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"Kilik," Whitney said, with a semi-annoyed tone in her voice, "do you really and honestly think that I tracked you down just to like, bother you about my sister?" The girl paused. "Well... that is actually why I came here. But believe me, this isn't because I want to talk to you, so don't like, get the wrong idea or something." She took a breath.

"See, during the Gym battle with Jasmine, Nina had a vision about Maorde returning to Ecruteak. She saw him standing at Sabrina's grave in the cemetary and he was like, talking to it or something. Well, she thought it was important enough to leave her Gym Battle early and come out here because somehow, she knew that you were here and she was concerned for your safety. We like, got into the city and went to the cemetary, but he wasn't there... I thought Nina like, had a false vision or something, okay? So I like, suggested that to her and she thought I was crazy... So we went looking for him, but we never came upon him, so we stopped and talked near the Pokemon Mart. He somehow found us, and..." Whitney sighed.

"He filled Nina's head with lies... He said stuff like you guys never really cared about her and stuff like that, and how you guys didn't ever forgive her for going on that little psycho rampage, and... she believed him. She believed him enough to turn dark again. She tried to asphyxiate me and left me for dead, and like, took off with Maorde on some weird blue dragon with red wings that I've like, never seen in my life. And... I'm worried that she's going to do something seriously bad, not like 'Oh, I'm pretending to like, be all bad rarara,' but like, 'Grr fear me, I'm Ms. Baddy McBadder Badson and I'm gonna getchu!' kind of bad to one of you guys! And after she's all done doing what Maorde wants, I'm terrified he'll like, dispose of her!"

It took a moment for him to take it all in. The continous amount of 'likes' really began to pester him. And then he replayed what little he understood in his mind a few times. "Wait. I'll admit that I haven't really forgiven her completely for her wacked-out 'Hey, let me kill you, so bend over and die' phase. She really hurt me and, to be honest, it ticked me off like you wouldn't believe." He uncrossed his arms and then looked at Whitney.

"The problem is, I'm not siding with Team Rocket so much that I've become Giovanni's little errand boy. I was telling the truth. I'm not like that anymore," he looked away, at a very interesting tile that looked like all the others, "When it comes to something as big and scary as Maorde, you may have to partner with those you don't like. In my case, Giovanni." The boy tapped his foot.

"We'll find Nina. Don't worry."

"I think it's time for lil' foxies to go lie down for a nap," Wattson chortled. The Gym Leader, slipping his hands into his pockets, watched Manectric crouch down and dash forward, narrowly avoiding the Will-o-Wisp. "Some Pokemon refuse to be Burned, Laddie. And Manectric here is one of 'em. Now, me boy! Let's see if you can manage against his Shock Wave!"

Manectric howled again, the hair that jutted upwards from his head began to spark brightly, then fired three bolts towards Helios. "That'll do, Vulpix. That'll do."

Mike glanced at his surroundings, they had made alot more progress than he realized. A sign for Fuschia City with an arrow pointing south was right in front of them. "Wow, we're making better time than I thought." Mike let out a relieved sigh as the path widened, good for walking. Perfect for battling. Mike scoped out potential people to fight, eying a few fishermen and a cute fishergirl. "I think I'll take...you two on." The boy pointed to two men, both fishing side by side. "I challenge you to a two on two match, two Pokemon each!"

The larger framed man stood up, putting his fishing pole in the ground. He looked Mike and Kassie up and down, scratching his grizzly beard. He looked with a cocked eyebrow at Felsic, a look of familiarity on his face. "Alright squirt, me and my pal here accept!" Unhooking a Pokeball from his belt, he tossed out his first Pokemon, a Golduck.

Felsic groaned. All these Water Pokemon, he was never going to have a chance to battle.

Mike gave the Quilava a reassuring pat on the head. "Don't worry buddy, I have a feeling about this fight." He eyed his foe Pokemon, it was sleek, and a nice shade of blue. "Now that's a Water Pokemon I like." He said with a approving tone. "Mine's better though." He let out a sharp whistle, turning his head towards the water. Seconds later, Xanthos erupted from the waves, landing in front of his trainer, dripping with water that sparkled in the sun.

"Your move Kassie." He smiled at his partner. "Ready set?"

Whitney stared at Kilik increduously-- she couldn't believe the things that were coming out of his mouth. She shook her head slightly, her mouth hanging open a little, an expression of shock evident on her face.

"Oh my god," she said. "Maorde was right! You really do believe that you're above her, don't you? You-- you talk about her as if she's absolutely freaking nothing, comparing her to her sister who was put 'six feet under' by the man that you seem to idolize and are turning into! I can't even believe you!" At this moment, Whitney was too determined to defend her sister as opposed to herself.