This chapter was made about five or six months after the previous three. So if they sound different, that's why.

     We were still flying. "Charizard, land here."

     It was dawn the next day. When we were far enough away, I got back on Charizard's back and had returned Serperior to his Pokéball. We crossed the waters between Snowpoint City and the Areas. I was thinking of going to Hoenn, but only Kevin had gone there, and even then for a short time. So I decided on going back to Kanto and then heading out to Johto. Perhaps I could hide somewhere there, though anywhere away from modern technology. Maybe a cave? I knew of a good, isolated cave in Johto anyway. One thing I've learned about the bump on my wrist that I got from my time on Hunter J's ship was that they can track me using it now. That's why all technology made me uncomfortable and how Giovanni got into my head while dreaming in his little simulation. I've thought about getting rid of my Pokétch even, and getting my regular watch. I don't use the other apps anyway. It meant I had to stop in Pallet Town, so I could say hi to everyone again. It also meant I had a chance to tell the people of my home town my own prediction of the next little while. Oh yeah, right. Only Kevin and Bill know of my ability, excluding Hunter J and Team Rocket. Pallet Town was just beyond the sea, westward of where we were.

     Charizard's sudden landing jarred me back to reality.

     "Oof!"

     Here we were, now in Snowpoint City. Charizard blew fire in a small circle around himself to keep warm. I called him back into his Pokéball, "Thanks, buddy."

     I shivered pulling out my compact down coat from my PokéBag (they do exist, I own one...or three) along with my gloves and a Mareep wool hat from the coat's pockets. I headed for the PokéMart and Pokémon Center, respectively, to get some max- and full restores, full heals, and some revival herbs. I did have more than a few Poké from so many battles over the years. Then to heal my Pokémon and rest for the night at the Pokémon Center, though I dreaded what would come from my dreams.

     "And where else can we stay?" I replied to myself sarcastically. "Nowhere."

     I entered the PokéMart, putting on a carefree happy-go-lucky smile in case the clerks were watching me. I grabbed a small basket to carry my supplies in. Looking around on the sheves, I saw all I came for. The revival herbs, the max- and full-restores, full heals. I grabbed plenty of each; thirty-six revival herbs, full heals, and max- and full restores. Six of each item for each of my Pokémon. Looking around one last time, I headed towards the front.

     "Hi!" said the clerk that I walked up to. "Hi," came my greeting. I wasn't in the mood to talk to the clerks in a friendly manner, there was too much to do and think about. I was still polite, but I wasn't out for friends at the moment. He made small talk, which I responded to absently, while he checked out my items. I payed him the amount of Poké that was needed and left, heading to the Pokémon Center. Sighing, I looked at the time. It was dawn when we arrived at Snowpoint, now it was 8:00am. I thought about sleeping through the day and traveling westward to Kanto, though I realized that either I or Charizard would have to fly us. Charizard's tail would be a beacon of sorts, and I didn't have the strength to fly that far. We all could always take the S.S. Spiral back to Vermillion City, where the S.S. Anne was docked, but that's way too noticeable. If I wanted to leave the region in the most inconspicuous way, it had to be by air during late dawn or early dusk. Preferably dawn so we could hide in the sun's light as it is rising in the west. I sighed one last time before entering the Pokémon Center.

     Unclipping my Pokémon from my PokéBag, I offer all my Pokémon to her to heal except Persian, calling him out of his ball. "Will you heal my Pokémon?" I asked Nurse Joy.

     Nurse Joy nodded kindly and brought out a Pokéball tray, placing the five Pokéballs on it. "Sure thing!" she replied. She handed the tray to a Chansey and it took my Pokémon into the back. I am not leaving at 4am this time. Or I'd hope I don't.

     I nodded to her and left the Pokémon Center with Persian walking at my side. Cold air hit me like a slap in the face as I exited the Pokémon Center. "Want to walk around a bit, Persian?"

     "Persian," came his reply. Then he bounded off and, with me caught unawares, I followed him through the snow. I tried to keep up, but he wouldn't slow down and the snow was at least a foot and a half deep. Even as we went towards the north of Snowpoint City, the snow grew deeper, and he didn't slow down. I stumbled through the snow after him still. My jeans were cold and snowy, but my blood was pumping, keeping me warm. "Persian!" I called, "wait up!"

     His only reply was, "Persian!" He never stopped nor slowed, until we got to a really tall tree. He sat under the tree, where there was hardly any snow. Panting, I half walk, half trip over to him and sat on the ground next to him. "What was that about?" I inquired as I caught my breath.

     Persian just stared past me, giving no response. When I turned to see what he was staring at, I saw nothing. Turning back to him, I ask, "Why did you-- PERSIAN!" He was already getting up and started sprinting back towards Snowpoint City. Without having a choice, I stood unsteadily and followed on cold feet.

     "I've had you nearly forever," I muttered, "I have more than eight badges, and this happens the second we leave Kanto?" I ran after his retreating form. We soon ended back up at the Pokémon Center, but there was a truck near it. Near the front. Not the back, where supplies would be delivered.

     I look at Persian, baffled. "How did you know?" I whispered to him. He just stared at the Pokémon Center without answering me. Standing beside him, I took a moment to turn into a Sneasel, moving my limbs after my bones stop shifting. Walking closer to the door, I heard nothing, which was very unerving. "Let's get closer."

     Everything seemed normal; the lights were on, the normal music could be heard faintly through the door. The only thing out of the ordinary was the van. What do I do with my PokéBag? I looked around and saw nowhere I could leave it safely, so I just get a better grip on the straps and make sure that nothing can make noise inside. Then I nodded and we moved into the Pokémon Center as one. For a heartbeat I considered changing into a Persian, but I could sense that would be difficult. Nontheless, looking around to see no one, I tried anyway. I've gotten used to my bones reshaping with the first of the evolution families, and it would seem that the higher I went, the harder it was for my human body to reshape itself.

     Gasping quietly, "Gah," I successfully changed into a Persian. Still no one was here. Persian just watched me, though his ears were angled outwards to hear anyone who isn't supposed to be here. I angled my ears to the front desk of the Pokémon Center to listen. Muffled voices came through the closed door that led to where the Pokémon were kept.

     "Look, we just want her Pokèmon." I heard from pressing my ear up to the door.

     "At least her Pokémon," muttered someone else. They obviously wanted to ransack the Pokémon Center. The first voice sounded... familiar.

     The first voice spoke again, but to another person. "Look for her other five Pokémon. They have to be here somewhere." I heard the shuffle of footsteps.

"How...?" I said, looking at Persian. This was all going wrong. I was so lost in thought that I missed when the familiar sounding man said, "We don't need to worry about her Persian, remember. Just the other five."

     When he said that Persian flinched suddenly after the mumbled words I missed, as if he were just struck. "You okay, Persian?" He looked at me strangely and finally nodded. I heard the footsteps receed. "Good. Now lets get the others." Why is Persian so jumpy? He never was like that, not even when we all battled the Indigo League or when we were fleeing the tunnels. I gave a signal, and we both moved through the door, silent as shadows. The door closed automatically behind us, as the doors in Pokémon Centers normally would, and I saw men; Rocket grunts, to be exact. They were all over the halls and I could see them in rooms where windows were. In the examination rooms, the healing rooms, the store rooms. Everywhere. I glance at Persian.

     "This is really happening, isn't it, bud? We've got to find the others, quickly!" I slink through the hallway, trying to figure out which store room would have my Pokémon in it. To bad I didn't practice a Luxray! I'd need to be able to see through a few things in here. If only. Persian followed me, though as we moved on, he seemed much more reluctant to follow and held back a few feet or so. I could tell him to go back, but he is one of my strongest Pokémon I have, since everyone else isn't even hooked on my PokéBag. Passing another store room, a voice startled me.

     "Hey! It's Persian! Keep up the charade." Without knowing what to do, I nodded and turn around as casually as I could. Persian was gone. I turned back towards the store room the Rocket grunt was in, and entered, looking for the arrow-pierced treble clef mark I put on all my Pokémon's Pokéballs. "Nice job! You've got her bag." I nod again, then looked back at the Pokéball. Then quite a few shiny regular Pokéball caught my eye. And then a net ball. Then an ultra ball. The arrow-pierced treble clef marks. I found them! No one seemed to be watching me closely except the grunt that thought I was someone else, somehow. Then it clicked. Persian's unmarked Pokèball. His weird behavior. His knowing about Team Rocket's ambush. That Persian is Giovanni's, not mine! And that grunt thinks that I'm Giovanni's Persian. I can work with this. Looking back at the grunt, I motion to him to hook my Pokémon to my PokéBag. He nodded, as though thinking that was a great idea, and picked up the Pokéballs, hooking them to the bag. As I was about to leave to look for my Persian, he called me back.

     "Hold on, Persian. Go talk to Brandon. He has the girl's Persian. Go and get it from him and then head for the Boss."

     "Persian." I nodded. Then I headed back out of the hallways and into the lobby, out the door, and into the Snowpoint City snow.

     "Alright, Rockets," I murmured before changing back, "time you met a force to be reckoned with, hm?"

     Now back to normal, I grabbed Lucario's Pokéball and called him out. "Lucario," I said urgently, taking off my PokéBag and handing it to him. "I want you to go into the northern trees, near the coast, and hide there with everyone else. Persian never came back when we got away from J. That was Giovanni's own Persian. I have to go and get our Persian back, and I know exactly where he is." I turned away, towards the Pokémon Center, then I sensed Lucario about to disobey and come with me out of concern. "Lucario, you had better stay there. If everyone is caught, we are all screwed. I'll be okay, I promise." Lucario nodded reluctantly and started to head north. "Lucario!" I called quietly, as I thought of a possibly necessary plan B. "If I don't come back by morning, head to Kanto and get Kevin. Charizard knows the way." And with a wave, we went our separate ways. Not for good, I added silently, I hope. My back felt very light, having been relieved from carrying my PokéBag by Lucario. I didn't like it.

     Halfway back I changed into a Persian again, stepping in my previous footsteps. I was full of energy, and my paws felt like they barely touched the snow. Then I saw the Pokémon Center doors, the lights were dark. I walked confidently through the doors, trying to act like an important Pokémon. I strode through to the back halls, now headed for Brandon. I shivered slightly. If this goes wrong... no. It can't. Looking into each room for Brandon, I spotted men jeering. Well, I heard them first. They were teasing something pale in color that had something on its forehead that gleamed crimson...

     "Persian!" I said, somewhat mockingly, as if to join the grunts, but I found my Persian! We start spitting at each other, though we are saying how we worried about the other. To keep the act, I told him to hit me with unsheathed claws so that I could be remembered as Giovanni's Persian, not as a fake. We start swiping, and he swipes my left foreleg, missing. Jumping back I hiss at him, seemingly angry, and get out of reach of his claws. The grunts were cheering for me until Persian landed a scratch on me, and I noticeably shrugged and licked away some blood on my new scratch after getting way out of Persian's range.

     "Maybe we overestimated her Persian, huh, boys?" One of them turned to me. "Go and get back to the Boss, Persian." They all then started taunting Persian again, and I headed out.

     "Wait, Persian," another said. "How about I come with you? I'll lead you to Brandon." He walked ahead of me. "Follow me." Great. Now they'll think I am their ally. I followed him, looking in the rooms we passed every so often. Then he stopped at a door and knocked. "Brandon, Persian is back, ready to report." I gulped silently. Report? Pokémon can't talk! Still, I followed him in. Brandon was standing behind a desk, now watching me silently. I stared at him calmly. Act as if you belong here, and they will believe it.

     Finally, Brandon breaks the silence. "Report, please, Persain."

     "Persian?" I asked, unsure of how to respond.

Brandon sighed. "Leave, Mike." The grunt that lead me here left and closed the door behind him. Then Brandon looked at me, unblinkingly, in the eye. "Giovanni told me that you would answer to me while you were playing your role. Now, report." He pointed to a machine that I didn't notice before. It was small and hidden mostly behind his desk. There was a mike attached to it, and also a speaker. My heart sunk and I had to force myself to remain calm. They get Pokémon to talk here? I then glanced at his belt, which had a normal Pokéball with a treble clef mark on it, and made as if I were headed over to the machine. In order to get to the mike, I had to pass Brandon by, so I used my opportunity. Suddenly my paw flicked up and grabbed Persian's Pokéball.

     "Hey! Persian, what do you think you are doing?" exclaimed Brandon while I was already getting through a now-opened door. "Get back here with her Pokémon!" I ran down the halls, back to the room I saw Persian in. Brandon, of course, chased me, though I was faster. Dashing into the room, and practically Persian as well, I used Crunch on Persian's chain and we fled, him on my tail. We headed through a straight forward path to get through the door, then the lobby, until we were in the safety of the snowy city outside.

     Sensing that changing back would only slow us down and reveal my whereabouts, I decided to head north to the coast, Persian matching me step for step while running along side me. "Thank Arceus you're safe, Persian!"

     Persian nodded. "It was tedious, acting weak, but I got the idea from you when we were on the ship. We all heard you scream, though we couldn't guess from what, and Lucario said you were faking it. He sensed your illusion. So I made my own illusion to be weak as well."

     "We should do that from now on if we are ever caught again." We arrived at the coast, and Lucario, now seeing us, got up from under a tree without snow at its base. Lucario greeted us with something not greet-worthy.

     "Crystal, you have to change back. You and Persian are being followed, and we should leave."

     I nodded. "Now." Changing back, with quite a bit of painful bone shifting, Lucario hands me my PokéBag. Once I took its full, comforting weight, I winced and almost drop it. Regaining strength and control of my arms, I shrugged it over my shoulders and called Charizard out immediately, recalling Persian into his marked Pokéball. "Lucario, get on Charizard. Charizard, once he's on, fly towards Kanto, but towards Vermillion. I'll catch up. Yes," I say, breaking into Charizard's arguement, "I know. But they will have to let something slip. I'll be a random Snowver, those are common here. Oh, Lucario, I guess I need you to hold my bag again." I handed my bag back to him and sigh. "Now get on Charizard, Lucario! Fly low, below the tree level. I'll be behind you soon and we'll head home." I quickly changed to a Snowver, which was relatively painless compared to a Persian, and I walked around behind the tree Lucario was sheltering behind. Just as Charizard lifted off, I heard men.

Time for pay back, and then I heard them. Their plans and what they planned to do to catch up. Perfect.

✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿

If the last few sentences sounded somewhat vicious, blame Warrior Cats, particularly Tigerstar and the whole of the Place of No Stars aka the Dark Forest. Yeah. Reading and then writing with those things in my head... probably not my best idea. Oh well. It probably fits in.