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Mike noticed his partner recalling Elekid. "Well Kilik," he said with a sly tone. "Some of the grunts in Aqua are pretty lousy trainers, so I think we can rack up some decent experience for Napalm and Elekid if we're careful." The boy rummaged through his bag, pulling out a TM. "I just hope you like Zubat." Mike said under his breath as he placed the orange red CD to Napalm's Pokeball, teaching him the move Flannery had given him upon winning the Lavaridge Gym challenge: Overheat.

"Not a moment to lose," The boy dashed out of the Center, Prickles following behind him. Mike broke into an all out run, heading for the cliffs. When he reached the drop off, he leaned forward to get a closer look at one of the larger caves out in the distance. Nothing had changed since he'd seen it last, and he could see two men standing at the entrance, barely, but it was a good sign. "Perfect. They haven't moved yet." Mike looked around to see if anyone was watching him. No one.

He knelt down, removed and unzipped his backpack, quickly taking off his trademark jacket and stuffing it inside. He wrapped a black scarf around his mouth and adorned a dark red hoodie with a strange black logo on it, pulling the scarf out from the collar, lifting the dual spiked hood over his head. The boy changed his pants next, and fast. The new pair's only difference was a darker grey hue. Matching red armbands were pulled then over his gloves, not completely covering them. His comfortable normal sneakers were replace with darker, cleat like shoes for maneuverability, but not before hiking up a pair dark red socks. After completing his change the boy stood up, staring at the cave with intensity.

He heard Kilik and Prickles approaching behind him and closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath. "I bet you're wondering how I am so aware of Team Aqua's whereabouts, and how I knew they were behind the whole incident from the start. Well, Kilik, you're not the only one to have secrets. I know this," Mike turned to face his friend, a small gold rimmed badge on his chest in the shape of a mountain glimmered in the sun. His scarf waved majestically in the wind. The outfit was unmistakable.

"Because I was once a high ranking member of Team Magma. Their mortal enemies!"

"Elekid will see some action when the time is right," Kilik called out to him as they began to run. Yet Mike showed some speed, a talent that Kilik was quite unaware of, that awed him. He shook his head and suddenly Mike as completely out of his sight. He paused in the middle of Lilycove City, looking around frantically. "Mike?!" he called out. There was no reply. Kilik glanced down at Prickles and sighed. "You lost him, too?" The trainer picked up the cactus and walked with him. He was surprised that he didn't feel any pricks against his body.

For as long as he could remember, Kilik was usually faster than most boys. Even Mike, who he had outran on numerous occasions, was gone now. Maybe he was just getting out of shape. No, no. That's not it. Mike was just...excited. The thought repeated itself in his head. Kilik was still speedy. The boy scratched the back of his head as he continued to look up and down the city for his friend. There was a silhouette on the cliff up ahead of them. Was that Mike? Kilik ran after it, putting Prickles on the ground to follow him, and slowed down when he saw that it was a person in a red and black hoodie. A uniform of some sort.

His eyes widened at what came out of his mouth. "You were...part of Team Magmaaaa!?" The boy placed his hands on his head and laughed heartily. Realizing what he had just said, Kilik sort of yearned for his old Rocket uniform back. He then shook his head, slipping his hands into his pockets. "Man oh man. And after all the guff you and everyone else gave me for being part of Team Rocket."

Of course, Kilik was certain Mike was never forced to kill somebody.

Kilik held up his hands defensively. "Whoa, whoa there. Call in the Snorunt to cool down this fire," he shook his hands. Kilik had no idea what Team Magma was all about. For all he knew, they were just like Team Rocket. However, the boy trusted Mike's word and dropped his hands to his sides.

"Look, Mike. I trust you," he stated, "I trust you more than any friend I've ever had. If you joined Team Magma to protect our homeland," he made sure to emphasize the point that they both were born there, "then I've got my trust in them, too. When you asked me to help, I accepted no matter what the cost. You still trust me, even though I was part of Team Rocket, don't you?"

"Teams don't change people. You're still Mike and I still trust you." Kilik planted a reassuring hand on his shoulder then snagged up Ludicolo's Pokeball. "Now let's go in there and get your friend, shall we?"

Even with Kirstie in tow, it didn't take Jaeshan very long to reach the red-roofed Pokemon Center. Kirstie didn't go inside with him, choosing to remain outside while she waited for Jaeshan.

He didn't hesitate to step through the sliding doors, looking around even as they closed behind him with a soft whooshing sound. "Ryka?" he asked, hoping to catch a glimpse of blond hair somewhere around. "Are you here?"

The disappointment was quite apparent on his face when he realized she wasn't there, and he flopped down onto a cushy beanbag chair and sighed, burying his face in his hands. Had she just been playing a joke on him? How did she know he was close to Petalburg? He didn't know, and it pained him to wonder just what was going on and have no answers at all.

"Excuse me, are you Jaeshan?" came the sweet voice of Nurse Joy, and Jaeshan felt a soft hand on his shoulder. He looked up into her kind eyes, and nodded, the confused look still apparent on his face. "Oh, good then. She said you'd come. A friend of yours; Ryka. She knew you'd be by here at some point, so she had something sent to you." The nurse retreated to the desk and then into the back room, coming back after a few moments with something in her hands. It was small, and wrapped in a soft blue cloth bag to protect whatever was inside. "She told me to tell you to take good care of it, as she wouldn't trust it to anybody else."

Jaeshan said nothing, only held out his hand as she placed the cloth in his hands, then went back to the desk again, this time to tend to a trainer's injured Seedot. Jaeshan stared at it for a moment or two before holding up the bag and dumping its contents into his outstretched palm. A red and white sphere fell into his hand, feeling cold against his skin. A Pokeball? he thought, holding it up and studying it. It looked brand new, as though it had never been used at all. Wonder what's inside? he mused as he clicked it open.

Kilik tossed up Ludicolo's ball a split second or so after Mike did. The ball opened in the air and spilled out the white light into the sea and the trainer caught the sphere on it's return trip. Ludicolo bobbed in the water for a moment, then looked around. He raised an eyebrow at the Cloyster next to him then let out a light "Ludi!" when the Pokemon dashed off with a trainer on his back.

"Yippie-yi-yo!" Kilik called out, jumping from the cliff, landing on Ludicolo's sombrero. He stood on the leaf, which was surprisingly heavy and stiff, and placed his hand on the pineapple in the middle. "I'll explain everything later, buddy. Just follow that Cloyster!" He pointed ahead.

The Carefree Pokemon hummed to himself happily, completely ignoring his trainer. That was, of course, until he felt a swift slap against the pineapple. He then swam as fast as he could, and thanks to his handy ability, moving in the water was quick. However, since he wasn't as skilled in the water as Shiver, it took him a moment to catch up. Ludicolo managed to keep up once he made it, though.

Kilik stood tall on the leaf and glanced over at Mike, enjoying the spray from the water. "So. What's the game plan?" he called over.

Although you couldn't see it beneath the scarf, Mike smiled as the pineapple duck Pokemon hauled tail to catch up to them. He couldn't help that he had the better Pokemon for the job though. Shiver's two large horns on the top of his body functioned as a perfect steering wheel, and the Cloyster was an adept swimmer, so everything worked out. Mike felt the wind on his...eyes as his scarf flapped in the ocean air, somewhat painful. The occasional ocean spray was also a bit blinding, but there was nothing he could do about it until he somehow learned how to fly.

All the grievances aside, the feeling of riding one of your Pokemon over the ocean was something he enjoyed, but almost selectively because he trusted his Pokemon. Back to buisness.

"Well, I know the building relatively well since I've been there before, and the grunts won't be able to recognize me because they're stupid." He pointed to the main entrance, which was guarded by only two men. "The only problem we have to worry about is if we encounter one of the admins, as they've been around long enough to recognize me in and out of my uniform." Mike shuddered at the thought of meeting up with Archie himself. That was the last thing they needed. "The reason I'm wearing this is to hopefully cause confusion and panic, therefore making our job a little easier." He shrugged. "Or maybe they'll just send everything at us and we'll get royally whooped and it'll be all my fault for being impulsive and overly dramatic!"

Mike let out a crazy laugh as the two jet skied on their Pokemon towards one of the most significant events in their lives as trainers.

The look on Kilik's face when Mike presented the possibility of 'being royally whooped' was priceless. He shook his head and laughed. "I'm sure we'll be fine!" he called out. He kept a firm palm on Ludicolo's pineapple and bit his lower lip. "But if that does happen," he continued, "then I'll be sure to never forgive you so long as I live."

The idea of running into admins got the adrenaline pumping in his body even more than it already was. Kilik did want a challenge and an Aqua Administrator would've been just the taste he'd want. He flexed his fingers on his free hand and shook the anxiety out of his fingertips. Ludicolo ducked down behind a large rock, then swam out towards the island, hoping that maybe they wouldn't see him. The Pokemon did slow down substantially to keep the splashing water to a minimum. Kilik placed a finger over his mouth and motioned for him to get closer to the sand. When he was able to get off, he quickly dashed behind a rock and recalled Ludicolo as fast as he could.

His heart pounded in his throat. However, even if he did have to battle one of the men outside the door, it would be exceedingly simple. It was just a Grunt, after all.