Pokémon PrismGold

Chapter Four: "You Can't Run"

Mark clung to the saddle bar, trying to steer Dragonite one handed. He wasn't the best at flying but simply talking to Dragonite seemed to work well enough. Whoever had trained him had done an amazing job. Mark told the Dragonite to swing wide and head back over the trees to head to the East. Beside him, Sean jerked his head to look at him and asked perplexed. "What are you doing?! I was headed to Ice Town! You go that way and you'll take us too close to Fire Town!" Mark kept his eyes forward, answering honestly. "Yes. But that Team Rocket guy was heading toward Fire Town with that Masked Man. And if he has information that Team Rocket finds interesting, shouldn't we investigate that?" Sean narrowed his eyes on him, retorting sternly. "Look as much as I want that ring and to learn more about what the fuck is going on... My pokemon need to go to a Pokestop! Which I can only get from Ice Town. Now turn this thing around!" Mark locked eyes with Sean before saying calmly. "No. I'm not going anywhere near Ice Town. Besides, the longer we wait the farther away they get. I can't afford that. Every second we waste is time they can use to hurt someone."

Sean rolled his eyes, grumbling out. "Ugh... You Instincts are such humanitarians..." Mark clenched his jaw a little to keep from blurting out something he'd regret. Sean didn't stop though as he bluntly asked him. "Tell me, Poke-hugger. How do you plan to beat that grunt if half our pokemon are wounded? You plan to let your pokemon command you to battle? If that ring makes his pokemon stronger, as the other guy said. Then your pokemon are useless. Mine at least stand a chance if I can get them to a Pokestop!" Mark lost it and snapped back at him firmly. "One more bash at my pokemon or my team and I'll kick you off this Dragonite! I didn't have to save you! I could have left you there to die! And I don't recall you complaining when my Raichu saved your smartass!" Sean stared at him a little shocked by his outburst. After a few seconds, Sean told him reluctantly. "I... Look... About what you did. Thank you." Mark chuckled, glancing at Sean as he said teasingly. "Ooo, how badly did that hurt you? Saved by Instinct. Your Mystic pride must be burning." Sean glared at him, grumbling darkly through his teeth. "Tell anyone and I'll kill you. You have my word on that."

Mark chuckled louder, switching the silky reins to his other hand. Extending his free hand out to Sean, he greeted him nicely. "My name is Mark." Sean rolled his eyes, mumbling out. "I didn't ask." Mark leaned closer to him, nicely informing him. "I noticed. It's this new thing called being nice to your rescuer. Or do they not teach manners to you Mystics?" Sean stared into his eyes, sarcastically shooting back in a light voice. "As a matter of fact, they don't. We learn to save our brain power for more important things." Mark shook his head, uttering out softly. "You Mystics kill me... You ever heard that a little kindness goes a long way?" Sean cleared his throat drawing Mark's attention. Mark glanced at him and Sean stated out a bit terrified. "Mark... How about you see how far kindness gets you with HIM!" Mark looked over his shoulder to see the strange pokemon slowly rising up over the trees. It was following them! Cursing, Mark told the Dragonite hopefully. "Hey, Buddy? Can you pick up the pace? He's gaining on us!" The Dragonite let out a small call, then locked its wings as it sped up.

The strange pokemon rose higher above the trees to speed up after them. Mark gawked at how fast the thing was, asking aloud. "Why is it still chasing us?! Is it because we attacked it?" Mark was turning his head to look ahead but stopped as his eyes saw something glowing in Sean's jacket. Sean saw it too and put his hand over the glowing pocket. Their eyes met, before they both said aloud. "The scale?" Mark didn't know what that meant, but it couldn't have been good. The strange pokemon put its palms together and began to make a large purple ball. Sean yelped, huddling against Dragonite's saddle. Mark huffed, telling Sean curtly. "Hang on! And stay low!" Laying close to the saddle, Mark yelled out. "Dragonite! Dive into the trees!" Dragonite dived straight down into the trees avoiding the purple beam of light that rustled the leaves of the treetops. Dragonite weaved between the dense trees, forcing Mark and Sean to stay close in the center to keep from shifting their weight too much. Leaning with him as it quickly navigated between the trees, Mark looked back to see the pokemon had dived into the trees too and was still following them.