Chapter 21

<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>   |   <B>Chapter 21</B>   |   <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>   |   <A HREF="id734.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 25"><U>Chapter 25</U></A>   |   <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" 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Zeth took a deep breath to calm down.  "Would you mind explaining your decision to all of us who weren't with you this afternoon?" he asked slowly.</div> <bR> <div>     {Well,} Eva began, taking a moment to decide what to say.  {I guess I didn't realize how much I missed spending time with other Eevees until today.  When I was with them, I just...}  Eva stopped, trying to think of how she could explain.  {I felt at home, like I was meant to be there.}</div> <bR> <div>     {And she's in love with Teak,} Sting repeated.</div> <bR> <div>     Eva rolled her eyes.  {And I'm in love with Teak.  Are you happy, Sting?}</div> <bR> <div>     {I suppose so.}  The Beedrill answered.  {I would be much happier if I had been wrong, though, and you wanted to stay with us.  It will make me very sad to lose you, my friend.}</div> <bR> <div>     Eva frowned, {I'd be sad to leave too, you know; but I'm not going to leave unless Zeth lets me.}</div> <bR> <div>     Aqua cut in, {You remember the choice he gave me.  He wouldn't order you to stay, and you know it.}</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth nodded, "Aqua's right.  I don't want you to leave either, but I do want you to be happy."  He swallowed hard.  <I>I can't believe I'm saying this!</I>  "If it is truly your wish, then you may go.  But please," Zeth urged, "give it some more thought.  We're not leaving until tomorrow, so you have until then to make a final decision."  Somehow he knew that Eva would not change her mind, though...</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     {You sure look depressed.  What happened?}</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth turned and found Kala, the injured Eevee they had helped earlier.  After she had woken up again, Zeth had spent some time chatting with her.  The Eevee had mistrusted him at first, but now she was starting to overcome her fears.</div> <bR> <div>     "Aren't you supposed to be in bed, resting?" Zeth pointed out.  Kala made a face, and Zeth found himself smiling, despite his mood.  "Yeah, I'm a little unhappy.  You remember Eva, right?  Well, she's decided that she wants to stay here with your tribe."</div> <bR> <div>     The Eevee smiled happily.  {Cool!  I like her, she's really nice!}</div> <bR> <div>     "Yeah, I know," Zeth said dryly.  "That's why I don't want her to leave.  I like having her around, too."</div> <bR> <div>     Kala laughed, as if Zeth had just told her some joke, {Oh, so that's what's wrong!  Well, don't worry; I'm sure I can convince the others to let you visit her whenever you want.}</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth shook his head, "No, you don't understand.  I don't live here; I'm just traveling through.  So if Eva stays here, I won't see her again for a very long time, if ever."</div> <bR> <div>     The young Eevee suddenly lost all her excitement.  {So, you aren't going to let her stay?}</div> <bR> <div>      "Of course I will," Zeth tried to explain.  "I just don't <B>want</B> her to."</div> <bR> <div>     Kala nodded in understanding, {I see your problem.  If it makes you feel any better, I promise to take good care of her.  She'll be like a sister to me.}</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth half-smiled at that, the thought occurring to him of just how ridiculous it was for him to be having this kind of conversation with an Eevee just barely older than a kit.  "She'll be more like a sister-in-law I think.  According to Sting, she deeply in love with your brother Teak."</div> <bR> <div>     Kala grimaced, {Eww... Teak?  How did that happen?}  Zeth shot her a questioning look.  {I guess it's not that bad, though,} she amended.  {There's worse Eevees that Eva could have fallen in love with.  It just seems kinda weird that anybody would fall in love with my brother...} Kala trailed off as she noticed Nurse Joy's Chansey peek around one of the room's two doorways.  {Oops!  Gotta go!  Seeya later!}  At that, Kala bolted out the second door, with the Chansey hot on her tail, trying to shoo her back to bed.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     The next morning, Zeth woke up with Eva sitting on his chest.  "Eee, evui ui vee..." she immediately began saying, while Zeth tried to get his eyes to focus.</div> <bR> <div>     Eva just continued talking until Zeth finally interrupted.  "Whoa, hold on a minute.  I can't understand a word you're saying."  picking up his pokédex, Zeth engaged the translation feature.</div> <bR> <div>     {Sorry, I guess I got carried away.} Eva apologized.  {I just wanted to tell you that I've thought it over, but I haven't changed my mind.  I'm going to stay here.}</div> <bR> <div>     Sitting up, Zeth set Eva down on the floor and tried unsuccessfully to stifle a yawn.  "Yeah, I knew you would," he said sorrowfully.</div> <bR> <div>     {Well, I just wanted to say goodbye before Kala and I head back to the woods.  We'll be leaving in a couple of minutes.}</div> <bR> <div>     <B>That</B> news woke Zeth up the rest of the way.  "What?!  Why so soon?  The rest of us won't be leaving town for another two hours or so."</div> <bR> <div>     Eva made a point of examining a spot on the floor.  {I know, but I don't want to drag our goodbyes for that long.  It's hard enough to go without all that pressure.  Besides, Kala wants to get away from Chansey.} Eva added, winking at Zeth.</div> <bR> <div>     "Of course," Zeth nodded knowingly.  "It would be a crime to leave that poor innocent little Eevee in the sadistic clutches of Joy's Chansey.  Oh, the horror...  You had better rescue her at once!"</div> <bR> <div>     Reaching down, Zeth scooped up Eva into a hug.  "Seriously though, I'm going to miss you, Eva.  You've been with me since the day I began this journey, and until now I had thought that you would still be there when it ended."  Zeth felt warm wetness on his face, but did not bother to wipe the tears away.  "I guess I was wrong about that, huh?"</div> <bR> <div>     Eva licked the tears from Zeth's cheeks.  {Just let me know when you reach the top, and I'll be right there to congratulate you.}</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth smiled, running his fingers through the Eevee's fur one last time.  "I'll do that, if you'll tell Teak that I want his promise to watch out for you from now on."  With that, Zeth set Eva down again.  "Take care of yourself, Eva.  Goodbye, and good luck."</div> <bR> <div>     Eva ran towards the door, stopping just before she reached it.  {Good luck to you too, Zeth.  Don't forget to visit sometime.  I'll be waiting.}  Spinning around, the Eevee exited the room.  A moment later, Zeth heard the sound of the center's automatic front door whirring open as Eva ran toward her new future.</div> <bR> <div>     Picking up Eva's old pokéball, Zeth carried it over to the center's vidphone/computer. Setting the pokéball down on the pad, he selected the option that would clear the pokéball's memory and allow him to reuse the ball.  On the screen, a window popped up, asking him "Are you <B><U>sure</U></B> you want to release Eva?"</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth stared at the screen for a moment, then turned off the machine and replaced the pokéball to its place on his belt.  "No, I <B>don't</B> want to release Eva," he informed the blank screen.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     Trent walked down the streets of Jasper Town, taking note of every detail.  His superiors at Dragon Headquarters had suggested the little town as a possible location for another base; so he and his two partners, Chelsey and Yarin, had been sent to scout out the town first.  So far, Trent was pleased with what he saw.  Crime was low enough that the police forces were minimal, and the townsfolk were too friendly for their own good.  Yes, if they were careful, they could set up a great criminal staging base here without anyone noticing.</div> <bR> <div>     Finishing his patrol at the edge of town, Trent turned around, nearly stepping on a pair of Eevees as they bolted past him.  He was taken by surprise; although he had heard that the little creatures lived nearby, he had never seen one until then.  He thought it strange that <B>two</B> of them would be this close to town.  Still, Trent was not the kind of person who balked at opportunity.  If there were a bunch of Eevees in the woods, he would be well rewarded for finding and capturing them.  Taking one of the four pokéballs on his belt, he threw it to the ground.  "Murkrow, find out where those Eevees are going and report back to me," he commanded, pointing at the two fox pokémon that were just about to disappear into the woods.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     {We're back!} Kala yelled out, as she and Eva reached the edge of the Eevee's meadow.  Welcoming calls answered her immediately, as the other Eevees came out to greet them.</div> <bR> <div>     Eva smiled as she spotted Teak dashing towards them.  {Eva!  You're back!  And you brought Kala home too!}</div> <bR> <div>     Kala gave her older brother a playful shove.  {Guess what, Teak!  Eva's going to stay here with us!  Isn't that great?!}  While Teak stared at Kala and Eva in amazement, a lone Murkrow circled overhead once before turning back towards Jasper Town.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     Despite protests from Eva that it was unnecessary, Kala insisted on throwing a party to welcome her to the tribe.  Now, Eva was glad that Kala had not listened to her.  The little Eevee had managed to get all the Eevees out onto the meadow for a round of games, which Eva was enjoying immensely.  Now, Eva was in a row with six other Eevees, waiting for a signal from Kala to begin racing around the meadow.</div> <bR> <div>    From her perch on a nearby rock, Kala started a countdown, {Ok!  On the count of three!  One, two, three, go!}  The six Eevees dashed away across the course they had laid out a few minutes before.  Kala jumped up and down on the rock, calling encouragement -- until she slipped off in her excitement.  She scrambled to get back up on top of it again as the six runners reached the halfway point.</div> <bR> <div>     The two champion runners were in the lead, almost side by side; but as they neared the finish line, Eva put on a burst of speed.  She shot over the finish line just moments before the rest of the group, grinning happily.</div> <bR> <div>     {I don't believe it!}  Teak exclaimed, as he and the rest of the tribe gathered around to congratulate the racers.  {You won!  Nobody's ever been able to beat those two before!}</div> <bR> <div>     Eva giggled, barely out of breath from the race, {It must be because I've had enough training to be faster and stronger than I was before.  I guess I never realized that until now...}</div> <bR> <div>     {Teak!}  Kala called, and as Eva looked over to her friend on the rock, she was surprised to see her staring back at the empty Eevee village.  {There's some human back at the village!}</div> <bR> <div>     {What?!}  Eva exclaimed, as she and Teak trotted toward Kala's rock.  {Is it Zeth?}  Just as she finished her sentence, she was roughly thrown to the ground by something that landed on her.  She yelped in surprise, finding that she was caught in some kind of weighted net.  Behind her, the net stretched back to cover most of the other Eevees.  She called to Kala to run, but a second net came down, knocking the other Eevee off the rock and pinning her to the ground.</div> <bR> <div>     Less than a meter away from both Kala and Eva, Teak had somehow been missed by both nets.  As he glanced back and forth in confusion, Eva called out to him.  He ran to her and tried to bite through the entangling cords, but Eva knew that he would not be able to chew through them in time.  Already, the three people who had fired the nets were making their way toward them.  {Teak!  Run to town and get Zeth!  Hurry, you don't have much time!}</div> <bR> <div>     {I can't go into town!} he shouted in a panic.</div> <bR> <div>     {Yes, you can!  You have to!  Now run!  Zeth will be at the big building that has a picture of a red cross on a red and white ball.  Go!  It's our only chance!}  Teak nodded, then bolted away, narrowly escaping a third net that the humans fired at him.  Running even faster, Teak fled deep into safety of the Emerald Forest.</div> <bR> <div>     He managed to reach Jasper Town quicker than he would ever have though possible.  Summoning all his courage, he raced madly through the town, heading towards the building Eva had briefly described to him.  He stopped at the closed door, wondering how he was supposed to get in, but as he walked toward it again, it opened away from him.  He had never seen an automatic door before, so he walked past it cautiously, wondering if it was going to close on him when he was halfway through.</div> <bR> <div>     Once safely through the door, Teak looked around the empty waiting room for a sign of Zeth or his pokémon.  He ran down the hall and was relieved to find Sting and a Shellder -- Aqua, as he remembered -- in the dorm, playing some game with black and white pieces.  {I got you now, Sting!} The Shellder exclaimed.</div> <bR> <div>     Teak stumbled into the room, trying to catch his breath.  {Help!}  Sting jumped up in surprise.  {There's..  humans... in the woods,} Teak explained between breaths.  {Eva.. Kala.. They've been captured!  Please!  You've got to help!}</div> <bR> <div>     Sting pointed toward a door farther down the hall.  {Go get Zeth.  He's down there.  Tell him I'm already on my way.}  Sting shoved open a window, then jumped through it and took off into the morning sky.</div> <bR> <div>     Teak headed for the room Sting had indicated, finding Zeth and Florio there, loading clothes into a big machine.  "Hand me that detergent, will you, Florio?" Zeth asked.  "Florio?"  He turned and found his Ivysaur staring in utter surprise at their unexpected visitor.  "Teak?!"  Zeth exclaimed, recognizing the Eevee.  "What in the world are you doing here?  Is Eva with you?"</div> <bR> <div>     Teak's heart was racing from fear and exhaustion, but he managed to tell Zeth what had happened.  {Someone attacked the tribe!  Everyone else was captured, but I managed to escape.  Eva told me to come get you, and bring you back.  Come on!  We have to hurry, or we won't be able to save them!}</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth was taken aback by the bad news.  "What?  You're right, we've got to do something!  Florio, go get the others, while I get my stuff!" he ordered, then darted back to the dorm, grabbing his pokéballs and backpack.  Returning Aqua to his pokéball on the way out, Zeth found Florio, Blaze, and Teak waiting for him.  {Sting's gone on ahead,}  Florio informed him.  {Now let's go save Eva!}</div> <bR> <div>     Sending the two remaining pokémon to their pokéballs, Zeth grabbed Teak and ran out of the center with the Eevee in his arms.  "I know the basic direction to go," he told Teak, "but I'll need you to show me where to go when we're almost there."</div> <bR> <div>     {Just keep running!}  Teak yelled at him.  "We have to make it in time.  We just have to!}</div> <bR> <div>     As Zeth ran deeper into the woods, Teak called out directions, until they finally made it back to the meadow.  The two of them were gratified to see that the intended capture was not completed yet, although it was very far along.  Two unknown trainers were battling the entangled Eevees with their own pokémon one at a time.  Then they would capture the Eevee with a pokéball and move on to the next one.  Zeth only counter about seven more Eevees.  Eva was among them and was actually one of the trainers' current targets.  As Zeth ran into the clearing, one of the two men, this one with tan skin and oriental features, threw a pokéball at the weary Eevee.   The ball smacked off of her head and flew back to its owner without pulling her inside.  Zeth was suddenly very glad that he had not cleared his pokéball's memory.  Since Eva was still registering as his on the worldwide pokémon database, the other pokéball was unable to capture her.</div> <bR> <div>     Apparently, the trainer did not realize that.  He yelled something about defective pokéballs and threw a second, with similar effects.  Eva yelped as the ball smacked her paw.  "Hey!  Lay off my Eevee!"  Zeth yelled, starting to get angry.  "I'm going to report you for pokémon poaching!  Using nets to capture pokémon is illegal!"</div> <bR> <div>     The three trainers twisted around in surprise.  The leader, a man with short blonde hair and bright blue eyes, addressed him first.  "If that's your Eevee, then take it and get out of here!  The rest of them are ours, and you'd better not try to stop us from capturing them, if you know what's good for you."</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth scowled, setting down Teak and reaching for his pokéballs, "I think not!  Florio, I choose -- yah!"  Zeth was thrown to the ground by the same kind of net that had held the Eevees.  Yanking at the entangling ropes, Zeth spotted a third trainer.  She was holding a net launcher with a huge grin on her face.</div> <bR> <div>     "Gotcha, kid!" She taunted him.  "That'll teach you to mess with the Dragons!"  </div> <bR> <div>     Zeth tried to push a pokéball through the netting, but the holes were too small for an activated ball to fit through.  Shrinking the ball, Zeth worked it through the mesh and reactivated it.  "Florio, use Razor Leaf on these creeps!"  The three trainers each released their own pokémon, and the Ivysaur was quickly overcome by a joint attack from the Grimer, Crobat, and Staryu they used.  Zeth recalled him, and desperately tried to free another pokéball.</div> <bR> <div>     The three Dragons had no intention of letting him get out another pokémon, though.  "Yarin, grab him, will you.  Chelsey, you get that Eevee he has with him." the leader ordered.  "I'll get his pokéballs."  Zeth struggled, but it was no use.  He could not move enough to struggle when the oriental man, Yarin, held him down.  Chelsey grabbed the tangled Teak by the scruff of the neck and hoisted him free of the net, allowing the leader to pull the pokéballs from Zeth's belt without getting bit.</div> <bR> <div>     With the net partway off of him, Zeth suddenly twisted from Yarin's grasp and rolled out from underneath the net.  The Dragon grabbed at him, catching hold of Zeth's backpack.  Zeth slipped out of his pack, diving at the pokéballs that the Dragon leader had stolen from him.  He was met with a hefty blow to the stomach, which sent him straight to the ground again, gasping for air.  "Heh, nice punch, Trent," Chelsey congratulated.</div> <bR> <div>     "Hey, look at this!"  Yarin drew their attention over to an item that was poking out of the backpack he had pulled off of Zeth.  "He had a Thunderstone on him."  Yarin grabbed the stone and tossed it to Trent.  "What do you think we should do with that?"  Not bothering to check the backpack further, Yarin threw it back at Zeth.</div> <bR> <div>     Trent examined the stone and Zeth's five pokéballs.  "I guess we'll sell the stone or give it to the Master.  Hey... Only three of these balls have pokémon in them at the moment."  Grabbing one empty ball, he aimed it at Eva.  A red beam lanced out and pulled her back into her pokéball.  "Well, that makes four, but there's still one ball here without a pokémon inside of it."</div> <bR> <div>     "What about this one?"  Chelsey asked, holding up the flailing Teak.</div> <bR> <div>     "Ah, so that's the last one."  Trent aimed the pokéball at Teak, then stopped.  "You know...  I have a good idea.  I only have four pokémon, so I think I'll keep this one for myself.  But first..."  Trent touched the Thunderstone the Teak's forehead.  "I think a Jolteon would be even nicer to have."  Chelsey dropped the Eevee as he started to glow.  Zeth sat up just in time to see Teak evolve into a Jolteon.  "Now, return, Jolteon!"  Trent ordered.  The pokéball's red beam shot out, but only splashed over Teak, stopping after a brief moment.  "What the..?"  Trent mumbled, trying again.</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth grinned at the Dragons' mistake.  Sting's pokéball wouldn't work on Teak any more than an unused pokéball would work on Eva.  "Teak!  Try to use Thundershock on them!"  Zeth called.  The Jolteon sparkled, trying to comply, but not yet sure how to use his new electric powers.  The Dragons reached for their pokéballs to stop him, but Teak managed a strong, uncoordinated jolt that hit everyone around him.  Zeth was hit as well, getting thrown back by the bolt of electricity.  He jumped to his feet, trying to ignore the annoyance of having one of his eyelids start to twitch uncontrollably.  "Yeah!  Do it again!  Do it for Eva!"</div> <bR> <div>     Teak glowed for a moment as he focused his concentration, then three electric arc lanced away from him, each one smacking directly into one of the three Dragons.  All three of them yelled as the currents rolled over them.  However, Yarin managed to drop a pokéball.  "Grimer, Sludge Bomb!"  The toxic pokémon that had helped to defeat Florio reappeared, plastering Teak with some kind of vile ooze.  Teak tottered unsteadily as the poison began to take effect.</div> <bR> <div>     It was enough for Zeth, though.  Throwing his backpack over one shoulder, he snatched his pokéballs from Trent's shaking hands and released all but the unconscious Florio.  "Aqua, Water Gun!  Blaze, Flamethrower!  Eva, Swift!"  The three pokémon battered the Grimer, just as it had assaulted their teammate earlier.</div> <bR> <div>     "You may have won that battle, but the war is just beginning!"  Trent yelled, jumping for one of the empty pokéballs that Chelsey had dropped when she picked up Teak.  "That Jolteon's mine!"</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth reacted without thinking.  As Trent scrambled to reach the pokéball, Zeth quickly unsnapped the pokéball pocket on his pack and reached for his own pokéball to throw.  "Pokéball, go!" He yelled, almost in tandem with Trent.  The two pokéballs smacked into Teak, but Zeth's Ultra Ball hit first.   The weakened Jolteon was sucked inside, as Trent yelled in anger.  The light on the ball turned from red to blue, and the ball soared back to Zeth's waiting hands.</div> <bR> <div>     Trent glared daggers at Zeth as his own pokéball returned to him empty.  "No more games!  Now you'll feel the wrath of the Dragons!"  He grabbed two pokéballs, this time from his belt.  "Chelsey!  Yarin!  Let's take him down!"  Zeth turned to see the two other Dragons, also recovered from their shock.  Each of them were selecting new pokémon as well.  Zeth glanced at his three pokémon, wondering how they could hope to stand against the combined forces of the Dragons.  His eyelid started twitching again, and his ears were still buzzing from being zapped.  He could only hope that the Dragons were in similar shape.</div> <bR> <div>     The Dragons lifted their pokéballs, but never threw them.  All three of them stopped and stared at Zeth, or rather, at something behind him.  Zeth turned, wondering what they were gawking at.  Suddenly, he realized why he was still hearing buzzing.  From out of the woods, a huge swarm of Beedrill were flying straight toward them.  Chelsey screeched in horror, then took off, running away from the oncoming insects as fast as she could.  Trent and Yarin quickly followed suit.</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth started to run as well, until he spotted the Beedrill in the lead.  "Sting!  It's about time you showed up!"</div> <bR> <div>     Sting landed beside him as the rest of the Beedrill chased the Dragons across the meadow.  {Sorry I took so long, Zeth.  It took me longer than I thought it would to convince these Beedrill to help us.  Still, I think it was worth it.}</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth shook his head in amazement as he watched the swarm continue to chase the Dragons deeper into the woods.  "Yeah, I think you're right."</div> <bR> <div>     {Trying to repair the Beedrill's reputation with the Eevees, Sting?}  Eva asked with a chuckle.  {It's too bad that only a few of them were actually able to see that.}</div> <bR> <div>     "Yeah."  Zeth looked around at the nets and pokéballs littering the meadow.  "This is going to take a while to clean up." he observed.  "Come on, let's free those Eevees."</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     Sting landed in front of the pokémon center, and walked right in.  She found Zeth in front of the computer, with a pile of pokéballs beside him.  {Well, you'll be happy to know that the Beedrill are going to keep an eye out for those Dragon agents.  They're going to be in big trouble if they show up here again.}</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth wiped the memory of yet another pokéball, then tossed it onto a growing pile.  "That's great, Sting!  I'm almost finished clearing these pokéballs.  Just one more to go."  Zeth ran it through, "There, all done."</div> <bR> <div>     Sting examined the pile of balls.  {What are you going to do with all of these, anyway?  You aren't going to carry around over thirty empty pokéballs, are you?}</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth shook his head, "Nah, I'm going to leave them here for Nurse Joy to give out to passing trainers.  I already have enough pokéballs.  Which reminds me, Teak said to tell you that he takes back his remark about Beedrills, whatever that means."</div> <bR> <div>     Sting buzzed happily, {That little fuzzball, I'll have to fly over and thank him for that.}</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth shook his head, "No need for that.  He's in the back.  I guess you missed seeing what happened to him during the battle.  Come on."  Zeth led Sting to the recovery room, where they found Florio and Teak in two of the beds.  Florio was happily watching Gligarman on a TV that Zeth had set up for him.  Beside him, Teak was quietly conversing with Eva.  Zeth pointed at the Jolteon, "See, there he is.  Before you showed up to rescue us, that Dragon Trent evolved him with Eva's Thunderstone.  I can't say that he's entirely happy about that."</div> <bR> <div>     {Zeth!} Eva called, spotting him. {Come over here!}  Zeth obediently walked over, followed by Sting.  {Teak and I have been talking for a while, and we have a bit of a problem.}</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth frowned, "Really?  What's the problem?"</div> <bR> <div>     {Well,} Eva explained.  {Now that Teak's a Jolteon, he doesn't exactly blend in with the forest, and he's a little too big to live in a den.}</div> <bR> <div>     "Yeah, sorry about that," Zeth said sheepishly.  "I wish there was some way to change you back, but there isn't."</div> <bR> <div>     {Don't feel bad about it,}  Eva told him.  {We've come up with a solution, and we wanted to know what you think of it.}</div> <bR> <div>     "Well, what is it?"</div> <bR> <div>     Eva smiled happily.  {We're both going to come with you!}</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth's stared at them slack-jawed for a moment, before breaking into a smile himself.  "That's great!  Welcome to the team, Teak!"  he patted the Jolteon and received a strong shock for his effort.  "Yeowch!  That hurt!"</div> <bR> <div>     {Sorry!} Teak apologized, embarrassed.  {I haven't quite gotten the hang of this electricity thing yet.}</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth rubbed his tingling hand.  "That's ok, but don't be surprised if I start calling you Static during pokémon battles."</div> <bR> <div>     Eva giggled, {Not bad, Teak!  You haven't even been part of the team for five minutes and you've already earned yourself a nickname!}</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>