The Friend I Fell In Love With (Captured) Part 2 Chapter 26

It was morning when Steven and Lance saw Lilycove's borders appear upon the horizon. The sun patiently made its way up, creating a breathtaking sunrise. Steven looked down at his Skarmory and then over at Lance, noting that the dragonmaster seemed to be getting as tired as he was.
"We have to rest once we get to Lilycove." Steven commented.
Lance was silent for a moment and then finally nodded. Yeah, well be useless if were exhausted.
They continued in an awkward silence for a while, staring directly ahead with worried eyes.
They landed in front of the Pokemon Center and jumped off of their pokemon, returning them as they walked into the building. They quickly got a room and fell into their beds, extremely tired. Worried thoughts ran through Steven's mind, as well as Lance's, but, after a few minutes they fell asleep.
"Are you sure this is their room?" a voice demanded.
"Yes, I'm sure." another voice replied. They both sounded male.
"The door's locked." the first voice muttered.
"I'll fix that." the second chuckled and, after a moment, there was a click and the door swung open and light flooded into the room.
Quickly, Steven sat up and reached for a pokeball, but, when he saw who the people were his arm relaxed. Lance, on the other hand, not knowing who they were, jumped out of his bed with a pokeball ready in his hand.
"Whoa now!" Jared threw his hands up in front of himself, but Syoran just shrugged and sat down on Lance's bed with a bored expression on his face.
"Jared, Syoran." Steven nodded his head to them and returned his pokeball to the place he had taken it. "Calm down, Lance. I know them."
Lance lowered his pokeball and gave Syoran an annoyed look. The redhead just stared back at him for a moment and looked over to Steven.
"We know where Steph is." Jared informed them. "She's in their base out in the cove's cave. Minerva should be trying to get her out right now."
"Seth and Katrina are waiting for us, but if you guys need any more rest..." Syoran added.
Steven looked at the clock in the room and saw that they had had about four hours of sleep. "I'm good to go. Lance?"
"I've had enough sleep." the redheaded champion replied.
"Good, 'cause I think Seth's ready to kill." Jared turned and lead the way out of the room.
With Seth and Katrina
"So, Kat..." Seth spoke casually, sitting on a bench beside the blonde with Pichu resting upon his shoulder. "How long has this city been over run with Team Aqua grunts?"
Katrina looked to her left at some grunts talking, and then to her right to a grunt looking at his finger nails, then about a football field away from them at another group of Aqua grunts talking.
"I'm not sure. A while, I guess."
He nodded, "Well, at least it wont be hard to get a disguise."
Katrina looked at him with her eyebrows scrunched together. He stood, dramatically, walked over to the lone grunt looking at his finger nails, and drug him behind a building.
"What are you doin?!" Katrina demanded, throwing herself to her feet and running after him.
Seth stood above an unconscious, beaten grunt that had had his uniform stripped. The blonde smiled nervously at the black haired trainer and he pointed at one of the female grunts in one of the groups.
"I'll lure her back here, you take care of her, oh, and watch after Pichu." The small mouse jumped off his shoulder and stood beside the unconscious Grunt.
"Why do I have to take care of her?" Katrina demanded, placing her hands on her hips.
"Because I dont hit girls." He smiled and shrugged. "And, if you have any bug pokemon, could you tie him up with a string shot, or something? We might be able to turn them into the police force if those guys take much longer to get Steven and Lance."
She watched for a moment as he walked away and then turned. She brought out a poke ball and sent out her Beautifly.
"Okay, tie him up with a string shot when I get him propped up." the blond ordered, bending down and pulling him up.
"Fly!" the butterfly spat out a simple string shot, binding him.

Seth approached the group with his carefree grin and winked at a girl with auburn hair. She blushed and looked away. He ran a hand through his hair and came a bit closer, not paying any attention to the two men standing near her.
"Hey, cutie." he spoke huskily. "Why dont you come over here and talk to me? I love a woman in uniform, especially a gorgeous one like you"
The two men snorted and one shoved him.
"Back off! We don't need scum like you bothering us on our time off."
Seth simply gave him a stern look and smiled at the girl again.
The second grunt stepped between them.
"That's my sister you're hitting on." he snarled, lifting his hand to punch him in the face.
'Oh boy.'
The seventeen year old ducked, caught his fist, twisted his arm, and then flipped him over his shoulder into the other Aqua Grunt all in one fluid movement. Then he threw another smile at the girl, who was gaping.
'Man, just imagine if it was me defending my sister's honor...'
The two on the ground pulled out a poke ball, so Seth followed suit and called out his Salamence.
"You sure you wanna battle, or are ya going to let me talk to this little hottie?"
The two grunts looked at each other and then put away their poke balls. Seth smiled at the girl and offered her his arm which she took, blushing madly. He led her, telling her his name, talking about the weather, commenting about how she looked nice and then he jumped out of the way when a string shot gagged her and the bug type knocked her out with hypnosis.
"You-you just, just-" Katrina stammered, looking around the building at the two beaten Aqua grunts and the Salamence glaring down at them.
Chu! Pichu cheered, hugging his leg in awe.
"Yeah, I know." he laughed.
"Where did you learn to fight like that?"
"Well, my father used to have a Blaziken, and, well, training with it, and fighting criminals. You, you know, pick things up."
Katrina just stared at him for a moment before motioning for him to go away. He cocked his head to one side, not realizing why she wanted him to leave.
"I'm not gonna let you have your sick pleasure in seeing this girl half naked."
Seth sighed and walked back around the building and leaned up against it. The two grunts eventually stood up and quickly ran away from the intimidating dragon and it, seeing as how his toys had ran away, walked back over to his master.
After a while Katrina walked from behind the building and stood beside him, fixing the bandanna on her head. Seth returned his Salamence and they just stood there in silence. He had already changed into the uniform he had stolen.
"How long has the harbor been sealed off by those Wailmer?"
Katrina blinked and looked at him incredulously. "How do you know about that? You havent even spoken to anyone except me, Jared, and Syoran."
"And that girl."
She punched his shoulder. Pichu looked up at her like she was an idiot for touching one of the few trainers the young mouse had ever liked.
"Ow!" he rubbed his shoulder and stared at her with large watery eyes, "Okay, I saw the Wailmer from my Flygons back as I was arriving."
"What are you guys doing?" Jared asked, seemingly appearing from nowhere with Steven, Lance, and Syoran behind him.
"We're disguised." Seth replied, looking around with shifty eyes. "Now, I suggest all of you guys, 'cept one of you, go mug an Aqua grunt so you won't blow our cover when we penetrate the base. The one not incognito will be the distraction, so it would be best if it could be either Lance or Steven."
"Ill be the distraction." Steven volunteered.
"Okay, now we have to find someone to take care of those Wailmer blocking the bay." Seth continued, motioning for Steven to follow him and for the other three to go take care of business with the grunts.
Seth led the way up a flight of stairs until they were in front of the large mall that Lilycove had. The largest in all of Hoenn, equaling the size of the one in Kanto. They looked down upon the city and saw the bay, then saw the wailmer. The white haired trainer, Brendan looked around and, with a blink, noticed Steven and Katrina.
"Hey! Steven, Katrina!" he ran over and rubbed the back of his head. "Either of you want to battle?"
Seth looked at Katrina, Katrina looked at Steven, and Steven looked at Seth.
"Not really, but we do have something you can do that involves battling." Steven replied.
"Oh?"
"You know the Wailmer in the cove? Can you clear them out?"
Brendan nodded, a confused look on his face. "Why?"
"Because Steph and another one of my friends has been abducted and we have to take Team Aqua down before something happens." Steven was frowning.
Brendan's eyes widened. "I'll get help. They'll be gone by the time you guys take Aqua down."
"Good." Seth nodded. "Now that that's done, let's go see if they're ready to infiltrate the base."
"If we barage them from within their ranks, have Brendan (and whatever buddy he's getting) to attack their friends in the cove, and then have you, Steven, distracting them at the same time..." he stepped around someone and walked leisurely down the stairs. "It should throw them into a frenzied turmoil that should last just long enough for us to get the upper hand. From then on it's just up to our teams."
Katrina blushed and batted her eyelashes at Steven, trying to force eye contact. Seth noticed and rolled his eyes, pulling Katrina to his right side while Steven walked at his left side.
"Please stop being so sluttie, Katrina. Just for now." Seth grumbled and she gave him a death glare. "What are you planning on doing as a distraction, Steven?"
The silver haired champion was silent for a while. "I'm still thinking."
Seth nodded and they met back up with Jared, Syoran, and Lance.
"What did you guys do with the bodies?"
Syoran looked at Seth and pointed to the building that they had hid the first two bodies.
"And Lance has already informed the police force. They'll be picking them up for questioning within a few minutes." Jared explained.
"Ah, that's good. Thought of anything, now?" his brown eyes regarded Steven.
"I'll battle one of the grunts, have one of my pokemon use earthquake and make as much commotion as I can." the silver haired teen replied. "When they rush to find what is causing it, you all should have an easy enough time finding Steph and Clarissa."
"Then we can get Archie." Katrina nodded.
"What about the cove?" Lance questioned.
"We have one of Steph and Steven's friends taking care of that." Seth replied, motioning for them to follow him. "So, uh, let's get out of here before the police show. They tend to screw things up."

Back with you
Minerva and you walked side by side, patrolling the area as casually as the two of you possibly could. Neither of you spoke, so you had to read her movements so that you wouldnt give any indication that you werent of Team Aqua by any confused or awkward behavior. The grunts just glanced at you, and then looked away, mainly because Minerva was with you.
Minerva led the way through the base, calmly, looking at everyone with a confidence that you didnt know the thief had. Her Espeon stayed by your side the entire time, giving the perfect image of nothing being wrong at all.
'They've done this before.' You turned a corner. 'Many times before.'
After a few minutes you came upon Archie's office. Minerva motioned for you to go in and then leaned against the wall, keeping watch. Not hesitating, you pushed into the office and saw that no one was around, then you crossed the room and went to the dark desk and searched for your pokemon. Within a few moments you located them, with the exception of Torchyana.
You glanced at the Espeon and then walked by it, to the door, but before you left something caught your eye. A purple ball.
You stared at it for a moment, examining it, and then you picked it up and slowly slipped it into your pack with the rest of your pokeballs. You opened the door and Espeon went to Minerva's side.
"Did you find them?" she inquired, still watching for other people.
"Yes."
"All of them?"
"Torchyana should be with Steven."
Minerva nodded, started to take a step, but then a roar accompanied with an earthquake knocked her off balance. She fell into you, knocking you to the ground.
"Intruders!" multiple voices chorused.
"It seems that your friends have gotten here." Minerva commented, rolling off you. "Good."
You fought to stand on your feet as the tremors slowly stopped.
"You have to go stop Archie." she fought her way up as well. "He'll be leaving soon with the submarine, in search of Kyogre!"
You nod, "What direction?"
She pointed up the hallway, "Run that way, take a left, then use the right warp panel, then run down stairs, right through a room, and then take the middle warp panel!"
You nod and run, following her directions and the sound of many battles ring within your ears.

Meanwhile
Steven distracted them very well and upon the firt grunt being defeated the spies that had infiltrated began their attack. Just as Seth predicted it threw them all in a chaotic turmoil and the six trainers cut through their ranks with relative ease, leaving them bewildered.
Seth quickly began his search for you, as did Steven.
'Something's going on.' Seth ran by another grunt that he had defeated with his Typhlosion following by his side. 'They're distracted by more than just us. They're battling for time.'

With you
A warp panel, down the stairs, through the room, and then you ran to the last warp panel and within a moment you found yourself standing in a small room with a docking area. A man in an Aqua uniform stood with his back to you, staring at the submarine.
"Hey!" you yelled, running toward him, but stopping with a decent distance separating the two of you.
He chuckled and turned to look at you, "Got here already, did you? We underestimated you!"
You brought out a pokeball.
"But this is it!" he brought one out as well. "I'm a cut above the grunts you've seen so far. In not stalling for time."
A grin tugged at your lips.
"I'm going to pulverise you!" he threw the pokeball into the air and a Mightyena emmerged.
You released Abby. When saw the Mightyena a deep dark growl started within her chest and slid from her fanged jaws.
"Slash!" you ordered.
"Swagger!"
Abby crossed the distance seperating them shockingly fast, and drug her razor sharp claws across its side, causing a howl of pain to erupt from the Mightyena.
"Close your eyes and get back!"
Abby closed her eyes and leapt back as the Mightyena followed its master's orders and swaggered, but because of your quick order your Absol was unaffected.
"Razor wind!"
Abby's eyes shot open and she seemingly knelt slightly, then her crimson orbs blazed.
The Admin looked confused for a moment, "Take down!"
The Mightyena rammed into Abby, knocking her back a few feet, but she flipped in midair, landing on her feet. The wind intensified and then with a grunt she directed the attack at her foe and unleashed it.
A moment later the Admin called his pokemon back and called out a Golbat.
"Quick attack!"
The dark type rammed into the bat, "Slash!" and then twisted, knocking it to the ground with her claws.
"Good job." you complimented.
The Aqua Admin stared at his Golbat, "So I lost too."
He looked over his shoulder at the water and submarine and then regarded you again, chuckling. "While I was toying with you, our boss got through his preparations!"
You mentally cursed and watched as the submarine pulled away.
"Our boss has already gone on his way to the cave under the sea!" his Golbat forced itself into flight again. "If you're going to give chase, you'll have to search the sea," a grin contorted his face, "But will you find them... after you recover?"
The Golbat screeched, and you nearly gagged in pain. The horrible sound was magnified by the walls in the small room and then by the water. Pain erupted throughout your head and you fell to the ground, covering your ears.
In the corner of your eye you saw Abby leaping toward the Golbat and finishing it off and then ramming the Aqua Admin into the water.
....
The ringing became louder and louder within your ears until you couldn't hear anything. When you tried to stand your balance was impaired, and pain shot through your head, so you just laid there, with Abby guarding you.

You weren't sure of how long you were there before arms came about you and lifted you up from the ground. The light made your head hurt worse so you had to keep your eyes shut and you still couldn't hear, so you simply laid your head upon the person's shoulder as you were carried away.
A familiar scent came to your nose, and you relaxed.
'Steven.



Steven carried you away from the room and back to a place that everyone had agreed to meet again. When Seth saw you laying in Steven's arms, he ran over.
"What happened?" he looked from you to Steven. "Is she okay?"
"I'm not sure about what happened." he replied, "I think it was a Golbat, though. I heard a screech and followed it."
Seth muttered a curse under his breath, "We have to get her to a hospital."

The rest is in the results!
They stood outside the hospital room, the doctor was giving her some type of medicine and had two Chimecos nursing her back to health.
A beep from Steven's pokenav broke the silence and when he saw who was calling he stepped away from the group to speak.
Seth just stood outside the door with Lance and Clarissa, making small talk.
"If it would've been just a little longer, she probably wouldve been permanently deaf." the black haired trainer announced.
A moment later Steven came back, a grim look upon his face.
"Lance, Clarissa, Seth." the silver haired trainer got their attention. "I have to leave. Something serious has come up. Tell Steph to continue her journey and tell her to be careful. I'm sure that we'll meet again." He brought out a pokeball and gave it to Seth. "This is Torchyana."
Steven turned and quickly walked away, not even glancing over his shoulder once.