Pokémon Platinum (Currently being rewritten as Pokémon: Platinum Chapter)

Chapter 30: The Challengers

The next morning, we've eaten and are on the move. Dawn is slowly trudging behind. Riley is as well. I look at them. "You two okay?"

Riley groans. "This is what I get for being an insomniac and a light sleeper."

Dawn sighs. "Chris, you know I'm not a morning person."

I run into Barry. I jump back. "Why'd you stop?!"

I see a few other teenagers. "What are you doing in our way?"

I walk to the front. I point to myself. "Look, if you're complaining, you better take it up with the complaint department."

"If you say so."

The young man is wearing black clothes and a hat that's on crooked. He cracks his knuckles. He's probably a year or two older than me. He throws a punch. I easily dodge it. Our group backs away so I can have room. "You brat," he growls.

"What's wrong? You mad someone can actually dodge and fight?"

I back up and stretch my arms out. "So, you want to fight me or my pokémon, cause one of them's gonna hurt a lot less."

"You're just a runt."

I smirk. "Oh, really?"

I surround myself in a minuscule amount of Aura and punch him in the stomach. He grunts in pain and grab his gut. He steps backwards. "I'll get you for that!"

"You'd actually have a chance to win at a pokémon battle, trust me."

I see another guy about as old as me. He walks toward the group and looks at Dawn. "You're pretty cute. You should ditch these guys and join us."

Dawn looks away. "You perv."

He grabs her arm. "You take that back!"

I growl. He turns to me. I flare my Aura around myself, making it visible to them. He stares at me. "What the hell?!"

"By the way, that's my boyfriend."

I walk towards him, giving him a sinister glare. I bring my right arm up and thrust it at him. He yells as my Aura pushes him several yards away. He hits a tree and faints. I turn back to the rest of them and hold my arm out. "Get out of our way or you'll wind up like your friend there."

Their leader steps forward. "Look, let's settle this in a pokémon battle."

"That deal's over."

"A special pokémon battle. I'll give you a rare pokémon I found and never trained."

I growl. "No. I'd rather you just leave so I don't have to hurt you."

Barry steps forward. "If he won't, I will."

I turn to him and chuckle. "You can't even beat me when I don't use Darkrai."

"That's why I want to battle him. You'll defeat him too easily, Chris."

I walk away, stopping the flow of my Aura. "Fine. Go ahead."

I walk to Dawn and smile. "Are you okay?"

"I didn't need your help, Chris," she says smiling.

"You're exhausted."

The rest of us sit under a few trees. Roark and Riley sit on either side of the two of us. Dawn snuggles up to me and falls asleep. I watch Barry's battle. The man sends out a Golbat. Barry sends out Staravia. "Leech Life, Golbat."

"Wing Attack."

Staravia rams into Golbat, dealing some damage. "Bite!"

"Aerial Ace!"

Staravia flies through the air and homes in on Golbat. She collides with him, knocking him out. The man gasps. "That easily..."

"Send out your next pokémon."

He returns Golbat and throws another pokéball. A Growlithe appears. "Flamethrower."

"Staravia, dodge and use Aerial Ace!"

Staravia flies under the flames and nears Growlithe. "Bite her wing!"

Growlithe chomps down onto Staravia's wing. Barry gasps. "Use Brave Bird!"

Staravia glows blue and knocks Growlithe back. As Staravia is hit with recoil, she starts glowing white. She evolves and lands in front of Barry. "Staraptor!"

Barry smiles. "Alright, Staraptor. Use Wing Attack!"

Staraptor flies forward and repeatedly hits Growlithe. Growlithe flies backwards and hits the ground by his trainer. Barry puts his arm out and Staraptor lands on it. The man returns Growlithe. "You brat!"

He sends out a Chimecho. "Extrasensory."

"Endure the attack and use Aerial Ace!"

Staraptor starts flinching as she takes off. Suddenly, she hits Chimecho, sending it flying towards the trainer. He catches Chimecho and lets it float back to where it was. "Finish it with Brave Bird."

She flies up and glows blue, then flies directly at Chimecho, turning red. They make contact. Chimecho falls to the ground and Staraptor lands on the ground, dealing with the recoil damage. The trainer sighs and returns Chimecho. "I didn't think you'd be so strong."

He walks toward Barry and hands him a pokéball. "I caught him in the Hoenn region. Take good care of him."

Barry gladly takes the ball and thanks him. Their group starts walking down the path, some saying bye. Barry tosses the ball. A Combusken stands in front of him. "Hi there. I'm gonna be your new trainer."

Combusken smiles. "Busken!"

Barry laughs and high fives Combusken. We continue walking towards Pastoria City. Kirlia is walking next to Dawn, looking around.

[Saturn's POV]

I duck into the bush. I sigh. "That was close."

I hear buzzing on my headset. "Saturn," Charon says. "What is the news on those brats?"

"They're en route to Pastoria City. One of their pokémon, a Kirlia, might have seen me."

"Are they attacking?"

"No."

"Then, you're fine."

I peek out of the bushes again. The Kirlia is looking right at me. I yell and crawl backwards. She smiles. "What is it?!" I hear in my headset.

The Kirlia's eyes glow blue and lift my headset off. She holds it. "Kirlia!" she yells into it.

Her eyes glow blue again and it snaps in half. I grab my gun and hold my hand out. "Don't make me."

She smiles at me. "I know what your plan is Saturn. I just read your mind. I won't tell the rest of them. When you put your plan in action, call this number."

She picks up a stick and writes in the ground. I take a picture and nod to her. "You can't tell anyone."

She nods. "Get going."

I stand up and run away. I look back. Dawn and Chris are walking around. "Kirlia!" Chris calls.

"Where'd you go?!" Dawn calls.

Chris looks directly at me. I stare at him. I smile and put my arm up. I mouth the word 'Saturn' and run into the woods.

[Chris' POV]

The man disappears from sight. He mouthed a word. "Saturn? What does that mean?"

Dawn turns to me. "What are you talking about?"

"I saw a man in the woods. He mouthed 'Saturn.' He was wearing a Team Galactic Uniform."

"Team Galactic?!"

I nod. Kirlia comes running out of the bushes and jumps into Dawn's arms. "There you are. Let's get going."

I nod. Dawn and I start running to catch up with the others.