Chapter 25

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=100 BGCOLOR="#CCCCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="14800640egdysm.jpg"> <div> <B>Dark Reflection (Beginning):  </B><A HREF="dr_pro.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Prologue"><U>Prologue</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr1.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 1"><U>Chapter 1</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 2"><U>Chapter 2</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 3"><U>Chapter 3</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 4"><U>Chapter 4</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 5"><U>Chapter 5</U></A></div> <div> <B>A Master in the Making:</B>  <A HREF="mim18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 18"><U>Chapter 18</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 19"><U>Chapter 19</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 20"><U>Chapter 20</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 21"><U>Chapter 21</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 22"><U>Chapter 22</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 23"><U>Chapter 23</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 24"><U>Chapter 24</U></A>   |   <B>Chapter 25</B>   |   <A HREF="mim26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 26"><U>Chapter 26</U></A></div> <div> <B>Dark Reflection:  </B><A HREF="dr6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 6"><U>Chapter 6</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr7.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 7"><U>Chapter 7</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr8.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 8"><U>Chapter 8</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr9.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 9"><U>Chapter 9</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr10.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 10"><U>Chapter 10</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr11.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 11"><U>Chapter 11</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr12.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 12"><U>Chapter 12</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr13.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 13"><U>Chapter 13</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr14.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 14"><U>Chapter 14</U></A></div> <div> <B>Dark Reflection (Finale):  </B><A HREF="dr15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 15"><U>Chapter 15</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 16"><U>Chapter 16</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr_epi.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Epilogue"><U>Epilogue</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#000066" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/oldnews.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Old News</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/zrfic/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>My Fanfics</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/zrart/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>My Fanart</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/a-j/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Authors A-J</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/k-z/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Authors K-Z</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/art/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Fanart List</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/ffsubmit.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Submit a Fanfic</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/fanart_submit.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Submit Fanart</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://pub46.ezboard.com/beeveesmb" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://pub46.ezboard.com/beeveesmb"><U><B>Message Board</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/links.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=380 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Chapter 25</I></div> <div> <B>A Master in the Making: Chapter 25: Rock Bottom</B></div> <bR> <div>     "What a beauty!" Zeth exclaimed at the long blue feather in his hands.  He had arrived at the Opal City Pokémon Center just after sunset, leaving the <I>Skylark</I> just outside of town.  Intending to see if any of his pokémon needed any medical attention after their battle on Glass Mountain, Zeth had given all six of his pokéballs to Nurse Joy.  She returned a short time later with a surprising find.  Apparently, Aqua had returned to his pokéball while still clamping down on one of the Articuno's majestic feathers.  The beautiful feather, long as Zeth's forearm, was in near-perfect condition, despite the beating it had been through.  "It's too bad that we couldn't give this to Lawrence," Zeth added.  "He would have loved to add something like this to his collection."</div> <bR> <div>     {Perhaps it's for the best,} Teak suggested.  The Jolteon was the only pokémon with Zeth at the moment, since all the others were still being examined by Nurse Joy and her Chanseys.  {Lawrence wanted Articuno so much; having the feather would probably just be a bad reminder for him.}</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth stared at the Articuno feather for a moment longer, then carefully placed it between two shirts in his backpack.  "I suppose you're right.  I'll just keep it in here until we go back to the <I>Skylark</I>, then I'll keep it in there so it won't get damaged."  Zeth waved as Sting entered the room, "Hey, we're over here."</div> <bR> <div>     The Beedrill flew over and landed beside Zeth.  She still looked battered, but she seemed to have recovered most of her energy.  {It looked like Florio, Aqua, and Blaze are almost done.  Eva's going to have to take it easy for a couple days, though.}</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth smiled, "That's ok, she's earned a break.  When do you think we'll be ready to take on the gym leader here?"</div> <bR> <div>     Sting considered that, {Well, I guess we can be ready to battle by tomorrow morning.}</div> <bR> <div>     "Perfect!  We'll all just take it easy for the rest of the night then."</div> <bR> <div>     The Beedrill reached for Zeth's backpack, {Sounds good.  Let's play a round of chess!}</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth groaned, knowing that, once again, he was going to get wiped out by one of Sting's complex strategies. "You know, I don't know why I even play against you.  You're totally out of my league..."</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     Elsewhere in Opal City, a dark figure activated a video phone.  "I've found the target," the figure said quietly to the woman on the other end.</div> <bR> <div>     "Good work, ShadowWalker, I knew you'd come through for us."</div> <bR> <div>     "Of course," The mercenary agreed, "I always win in the end."</div> <bR> <div>     "That's why Duke and I hire you." His employer, Kat, told him.  "When do you plan to make the capture?"</div> <bR> <div>     "Tomorrow morning.  With any luck, this should be simple.  And, if not, I'll have myself a challenge."</div> <bR> <div>     Kat must have noticed the slightly hopeful tone to his voice, "You sound like that's what you want."</div> <bR> <div>     ShadowWalker smiled, though it was unnoticeable under the mask he wore.  "I love a good challenge," he explained.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     The next morning, Zeth had just stepped into the Opal City Gym for his next gym battle.  This gym was one of the simplest he had seen so far, being just a large arena with a few side rooms.  The arena looked like it had been ground zero for an earthquake, with huge rocks jutting out of the ground and deep holes and cracks in other places.  Zeth carefully made his way to the other end of the room, where he found a man reading a book while perched on a huge Onix.  "Uh, excuse me?  Are you the gym leader?" Zeth asked.</div> <bR> <div>     The man looked up from his book, "Oh!  I didn't hear you come in.  Yes, I'm Jason Brooks, the gym leader here.  Did you come for a pokémon battle with me?"</div> <bR> <div>     "Yeah, I did," Zeth confirmed.</div> <bR> <div>     "Great!  We can start at once!"  The man jumped down from the Onix's back, landing in front of Zeth.  He was just slightly taller then Zeth, with a tan shirt that said "Rocks ROCK!"  Between that and the Onix, Zeth had a fairly good idea of what pokémon type he specialized in.  "Two on two match, no time limit?"</div> <bR> <div>     "Sounds fine to me," Zeth agreed, taking a pokéball from his belt.  "Anywhere in particular I should stand?"</div> <bR> <div>     Jason shook his head, "Nah, right here's fine."  He also chose a pokéball.  "I'll send out my pokémon first, okay?  Let's go, Rhyhorn!"  The rocky rhino appeared in a flash of light.</div> <bR> <div>     "I choose you, Aqua!"  As Zeth's Shellder appeared, Zeth pointed at the waiting Rhyhorn.  "Use your Water Gun attack!"</div> <bR> <div>     Jason quickly gave orders to his own pokémon.  "Use Earthquake, Rhyhorn!"  Being too slow to avoid Aqua's Water Gun attack, the Rhyhorn was quickly soaked, but it ignored the water and focused on pounding the ground.  The ground shook violently, and a large crack opened up underneath the Shellder.  Aqua fell through with a squeak.</div> <bR> <div>     The clam quickly teleported back and hit Jason's Rhydon with an Ice Beam attack.  "Hang in there, Rhyhorn!" Jason called.  "Try a Horn Drill attack!"  The rock-type charged Aqua, its horn glowing white.  Before Zeth even opened his mouth to warn his Shellder, Aqua was already teleporting out of the way.  As he reappeared, the Shellder unleashed a sparkling Bubblebeam attack that slammed into the Rhyhorn's back.</div> <bR> <div>     That was all it took to finish off the rocky pokémon.  Zeth grinned as the Rhyhorn fell to the ground.  "Looks like the first win's mine," he taunted cheerfully.  "Care to try for two?"</div> <bR> <div>     Jason smiled as he choose another pokémon, "Absolutely!  I'll go with Donphan next!  Use your Rollout attack, Donphan!"  The armored pokémon that came out of Jason's pokéball immediately curled into a ball and rolled toward Aqua at high speed.  This time, Aqua wasn't able to dodge in time, instead getting thrown back into one of the rocks jutting out of the ground.</div> <bR> <div>     "Come on, Aqua!  Fight back with your Supersonic attack!"  Zeth quickly covered his ears as piercing waves of sound blasted his eardrums.  Donphan stopped rolling and tried to cover its ears with its paws.  At that point, Aqua splashed the elephant pokémon with a blast of water.  The Donphan jumped to his feet again, tripping backwards to avoid the liquid.</div> <bR> <div>     "Donphan, use Mud Slap!"  Zeth had to admit that it was a good choice for an attack.  The ground under the Donphan was already nice and wet from Aqua's Water Gun attack, so the ground-type had no trouble flinging a huge wad of mud at Zeth's Shellder.</div> <bR> <div>     The mud smacked right into Aqua, pinning him down.  Before he could teleport away, the Donphan had slammed into him with another Rollout attack.  Zeth grabbed Aqua's pokéball, expecting his pokémon to be out of the fight.</div> <bR> <div>     He was wrong, though.  Amazingly, Aqua was still capable of fighting.  The Shellder vanished in a flash of light, quickly reappearing behind the Donphan and clamping onto it.  Before Zeth could suggest a different attack, Aqua used Explosion, knocking out both himself and his opponent.</div> <bR> <div>     "Eww, messy..."  Jacen made a face.  "That wouldn't have been my first choice of attack."</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth shrugged, "Same here, but since it worked, I'm not going to complain."</div> <bR> <div>     Jacen shook his head.  "I'm amazed you've beaten me so fast, but with a water-type as strong as your Shellder, I guess I shouldn't be that surprised.  Either way, you've earned the Geode Badge."  Jacen took the badge from his pocket and handed it to Zeth.  "Of course, if my Onix still battled, you'd have had quite a different match, I assure you." Jacen told Zeth, glancing over at the rock snake that had just been watching the match with partial interest.  He used to be quite a battler in his prime, but now he's pretty much retired.  He still comes back for the occasional match or two, but today's just not one of those days."</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth winked, "I guess that's lucky for me, then!"  He glanced down at the badge in his hand, which really did seem to be made out of a thin slice of a geode.  After admiring the sparkling crystals that lined the inside of the round badge for a moment, Zeth added the badge to the rest of his collection.  "I just need one more badge to complete in the Obsidian League!"</div> <bR> <div>     "Well, don't take too long getting it," Jacen told him.  The League matches are less than a month and a half away.  You'd better get that last badge soon!"</div> <bR> <div>     "Don't worry," Zeth told Jacen, as he turned to leave the gym.  "I'm sure I can get myself another badge in almost no time at all!"</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     When Zeth returned to the pokémon center, he was surprised to find the door locked.  For a moment he wondered if he should just come back later, but as he turned to walk away, he heard something that sounded like glass breaking.  Spinning around, Zeth released Aqua again.  The barely-conscious Shellder moaned and blinked.  {Wha?  Where are we?}</div> <bR> <div>     "Outside the pokémon center," Zeth told him.  The door's locked and I think there's something wrong in there.  I need you to teleport me inside if you can.</div> <bR> <div>     The Shellder stuck out his tongue, {Aww, I hurt, Zeth...}</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth rolled his eyes, "I know, I know...  Just get me inside, will you?  I'll let you have a nice long nap afterwards, okay?"</div> <bR> <div>     {Fine, whatever, just be quiet already.  It hurts when you talk.}  Before Zeth could even bother apologizing, he found himself inside the pokémon center, with Aqua at his feet.  Returning the battered clam to his pokéball, Zeth ran toward the dormitory, where he heard a loud banging noise.</div> <bR> <div>     Reaching the door, Zeth suddenly had the urge to make a hasty exit.  It seemed he had arrived in the middle of a pokémon battle between an unknown girl and one of his own worst enemies.  "ShadowWalker!" he found himself exclaiming.  He quickly grabbed Florio's pokéball from his waist.  "Go, Florio!  Use your vines to wrap up that creep!"</div> <bR> <div>     ShadowWalker barely had time to spin around before Florio had him totally wrapped up in vines.  "Raltier, you idiot!"  The mercenary snarled, recognizing Zeth.  "Leave now before you regret this!"</div> <bR> <div>     "You're the only one who will be regretting anything!"  Zeth nodded over to where ShadowWalker's Ariados was battling the girl's Qwilfish.  "Tell your pokémon to stand down, or I'll have Florio give you the squeeze!"</div> <bR> <div>     "Don't do this!" the mercenary warned.  Zeth nodded at Florio, who tightened his vines around ShadowWalker.  "All right!" he managed to gasp out, "Ariados, stop fighting!"  Zeth motioned for his Ivysaur to stop squeezing his victim, who greedily sucked in air.  "You're... a fool...." he managed to say between breaths.</div> <bR> <div>     "I'm afraid he's right, actually."  The girl that ShadowWalker had been menacing informed Zeth as she ran to his side.  Before Zeth realized what was happening, the girl tore the pokéballs from his belt and jumped back, throwing down one of her own pokéballs to release a Jynx.  "Bye, Ivysaur!" she called out, recalling Florio to the pokéball she had snatched from Zeth.  "Now, give these nice people your Lovely Kiss attack, Jynx!"  Before Zeth or ShadowWalker could try to run, the Jynx had sent both of them to dreamland.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     A smack to the face brought Zeth back to full consciousness.  "Ah, what was that for?" Zeth asked, before he realized that it was ShadowWalker who had just belted him.  "Oh, yeah..."</div> <bR> <div>     "I told you not to interfere, but you just had to be all heroic, didn't you?" ShadowWalker sneered.  "Do you realize how hard it will be for me to get back the pokémon that she stole from me?"</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth sat up, rubbing his stinging cheek and glaring at the mercenary.  Under any other circumstances, he would have been frantic about finding his own pokémon again, but having ShadowWalker around quashed that particular feeling for the moment.  "As a matter of fact, I do.  Who was that, anyway?  And how come I'm not tied up or something?  I thought you wanted to deliver me to the Rockets."</div> <bR> <div>     ShadowWalker glared at Zeth, "Yeah, that was the original plan, but things have changed since the last time we've met.  Recently, the Rockets have had more important problems on their hands.  They've suspended the bounty on you for the moment, so you're worthless to me now.  My new target is Danielle Mason, the girl who stole all our pokémon.  She's the daughter of Leonard Mason, the leader of the Dragons.  The Rockets hoped that by capturing Mason's daughter, they could use her as leverage to halt the Dragon attacks on Team Rocket bases."</div> <bR> <div>     "So what you're saying," Zeth replied, "is that I'm off the hook now and you're off to capture one of the most wanted criminals around?"  Zeth shook his head, "I wish you'd thought to mention that earlier."</div> <bR> <div>     "I told you to leave," ShadowWalker growled, "You should have listened."</div> <bR> <div>     "But I didn't, and now we're both out of luck.  You don't have any idea where Danielle might have gone with our pokémon, do you?"</div> <bR> <div>     "Of course I know where they've gone," the mercenary turned and stared at Zeth with his piercing, ice-blue eyes.  "The problem is, their base is heavily guarded.  I was lucky to find Danielle here when I did.  She came to rob the pokémon center, and I managed to catch her in the act.  It would be insane to try to actually follow her back to her base!"</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth climbed to his feet.  "Tell me where the Dragon base is."</div> <bR> <div>     "In the most obvious of places, actually.  There's an island off the north coast of Obsidia called Dragon Island, named that because of the occasional Dratini spotting there.  The Dragons decided that an island with the same name as their gang was a perfect hideout.  That's where Mason's gone, but you'd be crazy to go there, especially without your pokémon."</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth looked at the bounty hunter for a moment, "You wouldn't happen to have any extra pokémon that you don't keep around with you by any chance?"</div> <bR> <div>     ShadowWalker shook his head, "None, and I suppose you don't either."</div> <bR> <div>     "Well, I do have my Spearow, but he's recovering from a broken wing."  Zeth pounded his fist against a bedpost.  "There just has to be a way to do this without pokémon, and I'm going to find out how!"  With that, Zeth turned and marched out the door.</div> <bR> <div>     "Wait!"  Zeth turned to find ShadowWalker following him.  "You may be crazy, but I want my pokémon back too.  I'm coming with you!  When we get our pokémon back, I'm going to make Danielle Mason wish she'd never crossed my path!"</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth started to object, but then he realized that the mercenary was right.  The two of them together would have a far better chance against the Dragons then just one of them would.  Even though he didn't trust ShadowWalker, he would just have to take the chance.  "Fine, you can come." he grudgingly agreed.  "But first," Zeth added, as he suddenly thought of something, "Where's Nurse Joy?"</div> <bR> <div>     The bounty hunter pointed at a closed door down the hall.  "She's locked in the storage room.  Why?"</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth ran to the storage room and quickly unlocked the door.  He darted back to ShadowWalker, who was waiting for him by the front door.  "Must you always be so annoyingly helpful?" the mercenary asked as the two of them left the building.  Zeth just ignored him.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     Although Zeth hated to show ShadowWalker the <I>Skylark</I>, he knew that they would need the craft to quickly reach Dragon Island.  Once on board, Zeth told the computer to set course for the island, then remembered to stash away his Articuno feather in a small compartment behind the hopper's seats.</div> <bR> <div>     ShadowWalker watched him the whole time.  "It seems you've had some interesting experiences since we last met," he finally said.</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth told the navigation screen to display their current course before he answered, "You have no idea..."  Much of the rest of the trip was spent in silence.  Zeth watched the ground roll past, trying to think of a plan to rescue his pokémon from the Dragon base.</div> <bR> <div>     Finally, when they were almost to Dragon Island, ShadowWalker spoke up again.  "We should probably fly in low to avoid detection."</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth nodded and had the computer fly lower, until they were almost skimming the water.  Then he glanced over at ShadowWalker, "I suppose I should thank you for coming with me.  We'll have a much better chance working as a team."</div> <bR> <div>     "I wouldn't get used to it if I was you," his companion warned.  "Once I've captured Mason for the Rockets, they'll very likely want me to come after you again.  And if I were you, I would try very hard to never run into me again, because I will eventually manage to capture you if I'm paid to do it."</div> <bR> <div>     "I'll keep that in mind," Zeth muttered.  As they neared Dragon Island, Zeth scanned the coast for people.  "I think we're in luck.  I don't see any guards."</div> <bR> <div>     "That doesn't mean they aren't there, but hopefully you're right.  Otherwise, this mission is doomed from the start."  The mercenary pointed at a dense mass of thornbushes.  "Put us down right in the center of those bushes."</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth shook his head, "What, are you crazy?  How are we going to get out of the middle of that mess?"</div> <bR> <div>     "Shut up and do it.  I think this craft is small enough to hide in there, and I seriously doubt any of the Dragons are stupid enough to go climbing around in the thorns for no reason."</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth knew that ShadowWalker was right.  "Fine, but I hate to think of what this is going to do to our paint job."  Taking the manual controls, Zeth gently nudged the hopper over the bushes, then set down amidst the sound of a thousand thorns scraping against metal.  Zeth shivered, "Sounds even worse than scratching a chalkboard with your fingernails."  He tried to open his door, only to find that it stopped a third of the way, held by the huge thorny vines.  Zeth pushed at the door harder, managing to shove it open enough for him to squeeze out.</div> <bR> <div>     "What kind of thorns are there, anyway?" he complained, as the needle-sharp plants caught his clothing.  "Some of these things are almost as big as my hand!"</div> <bR> <div>     ShadowWalker worked his way out after Zeth.  "They're those giant thorns that Snorlaxes like.  I have no idea how they stomach them, though."</div> <bR> <div>     "They have an iron gut, that's how..."  Zeth carefully worked his way toward what he thought was the nearest edge of the thornbushes, getting badly snagged before he could go more than a few steps.  "This is going to take quite a while."  The two of them worked for about fifteen minutes to make it to the edge of the dense bushes, eventually emerging with badly torn clothes and plenty of scratches.  "When we come back, I'm going to have my pokémon give all these bushes a nice trim." Zeth declared irritably.</div> <bR> <div>     "Sounds good to me," ShadowWalker agreed.  The two of them began their hike across the island, trying to avoid walking across any flat, empty terrain where they might be spotted.  For the most part, it was an easy hike, although they occasionally had to avoid more patches of thorns.  Zeth just hoped that when they were ready to make their escape, they could find the thorns they had parked the <I>Skylark</I> in.</div> <bR> <div>     Finally, the two of them managed to locate an entrance to the Dragon base, although they barely managed to duck back under cover before the three guards stationed there noticed them.  The entrance was   just a simple set of steps that led down into the ground.  "What do you think?"  Zeth whispered to his companion.</div> <bR> <div>     "Get them to notice you, then run."  ShadowWalker suggested, grabbing a thick stick.  "While they're paying attention to you, I'll sneak up on them and knock them senseless!"</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth eyed the piece of wood, "Yeah, I guess that'll do.  Just get them fast, or they'll call for reinforcements."  The mercenary gave Zeth a withering glance.  "Okay, fine, I know you knew that.  Just wanted to emphasize that..."  ShadowWalker just stared at Zeth, then pointed at the guards.  "Okay, okay...  I'm going!"</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth crept away from their hiding place, then jumped up and strode towards the bored guards until one of them noticed him.  "Hey, you!" the guard shouted at him.  "What are you doing here?"</div> <bR> <div>     "I'm lost!"  Zeth called back.  "My raft capsized just offshore.  You have any idea where I can find a pokémon center?"</div> <bR> <div>     The guard glanced at his companions, then started toward Zeth.  "I think I can help you out here.  I'll just take all your pokémon so you don't have to worry about them anymore!"</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth pasted a horrified expression on his face, "What?  No!  I'll never let you!"  Spinning around, Zeth dashed off at top speed.  Two of the three Dragons pursued him.  Zeth had no trouble outrunning one of the two, a chubby man that Zeth expected did more eating than thieving.  The other Dragon, the one that had addressed him, was harder to outmaneuver, though.  That Dragon was slowly catching up to Zeth, despite the teen's best efforts to evade him.</div> <bR> <div>    Zeth tripped and fell.  Before he could get up, the Dragon was right over him.  "Got you now, kid!" he jeered.  His victory was short-lived, though.  ShadowWalker jumped him from behind and smacked him across the back of the head with his stick.  The defeated Dragon fell unconscious on top of Zeth, who quickly shoved him aside.</div> <bR> <div>     "Good timing," Zeth commented. "What about the other two?"</div> <bR> <div>     The mercenary tossed away the stick.  "They're both sleeping too.  Come on, let's get these three jokers tied up."  Zeth helped ShadowWalker carry the Dragon back to his two companions.  Making sure that all three of their captives were tightly bound, Zeth and ShadowWalker entered the Dragon base.</div> <bR> <div>     The two of them strode down the hall they entered, ducking into a shadowy recess in the wall as a Dragon walked past.  "We need some way to get past anyone we run into," Zeth said to ShadowWalker as the two of them continued down the hall.</div> <bR> <div>     "I wouldn't be so sure of that."  The two of them rounded a corner, running straight into two more Dragons.  "Watch where you're going, idiots!" ShadowWalker yelled at the them, as if he had every right to be in the base.  To Zeth's amazement, the two Dragons just walked off, muttering about the mercenary's rudeness.  ShadowWalker watched them go.  "Hmm, interesting...  Perhaps this will not be so difficult after all."</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth turned to find another Dragon heading down the corridor towards them.  "I wouldn't count on that."</div> <bR> <div>     "Just act like you're supposed to be here.  If they think we're Dragons, they'll leave us alone.  That's always an important technique to remember."</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth shook his head, "Trouble is, that Dragon knows I'm not one of their agents!  That's Trent, the Dragon I ran into at Jasper and Garnet!"  </div> <bR> <div>     It was too late for them to try to run.  Trent had already spotted Zeth and had started running towards them.  "Hey, I know you!  You're that kid!" Trent threw down two pokéballs, releasing his Shuckle and Persian.  As the two pokémon advanced on Zeth and ShadowWalker, Trent yelled for reinforcements.  A moment later, another Dragon came running, releasing a Sunflora.  Trent shook his head, "I can't believe you two were stupid enough to walk right into our base!  You've both got some major nerve!"</div> <bR> <div>     ShadowWalker pulled out a vial from one of his pockets.  "Run, Zeth!"  The mercenary threw the vial to the ground, where it shattered, releasing a huge cloud of smoke.  ShadowWalker ran for the exit, bowling over the two Dragons that he had yelled at a moment before.  He shot out of the base, then spun around to see if Zeth was following.  After waiting a few moments, the mercenary jogged back to the opening in the ground.  Glancing down the hallway, he saw only the duo of Dragons racing towards him.  Cursing, ShadowWalker ran for the woods...</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     Back in the base, Zeth was trying in vain to get away from Trent's Persian, which had chased him down the halls until it had finally trapped him in a dead end.  "Nice Persian." Zeth reasoned with it.  "I'm not going to do anything bad...  Just run for my life.  Is that okay?  Huh?"  The Persian growled and swiped at Zeth when he tried to walk past it.  Zeth barely managed to avoid the cat's claws.  "Fine, I'll just stay right here!"</div> <bR> <div>     "Well, well...  What have we here?"  Zeth looked up to find Danielle Mason smirking at him.  "Followed me back, did you?  Well, you're in big trouble now!  The only people who ever get out of here are Dragon agents."</div> <bR> <div>     "I suppose that means I'm out of luck." Zeth said, wracking his brain for some way to escape.  Nothing came to mind, though.</div> <bR> <div>     Danielle shook her head.  "Not necessarily.  Sneaking into our base proves you have guts, although it may raise questions about your intelligence.  I have another option.  You could join the Dragons!  I may even give your pokémon back if you do!"</div> <bR> <div>     "I'd rather nail myself to the wall here, actually," Zeth retorted.</div> <bR> <div>     "My, my, how graphic of you..."  Danielle held up a blue-and-white pokéball, "You really only have one smart choice, though.  You could join the Dragons and eventually you would get all of your pokémon back...  The only other options for you would be death or imprisonment for the rest of your life.  And how would you feel, knowing that your pokémon were given to one of our agents for him to use or abuse as he pleases?"</div> <bR> <div>     Trent walked up behind Danielle.  "Hey, it sounds good to me.  I claim his Jolteon!"</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth shook his head.  "My pokémon would never listen to you, no matter what you do to them!"</div> <bR> <div>     Danielle shrugged, "You'd be surprised how many trainers have told me that already.  They were all wrong, and I doubt that your pokémon will be any different from theirs!  Still, they would most likely be quite resistant to a new trainer, as you say.  So why don't we raise the stakes?"  Danielle tossed the pokéball she was holding to Trent.  "In that pokéball you'll find an Eevee.  Why don't you go find out how well she can breathe underwater?"</div> <bR> <div>     "Sounds like fun!"  Trent agreed.  "I bet she croaks in less than a minute!"</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth jumped at Trent, kicking away the Persian as it slashed at him.  "No, you can't!"  Before he could tear Eva's pokéball away from Trent, Danielle grabbed him by the shoulder and tossed him into the corridor wall.</div> <bR> <div>     "Don't like that, do you?" Danielle asked him.  "Well, if you join us, I'll let you have her back unharmed."</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth bit his lip, staring at the pokéball in Trent's hand.  "I.. I can't..." he managed to say.</div> <bR> <div>     "Too bad for your Eevee, then.  Go ahead and dunk her, Trent.  Then tell everyone we're going to roast an Ivysaur tonight.  See if you can find some Charizard trainers to help us out."</div> <bR> <div>     The Dragon grinned, "It'll be my pleasure!"</div> <bR> <div>     "NO!!!"  Zeth shouted, diving at Trent again.  Danielle quickly grabbed him again, somehow managing to twist his arm behind his back.</div> <bR> <div>     "Of course you'd be invited to our little cookout," she taunted, giving his arm a yank.  "And perhaps after that we can think of some fun things to do to the rest of your pokémon!"</div> <bR> <div>     "No!  Please, no..."  Zeth managed to say, as tears of pain and defeat sprang to his eyes.</div> <bR> <div>     "Then you agree to join us?" Danielle inquired, spinning him around to look him in the face.</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth found that he could not meet her gaze.  Instead, staring at the floor in a daze, he nodded.  "Yes...  I do..."</div> </td> </tr></table></body>