TheoLeung@Sprint.ca

Ryna once again was in the place known as Pewter City. It here where she won her first badge, and it was here where her life began to change. What ever it was for better or for worse, it wasn’t clear.

The Pokémon Center was bustling with activity, though it was diminishing as the nighttime hours were approaching. Few trainers would be in such a rush to get their Pokémon recovered at such hours.

Lin and Ripper were resting inside the Center, needing more medical attention after their share of action from the other day. Carter and Ryna sat on wooden chairs in the room, watching over their Pokémon closely. Both Pokémon were sleeping peacefully, bandaged up.

"I guess…I should call the Prof. now," Ryna told Carter. "He may be able to give me some early data before we meet him in person." Carter, silent as ever, nodded his agreement. The soldier has been silent since the encounter with his former comrade. Perhaps he was saddened by the fact that his friend was also the enemy, or maybe it was because he felt partially responsible. Still, the trainer known as Ryna didn’t have time to dwell on such thoughts. She had other responsibilities at the moment.

Taking her leave, the trainer from Pallet Town exited the premise, allowing the one called Carter to be alone.

* * * * * *

The phone rang for a long time. Ryna wasn’t sure if the Prof. was going to pick up the phone or not. She thought about calling back later, but was relieved when she heard the clicking of the phone being lifted. Professor Oak, Pokémon expert, showed up in the screen in front of her.

"Hi Professor," Ryna told her mentor, try to be as cheerful as possible.

"Oh, hello Ryna," he replied cheerfully. "It’s been a while since we talked. How have things been going? Charles doing okay?"

"Uh…yeah…" Ryna answered, not wanting to admit Charles was currently not with her. "Professor, I need you to analyze this for me," she continued, inserting her Pokédex into the small slot of the phone. With in a matter of seconds, the data was transferred, ejecting the Pokédex.

"Let’s see…" Oak murmured, leaving the view of the phone for a second. The soft clicking of keyboard keys could be heard, followed by an astonishing gasp. He returned to the phone, obviously shaken by the some of the newer entries. "I suggest you get down here as soon as possible. This may be very urgent." Ryna nodded, but before she could respond, Oak said his good-byes and hanged up.

"Is it that bad?" she whispered, lowering the phone and taking her Pokédex. She never saw her mentor so shaken by anything before. Whatever was going on, it had to be really serious to scare such a renowned researcher to be so afraid.

* * * * * *

Ripper gave a painful groan, slowing awakening from his slumber. Carter looked up, becoming fully alert after dozing off partially.

"You okay?" Carter asked, concerned for the health of his friend. After a brief coughing session, the Hitmonchan nodded, forcing a smile, abate weak.

"I’m not sure if I took a one hit to the head too many, but did I see Des back there before blacking out?" Ripper asked, questioning his own sight, considering it was blurred and disoriented at those moments.

"It was Des," Carter answered, mournfully. "He left the forces for Team Rocket to get revenge on Tim since he thought Tim left us behind back on that mission. You know, the one where we faked our death."

"Oi…" was all the Hitmonchan could muster up to say, physically and mentally.

"I’m beginning to wonder the outcome of that decision so long ago now," Carter continued, leaning forward against the bed. "Was it right? Or did it just make things worse for the ones we called our friends?" he asked, not expecting an answer. Ripper, as expected, was silent, most likely reflecting on those events.

"We did what we thought was right…there’s really not much we can do to change that now," Ripper told his trainer. Carter glanced up, wondering how insightful his companion has been for these last few years. He’s grown older and wiser.

"I remember when your solution or answer to everything was pounding it into the ground," Carter told his Pokémon, smiling lightly at such thoughts.

"I thought it still was," Ripper replied, sending a short laugh between the two. "Yeah, maybe I have gotten smarter over the time," he said in a much more serious tone.

"We all grow up over time. It’s just a matter of how much," Carter said out loud, though not directly to Ripper. The words were more directed towards himself then anyone else. The Ex-Special Forces soldier glanced up at Lin, who was still sleeping peacefully on her bed. "Do you ever regret what we did back then?" Carter asked, asking himself if it was all right to ask his friend such a personal question.

Ripper remained silent for a long time. Whether he was going to answer or remain silent was hard to tell, but soon he raised his voice.

"We did what we did," he answered. "I don’t think it was completely honest to our friends, and perhaps it was our escape from Hell on Earth."

"Yeah…I guess…" Carter whispered.

"And since we’re on this journey now…" Ripper continued. "I’m guessing we’re out to seek redemption from the people we hurt long ago," the Hitmonchan concluded, smiling slightly for such an in depth answer. Carter smiled too, wondering how well the Hitmonchan knew his trainer over the course of time they have been together.

"Redemption…such a nice word, isn’t it?" the trainer asked. He set his head down on the side of the bed, in thought of their next plans.

* * * * * *

Psy stared at the small tennis ball in front of her. As much as she wanted to, she couldn’t life the small green ball up. Exhausted, Psy flipped onto her back, seeing Simon sleeping on the bed in the other room. It was funny to see such acts when done upside down, and Psy giggled slightly, lightening her mood.

Sighing again, Psy flipped back onto her legs, concentrating once again on the ball in front of her. Still, the ball did not budge from its location in the carpeted ground.

"You’re too distracted," Amy told her Psychic companion upon entering the room. Psy jumped back in surprise. "Your thoughts are too jumbled and chaotic to achieve such levels of Telekinesis."

"But…how did you know?" Psy stammered, unable to understand how the Jynx knew her intentions. Amy tapped the side of her head with a finger.

"No matter how unsuccessful, your Psychic attempts still ripple outwards," Amy told the Bulbasaur. "I felt ‘your’ ripple outside when you were attempting to raise the tennis ball."

"Am I that predictable?" Psy asked, smiling slightly. She still had a lot to learn about Psychics. Amy smiled back, sitting down beside her.

"Just remember that when you use Psychics, you expose yourself to being mind read," Amy lectured. "At first, it is difficult to use Psychic maneuvers and protect yourself from such attempts of mind reading, but later, as your abilities mature, you can screen against the latter."

"I can’t even lift this tennis ball right now," Psy muttered, slumping onto the floor. She was disappointed in lack of ability to do such simples tasks.

"It just takes the right practice and training," Amy comforted. The tennis ball rose into the air at the touch of Amy’s thought. Psy watched with interest, as the ball hovered over her. Then, Amy dropped the ball. Psy, in complete reaction, closed her eyes and awaited the impact, but it never came. Slowly, she opened her eyes again, seeing the tennis ball hover over her.

"Did, did I do that?" Psy asked, unable to believe it.

"Your natural instincts took over," Amy continued, taking the ball from the air. "You have to cultivate your latent Psychic ability so it will come at your request, not on instinct."

"So I practice, practice, and practice some more?" Psy asked, knowing it won’t be as simple as that.

"Well, let’s get started on some basics…" Amy stated, placing the ball back down on the ground. "Close your eyes, and see in the image of the ball in your mind…"

* * * * * *

Pallet Town, a small town where Pokémon Expert Professor Oak resides. It was here where Ryna began her adventure, and it was here where she will start another. Questions to be asked, answers to be given. It was here where Ryna will determine what to do.

"Hey mom, I’m home!" Ryna shouted out, closing the door behind her. It was a wonder how she didn’t lose the key to her own house after all this time. Simon and Carter glanced around, seeing the interior of the house to be quite fashionable.

"Ryna, is that you?!" the voice from upstairs asked, excited. Well, if your daughter came home unexpectedly after going through a Pokémon journey, you would be dubious too. To confirm, Ryna’s mom ran downstairs, and ecstatic to see her daughter once again. She gave Ryna a warm hug.

"I missed you too mom," Ryna told her mother, returning the hug. Still, it nagged at the back of her mind who she was. Ryna knew the person hugging her right now what not her biological mother. She adopted her when her true parents flew her off Cinnabar Island o so long ago…

"And who are your friends here?" Ryna’s mother asked, examining the two companions from head to toe. "Boyfriends?" she joked, though making Ryna’s face turn bright red.

"Of course NOT!" Ryna burst out, wondering how she could possibly be linked to any of these two that trailed behind. Her mom giggled uncontrollably.

"Um…I think she’s already taken by someone else ma’am…" Simon piped in, a bit softly, but Ryna’s mom still heard.

"Oh, and who might that be?" her mom inquired, very curios, as a mother should be and shouldn’t be at the same time.

"It’s…it’s nothing…" Ryna replied, brushing past her mother now. The older women gave a confused look, wondering what could’ve sparked such gloominess from her ‘child’.

"It is best not to ask," Carter answered. "My name is Carter, and this is Simon," he introduced. Ryna’s mother shook both their hands.

"Would some one explain to me what happened over the course of time?" she asked, now worried about the condition that her adopted daughter is in.

"Well, honestly, it is a very long story…" Carter answered. Lin tugged on Carter’s pant leg, saying something indecipherable to the older woman’s ear.

"What did it say?" she asked, though not expecting an answer from them. It was quite unique for someone to actually understand. It thoroughly surprised her when Carter actually translated.

"Lin here says she’ll explain, as long as either me or Simon translates," the Ex-Special Forces soldier told the owner of the house. She nodded slowly, seeing as the matter may be more grave then she thought.

* * * * * *

"So Professor, how bad can this ‘Angel’ be?" Ryna asked, standing behind him as the resident expert typed on the computer, accessing the information. Ryna secretly left the premise of her so-called home to talk with the Professor on a one-to-one basis.

"To be absolutely honest, you may have come upon a terrible legend," he answered in a scientific tone. "Ah, here it is," Oak continued, opening up the file he was searching for. "It would be best if you read for yourself." Ryna nodded, sitting down on the now vacant chair. "I’ll try to also find some information about some of the other ‘new’ species you’ve found while you read this…article." With those words, he left the trainer alone in the room reading a legend that was thought to be dead.

Angel

Is it really that bad? Ryna thought, double clicking on the attached documentation.

Angel, forever to be known as the ultimate destroyer of life. Whether Myth or Legend, the true existence of such a Pokémon is still undetermined. But according to Myth, this species of Pokémon is a force to be reckoned with. Though an extremely powerful Psychic type, Angel carries a hidden force within its body: the ability to annihilate human life. However, due to their life destroying ability, Angels themselves have an incredibly short life span. No Angel lives more them a month, generally, as Myth dictates. There was one process, much to the gratitude of Angels, that allows them to live for eternity. Legend speaks of when "An Angel absorbs the like of the eternal flame, so then shall the Angel be bestow the power of eternal life." According to even more Myth, one Angel was able to achieve such and was able to bring destruction to all those that opposed him. At the time, all life on the planet bowed to the Angel, until one day, a small band of humans and Pokémon alike rebelled against the chains that bound them to their master. With an epic struggle, the rebels eventually defeated their foe, and vanquished him to depths unknown.

"Yeah, well, an Angel does exist," Ryna muttered, closing the file. This information kind of puts a twist to things. If Angel is as threatening as he is said to be, then it may be her best interest to tell someone. Still, no one would probably believe her, even if it were recorded in her Pokédex. Besides, if an Angel’s life expectancy is only one month, then what harm can be done?

"Ryna, here, this may help you too," Oak said, coming back and startling the trainer. She nodded, taking the floppy disk from the Professors hand and inserting it into the drive.

(Unknown)[Evolved Moltres]

Early analysis also concludes that a Moltres does not react with any of the Fire Stones that have been dug up around the world. No matter how hard a trainer may push their Moltres, it won’t evolve either. The fact that a Moltres can evolve is what drives Moltres trainers to try even harder. Seeing as how a trainer could have some sort of impossible to beat breed is enough influence to get them started.

"Wow…seems like no one has done this before…" Ryna commented, also closing this file down. She stood up, then turned to face her mentor. "Thank you Professor Oak. I would never have found out this much without your help."

"Oh, don’t thank me," Oak replied, smiling. "I am a researcher. The information you have brought fourth to me could be the starting of another discovery. I should be thanking you for allowing me such interesting bits of information. Of course if I find anything else, I’ll keep you up to date." Ryna nodded, happy with the arrangement.

"Then, I’ll see you again Professor," Ryna told Oak. She shook his hand, then left the large research facility and home of the renowned professor.

* * * * * *

Night rose quickly in the quite town of Pallet. The blanket of darkness was no concern with the streetlights shining brightly. Ryna sat silently at the kitchen table, unable to foresee what to do next.

"You okay?" her mother asked, walking silently into the room. Ryna glanced up, nodding a bit. Her mother sat down on the opposite side of the table.

"Mom…" Ryna started, but couldn’t bring herself to ask yet. She looked away, wondering if it was all right to ask a strange question like she was going to ask.

"You want to know how you got here, right?" Ryna’s mom asked her daughter. Ryna quickly snapped her ‘mother’ into view, wondering how she knew. "I know because I know you will ask sooner or later."

"I was happy the day you left for your Pokémon adventure," she continued, angling her self so she didn’t need to face her daughter. "But I also dreaded when you would return. I knew, with this Pokémon adventure, you would learn…learn that I’m not your real mother, through one way or the other." It was all the explanation Ryna needed, and she continued to ask questions.

"How did I end up here then?" Ryna asked, curious about her own origins to this small town. Her mother sighed, wondering where to begin.

"It was…about 12 years ago…" she started, changing her seating position again to face her adopted daughter. "It was night time, and from the looks of the clouds, it was going to be a stormy night. I was about to retire for the night when, with a loud cried, a Pidgeot dived down. I thought he was going to crash into me, but with expert precision, stopped only a few centimeters short of knocking me in the head. I was completely taken aback by such an action, but then my eyes began to focus in the darkness."

"At the initial glance, I saw the Pidgeot was badly hurt. He was battered and bruised. It’s amazing that he’s still flying considering the pain he’s taken over the last few hours."

"The second thing I noticed was the small basket he was carrying in his talons. He looked down at the basket, then deposited it into my arms. He nodded, as if telling me to take care of what ever was inside. I tried to stop him from flying anymore, in his condition, but he refused to listen, then flew off into the darkness."

"Well, I guess you can figure out the rest, right?" she asked, smiling slightly. Ryna nodded, grasping the diamond shaped pendant around her neck. "I hope that Pidgeot is okay. He deserves something to get you from Cinnabar Island to here in the condition he was in." Ryna nodded silently.

"Maybe I shouldn’t ask, but what are you going to do next?" Ryna’s ‘mother’ inquired.

"I’m…I’m not sure…" Ryna whispered, realizing she never figured out the question she had before.

"Here’s my advice, go after him." Ryna again was surprised on how knowledgeable her mother was.

"But…I don’t even know where to look now…" Ryna whispered, knowing that searching for Tim was a hard task. At first, she thought it was only a simple matter of chasing him down. Now it’s a matter of actually finding him.

"I can answer that…" Carter spoke up, leaning against the doorframe. Now both Ryna and her mom were shocked by this sudden intrusion, but it was a welcome intrusion. He lifted his little wristwatch for the two to see. "There’s a radar built into this watch, which can track our pendants anywhere on the world. I picked it up at the Glacier City Lab." Both were silent. "It solves our problem of trying to locate Tim, doesn’t it?"

* * * * * *

"Bye Ryna," Ryna’s mom told her daughter. "You may not be my true daughter, but you’re always welcome home."

"Thanks mom," Ryna said, giving her mother a hug. "I’ll promise the next time I come home I’ll bring Tim."

"You better. I want to know what kind of company you’re hanging with," she told Ryna strictly, but instantly lightened up. Ryna nodded, holding back her tears. She didn’t want to leave, with all that she’s been through now. Her duties call however, and she promised to bring Tim back. She would not fail.

<Fin>