Love in the Time of Turbulence

Chapter 2: A Signal

You've all made me feel so welcome to be back with this sequel. I never anticipated the response you all showed last chapter and I can only hope you continue on this journey with me. For now, though, let's start Chapter 2!

Chapter 2

A Signal

Serena was staring at the flat television screen, her eyes wide at the sight of the carnage before her. She wasn't the only one unable to make a sound. All of them, her boyfriend, friends, and the ex-Team Brutal members including Seamus' mother, were staring in horror at the images on the screen. Across the bottom of the screen was a banner reading "Major Attack on Pokémon League Summit". On the couch near the TV, Bonnie was fidgeting uncomfortably while Elaine was leaning forward, her legs crossed.

"I don't believe it..." Clemont breathed out, shaking his head. Serena could barely even manage that, her chest rising and falling as she tried to get her body's reaction under control. Ash wasn't faring much better, his body visibly quaking with suppressed anger. At least, that was what she thought he was shaking from.

Steeling herself, Serena turned back to the images, swallowing a lump in her throat. Smoke was rising from the still undisclosed location that the summit had been held at. A giant window was blasted inward and a group of Water Pokémon were blasting into the room, as if trying to clear the smoke and fire. This was interspersed with images of the various League officials being wheeled out on gurneys. What made it worse was that there was no confirmation of casualties. It was clear that the president of the League, Charles Goodshow, was perfectly fine, though he had suffered a concussion. The fate of various others, including Diantha, was unknown. A reporter came onto the screen.

"Turn it up, mom," Seamus said seriously. He, Bethany and Christopher were on a corner of the couch, staring angrily at the screen. Elaine grabbed the remote and flicked it up, allowing the volume to raise enough for the reporter to be heard.

"I'm reporting from the League Summit following a blistering attack," the reporter said seriously. With a small jerk, Serena recognized him as Harrison Kalas, the man who had commentated the Kalos Team Tournament. "It appears that early this afternoon, an attack was made on the summit by an individual in a mask riding a Salamence. After speaking with survivors of the assault, it has been revealed to be an attack by an organization known as Team Neo."

"Neo?" Bonnie asked, tilting her head to the side. "What does that mean, Clemont?"

"It means 'new'," Clemont answered his sister. Serena folded her arms across her chest. Ash had stopped shaking and had put an arm around her shoulders. It was comforting in the midst of such tragedy.

"No other news has been divulged at this time, but rest assured that we'll be delivering you information as it becomes available." That seemed to be the end of Kalas' report and it went back to the anchorwoman, Malva, in the newsroom. However, while they continued to talk about the attack, nothing of any interest was said and Elaine turned the volume back down.

"Such a tragedy..." she breathed out. "And so close to the League, too. I wonder if it could be some kind of protest?"

"It's not right," Ash spat. Serena looked at her boyfriend to see him frowning, and her heart sank a little. She breathed in a little more, feeling her mind balance itself out.

"I wonder how they were able to attack it at such a perfect time," she stated. Almost everyone in the room looked directly at her in interest. The only one she noticed not doing so was Seamus, the blond staring off into the distance like he saw something that wasn't there. "The summit was being held in an undisclosed location, right? How did they know where to find it and how to attack it?"