Chapter Seven: After the Fire

Ira held on tightly as Taglio swooped out of the building and into the air. A trail of smoke was already leaving through the door like poison emerging from an Arbok’s mouth. A few people had gathered around. At least everyone who had watched Ira enter were there, and many others.

As they departed, Ira noticed the Fearow carrying Julia and Aaron away. “Chase after that Fearow and deliver a Supersonic to them,” muttered Ira to Taglio, who obeyed. Soon they were high above Maghony, rushing after Julia and Aaron. Taglio opened his mouth and erected a decent Supersonic.

It only affected the Fearow this time, but that was well enough, for it began swooping back and forth as if it were drunk, and began plunging downwards as Julia and Aaron screamed. It landed in the sea.

“I guess we’ll have to abandon the chase,” sighed Ira. “Ok. Go to the police station. We have some good news for Officer Jenny.”



“Bonnie and Clyde?” asked Officer Jenny. “All right, good work. And describe your conversation with these other kids again.”

Ira told her, and when she came to the part with the “motto,” Officer Jenny stopped her.

“That was the motto of Jessie and James, two Team Rocket members that were arrested about ten years ago.”

“Team Rocket? What’s up with that, anyway? I thought they disbanded.”

“That’s happened before, we thought they were dead for several years and then they reappeared out of nowhere. But maybe it hasn’t really returned, these two are just gang leaders that adopted their motto.”

“They said their parents were arrested.”

“Did they? Perhaps I should check some of the old files. You can wait around here.” Officer Jenny turned and walked through a door into a room with lots of file cabinets.

In the meantime, Ira let Algol out of his Pokeball so she could investigate this with someone. Then she took out the map. Her eyes widened as Algol looked over her shoulder, and she stared, dumbfounded, at the map for some time.

“Bre?” Algol asked.

“I can’t... believe it...” whispered Ira.

“Bre, bre?”

Ira ran her fingers over the paper. It was made from an exotic, tropical tree, which gave it a yellow color. It was also a bit aged, and some of the markings a bit blurred, but she could make out the writing.

“This is my father’s handwriting,” whispered Ira. “He wrote this. Father wrote this. Before I was born.”

“Umbreon,” whispered Algol in awe. He looked at the paper more closely.

Below the map it was labeled, CIANWOOD OCEAN. It included the Whirl Islands, Cianwood Island, and, in a western area almost off the map, the Vapor Sea.

There was a chain of islands there, each labeled in strange runes. Then Ira noticed the fine print below the title of the map, written in Gyarish, with some words underlined. It took some time for Ira to understand it, but finally deciphered the words.

The titles of the Dream Islands are written in Gyarish runes.

“Officer Jenny!” yelled Ira.

Officer Jenny emerged.

“I’ll be at the Pokemon Center,” Ira said.



“Cedus?” Ira asked.

“Gy?”

“How are you?”

Fine. The nurses treat me like a king. I feel kind of special.

“I found a map that includes the Vapor Sea. It was written by my father, and part of it is in Gyarish runes. Can you tell me what they mean?” She showed him the map.

Which islands? The Dream Islands? I only know a little of the runes... the southernmost one is... I believe the Island of Nightmares. Cedus paused for thought. Going north... I see Wings Island, and then... the next one I can’t read. After that... can’t read that one either. The next one, second to the farthest north... Gy... Island of... the... Granted Dreams. And the farthest north I can’t read.

He looked up at her. I was told a legend once by Phoro, the Gyarados I was raised by. He was a storyteller, the one who told me about your father. Anyway, he told me a legend about the Island of the Granted Dreams once. That there lives a spirit... Never mind. This is a good map. Keep it. When is the helicopter going to be here?

“Should be soon.”

Good.