บท 162: EPISODE 52: Burial!*

All that is left of the fine Pokemon of this cemetery is the decrepit stones. Under these stones is nothing but more soil, even bones don't last that long in the damp ground. Yet still this place is nowhere to be after nightfall. No-one comes here who means any good, so though it is empty almost every dusk 'til dawn, it puts the chills on even the toughest of folks.

Even I, Luna Evergreen is scared of such burial site. Although the Pokemons are asleep for all eternity, their spirits roam, searching for a prey. It is said that the spirits of dead Pokemons turn into other species. Such as Phatumps which were once the spirits that roamed the body of child.

Upon a child's death, its spirit becomes a Pokemon, known as Phatump. Come to think of it, if I were to die right now, I'd be a tiddly tree floating around the tower. The Burial Tower of Cherrygrove, this is no place to experience joy or even ecstasy. This is where sadness, melancholy, and other downhearted emotions collaborate together.

Inside such frightening tower, I could see people, mourning for the loss of their Pokemons. Some even hug the gravestones, while others would sleep beside it. It is due to the bond of people and Pokemon which caused this kind of relationship. Nothing could truly separate a person from its Pokemon, especially death itself.

For people, death is not the opposite of life, however, a part of it. As I climb to the pinnacle of the tower, my heart pities the crying people. There was even this child with a mere age of seven who couldn't stop crying. His parents tried to drag him, but he clung tightly to the gravestone of his Pichu.

If only could do anything to cheer the young boy. Anyways, I must focus with my mission. On the pinnacle of the tower, lies nothing. No gravestones. No people. No Pokemon. Life is absent, except for me, of course. In front of me, lies a bell of gold, hanging above the ceiling.

Beside the bell, is a peculiar stone which I assume is the fourth piece. I make my way closer, lulled by the stone's majestic sensation. It is primarily crafted out of sediments such as gold and copper. Gold is too soft, thus copper hardens it, and the product? A sedimentary stone, one of the keys to the location of the Rainbow Wing.

"Stop right there!" A panting woman interrupts me from my walk to the piece. This mission was suppose to be an easy task, however, I was proven wrong. A sweat falls off her face as she glares to me uncomfortably. I tilt back, and there I knew it was her all along.

"Enough with this madness Luna. I'm tired of running and chasing you, are you not too?"

"Jenny, such an unpleasant surprise. You're here to interrupt me again? Let me guess, the whole Pokemon International Police is downstairs, awaiting to arrest me because of blowing up a vendor's stall, am I correct?"

"I came here because of that report. Now stop, I am not here to arrest you, but to confront you." Jenny continues to pant, extending her hand to me.

I did not mind her. I continue my way, walking down the aisle and placing the piece inside my bag. My mission is half complete, and the only thing I have to do now is to surpass my persistent friend.

"What is Team Rocket planning this time? To take over the world? To harness Mewtwo's powers again?" Jenny assumes after seeing my ignorance towards her while I get the fourth piece.

"Something far greater than those. I will only repeat this once Jenny, Team Rocket is for the good of the world."

"This is the product of the lies Giovanni told you-"

"I no longer have faith in him." I interrupt. Hearing the name who angers me the most, I become enraged with fiery malice.

"Then why are you still with Team Rocket?"

"Because they are the only family I have."

"Only family? About me? About the orphanage? Aren't we your family too? Please Luna, enough with the fighting, enough with the running." She convinces with a persuading look.

"How will they treat me back in the orphanage?! A girl who stutters, barely having the capability to talk?! You do not know how I feel, and I will only be a misfit if I return. In Team Rocket, I am treated with respect and honor. I did not want to fight you Jenny. You have my respect, however, your words irk me! Mawile, deploy for action!" My enrage continues to burst, sending out Mawile in the process.

"What are you planning to do? Are you planning to strike me too? Just like what you did to Athena and everyone else? If you will fight, then so be it, I won't." She mutters softly, looking at me. In my mind, I thought of her as absurd, a woman willing to receive a Pokemon attack?

Apart of me was hesitating and the other was willing. With a single command, Vice grip will finish her off, all I have to do is to utter the words. Two words, that is all it takes, why am I hesitating?

"If I am disturbing you, then go for it." Jenny encourages.

My mouth stutters, my body trembles. I know what I have to do, but do I have the courage to do it? Not now, not now. My mind pulls me far away from the trigger, recalling all the moments I had with Jenny. In a single command that would all end and the memories I had with her will be nothing but a fainted one.

"Fi... Finish her, Mawile use Vice Grip!" I finally mutter the words. Mawile proceeds with the attack, chomping Jenny with her huge jaws, or so I thought at least. An inch from biting her, Jenny's body suddenly turns to dust.

"Treacherous trickster!" I yell, making my voice echo throughout. From behind, the real Jenny pushes me, pinning me to the ground tightening her grip on my hands.

"Fooled you." Jenny chuckles, putting the handcuffs on me.

"So, I guess this is where our friendship ends? What are we now? Rivals? Enemies?"

"I never wanted to become your enemy Luna, I've tried to persuade you, or in this case, my hologram did. For the sake of the region, I hearby arrest you." Jenny utters ferociously, forcing my hands to be chained by the handcuffs.

<Maw!>Mawile helps me, blasting Jenny with Dazzling Gleam. Jenny coughs, weakening her grip on me and giving me the opportunity to escape.

"Come back here Luna!" Jenny shouts, navigating her way through the dust made the attack.

Surprisingly, out of nowhere, I stumble. I was not running on the stairs but rather on the floor. The question is, why would I stumble all of a sudden? The floors do not seem to be wet or soaked with any liquid at all. No matters, I carry myself up and jolt down to the tower.

Once the attack settled, Jenny could no longer see me, for I have already left with my pilot. She runs to one of the windows, staring to the skies, her eyes are. To her surprise, she sees me, waving at her from the window of the helicopter. It was a gesture of both sarcasm and greetings!

"Persistent you are, and I will be too." She mumbles to herself, glaring at me ferociously to the point even her teeth grind upon another. The rambunctious Jenny I knew before, is now an enemy of mine, although, I could've proclaimed that a year ago when we met again in Vermillion City.

From friendship to rivalry, our ties intensify. As for me, I return back to the island not knowing I have brought something peculiar and frightening with me...