"I think I'm going to become a Chansey at this rate," I groaned as I carried the glass container that held the Pokemon egg.

"At least when it hatches, you would get a new Pokemon friend," Emily pointed out with a smile.

After the competition, we were heading off to the Pokemon centre to rest our Pokemon.

I handed my Pokeballs to Nurse Joy, who smiled and asked Chansey to check my Pokemon egg as well.

"Could you guess what Pokemon is it?" I asked Nurse Joy.

"No," she replied. "You will only find out after it hatches. I will inform you of your egg's condition after a thorough checkup."

"Thanks Nurse Joy," I said.

"It's my job," she replied.

While Emily and I waited patiently for Nurse Joy to finish checking up our Pokemon, I decided to go and talk to Professor Elm.

"Oh, hello Fern," he said. "What can I do for you? How is your journey? Are your Pokemon okay? Did you catch any interesting Pokemon?"

Then, Professor Elm spotted Emily beside me. "Hi Emily. How is Cyndaquil? Still restless? And-"

"Professor Elm, slow down," Emily laughed. "Cyndaquil's condition seems a lot better now."

"Honestly, I didn't really catch any Pokemon... yet," I admitted.

Before Professor Elm could speak, the bell sounded - signalling that our Pokemon finished their checkups.

"Bye Professor Elm, talk to you later!" I said, disconnecting.

"Here are your Pokemon," Nurse Joy said as Chansey pushed the cart containing our Pokeballs - and egg - towards us. "They are feeling just fine and your egg is in good condition."

"Thanks Nurse Joy!" Emily and I said.

"Come on out, Chikorita," I said, sending Chikorita out of its Pokeball. "Oh and Phanpy," I added as Phanpy got out of its Pokeball.

"Chiko!"

"Phanpy, phan!"

"Cynda!" Cyndaquil walked over to them and started playing with each other.

While I watched the happy Pokemon with a bright smile, Emily went to ask Nurse Joy for directions to get to Violet City.

Emily soon returned with a map. "If we talk this route, we should get to Violet City within two to four days."

"That's great!" I said. "Chikorita, Phanpy, time to go."

"Chikorita, Phanpy, get some rest. Return," I said, grabbing the container.

Cyndaquil leaped onto Emily's shoulder and we set off yet again.

~~~~

As we travelled through a forest, I began to get the feeling that we were being followed.

I clutched the glass container protectively as we trekked through the forest.

What made it scarier is the fact that the forest was almost silent. There was no usual sound of bird Pokemon chirping, no Furret or other Pokemon moving past bushes.

"Why do I get the feeling that we are being followed?" Emily whispered to me.

"Can I keep the egg in your bag, Emily?" I asked. "Just for safe keeping."

"I will return Cyndaquil to his Pokeball," she said with a quick nod. "Come on Cyndaquil, you will be safe in here."

"Quil..." Cyndaquil yawned as Emily returned him to his Pokeball.

As soon as I helped to put the egg inside Emily's bag, a net fell on top of us.

"What's going on?" I shouted, trying to sound angry instead of sounding nervous.

"The people who did this may want our Pokemon," Emily whispered. "Let's break out of this net and get off before they arrive."

"That's a good idea," I said sending Chikorita out.

"Use Razor Leaf to cut the net," I said.

"Chi!" Chikorita had cut the net with the sharp Razor Leaf attack.

Out of the blue, a metal claw grabbed Chikorita as we were still trying to free ourselves from the net.

"Chiko!" Chikorita cried.

"Chikorita!" I gasped. Then, I spotted two people in a hot air balloon, holding Chikorita captive.

"Give Chikorita back!" I demanded.

"No can do, twit," the woman - who was on the balloon - called. "This Pokemon of yours is ours now."

"Cyndaquil, help Chikorita out!" Emily said. "Use Flamethrower!"

Cyndaquil appeared out of his Pokeball, but he looked tired.

Before the Fire Mouse Pokemon could react, another metal claw came and grabbed Cyndaquil.

"Cyndaquil!" Emily cried.

"Well, two is better than one, don't you think, Vivi?" the male asked. "And it is all thanks to your brilliant plan that made this possible."

"Of course," Vivi said proudly.

"How can you be proud of stealing Pokemon?" I shouted. "It's wrong!"

"Too bad," the male said. "Let's go, Vivi."

"Once we give these Pokemon to the boss, we will have a promotion!" she laughed.

"They are getting away!" Emily exclaimed. "And with our Pokemon!"

"I will send Salamence out," I said but before I do so, a strange person appeared out of the bushes, with an unfamiliar Pokemon by his side.

"Gallade, use Leaf Blade," he said, and his Pokemon leaped up higher than I expected to cut the balloon.

"Hey, that's not fair!" they yelled as the balloon began to fall to the ground.

We looked stunned as the unfamiliar person headed towards where the balloon had crashed landed.

"I think he's here to help," I said after a while.

"Let's go too," Emily said, taking off.

When we reached there, I spotted the most amazing thing I ever saw. The person who is helping us was touching a stone that is attached to a wristband.

Furthermore, it seemed to be reacting to another shiny looking stone on his Pokemon's - Gallade, I think - neck.

Then, he said the words that could change my life forever. "Gallade, Mega Evolve."

I could hardly notice Chikorita and Cyndaquil running towards us as Gallade changed shape, as if it was evolving.

When Gallade had somewhat evolved,
I was quite surprised that it somewhat looked like its previous evolution.

"Use Leaf Blade on Diggersby," its trainer ordered.

Diggersby? This Pokemon's name doesn't sound familiar. Maybe it's from other regions.

Gallade - or whatever it's called now - hit a mud coloured Pokemon with glowing green blades and sent it flying towards Vivi and the other person.

"How dare you do that!" she fumed.

"Finish it off with Psychic," the trainer said, ignoring her.

"That's not fair!" the male complained. "We are shooting off again!"

Suddenly, Gallade returned to its original form and walked back to its trainer.

I stared at the Pokemon in shock, dazed until the voice of its trainer snapped me back to reality.

"Are your Pokemon hurt?" the trainer asked, turning to us.

"No," we replied.

"By the way," I said, narrowing my eyes. "Do I know you?"

"I don't know you," he replied flatly. "I doubt that you know me if I don't know you."

"Thanks anyways for saving our Pokemon," Emily spoke up. "I was worried for a second there."

"Welcome," was all he said before walking back into the bushes.

"Fern?" Emily asked. "Are you okay? You seemed a little dazed."

"I'm fine," I replied, bending down to carry Chikorita in my arms.

Chikorita gave me a look which seemed to say, "You were lying, weren't you?"

I sighed and looked at Chikorita's bright red eyes, hoping that my Pokemon would understand.

"Come on," Emily said after a while. "Let's head to Violet City."

As the sun began to set, I gazed at it, thinking.

That incident made me determined to find out how Gallade somehow evolved but changed back into its original form again.

Perhaps it is time for me to take another path. Maybe not now, but when the time comes, I just hope I am ready to uncover the truth.

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Hi, what do you think of the book so far? And who do you think is that unfamiliar person who helped them - with a Mega Gallade? Vote if you really think this chapter is good! :)