Chapter 18

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May's P.O.V.

My Blaziken was training with Brendan's Swampert, fighting against each other in an epic duel.

"Brendan!" I called out to my neighbor and friend. He turned to me, hand clenching his PokéNav.

"Yes? What is it?" I shrugged.

"Nothing. Just wanted your attention." He sweatdropped and continued to use the PokéNav.

"What do you think about Kira?" I suddenly asked, looking immediately at Brendan. He stopped fiddling with the device to look at me.

"What do you mean by that?" He didn't look scary or anything like he would to people. He seemed very friendly. His white hat swayed in the wind, little strands of hair flow from underneath it.

"I mean.. we suddenly shunned her, like she did something very bad, but to be honest, I think the ones at fault here is not hers. I mean, do you get that feeling that she may not be as bad as what others think?" Brendan hesitated a bit. It looked like he was remembering something.

When I took my glance away from him, I see that our Pokémon were relaxing, being chill with each other.

"I have had second thoughts about her," he finally answered. "but I'm still not entirely sure what made me think of those thoughts. I mean, yeah, subconcious thoughts, all that mumbo jumbo, but this- this is different. Everytime I force myself to not think about it, I get a jolting - more electrifying feeling surge through my veins.

"And it hurts. We are able to talk about it now, and yet, nothing happens. What's up with that? I don't know. There are just too many questions that needs to be answered and yet, here we are, discussing them with each other. Look May, I know you care about her even if you knew her for a short period of time, but we have to keep our distance to prevent ourselves from getting seriously damaged.

"Remember that time she almost killed Ash?" His fit of rambling abruptly stopped as he began to carefully examine my face. My breath was caught at his choice of words.

"I guess you have a point, but ignoring her could mean the end of this world, as well, and I would rather sacrifice myself than to let everyone suffer for it." My newfound confidence rose astoundingly, shocking even myself.

Brendan nodded mutely as he returned his Swampert. I returned my Blaziken and watched him carefully. He brought out his Swellow.

"Come on, let's go find her before the world ends in disaster." I nodded and climb on with him, wrapping my arms around his waist.

General P.O.V.

Misty and Kira landed hurriedly in Lilycove. The orange haired girl just watched her friend in confusion.

"Return, Belan." The Pelipper glowed red and was sucked into the Pokéball. Kira didn't look back at Misty, but dragged her along, going around about the city until they reached Lilycove Beach.

"Alright, Kira," Misty withdrew her hand, annoyed at her sudden behaviour. "What is going on? Lately, you have been acting strange." Kira gave a saddened gaze before hardening it.

"Team Aqua is trying to awaken Kyogre, which they will use to drown the entire earth, or at least, that's my understanding... you have to believe me, I must stop them!"

The urgency was strong, but Misty was a bit shaken. Though she loves water-types, her morals are far more important.

"You're right." She said in a shaky voice. "And I must be the one to stop you." Almost suddenly, she quickly advanced towards Kira, lunging her fist.

"Ahh! Misty!" Kira dodged in the neck of time and stepped back a few paces.

"What's wrong with you?" Misty didn't answer.

"ANSWER ME!" Her voice caught the attention of other passerby's. She didn't care.

"You want to ruin Team Aqua's plans. Their precious plan. Oh, so precious - precious." Misty's voice did not sound like her's at all. It was toxic. The deep rumble that gargles at the back of her throat. The smile she held was unbearable.

"Misty..." Before she could say anymore, she was shielded by something. A wall of green glass shards blurred her vision of a consumed Misty.

"Damn you, you brat!" She cursed, disappearing out of sight. The green wall disappeared.

Kira was too afraid to turn around to meet her saviour; but she did anyway.

Her eyes were met with piercing light brown ones. She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.

Despite her brain telling her to stay where she was at, her feet and legs moved towards the figure standing.

She enveloped the person in a hug, burying her face into the chest.

"Steven..." she cried, but then realized what happened and let go, looking into the direction of the base of Team Aqua.

Steven's face was filled with hurt at the sudden disposal of the embrace. Nonetheless, he cleared his throat to rid the lump that hung at his throat.

"I gave it a lot of thought." He began to speak. "I will help you with the disbanding of Team Aqua." Kira tutned around, making sure her ears are working properly.

"You will?" She tried her best to hide the fact that she was ecstatic to hear this, but almost failed. Steven nodded.

"I heard you. You sounded undoubtfully truthful." Kira scoffed lightly, but he didn't hear it. "So, I decided to help you. I'm sorry for what happened, what I did, and what they did to you..." His voice trailed off at the end, causing Kira to tilt her head.

She ignored it and mentally decides to ask later.

"Enoygh dilly-dallying, then!" She cried out. "We got Team Aqua asses to beat!" A smile spread across her face as she grabbed Steven's hand and dragged him to the edge of the beach. She took out her Pelipper and began to climb on.

"Come on, we haven't much time." He hesitantly climbed up and placed his hands carefully on her hips.

"Hold on, I don't want the terrified champion to fall off." She lightly laughed.

"How did-"

"For one, you looked terrified climbing on, and two, everyone in all of Hoenn knows you were once the champion, probably still are, but it was rumors, rumors that everyone knows." A small giggle escaped her lips as they advanced towards the entrance of the Team Aqua base.

Once inside, they got off and began to nose around the place, fighting off several Aqua grunts.

"At least the amount here was way less than Team Magma's up in Jagged Pass." Steven gave her a confused look but didn't question it.

They finally found Archie, but there were two Admins, one including Green, or Gary to Kira.

"Hey!" Kira yelled and ran to them. She stopped in front of Green.

"Stop this, Gary! This is not what you want! You're making a big mistake!" All she heard was chuckles from him.

"Oh, you never learn." Kira gave a confused look. "Firstly, don't call me Gary. That's not my name. It may be to you, but my name is Green. I'm not like that asshole."

"What's the difference?" This time, no words were spoken from either person. Steven stood behind her, equally confused.

"Argh! Enough of this! Come out, Arcanine!" The Kanto dog stood high and mighty between Green and Kira.

"You're as grumpy as a Grumpig.. come on out, Belan!" A vein popped out of Green's forehead, idolizing that he is pissed off.

"Shut up! Arcanine use Extremespeed!"

"Belan! Protect!" With the move that has a high priority rating, it was still not fast enough for Belan's Protect.

"Okay, now Hydro Pump!" Belan opened her large beak and water was forced out, hitting the Arcanine strongly, causing it to faint.

"But... how?" Green was more annoyed now than ever.

"No more questions, move aside. We need to get to Archie." Instead of doing what she said, Green laughed.

"He already left, sweetheart. I was distracting you both so he could go and get to Kyogre."

"What?!" Without thinking, Kira ran up to Green and slapped him. After, she grabbed Steven's hand again and dragged him out as quickly as possible.

"Kira!" Green's voice was nothing but some buzz in her head now.

"We have to find Archie, quickly!" Kira stated, but got no reply from the former Champion.