At the Pokémon Center I placed the two Pokémon I caught on Route five in the PC. Chester and Bell's data were siphoned from the Poké Balls I placed through the tubes of the machine. After I had completed my transfer. I greeted the nurse at the front as she had finished healing all six of my Pokémon. Lorelei was just finishing her conversation with my friends in the lobby and walked over to the front desk to greet me.

She looked a little distraught that I did not win the competition. Not that I blame her for witnessing something about my past that was embarrassing to admit to someone whom I just met.

But when she said those words to me.

When she said that I was supposed to be the one to win that race. She meant it, and it seemed to have broken her heart knowing that I had failed in being able to curtail such an event.

C'mon Leaf, get it together. These events that occurred were not your fault.

Though even that was hard enough to admit to myself.

"Leaf, is everything alright? Are your Pokémon fully healed up?" She asked with a kind, soft voice.

I smiled back at her, knowing she was at least putting forth the effort to ignore all that had happened today. It felt good knowing that her demeanor showed that she would put all of that behind her.

"The nurse was able to bring their health back to fighting fit." I returned with another warm smile.

"Listen, about what I said—

"Oh don't worry about that Lorelei, I-I'm sorry I wasn't able to succeed in winning the race like you thought—

"None of that matters." She said shaking her head toward me. "I'm just glad that you are feeling better. Hey, listen, do you have a moment where you and I can talk. I'll be outside the Pokémon Center."

What does she mean? Does she know about what happened to Jack now that Gastly seems to be the one following me around?

I nodded after her as she made her way towards the sliding glass doors for her exit. It made me wonder what could be so important that she wanted to tell me?

The sliding doors opened ahead of me and I slowly turned to face Lorelei. Being as discreet as I could.

I knew something was just as important that it warranted her attention toward me.

"Jack has escaped."

My eyes widened from the uncertainty of this news.

"Jacks gone?" I queried.

Lorelei nodded her head to affirm this shocking information I had just received.

"There's also something else I should tell you. I'm Lorelei of the Elite Four."

My eyes widened again from this surprise introduction.

"The Elite Four?"

I had no idea that I was in the presence of a very powerful Pokémon Trainer. No wonder her Seel looks in such tip-top shape during the race!

It was also no surprise to me that a trainer of her class would win such a measly competition like the Pokémon Bike Racing Contest of all events.

"I've been tasked by your father to observe your former ally."

I furrowed from that statement.

I thought my Dad was going to let me be after all this? Why doesn't he just leave me alone?

"And I'm assuming he told you that so that you could baby me while I'm on my journey?" I asked with a rather perturbed attitude.

"Well, he was concerned like any parent of mine would be to me." Assured Lorelei.

"Yeah, well, it would help if he wouldn't have Elite trainers spying on me every chance they get." I answered to the affirmative.

"I understand, I've mostly been watching Team Love like you and your father have been for the last several years. It looks like they have already made a foothold on the region." Said Lorelei.

Does she know where they are?

It's not like my Father wouldn't provide all the intel they needed. But it certainly doesn't surprise me that she knew this information first hand after encountering Jack in the race.

"Do you know where they may be located?" I asked while in calm thought.

"I believe, and your father may have a clue as to their whereabouts. We heard rumor that Team Love may be situated on the archipelago, the Sevii Islands."

Sevii Islands?

"How do we get to that location if it's so isolated?"

The woman pondered for a moment and then considered several options to me.

"You have the ability to sail by boat, though I'm sure crossing the sea would be a bit more of a difficult task if you can't find one on the beach of Route nineteen. They are difficult to obtain. You'd need to find an item that will allow your Pokémon the capability of crossing that treacherous sea."

"A Hidden Machine?" I answered in thought.

The Elite Trainer nodded from my deep contemplation.

"If you obtain that Hidden Machine Zero-Four, which contains the move Surf. You'll be able to meet your Father at the Sea Foam Islands and navigate the ocean south toward the Archipelago."

There was one other Hidden Machine that the Pokémon Chairman of the fan club mentioned that came to my mind.

"What about the Hidden Machine Fly? It's also an elite item that can get you anywhere." I said with wit.

"The item is only useful if your Pokémon remember's where to go. If your Pokémon were to use Fly to get to those islands. Your Pokémon could get lost. It's best to use a move that can bring you straight to the location if needed."

She's correct.

Fly is a very powerful Hidden Machine. But even Pokémon have their limits. If they are near an area that is understood to them. Fly would be very convenient, however our Pokémon have never truly discovered these areas for themselves.

I'll need to find the Hidden Machines and a water Pokémon that can Surf across Route nineteen. If I do that, I'll be able to find the place where Team Love is located.

"I need to ask you a few questions Leaf and bare with me if they are uncomfortable. There is only so much that I know from asking Autumn and it will help me and the other Elite trainers with tracking this organization down."

"Yes?" I asked politely.

"You were a member of Team Love is that correct?"

I nodded from her response.

"What was your rank?"

"Apostle, same as Jack whom you've encountered."

"When Gastly took over your body and me and Red tried to prevent you from being possessed by his body. What did you see?" She inquired with a skeptical look.

Oh no, should I really let her know? This is an end of the world situation. I don't know if anyone is ready for this!

"About my dark past..." I said with a sullen look upon my face.

"Please, if it's information I should know, don't lie to me. What did Gastly show you when he took possession of your soul?"

I don't know how else to explain this to her... She won't believe the threat this organization faces.

"H-he showed me the destruction of Kanto."

This shocked Lorelei to the core that she nearly whited out.

"The Kanto region is going to be destroyed?" She furrowed. "How long till we have to prepare?" She inquired.

"In one year." I affirmed.

"You'll have to meet your Father a lot sooner than I imagined." She said trying to joke in a serious situation.

"Leaf, Sevii Islands is heavily fortified by Team Rocket, not the Gym Leaders, nor the Elite Four altogether can penetrate that land without enough training and skill. I hope that you'll be ready in such a short amount of time."

"I'm not ready yet, I still need to obtain the third Gym Badge and more if I am to be able to beat someone like you." I proclaimed.

It was the truth, those who become skilled trainers will need to obtain the Gym Badges in order to become the very best of the region. Pokémon training was a skill, but the art of understanding Pokémon and their abilities,
also required us to be able to catch 'em all. Even Lorelei of all trainers like her understood my state of progress.

Lorelei walked toward me and placed her tender hands firmly along my shoulders and knelt down to look into mine. Her eyes were like a stormy cloud that swirled with emotion and upheaval through her glasses.

She once again was showing her optimistic side since we started on the Bike Race.

"Leaf, I'm going to bet again. This time around, you'll win for sure, and you'll save the Kanto Region. I know for a fact that you won't lose. Why?..... because I'll make sure that you don't." She said with a wink.

The way she smiled, the way she held her gaze at me. She was more confident than I had ever seen before.

"I have to get going, I need to deliver the intel to Lance and to your father." She said as she began to walk back along the trail toward Cerulean City.

"W-wait! Aren't you coming with us?" I asked longingly.

I really liked the time that I had with Lorelei and despite her having to watch me. No thanks to my Dad's permission. Her joining us would be valuable company.

The woman shook her head in disagreement and she seemed to be in a hurried mood.

"We'll meet when the time of upheaval is at hand. Take care of yourself, your Pokémon and your friends Leaf." Said Lorelei as she continued her trek onward.

There was something else that was on my mind. Something that still bothered me about my friend Red. I wanted to ask her about how my friend was able to expel Gastly from my subconscious.

"Lorelei! I don't know anything about my friend at all, he won't tell me things a lot of times anymore like he used too and he can be stupid sometimes. How did he do it? How did he get rid of Gastly so easily?"

"Hahaha! Some friend he is, I thought for sure he might have told you everything about this. His father and him are a family of Espers. Red has a unique ability to command his Pokémon using his thoughts. He's limited in his ability, but there's other caveats."

"He can dispel Ghost Pokémon with a mantra?"

This information had defeated me so much. I thought I knew about my friend all this time but I never really understood him at all.

"Lorelei I must confess, I thought I understood him. I-I thought.."

"You both need to communicate to each other. It would only help." She winked with a giggle.

I sighed from that response. She was right we've still never been good at communicating. At least he opened up a little bit to me when he caught that Diglett near Digletts Cave.

When we reach that cave. Maybe now would've been a good time to have a talk with him to build on that friendship once more.