Chapter 57: Search 

After putting ten minutes in between us and possible pursuers, I found a cluster of trees and crouched behind them, lowering Bagon to the ground where he jumped out of my arms, refusing to turn towards me. 

"I know you want revenge," I said. 

Bagon looked up, eyes burning in anger. He looked like a true Dragon Pokemon with his rage. Researchers weren't exactly sure if Pokemon knew what was happening around them before they hatched, but I remembered the shattered eggshells and the sense of lifelessness that Meteor Falls had been haunted with. The chamber where Bagon was the only surviving egg. 

Those people had taken his family. I may not be sentimental, but I did know anger for losing someone that I cared for- stolen from me. 

I kept my own anger in check, focusing on the matter on hand. 

"Bagon, I honestly don't care how you feel about them right now. The only reason I would possibly care is if it will help us get my Pokemon, your friends, and Dawn back," I stated. "We will not rest until they're safe." 

He nodded, a curt bob of his head. 

I took a few seconds to check his condition- quick breathing, somewhat trembling limbs. Bagon's endurance was pathetic, but I couldn't dwell on that. He was all I had to save Dawn and our Pokemon. Complaining about it wouldn't do any good and I knew by criticizing Bagon I would only be criticizing my own abilities as a Trainer. 

Right now, Bagon couldn't battle experienced Pokemon without fainting immediately. I couldn't get caught by the people who had taken Dawn until I formed a strategy that involved sneaking around, which I disliked. Mauville City was still too far away for me to run to for help and I disliked asking for help in the first place. 

Yet Dawn's safety hung in the balance. 

They wouldn't hurt her, I told myself, wanting to believe it. They took her for a reason and left me. There was a reason they needed her, and usually people are needed alive. 

I didn't want to think of other possibilities. Dawn had to live. I couldn't go through losing someone I loved again. 

I kept myself from panicking by putting a hand on Bagon's head, pretending I was only doing it to calm him down and not myself. "Listen to me and we'll be alright." 

Bagon nodded again, slower this time, obviously assured that every word out of my mouth was absolutely true. 

If only I could believe it myself.

I decided it'd be best to attempt to find their base, assuming there were more members of this gang than there were at our campsite. I carried Bagon while we walked, desperate for him to save his energy. It was a bad sign that he didn't retort to me helping him. On a normal day, Bagon would be offended that I considered him too weak to walk by himself. He didn't have much energy left. 

During the walk, which was spent in absolutely silence, moving with precision and caution in case of being found, I realized why the uniforms seemed so familiar to me. I'd seen them in news reports years ago- Team Magma.  

They were one of the two main organizations in Hoenn that were destructive and, to put it bluntly, absolutely idiotic when it came to their goal. Yes, the world's land masses in proportion to the oceans were not ideal for humans, but this was the way the world was and upsetting the natural balance of earth and ocean was something that naïve humans such as themselves shouldn't disturb. Their plan to awaken Groudon, who Team Magma had hoped would expand the land, had failed and ever since Team Magma hadn't been in any major news as far as I was aware. 

Team Magma. What a ridiculous name. Why organizations with dirty backgrounds had to have titles that seemed to be invented by preschoolers was beyond me. 

Still, they had kidnapped Dawn and, even if they'd been defeated before, they still existed and seemed capable of more than I thought possible.  

I couldn't really think of reasons why Team Magma would want to take Dawn or even our Pokemon considering I'd heard Team Magma hated Water type Pokemon and commonly kept to using specific Pokemon, such as Fire and Ground types. Why they'd taken our Pokemon, especially knowing that Piplup was a Water type, was still a mystery. 

I decided I'd wait until I had more information before jumping to conclusions as I walked through the forest, hoping each step was bringing me closer to Dawn.

I walked all day, not stopping to rest. I was sore from running with my Pokemon past my limitations and my side hurt from being rammed into. My stomach growled from hunger, but I ignored it until Bagon pointed out a berry tree. 

Upon further inspection, I realized it was a Pecha Berry tree and tried not to inhale the scent, forcing my heart to slow down and my brain to stay calm as thoughts of Dawn, scared and surrounded by Team Magma, surfaced. 

I grabbed a handful of berries, handing them to Bagon. They wouldn't restore much health considering they were supposed to be used to cure poisoning, but it would still give him strength. I plucked a few for myself, needing them for energy, almost hating the sweet taste. Until I retrieved Dawn, all things related to her would be burning, aching reminders that I'd let her down- not only by my answer, but by letting her be taken and hurt by absolute strangers who did not have good intentions for her. 

I would not lose Dawn. 

It was nightfall and I'd been walking all day, beginning to panic about my lack of progress. I couldn't fail. Failure was unacceptable. It had always been unacceptable, but this time the stakes were higher than I'd ever had them. 

I could not lose Dawn. 

A flickering light to my left grabbed my attention. I crept closer to the source, gripping Bagon tightly to my chest, using the foliage to shield our approach. I stared at the source of the light which came from a small outbreak of trees near a cliff to my left. Straight ahead was a mountain-like wall of rock. I saw the entrance to a cave in the center. Directly in between us and the cave was a campfire. I could hear the sound of people talking quietly. They all were frustrated and talking at the same time, making it hard to decipher their words. 

Peeking over the leaves of a bush, I saw a group of about ten Team Magma members, all standing and discussing something that seemed important. 

"Shut up!" a man barked, causing the rest to fall silent. A Houndoom stood next to him, its shackles raised. The same Houndoom from before. I guessed its Trainer was the leader of the group, "If you don't like my plan, then go disband with the rest of the vermin who dared call themselves a part of Team Magma. Just because our plan with Groudon didn't work years ago doesn't mean our plans will fail this time." 

"But sir, kidnapping an innocent girl?" A boy that seemed approximately my age spoke, seeming extremely nervous. 

"Tom, when you joined, you swore you'd do anything for Team Magma to equalize both the land and sea. Are you telling me that you've changed your mind on a lifetime promise?" The leader squared his shoulders threateningly. 

"N-no, it's just... it feels wrong." Tom stuttered. 

"I see." 

Everyone around the fire ceased talking as their leader stared with cold eyes at Tom, who avoided them, shivering.  

"Houndoom," the leader snapped. 

Instantly, the Houndoom growled and hurled itself at Tom who hardly had time to turn around before the dog-like Pokemon was upon him. Tom tried to buck the Pokemon off, but Houndoom's claws ripped into his shirt and tore through his flesh, holding the human in place no matter how much Tom howled and begged for release. 

My eyes widened and I felt Bagon shudder against me- even I would never set my Pokemon on a human being. Not unless they were committing a crime. I thought through my options- if I helped him, my presence would be noticed. Bagon was still recovering strength from the last battle. My other Pokemon could be anywhere near the cave, though I had no time to search for them right now to help Tom. And if I had to pick between saving a stranger or Dawn, I'd always pick Dawn. 

"Flamethrower." 

The Houndoom opened its mouth and I saw the fire begin growing. 

"No... no....!" Tom pleaded. 

I averted my eyes right before the attack was released, wincing as a blood curdling shriek of pain was emitted into the night air, almost making me nauseous. If Tom got this just for a shred of doubt in their plan, what did they have in store for Dawn?  

My hands balled into trembling fists around Bagon. What was I going to do?

Hellooooo Readers!

Duuuude! Righteousness. I'm not speaking turtle. Ok, that probably makes no sense. If it does, please tell me so we can share one of those moments. You know, inside jokes. I like those. I wish I had some (kidding, I have some. If you know what I'm indirectly quoting there too, tell me).

ANYWAY, I'm distracted. YES this chapter was short. And, to get you all prepared for my Future Sight attack, the next chapter will also be short. The GOOD news- I'm updating next Friday on 6/20/2014. The even better news- the chapter after THAT (which should be the next next Friday from now, 6/27) will be like eight pages long. And awesome. And incredibly amazingly AMAZING and probably create comments like "WHOA Flips! FLIPS! OMG!" so... maybe I shouldn't excite you too much. You're stuck with short chapters (not to rub it in or anything). Just keep on using Calm Mind, people. Oh wait, I used Taunt. Kind of. Oops. Guess you can't O_o

I'm hyper. I think that's obvious. (I'm currently reading "No Capes" by joecool123 and if you like superheroes and sarcastic girl characters and enigmatic "WHO THE HECK IS THIS GUY WHEN HE'S NOT A SUPER!?" stories... this story is for you. Check, check, and check for me.) What does this all mean? I'm hyper. 

I haven't even really talked about THIS chapter. (Rambling) Oops. Heh. Ok, so obviously- short. Secondly, very violent compared to an anime episode where people can get burnt and it's a-ok. No, in the real world, getting smitherened is not a-ok, so it's not in my story. Which makes no sense that I'm ok with creatures being able to produce those attacks and that's perfectly real world logical... ok, for all purpose of my story, I try to make it like Pokemon with real consequences. Not that anyone asked. Like I said, I'm hyper.

Is anyone still reading this? If you are, tell me. I'd love to know if people really read these things. (By the way, I could totally put a spoiler right here and people who don't read them would have noooo idea. Sounds so devious. Let me put one now- in a Dawn POV I wrote which is around chapter 49Bish, they stargaze in their sleeping bags.... yes, bags with an s. That's all I'm giving you. But it's still a spoiler only you special people who read this whole thing get to know. Shhh don't tell. Just wink or something. And yes, I'm posting that eventually.).

So yes, update next week! Don't hyperventilate on me. Or die. Or... get stuck doing dishes when I update. I don't know, just have a good weekend and make sure every time you play Gold/Silver, you choose Cyndaquil. Cyndaquil is the best.

Pokemon Question of the Week: What starter are you getting in the new remakes of Ruby/Sapphire and WHY!? And if you're not getting the games for whatever reason, humor me and tell me which one you WOULD get.

You guys rock! Thanks for reading!

-Flips

PS- OH MY ARCEUS I almost forgot to do my super annoying ask of... almost said "No eating, no drinking, no flash photography (Paul hates pictures- he'll charge if you make him mad, which is SUPER easy), keep your hands inside the chapter..." spiel. Nope. I need this one... here- Make sure you comment, vote, follow, blah blah blah you know the drill. Find Nemo. Yes, that's now a command. Do it. I'm off to read No Capes before I freak out. (I feel your pain, readers- I'm going to get to the end and I don't know how soon he'll update this story. Noooooo).

I hope you enjoyed the chapter. NOW GET OUT! And if you didn't like your cruise, my username is not gymnastgirlflips, but something entirely different. Like Bob. It's catchy. Complain about Bob instead.