May 11

31 Days until Torrent Day

Dear Diary,

You know, I thought 'Dear Diary' would sound better than Dear Journal, but it still sounds weird. Maybe I'm not doing this stinkin thing right. Is there even a way I'm supposed to write in this thing? Oh well. It should be no one's concern as to how I fill one of these things out, right?

Oh right, I have to do this in case prying eyes come across it. My bad.

I wasn't going to write in this thing. After all, all I've had time for is create the perfect plan for this operation. I've always had the routine of being stuck in the computer lap to do research with other members in my unit; however, I just need to get something off my chest as today went a bit different than usual.

Have you ever dealt with someone you just can't stand? Or do you know of someone who when she walks in a room, you just feel like throwing up? I guess this person doesn't have to be a she, but the person I'm thinking of is a girl, and she's the most obnoxious, stuck up, and stubborn person I've ever dealt with.

I mean—in addition to making sure that the mission that Asher, Lynne, and I are doing—I still have to do other things around the base to make sure no one knows about it. Our mission is a secret. Maxie doesn't want anyone to know about it unless they are involved in it or are an admin. The less people that knew about it the better. After all, we were going to send someone in Team Aqua's liar. What would happen if Team Aqua did the same, and had a spy here?

I just didn't do as much around the building, and unfortunately, my sworn enemy noticed. I was minding my own business in the library, doing a different assignment for Tabitha. I thought I was alone and pulled out a book about Team Aqua. We only had one copy of it, and we had to have permission to have it. Of course, I had already gotten the clear from Maxie, but one knew that. All that mattered was that I got my hands on it, so Asher, Lynne, and I could study it a bit.

Just as I was going to look at it, the book was snatched out of my hands. When I looked to see who it was, it had to be Amber Parks. Her long, curly, brown hair was pulled up in a high ponytail, showing off green eyes that I was a bit envious of. I won't ever admit that though for many reasons. She was about five inches shorter than me, so I could easily snatch the book away from here. The problem there would be she would know something suspicious was going on.

"You know, I wasn't going to ask why you were acting so sketchy lately, but seeing you have this book, it raises a bit of a red flag," she told me. "Just how long were you planning on betraying Team Magma?"

The nerve! I'm the hardest working grunt in this organization, and she accuses me of betraying Team Magma? I couldn't believe her, especially since I've been around a lot longer than her. If anything, she should be asking me for advice. I am her elder! She's only been around for a year. A year! And yet, she thinks she knows everything and makes it her goal to irritate me!

But did I use my seniority on her? No. I couldn't. She was two years younger than me too. The girl wouldn't think that would be too much of a difference.

"I wasn't, and I'm not," I muttered as I held my hand out to her. I thought by doing this, she would get the hint.

Instead Amber had the audacity to turn her back on me and look at the book. "Oh really?" She looked over her shoulder and smiled her devious little smile she always did. "Then where were you that day at Mount Chimney? From what I've heard from some other people, you just got up and left without a word."

"I was preventing Team Aqua from getting any closer," I somewhat lied. I mean, it was a bit of truth. That's what I ended up doing, but it was all coincidental. "No one seemed to notice how unusually quiet it was getting, so I decided to look for them."

Amber rolled her eyes. "Yeah right. Sounds likely."

I don't remember if I responded or not. I mean, Amber really believed me. She said so.

But then she started laughing hysterically. I wasn't sure what was so funny. I mean, I didn't try cracking a joke or did anything to embarrass myself. At least, I don't think I did. Why she started laughing was beyond me.

She started to walk away, making me realize she had my book. That was probably why she laughed. Amber was just trying to shock me so she could take off with that book!

"Wait! Give me that book back!" I started to yell as I took off running after her.

The girl took a sharp turn past one of the book cases. That was one of the luxuries about being a member of Team Magma. We had one of the biggest libraries ever. One could get lost by the mahogany shelves filled with leather bounded books filled with information on anything and everything. There were so many of these bookshelves that the library was more like the maze my brothers and I use to participate in every October back home.

Unlike that maze, this was the kind I wanted to get lost in, even if I've read almost every book in this place. Despite that, now wasn't the time to get lost, or lose anyone right now.

That was when an idea popped in my mind. I grabbed the two Poké Balls on my belt and threw them out. Both Mikie and Cami leapt out of their Poké Balls, tilting their heads for a moment before turning around to look back at me.

Yeah, I can see where they were a bit confused. I always kept my Pokémon tucked inside their Poké Balls. The only times they were out was when they were needed for battle, meals, and if I was alone in my room. Seeing a library was the last thing they were expecting, especially Mikie. My Mightyena growled whenever another member of Team Magma would cross. It wasn't because they were doing anything wrong, but because he knew something wasn't right.

At least, I hope that was the case.

I bent down and scratched him behind the ear, causing the Pokémon to glare at me. It got him to stop growling at the people around us, but I could still feel how tense he was.

"Mikie," I told him, "I need you to calm down. No biting anyone this time, okay? Right now, I need you and Cami to do something very important for me. Think you can do that for me, boy?"

Just like that, Mikie relaxed. This is how things always had to go with him. Mightyena needed to be constantly reminded not to tear people apart. As long as I told him once, he would act like the sweetest Mighteyna ever.

Being the sweetest of Mightyena wasn't saying much. Mightyena are known to have a bit of a temper.

After explaining to him and Cami what needed to be done, they left to find Amber. I stood up, looking around to find this brunette enemy of mine.

I would never understand what she had against me. It wasn't like I did anything to upset her. Not on purpose at least. All I did was my job. She would mosey around her job, gossiping alongside Courtney. It was annoying.

Someone needed to put her in her place, remind her not to interfere with the plans and the plan of action. I didn't want to make a big deal of it, but after finding Mikie and Cami trapping Amber in the corner of the library, I thought it would have to be me.

"Give me the book, Amber," I told her. "I need it."

Amber didn't look away from Mikie, who was returned to his violent self. He growled and snapped at her, causing the brunette to flinch. She clutched onto the book, refusing to let go of it.

That is until Mightyena snapped at her again, nearly biting her hand off.

"Mikie, heel," I commanded. Mikie pulled back, sitting down and glancing back at me. I didn't have to tell Cami anything as I glanced back at Amber and crossed my arms. "Amber, I need that book back right now."

Amber shook her head. She tucked the book under one arm and grabbed her single Poké Ball from her belt. "I don't think so. Zubat, Supersonic!"

A purple Pokémon flew out of his Poké Ball and shot his attack on Mikie. I couldn't believe it! She had the nerve to attack my Pokémon in the library! You don't do that! I'll say right now, no books were harmed in the battle that took place, but dear Mew! The entire time I felt my hairs standing up, knowing that she...well, WE could have damaged the books in this place.

The Team Magma library wasn't just filled with books. It was filled with important information, making it the LAST place to have a battle. Things would be different if a Team Aqua member came into this place, but to send an attack against another member of the same team?

I pulled Mikie out of the battle, knowing he would've been the problem of torn documents and ripped books. That only left me with the type advantage of a flying type like Zubat verses a part ground type like Cami, my Numel.

"Use Ember!" I yelled.

"Block it with Air Cutter!" Amber announced.

The two attacks were shot. Fiery bits of fire flung into the air, but once it hit halfway to her opponent, it flung back, hitting Cami right into the face. She slid back, and I ran back to make sure she didn't collide into the nearest bookshelf.

Let me tell you, she got scarily close to it too. The library wasn't made for Pokémon battles. It was made to learn and keep important pieces of information in here.

Around us, the other members of Team Magma, did one of two things. Either, they circled around us, creating a semi-protective barrier for the bookshelves and documents in this place, or they ran. I wasn't a fan of those watching. Don't get me wrong. I was happy that Zubat and Cami didn't have much room to mess things up in the library, but now, I felt like the entire team was watching me.

Geez. To think I was supposed to keep my mission on the down-low. If Maxie learned about this, I would be screwed.

"Now it's our turn," Amber announced. "Zubat, use Wing Attack!"

"Cami, dodge it!" I yelled.

Well, I can tell you one of the Pokémon listened and made a direct hit. It wasn't Cami's fault. She turned to run, but there were too many members in her way. Cami froze due to the overwhelming pressure of the people looking at her. Her eyes widened as she looked at the many grunts who surrounded us, and upon seeing that, I realized my big mistake.

Cami hated crowds. She'd be fine if the situation called for it, but my poor little Numel had a little thing called stage fright, especially when people from our side was watching.

Things weren't looking too good for us. Two super-effective attacks hit her head on. We haven't trained in a while, mainly because I was pulling together our mission, but that wasn't an excuse. Seeing her in this mess made me realize I still needed to train with my Pokémon a little bit everyday.

"Pathetic," Amber boasted. "That's the best you can do? Dodge? Zubat, let's finish them with Wing—"

Thank goodness she suddenly stopped, though, it did confuse me at the moment. We both looked around to see the people surrounding us slowly melting away. It didn't make sense at first, until I saw a round man wearing a long red sweater onesie under his Magma uniform. His dark hair swooshed to the side, as he stared at Amber and me with a neutral expression.

As a member of Team Magma, we all knew you're not allowed to battle unless you were in the training room. This rule was overruled if a member of Team Aqua was here. If someone were to be seen doing this, someone should notify an admin before things got worse.

Thank Mew it was Tabitha that got called down and not Courtney.

"Sir, I know this looks bad, but I caught her with this in her hands!" Amber announced while showing Tabitha the rather large book.

I returned Cami into her Poké Ball and looked at the man. Tabitha wasn't like Courtney or Maxie. Well, I guess they were all different as Maxie made it hard to see how he was feeling while Courtney was always giddy all the time. If she wasn't, then you knew it was bad.

But Tabitha was different. He was always calm and knew how to handle the situation before it got worse. If anything, he was a bit more timid than Maxie and Courtney, but he still enforced fear somehow. Maybe that was because he ranked above people, giving him power.

Power caused fear. It was what I feared of facing if I ever got promoted. Power causes people to change and never for the better.

Tabitha didn't listen. All he did was then to look at me, and raised an eyebrow. It was a silent question; one of which I just nodded my head in agreement. Amber was being truthful when she said how this all started, but in my defense, she was the one who initially started it.

With that response, Tabitha took the book away from her and ushered Cami and me out of the library. I could feel the other's staring at me as I left, but I wasn't sure what else I could really do. After all, I had to get that book. I got permission. I was just caught.

It taught me one valuable lesson, dear reader. From now on, I needed to be aware of interference. While everyone has the same old story to tell, with the same variables they faced, there will be unwanted obstacles, barriers even, that will come into play. It was what we did during those times that would define who we are.

I played it calm. I told my side of the story to Tabitha, who already knew I was on this mission anyways. He warned me to stay quiet, just like he gave me the advice to watch out for these barriers I could face.

Had he not shown up, Cami would've feinted. It would all have been Amber's fault. It was always her fault when things went bad. She wasn't unintentionally had to slow down Team Magma's most important mission of all.

One of these days, she would pay for her actions. I guarantee it.

Until then, I would just have to stay focused on this mission. We can't afford to lose this. The fate of the world rested in our hands.

Signing Off,

E. Flame

Author's Note:

I apologize this chapter didn't come out sooner. Originally, I was going to have this chapter out by May...well, you can see how bad that went. My apologizes. Everything is good on my end; it's just been very busy. Because of that, I regret to say this book will be on hiatus. It will return once I fine-tune and write more into the storyline.

If you want to learn a bit about these OC characters and see what they look like (as this is a diary, and won't have much detail) they're all in my OC book: Reminiscent. Amber's profile will be up soon.

So, chapter question: Being that we met Ember's "rival" of sorts, I want to know, who is your favorite Pokémon Rival?

Until next time, stay awesome!