Chapter 26: Sacrifices.

Baal and Nea soon saw their destination, it seemed like a theme park!

"let me guess, We're going on that massive Ferris wheel that says, 'Couples Only'?" Baal said making a random educated assumption.

Nea just smiled at him as they hooked arms walking into the theme park grounds.

...

The couple had just entered the Ferris wheel. Nea leaned her head on Baal's shoulder as all the pods began rotating slowly, giving a view of the beautiful sights surrounding Nimbasa city. From the top point of the wheel, you could see the passionate expressions of people in stadiums, you could also see the mountains at the back of the city which contrasted the setting sun.

Baal was the first to speak with a smile,

"This is very nice. Thank you for...everything Nea"

Nea nodded as she just wanted to be next to Baal at the moment, enjoying the rare peace together,

"It's so...peaceful, something we've never known..."

Baal nodded as he rubbed her head and gave her a passionate kiss.

'This is nice,' he thought.

...

That night when Baal and Nea returned,

Baal walked up to their hotel room,

' I really need to get an actual house' he thought as he opened the door. Glancing around, he noticed the pokemon on the table that was peacefully sleeping in a cage with a letter placed in front of it.

Nea was asleep in his arms so he princess-carried her into their room, after all, not everyone was as much of a cheat character as he was.

He returned to the room with the sleeping bird pokemon and opened the letter,

"Dear Baal,

This pokemon is from the Galar region and is called Rookidee. Eventually, it evolves into a steel/flying-type pokemon known as Corviknight. Please take care of the little fellow.

Your friend,

Steven Stone"

Baal glanced at the pokemon that he had never seen before and scanned it,

Name: N/A

Classification: Rookidee

Level: 5

Ability: Unnerve

Moves:

Peck

Leer

Power Trip

Roost

"Hmm what an interesting pokemon," Baal thought before going to sleep for the night thinking about the possibilities of tomorrow.

....

Early next morning,

A young man in his 20's wearing shorts was at the docks feeding some bread to small, water-type pokemon. Well, at least most were small.

"I thought I'd find you down here again" spoke a calm masculine voice, "and I see that Rookidee has taken a liking to you."

The brown, stone-like bird on Baal's shoulder simply shivered as it heard the final phrase that the man said.

"Steven! Yes, me and the little guy came to a good understanding this morning," Baal replied as he smiled at the bird on his shoulder. The bird looked like a big injustice had been done to it.

Baal whispered something to the water pokemon as Steven approached him,

"So, which of these pokemon has taken your fancy then?" Steven asked before the duo heard the sound of aeroplanes flying over the city.

Baal explained that he wasn't a fan of using pokemon but kept a few on him for protection. He then also thanked Steven for this Rookidee but then noticed that Steven also had the evolution of Rookidee on his shoulder...

It was a Corvisquire!

Baal then noticed something different about Steven's Rookidee, it seemed to have an all-black, glossy colour scheme. Baal said nothing as he concluded that Steven must have the shiny version of the pokemon which would be worth way more than whatever water stone he gave Steven.

After chatting for a while, Baal noticed Nea approaching them. He waved her over as he introduced Steven.

Not long later, a harsh, abrupt sound reverberated around the city as the trio noticed smoke rising from one of the buildings on the west side of the city...in the direction of the Gym!

Steven turned around to face the couple before telling them to stay here, he'll go and ascertain what's going on.

'As if I'm going to miss out on the shenanigans of a villain team. I wonder, could it be Team Rocket? or are Team Plasma here? If so, N might give me a headache...' Baal thought, returning to his youthful daydreams.

"Steven, We're not as weak as you think we are. Me and Rookidee have good co-operation and Nea is an Ace Trainer already. We can help," Baal affirmed. Nea nodded her head as she reached into her handbag removing a Pokeball and throwing out an Audino.

Nea's Audino released a cry as it got released. Steven threw a Pokeball and out of it emerged a large, shiny Metagross that could hold everyone.

"Get on," Steven nodded as his face became tense. Baal Nodded.

....

The trio plus Audino soon approached the building that seemed like it was on fire now...It was the GYM!

Outside the gym, Burgh, the leader of the insect-type gym that this city hosted seemed to be alright. He wore his signature green clothing with the red scarf.

Steven sighed in relief as he noticed that no dead bodies were piling up outside the gym.

"Steven, let me down there. I can go and give any first-aid that the victims might need," Nea stated with little interest in him. Steven was surprised at how nonchalant this woman was.

The group soon reached the ground before people began surrounding them which annoyed Nea partially. She was here to help and this is how they're going to respond. Baal pulled her to indicate that she should calm down.

Burgh noticed Steven and waved the people to make way. The group soon had an explanation as to what was going on. Baal listened intently as he let Nea go and start healing those most in need of it.

"A duo saying they were a part of Team Aqua came here saying that they needed an art piece. It was apparently a small blue gem that had intricate engravings in it...I replied that I didn't have. Soon though, I sensed something was wrong and I just managed to escape," Burgh Sighed before gritting his teeth, "Steven, those fuckers need to pay. They sacrificed nearly a hundred pokemon using Explosion. Through the glass ceiling, I saw Seedots, Geodudes, Trubbish and Ferroseeds with fear written on their face and I couldn't...do anything and Crustle died protecting me..."

Something clicked in Baal's mind as he realised, this was a diversion. If what the Team Aqua members were true...Then the stone is most likely being displayed at the studio not here.

Baal quickly notified Steven of his thoughts. They needed to go, however before they could go, Burgh wanted to go with them. Steven sighed joking that he had become a taxi service to try and uplift people's mood.

On the way to the Studio, Steven introduced Baal to Burgh briefly. He simply introduced Baal as a trainer before Burgh nodded, after all, Burgh didn't know what level this kid was at.

Abruptly though, Steven noticed that the duo who Burgh mentioned seemed to be on the docks. They were entering what seemed to be a submarine with a large number of crates in their possession. From one of the crates, Baal noticed a small, blue glint.

'Hmm, Interesting...I thought I used up the last of that rock,' He thought as he smiled at this groups antics, 'There must've been other shards as well which only later reached Earth.'