For the rest of the day, they walked along dusty roads, interspaced with the occasional field of untamed wild grass. Although Pokémon were seen along the way, few were hostile, he worse being a particularly irate Raticate, who glared and chattered angry at them as they passed. The forest around them changed and matured as they continued deeper down the road, trees becoming larger and denser, forming large areas where the canopy covered the trail, forming a cool shade and letting spots of light wisp along the ground. Layla attempted to walk part of the way, but the numbness in her legs made her stumble and fall often. Tom remarked how they had gotten a few laughs out of it at least. Layla wasn't too amused and rode on Tom's back for the rest of the journey. Will seemed intent on looking over the acorns Michael had picked up, commenting on how it should be impossible for them to be such a colour, shape and size. Much of what he said was unintelligible jargon and scientific terms, causing the others to tune out as the old scientist rambled on. By the time the sun had begun to set, the trees had thinned and the path had become uniform once again, allowing the group to again see far into the horizon. The final rays of light cascaded over the land as the sun disappeared behind the boundless forest in the distance, allowing darkness to slowly claim the land once more. But as they walked through the darkening land, a pinpoint of light ahead of them broke into vision. The light shimmered as it suddenly ignited, sitting above the left of the path as a beacon to guide them. They picked up their pace, eager to see who or what had sparked the light, and if they would be of any help. Michael hoped it was another trainer who could help with the journey, Will hoped it was some kind of exotic creature, while Tom was cautious of it and squinted as he tried to see the source more clearly. When they were within only a short distance from the light, they realised what it was.

"It's pretty far into the forest for someone to be living here" Tom said, looking over the house which stood on the side of the road, light flickering above the doorstep.

"We could ask if they're able to put us up for the night" Michael suggested. None of them would prefer to sleep outside in the cold. Will looked over the door to see a sign nailed to the front of the building, glare from the light shielding it from view.

"It's that rest house I said was halfway, see?" He said, pointing to the sign above the door.

"I have a hard time believing that people are so easily charitable" Tom grunted "Who'd just let people stay the night in their home like that?"

"Well, let's find out" Will said, stepping forward and giving three solid raps on the door. A few seconds later they heard a loud barking. Something behind the door scratched at the wood, barking loudly and running around. Will stepped back a bit, wondering if the owner had some sort of guard dog. They heard a muffled call from behind the door and the barking stopped, shuffled steps coming forward and sliding the latch on the door open. The door opened slightly and someone peaked out, looking over the group as the barking started again.

"Oh shush you; you'll wake everything in the forest" the voice said, old and kind in its inflection. The door shut again for a second before it was reopened, revealing an old woman dressed in a large apron, arms of her pale green blouse rolled up. She smiled at them warmly.

"More trainers I see? Sorry about little Allister there, he gets excited when new people arrive" She said. A small red fox like creature ran out from behind her and started to circle around the group, yipping happily. Six curled tails trailed behind it as it ran. The old lady laughed at the little Pokémon's mirth.

"Well come in, don't want to stand out there in the cold do you?" She said, guiding into the house. The inside was large and open, a few couches sat against the wall and a pile of mattresses lay stacked in a corner. A large fireplace blazed near the end of the house, and in front of it, one lone trainer sprawled over a mattress. A belt lay at the side of his mattress, several balls clipped to it, all sporting a different pattern or colour. The old woman motioned to the mattresses in the corner.

"Take a bed, I'll bring some food out to you in a little while" She said, moving through a side door, the young fox creature following her. The smell of spices and broth wafted from the door as it swung closed, making the group suddenly extraordinarily hungry.

Despite their hunger, they wearily grabbed at their mattresses, pulling the masses of cloth across the floor. Tom set two up side by side near the fireplace, Will and Michael laying theirs as close as they could to the warming blaze. Layla was thankful to get off Toms back, feeling cramped and sore from having to be carried all the way. She winced as she stepped onto the ground, pangs of pain shooting up her leg, the medication thankfully numbing the brunt of it. She was temped to ease her boredom and challenge Tom to sparring match, but her leg and body protested, leaving her to simply sit on the mattress and rest even more. She was growing annoyed by all the sitting around she was forced to do. She wanted to walk with everyone else, to spar with Tom when they camped and to help gather anything needed. She hated being disabled, just like the gatherers back in her tribe who could not fight or hunt, and were made to gather fruits and watch over young Riolu's. Every one of those gatherers had a look of pain in their eye, knowing they could never fight to defend the tribe and always having to be looked after by more able bodied members. To her people there was no shame in growing old and having your body degrade to the point of uselessness, but to have it thrust upon you in your prime was the worst punishment short of death. She and the others looked up as they heard a door swing open, seeing the old woman enter, carrying in her arms a large steel pot, the little fox running between her legs.

"Suppers on" She called, handing putting the pot on a table and dishing out bowls of hot, steaming stew to all of them. The smell was amazing to them, who had eaten nothing but fruits and canned food for so long, the smell of stewed meat and spices filling their noses.

They eagerly ate the meal, allowing the sweet broth and tender meat to wash away their hunger. Layla perked up immediately as she began to eat, finally tasting the sweet tang of meat once again. The old lady smiled and moved to one of the couches nearby.

"Don't be afraid to take seconds" She said, the little fox jumping onto her lap and curling into a small ball of red fur.

The group did take seconds, and thirds, as they savoured the delicious meal. By the time they were finished, the pot was nearly empty and they were all sitting contently on their beds. Layla said sat next to Tom, leaning slightly on him without intent. The food had helped calm her and she now felt vaguely tired, but she didn't bother to push away, it was too comfortable for that. The old woman looked over the two, curiosity in her aged face.

"That's a rare Pokémon" she commented "Haven't seen any around these parts, even with trainers"

"Well, she kind of dropped in on us all" Tom said

"So you got her from someone else?" she asked "That's how I got little Allister here" She gently scratched the fox behind the ears "Ah, my son sent him to me after his father died, named him after him. He's touring Kanto right now, Vulpix are common there"

"Oh, no, she just started travelling with us after we helped her" Tom said, naturally lying. "We stopped some...poachers from getting her". Layla grunted in annoyance, she could easy fend off any poacher.

"Poachers? Oh, they must have been trying to catch her to sell" She said "There's a lot of that going on right now...Viridian is having trouble keeping everything in order"

"What's happening in Viridian?" Michael asked, having been listening in.

"You know all those strange things that have been opening around the world? Oh what were they called...well, a big one opened above viridian, the whole city is in an uproar" She explained "No one knows what's causing them, but some people have been disappearing into them and never coming back out. Some came out, but they act like they've never seen the place before. Why? Are you heading there?"

"No, we're going to Hoenn" Michael said, seeing the concern crossing the old woman's face.

"Oh Hoenn, that poor region has been hit bad" She said sadly "Some of my friends are trying to get out..."

"What's happened?" Michael asked, he knew only what Valerie had told him before, but nothing of what else had been happening.

"A group of criminal groups managed to get control of half of it in the chaos, they're trying to enslave everyone apparently. We're lucky here, we didn't have too much happen, and we try to continue our lives and live happily". She looked down at the Vulpix, now asleep in her lap. "Have you got family there?"

"You...could say that" Michael answered slowly, trying to change the subject "Is the ferry still running from Olivine?"

"Oh yes, but not many bother taking it now. They're saying they might shut it down soon, if Hoenn keeps getting worse" She said. Michaels worry was evident in his look, his mind desperately trying to figure out how they could get there quick enough. He needed to get there; if he couldn't...he didn't know what he would do. His worry grew with each day that something might have happened to Melody or Valerie. The old woman saw Michaels worry; wizened eyes knowing such pain came from few things.

"Why do you need to go?" she asked gently "What's troubling you?"

"I need to...find someone there" He answered

"Ah, is this someone a girl?" Her unnerving glare pierced his eyes, before she began laughing jubilantly. "She is, isn't she? Ah, young man, you can't hide much from this woman of the world. I'll have you know I toured the regions as a youth, but that's not important. What's she like?"

Michael was hesitant in his answer.

"She was...beautiful. Fine green hair..." He began

"Green? Now that's an odd colour. Why youth colour their hair like that I'll never know" She said

"She had these...deep red eyes that always had a warm glow to them..." He continued "her skin was pale, but the sun made her glow like an angel...and her voice was...ah, she sounded like she was always singing when she spoke" Tom gave him an odd look, wondering if he was going to come clean about the whole thing, and if they were going to put outside because of it.

"She was small, but strong, she could lift me above her head, if she wanted to". The old woman laughed at this. "And she always wore this...flowing white dress, with to two green sleeves, clasped at the middle by a large red broach..." Michael hung his head as he finished wistfully. "She was perfect..."

The old woman was silent for a while before asking another question

"And, what happened? Were you two in different regions?" She asked

"Yes, we meant to stay together but...we got separated. I was a million miles away from her...I thought I'd never find her again" Michael said, heartbreak tearing in his chest. "Tom and Will helped us when we were together, now they're helping me find her again...we all didn't have much of a choice of ravelling together". The old woman looked over the young man and the group, wondering if she could gift these people in any way for the troubles they had been through. She slowly petted the sleeping Vulpix, who murmured softly and twitched his ears.

"Ah, to be young and full of energy again" She said facing the group. "Well, this girl sounds very odd to me...but you're really in love with her, aren't you?"

"The boys travelled very, very far to get here, convinced us to come along too" Will said "From what I've seen, he'd do almost anything to see this thing through". The old woman smiled, recalling her own days of travel and determination.

"Well, I can't stop them from closing the ferry, but I can help you get there in time hopefully" She said, picking up the Vulpix in her arms and standing, hearing her old bone's crack into place. "I can drive you to the next rest house, it's owned by a young couple who might be a bit more up to date than me, and it'll save you another day's walk". She walked to the staircase next to the kitchen.

"In the morning we'll leave as son as you're ready, I can afford to leave this place for a few hours" She said from the doorway. Michael smiled thankfully, feeling a lump catch in his throat.

"Thank you, miss"

"Oh pish posh, call me Bertha" She said, making her way up the stairs.

"Thanks, Bertha..." Michael said quietly.

They were left in silence once more, only the soft crackling of the fire breaking the silence, warming the room with its ambience. Layla was nodding off, feeling the sudden effects of the medicine she had taken, the hot meal had helped too. If she hadn't been leaning on Tom, she would have fell onto the mattress and slept easily, but right now she was too comfortable to move, her mind clinging to the warm embracing haze. Tom nudged her slightly, sighing and laying her down on the bed when she didn't respond, laying a blanket over her.

"You care for her, don't you?" Will asked, lying down on his own mattress. Tom gave him an odd look.

"How do you figure that?" Tom asked

"Well, you carry her, you sleep near her, you nearly killed yourself trying to shield her from that grenade" Will said

"She's injured, she couldn't walk even though she wants to...frankly she hates me carrying her" Tom replied, lay down on his own mattress.

"She looks content enough when I see her" Will said "She doesn't seem to mind at all"

"Well, she just ends up falling asleep near me when she's tired, that nurse said the medication would make her drowsy" Tom defended.

"Why place your bed next to hers, then?" Will asked, wily gleam in his eye

"Why not? It's easier than moving it away" Tom retorted "And I tried to save her because...who wouldn't?"

"What happened to the survival of the fittest attitude?" Will smirked "Before, you'd never have tried to save someone like that...you'd die, and you're the best survivalist we've got"

"I...She's company" Tom said lowly "She's the only one I can get some entertainment out of. I missed sparring with someone, its fun"

"That's how it started" Will said "As soon as she dropped in, you forgot all about those midnight watches and staying up all night, trying to shoot the sky out from above you"

"Those spars take a lot out of you" Tom argued, voice defensive in his position "I figured we'd be safe enough now"

"'Safe enough', you'd never had said that isolated farm house safe enough" Will laughed "And now you can sleep easily on the side of the road, where anyone could come along"

"Okay, fine, I care about her. I care about you lot too" Tom grunted "No more, no less"

"She'd beg to differ" Will said, pointing down. Layla had shifted in her sleep, and was now resting her head on Tom's shoulder. Tom's arm had found its way around her back, holding her gently by the shoulder. Tom stuttered slightly, refusing to remove his arm. He glared at Will, who was smirking triumphantly.

"Oh shut up, you old bastard" He said, laying his head back and pulling the blanket closer to him. Layla shifted again, head lying awkwardly close to Tom's.

"Oh come on, its normal compared to anything else in this damn place..." Will muttered, turning over to go to sleep.

Michael had been listening to the whole exchange, eyes closed and feigning sleep in his own corner of the house. His heart ached as he heard every admission, the dull feeling of nostalgia filling his mind. All through the day he had been waiting for the moment he could just lay down, fall into a deep sleep...and dream,

"Goddammit..." He mumbled brokenly as his eye's closed, and the darkness came again.



The void stretched out in front of him, as he had come to expect by now. Four dreams he had experienced and four times he had been here, floating in the sea of black, but only once had he seen anything. What he had seen now made him long to see it again. He longed to see Melody, Valerie, and all the things he had missed. He didn't know what he was seeing, or why he was seeing them, but he welcomed it. The void soon vanished in a great flash of light as the show began. This time instead of a great field of tall grass and narrow dirt paths, but a clearing in a great forest, his feet touching wet grass. The sun was setting on the horizon, obscured by the great canopy of trees around him. He looked to his left and saw something he wouldn't have guessed he'd see out here. A red roofed building, grey concrete walls dull in the light, broken in the centre by a glass door. He law a white, stylised pokeball painted on the front of the red roof, the mark of a Pokémon centre. He wondered why one would be here, in the middle of a forest, until his gaze wandered up. He gasped as he saw the treetops, huge wooden planks interconnecting equally huge houses, all nestled high above the mighty forest. Down the thick trunk of a nearby tree, planks of wood were nailed as a makeshift ladder into the canopy above. Next to them was a thick cable and harness with a sign next to them, detailing their use to safely scale the tree. Michael knew this was a dream, and that he couldn't be harmed, but he still tightened the harness around his legs. It gave him a feeling of safety as he climbed the towering tree, the Pokémon centre below becoming smaller and smaller as he made his way up. He grasped the ledge and heaved himself onto a platform, head spinning as he glanced back to see how high he was. As he stood, he caught sight of the view from the treetops. A blazing panorama of green forest and orange sky greeted him, fading into a deep purple haze in the distance. Tearing his eyes from the view, a sign next to the ladder greeted him.

"Welcome to Treefort city, a place in harmony with the wild" it read. A small map under it marked out locations of a pokemart, a gym and various accommodations. He found a marking labelled "Pokémon centre lodge", deciding it would be the best place to look for Melody and Valerie; no doubt they were close by.

The view still amazed him as he walked over the bridges, connecting the tree houses, enhanced by the smoke drifting from the chimneys concealed above the leaves. He wondered if this world would ever cease to amaze him with its beauty.

He arrived at the lodge soon, a huge tree supporting a multi-floored hut winding down the tree. He invited himself in, but found no people in the lobby, instead finding something much more strange. Shadows wandered the floor, grey smudges in the world, making their way about their own business. One tall one and one short one were using a terminal in the corner, while another was sitting quietly in a seat, and another standing and talking with a familiar. As he made his way past the reception, Michael noticed that the shadows repeated themselves, performing actions over and over in a constant loop. They were intangible, as Michael found out when he bumped into one in the hallway, phasing through it seamlessly. He descended a flight of stairs at the end of the lobby hallway, and immerged into a great hall, many more shadows mulling around, some more defined than others. The scent in the air met his nose, the smell of hot food, meats and vegetables roasting. It was a cafeteria, with stainless steel serving trays across the hall, Pokémon food set to the side with small bowls for serving.

As his eyes scanned the hall, he saw them, two figures defined and colourful in the wash of grey silhouettes. Melody and Valerie sat the end of a table, eating their own meals. Michael rushed over to them, his run slowing to a cautious gait as they didn't acknowledge his presence. He tentatively reached out his hand towards Melody's arm, unsurprised but saddened when it phased through.

"Just like the other times..." he muttered as he hung his head.

"I dreamed again last night"

Michaels head jerked up when he heard Melody's voice. But this time was different. She held little sadness in the phrase, the words coming out almost happily and longingly. Valerie looked over from her meal of pasta and tomato, her face holding the same concern as before. Melody looked over and smiled as she spoke again.

"I saw him here...in town with the others" she said, Valerie granting her a look of confusion and doubt.

"You mean here? In Fortree?" she asked

"No, but...he stopped at a Pokémon centre and asked where he was...he was told Johto" She said, her face searching for a second before asking "Where is that?"

"Johto? It's east of Lilycove, across the ocean" She said, Melody smiled wider at this.

"He was looking for me...he and the others left town...there was a Lucario travelling with them...Tom called her Layla" She said "But I woke up before I could follow them..."

"So you were there?" Valerie asked "Why didn't you talk to him?"

"He didn't hear me" She said solemnly "No one heard me, no one even saw me..." She smiled sadly as she looked over to Valerie "They were the only one's I could see..."

Michael held his head in his hands. What was this? What was he seeing? She had just told Valerie of what they had done back in Eruteak, was she watching him somehow...or was he watching her? The answer sprang to his mind, bringing a food of realization with it. Both Melody and Michael whispered the word at the same time.

"Memories..."

He remembered the times when he couldn't see anything in the dreams, when they were nothing but great flashes of light that came and went, distorted to him.

"I can see him now" Melody said "I know what these dreams mean..."

"...what do they mean?" Valerie asked quietly

"You were right...he's looking for me too" She answered, tears of joy welling in her eyes, as well as Michaels as he watched on. "He's...here"

The room grew distant and the floor fell away from beneath Michael as he said one last thing, the darkness encompassing him once more.

"Yes, Melody...I'm here..."

Michael woke from the sensation of falling, jolting upright in bed and breathing heavily. He sighed deeply as he sat up. The first light of the morning was creeping through the fabric of the curtains, illuminating the room in a dull light. The fire now smouldered in the hearth, a black pile of ash and charred wood, filling the room with the rustic smell of burnt wood. The smell reminded him of the tower he had arrived in; bringing with it the feeling of a new day. The others were still asleep when he looked over, Will snoring gently as he faced away from the rest, Tom lying on his back, one hand around the sleeping Lucario who rested her head on his shoulder. The trainer who slept near the fire turned over, grunting as he sat up and rubbed his eyes. He got up, his bedraggled short black hair sticking out all over his head, and walked to the bathroom across the hall. Michael followed him, having to use the bathroom himself, and, hopefully, find a working shower.

He wasn't disappointed when he did, a stack of fresh towels were even laid out to the right of the two cubicles. Bertha was too kind to the people who stayed here. He stripped of his clothes and showered, savouring the heated water and the fresh feeling as he towelled off. He didn't have time to wash his clothes, being the only pair he had right now, but at least he felt clean again under the wrinkled shirt he wore. When he exited, the trainer he had seen before called to him from a couch, looking up from rummaging through his bag.

"Hey, you need those Arpicorns for something?" he asked, pointing to Michael's bed where four of the large blue acorns he had picked he night before lay.

"Uh, are they edible?" Michael asked

"Apricorns? Not unless you can bite through wood" He said

"Then, probably not" Michael said, walking back over to his bed, picking up one of them and examining one in his hand. It felt like a regular acorn, hard and rough like wood, but coloured a soft blue.

"I'll buy them from you" He said "I can give you a thousand for all of them"

"A...a thousand?" Michael stuttered. What was currency worth in this world?

"Yeah, that's all I can give, it's enough isn't it?" He said, pulling out a small group of bills, holding out five marked with an odd currency symbol, two p's, crossed in the middle.

"...sure" Michael said, taking the money and handing the trainer the four apricorns. His curiosity got the better of him as he continued "why do you need them?"

"I know a guy who can turn these into pokeballs" He explained "Cheaper than buying new ones, and I can sell some to him anyway"

"How does he make an....apricorn...into a pokeball?" Michael asked. The trainer shrugged in response

"No idea, but it's cheap and these one's he's made haven't failed yet" He said, pointing to the multiple pokeballs clipped to his belt, all different colours and patterns. He continued to rummage through his bag as Michael walked away.

Soon enough, the others woke and shook the sleep from their eyes. Layla woke before Tom, stuttering in embarrassment when she found herself lying so close to him. It was comfortable, but awkward, and she soon made an excuse to move away, waking Tom in the process. Tom chuckled and uttered a quiet apology, glaring at Will as he laughed at the exchange. Bertha was down soon after, heading immediately into the kitchen and preparing a large breakfast for them all. Fruits and porridge were served, but no one minded. Bertha had served them in a way that made them forget the monotony of the same berries they had eaten before. She soon as they had all been fed, Bertha gave a hearty call as she led them out to behind the house, where an old white van waited, covered by a thin film of dust. Its paint was chipped and rust showed through, but it sputtered to life quickly and was big enough for them all. Bertha called to the other trainer as she loaded the rest into the idling van.

"Do you need a lift too?" She smiled "We're going to the next rest house along, it'll save you walking"

"No thanks, miss, I'm flying to Eruteak from here" He replied. Will gave him a very curious look as he disappeared around the side of the house, but Tom pulled him back before he could exit the van and interrogate the boy as to what he meant.

The van rumbled around the house and gave a hearty sputter as it lurched onto the dirt path, the forest speeding by as they accelerated to well beyond what Michael considered legal. Will gave a cry and motioned out the rear window, gesturing wildly. The others turned their head to see the trainer mounting the back of a huge bird, easily three times his size, with a piercing stare and long red beak. Unfurling its massive wings, it gave three flaps before shooting into the sky, the trainer still holding onto its back.

"Christ almighty..." Tom muttered as he watched the bird climb and disappear into the morning sky.

"Next time, Michael, Catch one of those things so we have some real transport" Will said, still amazed by the feat he had just witnessed.

"Decent transport?" Bertha called in mock offence "Watch your tongue handsome, or you'll be walking your old bones to the next stop"

"...handsome?" Will muttered. Bertha just laughed quietly.



The ride was bumpy, rocks being thrown up on the unsealed path, but there was no doubt that it was quick. With The path carved almost dead straight, Betha took every chance to floor the accelerator and throw the group back into their seats. They only slowed for corners, and even then Michael could have sworn the van left the ground slightly. Bertha seemed to be enjoying it, laughing almost manically as she pushed the old sputtering engine to its limits. Within the hours, they had arrived at the next rest house, exiting the van to shakily stand on solid ground once again. Bertha smiled widely as she stepped out and stretched.

"Made good time, didn't we, boys?" She said, getting a kick out of seeing their pale faces. Tom muttered something about old lady drivers and Will just dumbly stared.

Bertha said her goodbyes and got back in the drivers seat, old van letting out a loud bang as she speed away, metal frame rumbling into the distance. It was only a short stop, allowing the young couple who owned the rest house to gift them all with some sandwiches before they left, slowly regaining their legs after the rough tumbling of Bertha's amateur Grand Prix solo. Layla seemed to be improving, managing to walk for half an hour before her leg insisted she rest, but within an hour, she was walking again for as long as she could. The cycle of walking and being carried repeated itself until they arrived at the city limits, two large pillars rising from the earth to greet them as they entered. It was jarring for them all to see how quickly the landscape changed. One second the forest surrounded them with its imposing presence, changing to a landscape of uniform rows of housing the second they passed pillars marking the city entrance. Walking through the city, the shifts became more subtle as houses gave way to offices and eventually high rise apartments.

Michael consulted a local about where the port was, quickly urging the group to the south side of the city when he was told. Olivine was huge, forcing the group to walk for half an hour to reach the edge, where the sky scrapers suddenly broke and the ocean laid before them in its entire spender. The midday sun sparkled off the waters surface, the sound of waves crashing on the shore and the white foam boiling to life from underneath the water was so out of place in a city like this, almost as if the space between the skyscrapers was a portal to a far off land. As they stepped forth, a breath of hot air assaulted them, the breeze carried from the sea and heated by the midday sun. Children and familys played in the water and lounged on the sand, many pokemon amoungst them as well, often entertaining the children as they ran across the shore. The heat made everyone suddenly feel tired and hot, coaxing them to rest and relax in the sun. Following the road and ignoring the vendors pedalling their frozen treats, Michael led the group to the port, a large building breaking across the sand with its painted blue concrete. Boats of all shapes and sizes were moored to a smaller port to the side of the imposing building, most of them being small fishing vessels. The hot air of the day gave way as they stepped through the glass doors of the concrete block of a building, the sweat cooling on Michael's brow. Michael had wondered why the building was so huge, but his question was answered when he saw the great ship anchored behind an even greater pane of glass, right behind a multitude of reception desks. Despite the row of desks, only two were staffed, both by rather bored looking young women. One of them sighed and rolled her eyes as the group approached; putting away a magazine she had been reading and responding to Michael's questions before he had a chance to ask.

"The S.S. Tidal is closed to the public due to the situation in Hoenn, only authorized traders and law officers may board. The S.S. Tidal will not be returning from Hoenn and will remain docked at Lilycove, Regional Sealines apologises for the inconvenience" She droned monotonously from behind heavy makeup. The woman looked like something out of a fashion magazine, sporting a golden tan and straightened black hair, complimented by glossy pink lipstick and thickly applied glittered green mascara.

"Wait, we were told that-"Michael was cut off by the droning voice again

"Please direct all complaints to the manager, we can't do anything"

"Is there any way-"

"The ship is off-limits to the public unless you have a pass" she droned, Michael sighed and wiped his damp forehead

"How can we get to Hoenn then?" He asked, the receptionist shrugged

"Private boats are being turned away from Lilycove and Pokémon travel is barred too, please direct all complaints -". Michael smashed his hand down onto the desk, making the receptionist as well was the rest of the group jump, Tom glaring at him when he yelled

"Just help us, dammit!" He yelled "Don't give us any of your stupid business answers, help us!" The woman glared daggers at Michael as she answered.

"I can't do anything, sir, I told you that the manager-"

"You can give us some help!" He yelled "Isn't there anything on that computer there that you can look up?" The woman stood and planted her hands on the desk as she matched his volume.

"Look, I don't want to be here and I'm not putting up with anything from rude people like you, talk to the manager!" She screeched

"There can't be no way to get to Hoenn, so help us find one, do your job!" Michael bellowed. Tom was readying to drag Michael out the door at this pointless display of anger.

"My job isn't to help you; I'm just telling you what I told everyone else! The ferry is clo-"

"Pearl, is there a problem?" A voice called from the right of the desk. The receptionist turned to look at the man who was approaching. Tall and dressed in a smart looking shirt and blazer, with a decorative Milotic badge labelled 'Regional Sealines' pinned to his lapel, he confidently walked to the desk and asked again.

"Now, what is the problem out here, Pearl?" he asked calmly.

"Sir, this man is being very rude, I've told him that I can't do anythi-"

"Help-us!" Michael yelled "Look anything up, I just need to know how to get over to Hoenn, I don't care about the ferry!" The smartly dressed man glanced at him before addressing the receptionist once more.

"I'll talk to him, Pearl, go and take a short break" He said. The receptionist pouted and stalked away angrily. He calmly took a seat in the desk chair and turned to Michael.

"Now, what exactly do you want to know?" he asked, no hurry in his voice.

"I just..." Michael lowered his voice as he continued "...need to know how to get to Hoenn if the ferry isn't running"

"Well, Pokémon travellers as well as private crafts are being turned away. You could apply for a temporary clearance past the blockades. How soon must you leave?" he asked, fingers deftly tapping the keyboard for the desktop terminal.

"As soon as we can" Michael said, drawing a sigh from the man

"Then a clearance pass is out of the question unless you're willing to wait for it to be processed" he said, hitting a few more keys on the terminal. "I'm afraid the only way in would be by air, however, you couldn't travel past the airport without clearance"

"Is there any way" Michael asked quietly "Please, any way at all". Michael's bout of rage had now quelled to a feeling of helplessness, practically begging the man for help. He breathed deeply and stopped tapping at the keyboard, looking at Michael.

"I'm sorry; Hoenn is nearly completely shut off due to the criminal activity right now. Unless you wait for a clearance pass, I'm afraid there is no way you could get in" He said. Michael hung his head in defeat, limping away from the desk, the rest of the group in tow as they exited back onto the hot, sunlit street.

"No way..." He muttered, head in hands as he made his way along the road, walk slow and stumbling.

"Not legally at least..." Tom said deviously, but Michael kept his head down, still doubting their chances. Layla, who was once again walking, showed a rare sign of affection for anyone other than Tom as she gently placed a paw on Michael's arm. Michael looked over to her. Her eyes were deep and red, holding a great maelstrom of thoughts and desires behind them. Michael gave a weak smiled as he realised how like her eyes were to Melody's, mumbling a thanks before Tom spoke up.

"First, we find a place to stay instead of moping around this beach, then we can go out and find a way to get to Hoenn" he announced. Will gave Tom an accusing glare.

"Planning on prowling the back alleys and shady bars to get over there?" Will scoffed, Tom rolled his eyes.

"Then stay at the bloody hotel, I'll just have to save your behinds again..." he said

"That I will" Will respond with finality. And with that exchange, they wandered back into the great maze of skyscrapers, the sounds of the ocean being overtaken by the sound of cars and noises of the crowds.

Finding a small hotel on near the harbour, they checked into a single room. The room cost more than they could afford, but the hotel allowed for payment during checkout, and Tom assured Michael that they wouldn't be around long enough to worry about that. Michael was glad to have someone who didn't shirk the idea of minor criminal deeds for something that mattered, and one who could convincingly lie and sign under a fake name.

The room was small, only meant for two people, but it allowed them all to relax for the evening. Standard cream coloured walls and white bed sheets, a small television on the desk and two armchairs, made the room as generic as it could be. The packed lunch which the young couple had given them while passing through the rest house served as an early dinner or late lunch, which was more than they had hoped for when they had started off on this trip. Will turned on the television and quickly flipped through to a new channel, watching in interest as world and region news was reported. The news show described the civil war occurring in Hoenn as well as the effects of the portals disrupting the world, with updates from various professors and scientists about what could be causing it. One man stood near the border of Viridian city, armoured vehicles behind him accompanied by solders carrying small weaponry, most of them being paired with large battle ready Pokémon wearing custom armour. The man wore a white coat over a light red shirt, greying hair trimmed into a short, no-nonsense haircut. He wore a stern expression as he talked to various reporters on theories he had constructed about the cataclysm, the small title bar at the bottom of the news feeding displaying "Professor Samuel Oak: Head of Kanto Pokémon Research Conglomerate"

"-disruptions in space and time very well might have been caused by Pokémon. Despite what the public thinks, certain powerful Pokémon have the potential to cause this, most notably the two fabled legendaries, Diagla and Plakia. Why they would cause these things is unknown, but their abilities are not beyond it"

"Aren't those Pokémon considered to be almost untraceable?" The reported asked

"Yes, much about them is still unknown to us, as their observed abilities have proven that they could move anywhere in space and time, respectively." The Professor explained "It is unlikely that this is true, but considering how little we know about factors such as their intelligence, psychology and physiology, it could be considered a viable theory"

"Is that you're primary theory, professor?" The reported asked. The professor paused for thought for a moment before answering.

"No, we haven't decided on a primary theory yet. One of the other theory's we have is that a large clash between two or more Pokémon of huge power, legendaries are most likely, has caused this to occur due to the massive releases of energy" he said "Such as thing had been seen with incidents such as the controversial "Mewtwo" experiments as well as the ancient unown archaeology incident, however these were much more isolated occurrences" He listed off the factors on his fingers as he explained them. Will gave a short grunt of disapproval, but still had that look of great contemplation in his eyes. Power to rend the very fabric of space and time at will belonging to organic creatures was ludicrous; it was practically equal to the power of a god. And if it was a god, equally ludicrous, then surely they wouldn't pull something this stupid and savage if they had the innate knowledge to create an entire universe.

"Bah, nonsense" Will accused, as if the professor could hear him through the television "They can invent a ball capable of transforming matter into nuclear energy for storage, but they can't fathom the idea of a quantum collision?"

"How did you come up with the idea?" Michael asked. Will rubbed a discoloured spot on his scalp, the skin slightly feeling thinner.

"I fell and hit my head while walking through the campus a few years back" He said almost proudly "Knocked the idea right into me"

"...I don't think most scientists rely on getting ideas knocked into them..." Michael asked. Will waved his hand exaggeratedly through the air.

"Maybe if they went through with it like they do with all their other half baked ideas, then my field would be getting somewhere..." He muttered bitterly.

"Or maybe it knocked some sense out of you" Tom chuckled, loading his pockets with some chocolate bars from the mini-fridge under the desk. He turned towards the door with Layla in tow and spoke again before Will could offer any retort.

"I'm going out to investigate some things, you're welcome to come but it'd be easier if it was only us two" Tom said, waiting for a moment in the doorway. Michael shook his head from the chair he was reclining in.

"Sorry, I need some rest today" he said "I probably wouldn't be of any help anyway". In reality, Michael wanted to come along with them. He didn't like the powerlessness that came from sitting this room while the world passsed by, but he knew it wasn't the best idea to get in the way of Tom if he did come up with something, and he trusted the grizzled priest with that much. Tom nodded and closed the before behind him as he left, cutting of Will as he began a counter insult.


Throughout the evening, Tom and Layla walked the streets, searching any leads they found to find some way or some one who could get them into Hoenn. The pair's search led through many of the less savoury areas of the city, ducking in and out of shady bars and clubs were the filth of the city settled. The area didn't faze Tom, having dealt with such people in the past. Layla, although still slightly limping, knew she could take on any trouble without too much worry. But despite this, they both kept their guard up as they were led from person to person, each one offering a small bit of information. The information all culminated into the name of one man, who was said to be one of the largest supplies of illicit goods. One small, untrustworthy looking man with pale skin and large scars along his body, shaking slightly and constantly scratching his arms as if he was crawling with spiders, told them that he ran a club in the middle of a block of dingy apartments, and offered to take them there for a small fee. Tom refused and made to leave. Turning, he heard the distinct click and sliding of metal as the young man drew a switchblade from behind his back, throwing himself forward. Tom deftly dodged and drove his elbow into the man's neck, unfurling his arm and yanking the man's arm at an awkward angle, hearing the crack of bone and ligament snapping. He was on the ground quickly, snivelling in pain as Tom took hold of the blade and stood over him, demanding the directions.

"Down the road, past Ohtani street!" he blubbered through gritted teeth. Tom's cold glare made him shake in a mixture of anger and desperation. With sloppy but quick movement, he grabbed for Layla's leg as she stood next to Tom, trying to pull her down. Tom fell to forward, pinning the man's good arm with his knee as Layla jumped back before the man could reach.

"Bad call" He sneered, plunging the switchblade deep into the man's shoulder. The man screamed in pain, rolling on the wet tarmac as blood seeped into his faded jacket. Tom pulled himself up, flicking shut and pocketing the switchblade, then walking out of the alleyway, the cries of the injured man echoing behind him. Layla followed silently, glancing apprehensively at Tom as they walked. She knew Tom was a fighter and that he had been involved with some very violent groups, but now that she had seen him borderline torture a man, she felt a slight fear creep into her. Despite his explanations of how ugly the people in the world could be, it didn't prepare her for what he had done.

They reached the club without further incident, finding the sign placed almost inconspicuously on a large and dilapidated apartment building door. The scratched sign read "Helix Pleasures" in cursive faded scarlet lettering, giving them both an idea of what kind of club it was. They knocked on the door, waiting a few seconds before a large man opened it, glaring at them both through cheap black sunglasses. He was dark skinned and wore a simple white tank top and jeans, top stained and yellowing, muscle bulging from two thick arms. He ran his eyes up and both the both of them before he grunted and jerked a thumb behind him, motioning them inside. They entered, the smell of smoke, alcohol and sweat hitting them. The apartment walls had been torn down crudely, making the entire ground floor into a large open area. A bar in the corner and scattered tables filled with loud, yelling men were the first things they saw, but their eyes very quickly found the crude stage that had been set at the very end of the building. A multitude of half clothed woman danced along the edge of the group gathered around the stage, drawing hollers and calls from the men. Tom knew prostitution was a business, but his face distorted in disgust as they continued to walk through the crowd when he saw half the 'women' on stage were female Pokémon. Layla couldn't help but stare at the dancers while she followed Tom. She hardly knew anything of the human culture, but this was something that was shocking to her, despite her ignorance of humans. Most of the female Pokémon were at least vaguely humanoid, being the most appealing to the crowd. Two Lopunnys, a Blaziken and even another Lucario danced sensually on the edge of the stage, seeming utterly shameless. She didn't know how they ended up like that, but she guessed probably wouldn't like the answer.

Tom talked to the barman, asking for to see the man who apparently could help them. The bartender, a man with dirty blonde hair flowing back into a mullet and wearing the same tank top as the one who'd let them in, gave Tom a hard stare.

"You'd be pissin' him off if it weren't serious business" The bartender said, spitting in a glass and polishing it with a dirty rag. "Ain't wise to piss him off, either"

"Its business, we need to make a deal" Tom said shortly, the bartender still glaring.

"Business come at a price, what'd you pay him?" He said sharply

"We'll work something out, I can afford anything he wants" Tom said, the Bartender relented and replaced the half cleaned glass. Walking them over to a stairwell near the back of the club and leading them up to a long hallway. On the left side of the room, the doors were numbered, each displaying a sign which could be flipped between "Free" and "In use".

"He's got a steep price, watch your words" he said as he led them to the single door on the right side of the hall, knocking three times, opening after a gruff voice called to him.

The interior of the office had been widened, two walls being knocked down to make way for a huge mahogany desk and expensive looking red couch, as well as a large king sized bed, sheets a deep purple satin with multiple pillows. The walls were adorned with pinups of models and expensive looking paintings. The whole room was very clean and well maintained; as if it had sucked all the life from the building it resided in and condensed it into one area. Behind the great wooden desk in an equally great black leather chair, sat a wide bodied man. His face was round and small, blonde hair pulled back into a small knot behind his head, but his shoulders were broad. They branched into two disproportionately thin arms, from which small, almost slender hands sprouted. He looked as if his body was stuck between being a weightlifter and an Olympic runner, making his black suit stretch uncomfortably over his wide chest. He had halted looking through a stack of papers as the bartender led them inside, calming assessing Tom and Layla. The bartender stopped in the middle of the room and spoke, looking slightly fearful of the man behind the chair.

"This guy says he got business for you sir" The man spoke, his gruff, causal tone gone and replaced by a nearly formal and neutral voice.

"Business? What sort of business that he comes to me for?" The man spoke; Tom stiffened but repressed his sneer of disgust as he heard the man's voice. The same slick, snake oiled voice Sting had so often used.

"He...hasn't said, sir" The bartender replied, quickly adding "But he says that he can pay anything for it"

"Anything?...well this certainly is interesting" He said, glancing over the two again. An uncomfortable silence settled over the room, the bartender looking around nervously.

"Sir..?" He asked apprehensively

"Thank you Aaron, go wait outside" he said briskly. The bartender didn't hesitate as he turned and hurried away, closing the door behind him. The room grew quiet again, Tom and Layla standing in the centre while the man stared at them. This went on for half a minute before he spoke up.

"Well, what business have you come to talk of?" He said, straighten in his chair

"We need to get to Hoenn, the sooner the better, any means are fine" Tom said. The man behind the desk chuckled and pointed disturbingly friendlily at Tom.

"Straight to the point, I like you. You know the value of my time" He said, the last part coming out with a slightly threatening inflection. "I'll be brief too then. Lots of people want in to Hoenn and the region is locked down very tightly. People I know have ceased operating due to the security, so the only way in, is through false documentation". The man removed a few small notebooks from the lower left drawer of his desk, laying them on the desk.

"A lot of people want to get into Hoenn for one reason or another, I couldn't care less, so a lot of people are after these fake authorised ferry passes" he explained "The question is, how much will they pay?"

"How would those passes get us onto the ship, how do we know they'll work?" Tom asked. The man pointed again.

"Cautious too. You shouldn't worry about these; I do have men on the ferry staff that will turn a blind eye if they notice these are fake." He said almost soothingly

"How many men? We could get someone who isn't one and spots them" Tom counted. The man's smirk fell to a deadly serious look.

"You say you'll pay anything, so I'll tell you. They always patrol the fences. There's a weak chain link joint near the rear left fence of the main berthing area which they'll break open if you show them the passes." He said

"So if we're caught by someone else, you can just say we broke in" Tom accused. The man returned to smiling.

"Well, if you weren't arrested for that, then surely it would be for the fake passes. Personal security, you understand?" he said confidently.

"...so we get screwed and you keep the pay..." Tom muttered

"Yes" The man said plainly "but what other ways are there?" He was confidant that there was no other way onto the ship, and with his men around operating in harbour, he was probably right. Tom steeled himself and asked the next question.

"How much for four passes?" he asked. The man whistled at hearing the number.

"Four passes is a lot. And it will easily put 350,000 dollars into my hand" He said, holding out his hand in a beckoning gesture.

"And if I don't have that money?" Tom said. The man looked at him as if he were a pile of gold in himself. His eyes wandered to the ceiling and he perched his hands together.

"Well, there are other means you can pay" He said "For example; that is a very rare Pokémon you have following you". Layla glared at him, his words being laced with intent. "Customers come here mostly for the Pokémon; this is one of the only places that can guarantee that taste can be fulfilled. And I take many measures to maintain that. I'm sure she would attract quite a crowd, on stage and off." Layla now knew how those Pokémon ended up here, and she despised the idea even more so now.

"I'm not selling her" Tom said unquestionably, the man's smile growing wider.

"Well, I'd hate to tear a couple like you apart, so in that case we can go more along the lines of rental" he said. Tom stared at him with a questioning frown.

"Rental?" he asked scornfully

"Of course. She would be in service of the club and it's customers for a set time, then you can recollect her" The man said, spreading his hands in a welcoming gesture, sly grin on his face. His gesture was met with only a cold stare from Tom, who turned his back.

"Forget it, we'll find another way" he said, walking away with Layla. The man called from behind them.

"My time is valuable and you said you had business for me" He said threateningly, his calm demeanour gone and replaced by one of anger. "This deal is not one you can walk away from. Payment is still to be decided"

"Watch me" Tom muttered as he continued. The man called out the name Aaron and the bartender entered quickly, blocking Tom's way.

"Aaron, please restrain him from leaving" The man said calmly. The bartender stepped forward and pushed Tom back threateningly, herding him back into the middle of the room.

"Time is money, and you don't have money that can afford my time, so how are you going to pay for these?" The man asked irritably, drumming his fingers on the desk. Tom looked back and forth between the man and the large bartender blocking his way, glancing quickly at Layla.

"I won't" He said, launching himself at the bartender and striking at his face. The bartender ducked, but cried out as Tom swiftly withdrew the switchblade from his pocket and swung it across the man's lowered face. The man cried out in pain as he clutched at his eyes, blood obscuring his vision as he blindly struck out. Tom dodged and pulled Layla by the arm, dragging her out the door with him as he ran down the corridor. The man called out from behind them, but Tom didn't hear and he flew down the stairs. Layla stumbled and cried out in pain as he leg landed on the stair roughly, falling to the ground. Tom swore under his breathe as he quickly picked her back up, unconventionally carrying her over his shoulder as he continued to run. He burst through the doorway for the ground floor and barged through the crowd. The customers called out in protest, some trying to throw their bottles at him, but missing in the confusion. Layla might have protested being carried like this, but her leg was still healing and running for herself was out of the question. The bouncer at the door saw the disruption and readied himself, couching to tackle Tom. Tom's old reflexes kicked in, grabbing a bottle on a passing table by the neck and hurling it at the bouncer. The man dodged, but his bulky frame made him slow to snap back, giving Tom the time needed to clumsily swipe the blade at the man as he barged past. Blood sprayed from a cut on the bouncers arm, but his head drove itself into Tom's side as he was barged out of the way. Tom winced in pain as he felt one of his ribs crack, pain shooting through his side as he continued down the stairs of the apartment building. He made a hard left and ran, never stopping to look behind him as he continued down the dark road, streetlights illuminating puddles of water and dancing in his vision.

He ran past the closely packed buildings and back alley shops, only slowing to a jog after breaking into a more civilised area, the streetlights doubling on the main road and brightening the scene. He jogged across to a great green expanse of grass and trees, the park path illuminated by evenly spaced lamps across the gravel path, shops visible on the other side of the small park area. He slowed as he travelled down the park path, jog turning to a limping walk before stopping completely. He panted and tried to regain his breath, the pain in his side flaring as he did so. He was too distracted to notice Layla tapping his back until she spoke into his ear"

"You can put me down, they didn't follow us" She said. Tom bent over and carefully placed her on the ground, grunting in pain as he straightened up, muttering an apology about the abrupt escape. She folded her arms and stared at him hard.

"I didn't need to be carried like that" She said "I could have-"

"Oh save it" Tom interrupted "You couldn't have run on that leg". Her stare hardened even more as she answered.

"I could have helped protect you too, we would have taken both of them" She protested loudly "All you've done is get yourself hurt and left behind what we wanted"

"You could be thankful that I bothered carrying you" Tom growled, still breathing hard and holding his side. The pressure stopped some of the pain, but it throbbed hotly under his skin. Layla growled in frustration.

"We fight together" She said "And twice you've hurt yourself trying to help me, I'm not weak! I can fight back too, I can-"

"Shut up!" Will yelled. Layla's frown lost some of its intensity, her folded arms loosening. "What if one of those two had somehow gotten to you, what if one had pulled something, what if! I don't like risks!"

"Then why risk yourself!" She screamed furiously. Tom grunted lowly, his voice dropping to a quiet tone.

"Because you're the reason I bothered with this..." He said. Layla's face softened, slight confusion and apprehension in her mind. "You wanted to get back to your world, but you were a good friend back there...I wanted to help."

Tom leaned against the lamppost they were under, gentle flickering of the light drawing moths through the air and emitting a quiet buzz.

"You're...I like you" he said simply "I was glad you decided to stay, you're a good friend...and I don't want some stupid mistake taking that away, we all look out for each other so I'm responsible for you too now that you're with us..."

Layla's head dropped in embarrassment; eye's searching through the gravel as she tried to understand what he had said. She didn't know he cared for her like that. The first time he had saved her was excusable, but this time he didn't have to do it. He could have let her fight with him, but instead tried to get her to safety. And he called her a friend, something she been debating over for some time now. She didn't know what to think of Tom, her thoughts confused by her urge to be with him but being unable to figure out why. He was a strong figure, a warrior proud and true, just like the one's her pack followed. She was part of a new pack now, and perhaps she didn't realise how deeply bound she was.

"I...well...sorry" She muttered, her eyes now gentle and looking up at him with concern. "Are you able to walk?"

"..I'll be fine to make it back" he said "That bastard revealed more than he should have, that works for us-".Tom was interrupted by the pain in his side as he began to walk, grunting heavily. Layla reached out and took his hand in her paw, guiding him forward and making sure he wouldn't fall.

"Thanks..." He said gratefully, smiling slightly. They both started forward through the park, gravel crunching underneath their feet as they strode under the glowing light of a beautiful rising moon.