MISSING
Melissa Harvey
David Ketchum
Brendan Smith
Jake Johnson
Adam Carson
If you have seen these people, please call the number below.

Cassie sighed as she signed the Missing Person's Report and handed it back to her bubbly secretary. This case report was getting on her nerves. Two weeks and still there was no sign.

"There's a connection there," she murmured at her desk, kneading her forehead. "but what could it be?"

The couple hadn't turned up at the girl's family celebration a week before the wedding. The family's curiosity as to their whereabouts had merely peaked into sheer hysteria when they had not been able to contact her number.

And the office where she worked had been in absolute uproar when the same thing had happened a few days ago; this time the missing people being mere boys in their first few weeks of Trainerhood.

Her Espeon trilled a worried note, sunbaking on the window overlooking the city. No doubt it was picking up on her negativities and reacting to them three-fold. "Sprrrrreeeee..." it mewed, a moment later, its tail quivering.

"Thanks for letting me know." she smiled, and turned her attention to her desk phone. Whe it rang a moment later she was not surprised. Her Espeon was good at other things than friendship.

"Hello?"

"... Don't bother looking for them." the husky voice over the other side came.

"I beg your pardon?"

"You won't find them. The missing people. They were unlucky. They died."

Swiftly, Cassie pushed a few buttons on the phone dock. Her computer screen popped up a new window with a GPS tracking system. She would only need a few more moments...

"Can I ask if you knew those people? Do you have any information as to where they could be?"

The voice was a gravelly laugh the next time it came. "They'll be gone by now. The trees ate them and they're not there anymore. Don't go searching. It's not worth it."

"Have you seen any of the missing people in the past two weeks?" She nearly had it... there!

"I was nearly fined for abusing my Ivysaur. Me! Nearly fined! Can you believe that... thing put my Pokémon out for a month? And to think they thought I did it!"

"If you don't have any information about them, perhaps you won't mind when I send this through as a prank-call. Then you will receive that fine."

There was silence. Then the voice came again; very softly this time. "You know the rumours? About the utopian land found if you 'search for a year and a day'? Well I found it. And I'm lucky to even be alive."

"They were searching for the land down south? But that's just..."

The laugh that came down the phone was husky and a trifle bitter. "Just a rumour? Rumours can be true too... Just remember that it'll be worth your while if you forget the whole investigation."

There was a click. The phone started bleeping the engaged tone at her, and she put it back on the stand; noticing with curiousity that her knuckles were white around the phone.

It was time to get to work.

The Gym Leader hung up the chunky phone and ignored the rattle of change from the machine as she darted away up the street. I'm not stupid... she growled in her head, while jumping on her motorbike and zooming away. I can get away from anything... if I try.

"Cassie? You still there?"
"Yeah. Are you at a house?"
"The call you traced was made from the payphone just north of Mauville. You've been duped."

Scowling, Cassie finished the call and quickly ran a search on her computer detailing the rumours of the distant land. Most were rambling blog entries made by people who were at least curious as to whether it existed or not. There was even a fan club site; with preparations being made for a journey out to sea.

"They either don't know about it or don't wanna let the police force know," she murmured, thinking spitefully about the secret service that she was sure were taking golden opportunities away from the police force.

"Espeon?"

Her lavender-coloured companion leapt down gracefully from the sunny window ledge and waltzed over slowly.

"I need to talk to the 'boss."

Espeon rolled its eyes at this, but allowed Cassie to take hold of its forehead jewel, which began to glow an iridescent purple as the Pokémon concentrated and closed its eyes.

"Hayashi-san, we need to talk."

The boss of the police force jerked as he awoke from a dozing dream, and shut his eyes to listen to the rest of the message. The rumours may as well be true. I think our missing people are on that island. And I have reason to suspect they may be in trouble.

The fan club 'oohed and aahed' as they crested the large wave on their boats; allowing the blue smudge on the horizon to come into full view. Slowly, a cheer went up, and the motors revved even harder in response.

Coming from the east, a similar party - one with totally different intentions however - came in force on their hoverjets, faces grim as they finally spotted what they had been looking for.

They landed eventually on a rocky beach, to find a natural pathway up to what seemed to be a volcanic structure. There were no words spoken. The leader of the team slanted an eye and jerked his head quickly up towards the mouth of the volcano.

The air seemed dead without any sound. There were no sounds from any wildlife or any sign that they lived here.

They rested at the rim of the volcano. One of the black-clad members aimed with his machine gun and fired a volley of shots into the air. The dull echo lasted about five seconds, in which his companion glared at him. "Stupid idiot. Don't scare them all off!"

"Idiot yourself. There's nothing here."

The other shook his head. "Wrong. There are Pokémon here. I haven't been a tracker all this time to think we're alone."

A few minutes later; the ground started grumbling. "Let's move," the leader said softly and dangerously. "That volcano won't blow; but it may roast off our backsides if we stay here any longer."

There was a chirruping noise now; alongside the dull rumble. Surprised, the team looked towards the direction of the sound, which was inside the volcano's opening. "What the-"

It was all he could say before the hundreds of tiny winged things; with birdlike wings but reptilian-like teeth and eyes came streaming out of the volcano noisily and quickly. They set onto the team instantaneously.

Swear words erupted from the group's middle, the guns just too cumbersome to attempt shooting anything for fear of injuring another human. All they could do was slap quickly and try to dodge. Howls of pain came quickly.

A few moments later and the air was practically filled with the flying things, all trying to latch onto clothes and skin. Frustrated, a man reached into his pocket, pulling the pin of a grenade-like bottle. "Eyes closed!"

The air filled with a choking gas which devestated the little creatures' efforts. Soon most had to land on the ground or flee back to the volcano's shelter; their eyes watering uncontrollably.

"Let's go people!" another shout came. "I've seen enough."

The team began to jog down the volcano's side back down to the water. As soon as the ground was level, however, they were beset with a myriad of other Pokémon, all attacking viciously.

"Bloody Houndoom!" came a roar. "What are civilians doing here?!"

The fan club screamed as they were shuttled towards the team by tiny fat reptiles; the sun glinting harshly off their thin body plates. Occaisionally if the group slowed, one would twist its head quickly and gouge with its nose horn.

From each side they looked, were angry looking Pokémon that looked more than ready to shepherd the team the way the fan group were walking.

"Come on, let's get them off the island." the leader growled, furious that anyone other than his company would know about it.

Green eyes opened slowly, sleepily. "They are here once more. What must I do to tell them they are not welcome here? I have tried everything... but one."

Before the frustrated team and the petrified fan club rose a large emerald shape which viewed them passively. "Stop, my friends. I will speak to them. Why are you here, and why do you live with hate in your hearts for my friends?"

Blinking, the humans looked up, and up. Before them stood an almost liquescent shape, with barely any notable form save a head, a body, arms and legs. "I don't understand you. You are not of this land, yet you are. You are so strange..."

"We are leaving." the leader said huskily, looking round at his team. "And we are taking the rest of the humans with us. Where are the others that were here before?"

The thing blinked and drew back slightly. "They angered me with their hostile and violent ways. There was no choice but to show them that I would not stand cruelty or any vicious attempts to harm my creatures."

"... and so you killed them?" The leader looked livid; mouth tight in a straight line, and eyes narrow.

"... I do not understand. Kill? What is that word? I gave them what they wanted. They came here to fight... didn't they? So I gifted them with fights. And now they have gifted my soil."

"Soil?! You buried them, after killing them in cold blood? For Charizard's sake, they had family!"

He whipped out a pistol from a pocket and took quick aim; squeezing the trigger.

There was silence, and then a deafening roar as the sound of the blast reached their ears. The thing stood still. And then its face erupted in liquid emerald; gushing on to the ground which just as quickly sprang into floral life.

Slowly the eyes of the thing widened; became two glowing nimbusus of green light. It trembled, and raised its arms.

"Curse you AAAALL!!!"

The air turned green, the colour floating amidst the trees and gathering quickly towards the group. The trees quivered.

Time slowed. The green hue focused around the company of humans and Pokémon. And all heard a shriek of sadness. My creatures! My friends! Run! Flee! Run far away!

The green faded.

The humans were floating in shimmering silvery light. Before them were large eyes which gazed upon them with no emotion.

You came here, to inhabit, seeing all of this land's opportunity and beauty... and I fought back, angered by your lack of proper judgement, but now you have greviously wounded me, and I cannot protect this place any longer now... I must surrender it to you. My senses fade... but I must do this thing.

The eyes disappeared. A green shape appeared before them, a pale emerald glow, and for a moment the eyes opened at the top, before the radience turned monochrome and slowly separated each way; dividing into many. Some counted twelve; others fourteen.

The voice rang out for the last time, more decisive now. This is all I can do for this island now. I give you its name: Minami. I give the island the stongest protection I can offer. I leave to you and Minami the Elements. Learn them. Understand them; and only then will you truly understand Minami.

The monochrome shapes, still indeterminate, each glowed suddenly with a different colour. They grew, the sides rippling, and formed long sinewy shapes which slowly became animalistic. They grew, and grew, and from their sides sprouted limbs, tails and wings.

They opened their crystalline eyes, and dove towards the land of Minami. Slowly the humans felt them recede, and fall into slumber.

If I may ask a boon of you, I ask you keep my Pokémon safe. Do not harm them. If you keep this promise, you will be blessed by the land. And now I leave you with my promise.

(Now) My mission and life pledge I failed
(With) My grievances loudly bewailed
(My) Retreat with no gift from the land
(Forget) The curse that I hold in my hand
(Curse) The humans that wouldn't say no
(My) Just wish they could hear all my woe
(Death) instead of another huge fight
(Is) a future that almost seems right.

(Justified…)
(Still) My one only fear and regret
(Is) The creatures that might feel in debt
(My) Thought 'it' died then we must die too
(Will) Not leave any training for you

(And) So go on and train
(Shall) Forget all my pain
(Be) a Trainer, but ware!
(Evermore) a cross you must bear

If you enter my lair
Let's see how you fare

"As soon as they take their first step,
Their new path of their life shall be set.
And thus; they forget...

The humans found themselves lying flat on the ground, all signs of life nonexistant. Slowly they sat up, blinking, and began to murmur to each other softly. What happened before I was here?