face. In his hand held a shiny piece of metal. However, that grin falls when he sees the four of us standing there, and he takes in the look on Bianca's face.

"Corona!? Bianca?! Whats going on?!" Iris answers for us.

"Team Plasma stole her pokémon," she says bluntly. Cheren growls lightly. He turns to Bianca.

"We'll get it back. Those idiots aren't that smart; so they're still in the area."

"Hey! Whatcha' all doing here?" We all turn and see Burgh coming out of the Gym.

"We're looking for Team Plasma," Cheren replies. Burgh's eyebrows go up.

"My, that's serious business, isn't it?" We nod. To our surprise, a boy with auburn hair walks out of the building directly across from the Gym. Wearing a Team Plasma uniform. We stare at him, and he freezes.

"N-nothing to see here! N-no Team Plasma business h-here!" I peer at him. Before he can even run, Iris tackles him to the pavement.

"Where are the stolen pokémon?!?" She hollers at him.

"In th-there..." He stutters as he points at the doors he just came out of.

"Thank you," Iris says sweetly and lets him up...before shoving the grunt roughly on his face back onto the pavement. Cheren and Burgh sigh slightly.

"I think you overdid it, Iris..." The Gym Leader deadpans. Iris shakes her head.

"No, I think he got exactly what he deserved. Let's go in!"

We go inside together with Burgh and Iris in the front. Cheren and I flank those two, with Dewott barely behind me. Meanwhile, Iris insisted that Bianca stay back, so the blond stands at the rear of our party. Two men in heavy robes are before us, with at least ten grunts. I recognize one of the men from that speech in Accumula Town; Ghetsis.

"Get ready for anything," Iris whispers harshly. I watch Cheren's hands grasp two pokéballs out of the corner of my eye. Dewott unlatches both scalchops.

"Well, well, well. How clever of us to hold our base directly across the street from your gym; eh, Gym Leader Burgh?" The robed man smirks.

Ghetsis silences him with a wave of his hand.
"How may we help you, dear Gym Leader?" Ghetsis inquires silkily. His voice is friendly, but Arceus. His red eyes were the epitome of rage, greed, and power. I didn't like him at all. Burgh keeps his cool.

"I've heard from this young lady here that her pokémon was stolen by men wearing your logo." Ghetsis ignores him.

"Is everyone here familiar with the legend of the founding of the Unova region?" He asks out randomly.

"You mean with the two dragon's, and the twin heroes?" Iris pipes in.

"The truth is this... The black dragon appeared before a hero who sought the ideal way to knit together a world of warring people. This Black Dragon-Type Pokémon shared its knowledge--and bared its fangs at those who stood against it. Together, the power of this pokémon and the hero brought unity to the hearts of all in the land, and that is how Unova was created." Cobalion, Virizion, and Terakion told me about this tale. But Ghetsis isn't saying everything...

"We shall bring back the hero and that pokémon to Unova once again! If we can win people's hearts and minds, we can easily create the world that I-- I mean-- Team Plasma- desires!"

"But that's just a story! It can't be true," Cheren argues.

"I don't know... With a dragon type, it could be possible..." Iris muses.

"Every legend has a grain of truth at it's core..." Burgh says cautiously. I can't stand it anymore. I step forward; ignoring the frightened glances Cheren sends me.

"Even if the legend is true, you would be using the legendary Dragon for what you want." I stare at the man's red eyes. "Isn't that what you are against? Didn't you say yourself that pokémon are subject to the selfish demands of humans? That hold unknown potential? How will you achieve that with the legendary Dragon?"

The green-haired man glares at me. What? He's the hypocrite here. I glare back at him. He breaks the silence with a laugh.

"Myah-ha-ha-ha! You are quite hard to figure out--a little more intelligent than I'd expected. I am fond of intelligent people, you see. You'll enjoy hearing about this... From every corner of the world, I have gathered knowledgeable people for our king's benefit. You could call them the Seven Sages. Very well! We will submit to your opinion and be on our way." He calls a grunt forward. "That girl over there... Return her Pokémon!" A red haired woman gently places a pink pokéball in Bianca's palm. The second she has the ball, Munna bursts out in a bright light, then settles on the blonde's head.

"Munny!" She cried happily. "I was so worried!"

~Bianca! I was so scared!~ Munna squealed. ~I saw them knock you out... But that was it! They just took me, and haven't let me out since!~

Ghetsis shakes his head and glares at me again.
"The friendship between Pokémon and people can be very touching. But, in order to liberate Pokémon from foolish people, we will revive the legend of Unova--and win the hearts and minds of everyone. Farewell..."

All the grunts run out, with Ghetsis behind them. As he passes me, he stops. "If I were you, I'd watch out, little girl..." He whispers subtlely. Two can play that game, sir. I brought my staff down on his foot. Hard. His red eyes bulge angrily, but he stays silent. After all, to say anything more, would be to reveal that he threatened me. He walks briskly after the other Team Plasma members.

"Thank you so much, everybody!" Bianca squeals with Munna floating around her head. "Now I'm going to Route Four! B-bye!!!" Cheren groans.
"I should go with her so she doesn't hurt herself. There's a sandstorm out on Route Four," he says running after her.

"Thank you or your help, Iris," Burgh says gratefully.

"Anytime Burgh! I was just in the area!" The girl said. "Well, I should get back to Grandpa now. Bye!" Burgh chuckles, then looks at me.

"Well, Corona, is it?" He nods his head approvingly. "You don't say very much, but you do when its important. That was bold; throwing Ghetsis's words back at him." He bursts out laughing. "And I saw what you did to his foot. Hah! He deserved it!" I would've laughed as well, but I'm worried about Ghetsis's threat.

"If I were you, I'd watch out, girlie..." Burgh rests a hand on my shoulder.

"I heard the threat as well," he sighs. "I can't do much about this though. All I can do is help you on your journey." I look at the Leader. "Are you ready for your Gym Challenge?" He asks. I nod quickly. "Good. You still have to beat me, but you won't have to work your way through my Gym. I can let you come in through the back door. It'll be quicker."

"Thank you," I finally say.

Burgh takes Dewott and I to the side entrance of the Gym. When he slides a key card through, the door opens, and we walk through into a brightly lit room. The floor is tiled in patterns of emerald green, and there is a throne at the peak of this room. I stop at one end of the battling field, and Burgh makes his way opposite me. "Well, Corona; let's get started! I'm looking to see how creative your battling style is!"

I send Dewott out as Burgh tosses a pokéball in the air.

"Swaad!" Swadloon.

"Get ready," I warn Dewott. He grunts in response.

~As if you could beat Burgh,~ the bug smirks.

"Initiate battle....... Now!" Burgh calls out. "Swadloon; string shot!" Tendrils of sticky thread fly at the otter.

"Dewott! Dodge!" He swiftly leaps out of the way. "Now Water Gun!" Water shoots at Swadloon, but the bug doesn't take much damage.

"Swadloon is a bug/grass type, Corona. Water based attacks won't really hurt it," Burgh adds. I nod.

"I'm fully aware of that."

~What do you want me to do, Corona?~ the otter asks.

"Try to avoid the threads. They're really sticky, and are hard to rip."

~I'll keep that in mind. ~

"Swadloon! Struggle Bug!" Swadloon moves quickly towards Dewott; there's no way to avoid the hit. I get an idea.

"Dewott! Use Water Pulse as she comes closer!" When Swadloon is about ten feet away, Dewott unleashes a sphere of water into her yellow face.

~What?! Hey! That's not-!~ She froze as confusion passes over her.

"Snap out of it girl!" Burgh shouts to no avail. The swadloon uses Struggle Bug on herself, and she faints. "Good job, Swadloon..." Burgh murmurs as he returns the bug type.

"Whirlipede! Go!" A lilac colored bug comes out of the pokéball.

"Whirll!"

~Corona? May I?~ my partner asks. I nod.
"Of course." He launches himself at the curled up bug, wielding dual scalchops. He slashes multiple times, then finishes with a double Razor Shell before jumping back.

"Eh?" Burgh asks. "You never even gave a command... And what was that supposed to do?" He points. "Use Steamroller!" The bug rolls forward, but then collapses. "What?!?" Tucked inside Whirlipede's plates is one of Dewott's scalchops. Now I notice that Dewott only has one scalchop. He must've tucked it when he was slashing before. Burgh sighs after he lets my otter retrieve his shell.

"I was careless. I didn't notice him put the shell there. So when Whirlipede's started rolling, he kept stabbing himself..." He clicks the pokéball open to return Whirlipede. "One more though!" Leavanny bursts out of the final pokéball.

~Hi Corona!~ I smile at the familiar face.

"Hi Leavanny."

"Leavanny! Struggle Bug, then X-Scissor!" Burgh shouts desperately. She looks at me apologetically.

~Sorry, Corona.~ She attacks Dewott with Struggle Bug, then slashes for X-Scissor.

"Dewott! Are you okay?"

~Fine,~ he grunts. ~Just peachy.~ He jumps back up to attack Leavanny with Fury Cutter.
~Oww!~

"Razor Leaf!" Burgh commands.

Thinking quickly, I shout, "Use Water Sport to block the leaves!" Dewott responds immediately, but a few leaves pass anyways and sting him. He winces.

"Don't give up. Use Fury Cutter again while she's close!" He leaps forward again and slashes three times. I see Dewott steaming just before he punches Leavanny. Oh. Revenge. He took damage, so that attack is more powerful. He also slashes twice with the scalchops. Water rushes behind the shells. Leavanny faints, and Burgh returns her.

"A very impressive battle, Corona. I didn't see those moves coming! It was very artful for you to block my attack with Water Sport, but at the same time power up your Dewott's water attacks. A well done battle." I dip my head.

"Thank you." He hands me a small stack of bills and a metal badge.

"This is the Insect Badge. You've earned it. You defeated all three of my Pokémon with only one. That's impressive." I thank him and leave with Dewott, heading straight for Route Four.
If Cheren was right, there's a sandstorm there right now... That'll be fun...