Pokémon PrismGold

Chapter Forty-One: "You Ruined Him"

Nate leaned back against the entrance as he waited for the others. When Mark finally walked up to join him, Nate told Mark in a low voice. "I think we should leave Pryce behind. Have him meet us at the shrine." Mark looked to Nate, asking softly. "Are you sure that's a good idea? Maybe we should keep him with us. We still don't know what he was doing that night in Ice Town." Nate scoffed his shoe in the dirt, bowing his head a bit as he told him seriously. "I know. It's a risk... but this mission is going to be dangerous. And if he turns on us... He could get one of us killed. That's a risk that I'm not sure I want to take." From below, Pryce asked a bit heatedly. "What are you two whispering about? Is it wrong for me to pull my own weight?" Mark looked only at Nate, giving him a very subtle nod without turning around to address Pryce. Nate got the confirmation that he wanted and looked to Pryce. Straightening up a bit, Nate told him casually. "We weren't talking about that. I was addressing a concern. See, maybe in your time Team Rocket recruits older people... but in this time... they don't. You'll stand out."

Pryce relaxed a bit but asked curiously. "So? Zoey can use an illusion to get me in." Nate crossed his arms over his chest, calmly retorting. "I don't think that's a good idea. Zoey can only do that so many times before she gets tired. We'll need her to save it for when it counts." Pryce now crossed his arms, asking more sternly. "So... Your plan is to leave me behind again. I have more experience then all three of you!" Nate shrugged, telling him dryly. "We don't want to fight our way through the base. We want to sneak in and out. I think we can handle that." Pryce tossed up his hands, snapping out. "And what about me?" Nate looked to Mark for a second, then answered coolly. "We think you should go to Lugia's shrine. Get it ready for us. Defend it in case Valor tries to mess with it. Because as you say... you have more experience battling than us." Mark smirked a little but tried to keep it hidden. Putting his hands on his hips, Pryce boldly stated. "Fine. Give me the jewels and I'll set them up while I'm there."

Mark turned to face Pryce now, firmly replying. "No. They stay with us." Pryce narrowed his eyes on Mark, sneering out. "If you get caught. Team Valor will have ALL the jewels. Do you want that? They are going to the shrine anyway. I can defend them there." Nate shook his head, bluntly telling him. "No. The locals said the jewels should stay with their Chosen one. That's us. You wanna end this war? This is how we start going about that." Pryce looked to Sean, asking heatedly. "Do you agree with them?" Sean froze up with wide eyes. Sean had no idea what was going on. Stepping up to the edge, Nate snapped out at Pryce. "Sean is with us. This is the safest course of action." Pryce whirled on Nate, snapping out as he pointed between Nate and Mark. "I was asking Sean! You are not the leader! You are a criminal and HE is no better!" Nate puffed his chest up in response. Beside him, Mark turned away from looking at Pryce to focus gentle eyes on Sean. Pryce whirled on Sean then, telling him openly. "Sean, you can't trust them. They could be working together!"

Nate rolled his eyes, grumbling out. "Pryce, stop. You're being ridiculous and we don't have time for this." Pryce raised a hand to Nate without looking at him as a rude gesture for him to shut up, upon telling Sean. "Think about this. Isn't it convenient that Mark shows up at the same time as Nate to confront you? Mark admitted that it was HIM who told his team about the Milotic that you found! It's why HIS team attacked yours for it! It's interesting that Mark conveniently helps save Nate from Giovanni. A crime boss with hundreds of guards and pokemon at his command!" Mark turned to face Pryce, snapping out. "What?! That has nothing to do with-!" Pryce cut him off to tell Sean in a louder tone. "He never even told you that he was a Ranger! You ever think that they are using US!" Nate gawked in disbelief, when Pryce turned to face them, telling them firmly. "I want what is MINE. Give me Celebi. Prove to me that you aren't using us." Sean looked between Nate and Pryce completely lost by this turn of events.