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A black Pokeball levitated beside Ginji. Darkrai appeared, roaring. His aura was slightly less dark then the days before, but it was still prominent. A dark portal appeared. "Come. I know a shortcut through the shadows"

"I wouldn't argue with that one." Ginji smiled as he walked through.

"Ike, believe me. I'm not." Cody stepped through after him. How can I be mistaken? I hope I can convince him.

Ike walked along the familiar docks, waiting for everyone to gather.
"Okay, well..." he said, not knowing how to word this. "I'm off to the gym... maybe even visit the pokemon center while I'm here." he finally spat out. "I just need some time alone. Kinda weird I asked you guys to come along though... She might kill me if she sees I brought "the enemy" with me."

Ike wasn't sure if this trip could be called anything other than just a trip. There wasn't much training that could be done....nor were there anyone to fight.

Ike nodded to Ginji as he scratched his head to where everyone went. Those matters aside, he still wanted resolve with Jasmine.

Last July, on a mission with Kwchups to Sunyshore City, Ike had ran into Jasmine. It would seem that she was in Sinnoh for the Super Pokemon Contests. Well, her finding out that Ike had joined a team instead of taking on the Johto League set her off.

After a long walk through the town, Ike finally reached the Gym. It was no suprise to him that the gym was closed for the night, but he walked inside anyway. Upon entering the dark battle field, he called out to her.

"Jasmine? You home?" he yelled. His echos filled the gym as the lights above him suddenly turned on. A familiar old man, her grandfather, walked into the large room. He had clearly been woken up.

"Sorry? No, Jasmine's not here. The Gym's closed. I- hey, do I know you?" he said. With that last bit he squinted his sleepy eyes at Ike. Ike nodded yes.

"Is she still in Sinnoh?" he asked the old man.
"Yeah, afraid so Ikarizu." said her grandfather.
"...Has she gotten any word to you lately? Like how she's doing?" Ike asked him.
"...Not lately, no. She's a real busy bee, though." he replied. Ike reluctantly agreed.
Ike bid her grandfather farewell as he turned to exit the gym. Though as he did take his first step outside, he was no sooner facing whom he was looking for.
"Ike!?" Jasmine jumped with suprise. Her town quickly turned with anger. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh come on Jas!" said Ike. "You have HAD to heard what Team Aqua's been doing! What more will it take to have you trust me again?"
"Not now, Ike." she said, walking past him. "It was a long trip home and I'm really looking forward to seeing Amphy and grandpa again."

Ike wouldn't let her inside. He jumped in front of the doors.
"Why don't you like the good guys?" he asked her intrusively. She only gave him a rough look.
"There's no excuse for teams to be battling teams when the Pokemon League can handle it all." Jasmin answered.
"Oh, like they handled it in Hoenn just now? Steven was counting on us." Ike cleared up.
"Not now." she said, moving past him and into the gym. Ike simply let her pass out of frustration. He couldn't leave without saying something.

"I know what happened. I know what happened to Joelle and Kaito. They would of been proud to see what Aqua does." and with that, Ike vanished off into the night, resolving nothing.


As Jasmine stormed through the battle field to cross over to the back-part of the gym where she lived, she was met by a figure standing on the other side of the field.
"Gym's closed." she simply stated to the figure.
"Wouldn't have any pokemon to battle even if I wanted to." appeared Ames, the Legendary Brilliance Gang's Director of Espionage and Research.
"Who are you?" she asked.
Ames simply stated "The good guy." Creeped out, Jasmine reached for her Steelix's pokeball.
"I'm going to ask you to leave." he said. Ames only cracked his neck.
"I'm not looking for trouble, so I will." he told her. "But if you want to know more about this Team Aqua, give my partner a call." With that, Ames tossed her a business card with a phone number to the Goldenrod City Game Corner.
Jasmine looked down to study the card.
"Look, if you're with that Team Rocket I'll-" she looked up, and no one was there.



Ike reached the harbor and the lighthouse where Ginji had been waiting for him. His hands were in his coat pockets and his head was low.
"Let's go. It was a waste." he pouted.

Ike landed on his head, which only added to his frustration.

"Gone apparently," Cody piped up from the couch. "No one has been here in like two days or so."

"Sammy, hey." Cody walked back in and to the kitchen to get a water bottle.