Pokemon: Book One: The Dark Hearted

Chapter Nineteen ~ The Rescue

Aurora POV

Gothorita was hard at work. She was sitting against the wall, her eyes squeezed shut and her hands pressed to her forehead. It looked difficult, and no one wanted to disturb her.

Us other Psychics were using our Inner Eyes to watch. It was difficult, because seeing through thick metal walls was not easy.

In a haze I watched the Rattata illusion creep inside. Shadow scampered over the cave floor, and nobody took much notice of him.

As he neared the pink door, one of Liana's followers tripped over him. The illusion wavered, and fortunately stilled.

"Stupid Rattata!" The follower snapped, standing up. "Watch where you're going."

The follower walked away, and Shadow opened the pink door. I stopped using my inner eye and lit up with excitement as a Rattata walked into the room. Gothorita opened her eyes, and Shadow the Zorua appeared. He crumpled to the ground, gasping.

"I can move on my own again!" He exclaimed, waving a paw in the air.

"Shadow!" I barked.

The Zorua spun around, and his face lit up. "Aurora!" He ran towards me and stared at my chain. "Okay- how do I open it?"

The other Pokemon in the room groaned.

"You need a key!" Munna cried. "The plan didn't work!"

"Who has the key?" Shadow asked firmly. "I'll take it. I can do it!"

"We don't know," I whispered. "It can be anyone."

Shadow's face fell. He was still staring at the chain, his eyes gloomy. "I'm sorry, Aurora. I don't know what to do for you. But I don't want to leave you, either."

"Use Dark Orb on it," I said suddenly.

Shadow frowned. "What?"

"Just do it!" I cried. I closed my eyes and tensed, preparing for the attack to come. Shadow exhaled, summoning up a small, inky black sphere that glowed and shimmered. Then he sent it at the chain.

The chain exploded, and my paw burst with pain as the orb hit me.

But I was free.

Free.

"We did it!" I exclaimed. "The chains were made to resist Psychic moves, but Liana didn't realize a Dark type Pokemon would be in here!"

The Pokemon cheered, and Shadow began doing his best to open as many chains as possible. Gardevoir, Gothorita, and a Clefairy were out when the door flew open and two men walked inside, carrying a Clefable. The froze when they saw us.

"Pokemon are escaping!" One man screamed, dropping the Clefable. "Grab them! Hurry!"

Shadow used Illuision once again, and appeared as a Charizard. He roared loudly, and the two men cowered against the wall.

"Run!" I shouted. "Now! As fast as you can!"

Me, Gardevoir, Gothorita, Shadow, and the Clefairy ran out into the hallway. One of the men grabbed the Clefairy, and the other seized Gothorita.

"No!" I yelled.

"Keep going!" Clefairy yelled. "Save yourselves!"

We didn't want to, but we did it anyway.

We left the others and flew out the door. People nearby jumped in surprise as we went barreling towards the exit. A few tried to follow, but we sent moves such as Psybeam and Dark Orb back at them, slowing them down.

We ran through the huge tunnel, beginning to tire out. The huge metal door sensed us leaving and opened for us, and we soared outside, inhaling the fresh air and cherishing the warm sun.

I faintly remember Dare and Sapphire yelling my name, maybe a Lucario, and a human all running towards me, but Shadow yelled, "Run! We're getting out of this cursed forest!" And they listened. We ran, far away from the prisoners and the jewels and the Rattatas and Liana. We ran from the doors and the chains and the Zubats and the followers.

We were out, and we were leaving that place.

But I knew that we would be going back.

Because we're going to save the others, no matter what it takes.