Chapter Twenty

                                    

                                          
I wake up in my room.  I am really groggy from sleeping.  The room was really dark and quiet, telling me that it was nighttime.
                          
I feel a hand on each one of my arms.  To my left was my sister and to my right was Lin, both of which are sleeping.  Dex was in a chair behind Lin, also sleeping.
                          
I ripped my hand from my sister's grip.  I looked at the time; it read 1:30 a.m.  I pressed a button on my watch to show the date; I had been asleep for three days.  That explains why everyone is in here. 
                          
I, carefully, got out of bed, making sure I didn't wake anyone up.  Grabbing my stuff, I headed downstairs to make some food.  They did some work while I was passed out; there was no sign of destruction in sight.  
                          
I started the stove and started to cook some eggs.  After I finished them, seasoned them, and sat down to eat, I heard footsteps from the other side of the house: my room.
                          
Dex came down the stairs.  I had hoped it was him; there was a question that either Lin or him could answer, but I didn't want the girls to know where I was going.  But I need to know my first destination.
                          
"Morning Dex," I said, still groggy.
                          
"Morning," he replied half-asleep.  "Good to see you up.  The girls were worried."
                          
"Yeah," I said.  "Didn't mean to be asleep more than a few hours."
                          
"Few hours turned into a few days," he replied.
                          
"Look," I said, turning to my topic.  "I have a question."
                          
"Alright."
                          
"Do you know if Lin still has the legendary birds?"
                          
"She released them after the battle with you.  She felt like she was being cheap by using the three birds."
                          
That defines my route.  "That's all I needed.  Thanks."
                          
"Is something wrong?"  He asked, concerned.  He had a right to be.
                          
"I'm doing some last minute training."
                          
"With the birds?"
                          
"At first.  My goal is to get to Seven Island in the Orange Islands."
                          
"That island is a fairly powerful one."
                          
"Exactly.  One week is all I'm going to do, then I will go challenge the league."
                          
"You didn't want us to worry, but this is where I come in.  I'm going with you and so are the girls."
                          
This is what I wanted to avoid.  "No, it's just going to be some solo training."
                          
"Why is everything solo with you?!"  He yelled, clearly angry. "I've heard enough of this!  You have me, Axle, Lin and Jade by your side!  Don't leave us behind."
                          
"I'm ..." Dex cut me off.
                          
"I don't want to hear your excuses!" He turned away from me. "What I want from you is to show me.  Show me just how much you want to be alone.  3 vs. 3. If you win, we won't bother you during this training for you."
                          
We went outside and walked into Route 1.  We found an open section and took our places.  I grabbed my first Pokéball as he grabbed his.  As we throw our first Pokémon out, the battle had begun.
                          
I threw out Hitmonchan and he threw out Vileplume.  Odd for a Team Rocket admin.  I started with a Mach Punch, Fire Punch combo.  Hitmonchan got close with the speed from Mach Punch, landing a Fire Punch.  Before the Fire Punch connected, Vileplume swung it's petals forward to deflect the attack.
                          
"Sleep Powder," Axle said.  It hit perfectly because Hitmonchan was still in the attack.   He followed it up with Solarbeam.
                          
"Hitmonchan, you have to get up," I yelled.  Hitmonchan just layed there, sleeping.  Vileplume finished charging and fired it's Solarbeam.  Dirt flew every where around Hitmonchan.  When it cleared, he was completely out.