-A City, 4 PM, Terry's POV, Two Days After Raid-

"The catastrophe, while under control, is devastating. Larry has more from on-scene."

"Well, Alyssa, the group known as 'Team Plasma' has been run out of Unova today by the heroics of the combined forces of the Sinnoh company and the Unovan Armed Forces. In a battle that shook the region, Soldiers broke down Team Plasma's walls in a tremendous firefight. Loses were quite heavy, however, with over two hundred soldiers being honored today at what is now known as the Unovan Memorial."

The man clears his throat, wiping his eyes. "Over a thousand people have come not only to honor the fallen soldiers, but also the brave soul of ten year old Alex Gates, who gave his life in sacrifice to save Unova, and the world, from what very well could have been a destructive tragedy. Unovan officials have refused to comment further on this event, as have the two men who fought alongside Alex Gates in the final battle: Zeke Walker and Terry Collins."

"Please, Terry. Turn it off."

I tiredly click the button on the TV remote, causing the small, static filled screen to go dark. My fingers trace the bedspread I lay under in the dark of the small hotel room I've been allowed. Angel lays with me, the Gardevoir finally being deemed healthy enough to be allowed out of the Pokemon Center after two days of recovery.

Her skin has slowly been regaining color, thankfully, though she's still tired. As am I, I suppose. I leaned back on the pillows and pulled her closer, putting her head under my chin, smelling the delicate scent of her hair. She makes no objection, shifting slightly to avoid hitting me with her spike. I look out over her head to the only square of light in the room: the window, which looks out over the city.

Jubilife City. In Sinnoh.

The thought of the name only angers me more. Why the closest city Zeke could land in would end up being Jubilife, the City of Jubilant Life, when I'm mourning the loss of a brother in arms. It doesn't seem fair.

Angel has fallen asleep now, her light rest animated by her shifting. I move slightly and gently lift her off my chest, allowing her access to the pillows before she cuts me.

My thoughts drift to the conversation I had with my mother shortly after Angel was admitted to the Pokemon Center, at about three in the morning a little over two days ago. Neither of us had said much, but one thing was persistent in my head: I didn't want to go back to Unova. I had lost my best friend there. I had horrible memories there. I had lost my dad to a forest fire, only to get him again two years later in the form of an insane, cruel, torture loving terrorist. He had tried to kill me, and he had killed Alex.

Grief and anger quickly try to take hold of me, but they just as quickly drain out at the sight of Angel flinching in her sleep. In a way, I had caused happened to her. I didn't want to harm her emotional state further by screwing with her emotions.

A soft hand rapped on the door of the hotel room. I sighed. I could sense Zeke outside the door, patiently waiting in his WCR uniform. I took a moment to rub the spike on Angel's chest, causing her to shudder slightly. It was a trick I'd been learning about from other Gardevoir trainers, though I hadn't mastered it yet. Regardless, I felt I'd conveyed my plans in that moment, so I quietly got out of bed and strode to the door. I opened it just wide enough to let me step out, before closing it behind me.

Zeke smiles at me, but I can see the bags under his eyes. His new sword glitters nastily from it's strap on his belt, though it's color scheme of black and red matches nicely with his high ranking White Coat Ranger's uniform. I walk off towards the lobby of the Jubilife Hotel, and a few moments later Zeke slides up next to me and matches my stride.

"How are you doing?" Zeke asks hesitantly.

I don't respond at first and it's not until we get to the lobby that I do. "I'm not sure." I say slowly. "Tired, I guess. Where're we going?"

Zeke shrugs. "I thought that coffee shop over by the Pokemon Trainer's School would be a good place. They make good smoothies."

I shrug and let him take the lead onto the busy streets of Jubilife. We keep our heads down, though it's hard to go unnoticed, what with Zeke in his WCR uniform and my picture on every news site in the world right now. People try to stop us multiple times, but Zeke just puts a calm hand on his sword handle and they immediately stop pestering us.

I don't know if it's legal to threaten someone like that, but I'm not complaining.

Soon enough we arrive at the coffee shop, where we get a small booth to ourselves. It's a cheery little place, decorated in bright colors and waited by happy, smiling staff. Both Zeke and myself order waters, which are quickly delivered. The waitresses glance nervously at Zeke's sword, which he leaned against the booth under the table, easily in sight, but say nothing.

Zeke sighs contentedly, sipping from his cup. I do the same, though only out of courtesy. A few minutes later, he looks me in the eyes.

"You remember the first time we met?" He asks.

I nod. "You two came bursting into the Pokemon Center carrying shotguns, threatened to kill me, and said you were on my side."

Zeke snorts. "Pretty much. Then you got all magicky and aimed floating shotguns at me. Not exactly my idea of a formal greeting." He leans back, a small smile on his face. "Seems like ages ago, but it was only a few days, eh?"

Before I can answer, he leans forward, a serious look in his face. "Listen, Terry… I want to say that you were pretty damn impressive on that plane. I know this won't make up for Alex's death, but I want you to have it as an appreciation for everything you did leading up to that." He pulls a small package from his pocket and hands it to me.

Curious, I slide open the lid. A clear stone about the size of an orange falls into my hand. It's surprisingly heavy, glass smooth with a stripe of green and pink coloring flowing through the middle. And is it just my imagination, or does it feel… warm?

My breath catches in my throat. "Z-Zeke, how? What-"

Zeke laughs a little. "That, Terry, is a Gardevoirite. As for where I got it… It was a gift from Brian Wolf. He gave it to me while I was on honeymoon with my wife, Carmen. He said to give it to her as a present."

Zeke's voice held a thin note of fragility, like he might shatter any second. I felt like I was staring at a deer frozen in a pair of headlights.

"We loved each other… Then she disappeared. Only recently did I find out she was killed by Team Plasma." He says, his tone becoming rough. Then he sighs, the anger leaving him. "Terry, I want you to have that Gardevoirite. Give it to Angel. As a favor from me, allow it to symbolize the love you two share, as it did for me and Carmen."

A lump of gratitude formed in my throat. I nodded, tears dotting my eyes.

Zeke nods as well. "I'm sorry I couldn't provide you with a Key Stone as well, but with your skills I doubt you'll have trouble acquiring one I've heard that Professor Sycamore is an expert on Mega Evolution He seems like the kind of guy to ask." He sighs. "Alright. I think I'll leave you here."

"What are you going to do?" I ask him as he stands. He sighs again. "I'm not sure. The WCR offered me a spot in their ranks, but I'm not sure just yet. I'll get back to you on that. Adios."

He exit the shop, leaving everyone to stare at either the door or myself. I realize they must've been listening. I stand, staring down at the Gardevoirite in my hand. I grip it tightly for a moment, then put it in my backpack and head out, dropping a few dollars in the hand of a waitress as I do so.

-Jubilife Hotel, 11 PM, Terry's POV-

I wake suddenly, having been enjoying my first good nights sleep since the… incident. I quickly rise to my feet, not particularly surprised to find myself back in the large, technically non-existent throne room. The walls flare to life, but the only thing I pay attention to is the throne at the end of the hall. I teleport to the feet of the large seat and sink to my knees in a bow.

All of it is just a show to hide how truly angry I am from the goddess. When I look into her eyes from my position, I see a vengeful fire reflected back.

"You let him die." I said, my voice shaking.

Mew sighed sadly. "I'm sorry, young one. I had no choice in the matter."

"LIES!" I scream, jumping to my feet. "You, the Queen of Creation, sitting on your damned throne with infinite power at your fingertips! Yet you let my best friend, a ten year old kid, get himself killed because you were too damned lazy to get off your ass!" I pace back fourth, unable to stand still.

The Queen said nothing, but gazed at a random spot on her seat. In her eyes was a hint of something I wasn't expecting: Shame. She spoke "He shouldn't have died, Terry. I would have given my own life in exchange if I could have. But the Rules of Fate are not to be broken. When they decreed his death, it was the first clear line of instruction in millennia. I had no choice but to let it play out."

I wasn't sure what to think about that, but I couldn't stay angry at the look on her face. Her shame was deep. I sighed.

"Why have you called me here? Why now?" I ask.

"Because the beginning of the end is upon us." Mew responded, her telepathic tone deadly serious. "The forces of evil that are known as Team Galactic, Team Flare, the Society of the Shattered Moon, and Team Plasma are growing stronger and bolder by the day. Already they have captured a lesser daughter of Arceus to do their bidding with."

An image flashes in my head: A fairy-like pokemon about the size of a Kirlia, her elf-like features colored different shades of green, locked in a cage that crackled with energy. She was covered in cuts and bruises, and seemed to be shielding her legs, though there was no immediate threat in the room besides the cage.

"This is Celebi, a strong daughter of Arceus and a time traveler. She's been weakened to the point that she cannot use her powers alone to escape. She's being held somewhere in Hoenn."

I nodded. "So you need Angel and I to bust her out?"

"No." Mew replied. "Fate decreed another Rule soon after yours: She frees herself, or dies trying. Her chance will come about three months from now. As for you and your friend... You are not alone in this fight, Terry."

I blinked "Excuse me?"

Mew nodded. "Yes. Another trainer, a girl of about fourteen years, will step foot in Jubilife City about a month from now. She will need guidance and protection. She will play a valuable roll in the fate of the world."

"What does she look like?" I asked.

"You will know her when you see her. Do not worry, young one. I am proud of your progress. It is high time we fight back."

Suddenly Mew's eyes glow blue, and I sense the mindscape collapse. I hear her voice, but it is as if a thousand of her are speaking in unison: "AND SO IT BEGINS. RISE."

My body is surrounded in a pulsing blue glow for a split second. Then, darkness.

-Unknown City, 4 AM, Third Person-Unknown POV, Sinnoh Region-

The girl tosses and turns in her sleep, crumpling the sheets of her hotel bed. The jostling wakes her little brother of three years, who turns to look at the blue glow emanating from his sister's body from his crib across the room. He laughs, his high voice causing the girl to snap awake. The glow fades so fast that she had no sight of it. She frowns at her little brother and lays back down.

Her thoughts drifted to the dream she had been having. It had been a peculiar dream. A boy of about 16 had been talking to a pokemon.

She laughs slightly, falling to sleep a few minutes later.

== END ==

The Story Continues On:

Keep a lookout for

Gallade,
My
Brother