Morning peeked over the cabin. Franklin arose slowly as the rays kissed his cheeks. Vanessa and her family weren’t in the room when his bare heels touched the cold wood. Out the window, the forest slowly consumed and sun, chasing the shadows over the quiet ridge beyond the reach of the sun.

Vanessa slept on a fallen log covered by a sun beat blanket. Raichu lined up along a crippled tree, sparks exploded from her fist, charged and leaped striking the tree. The now broken tree collapsed softly into the Earth, never waking Vanessa.

The living room was full of Pokemon. Greg and Daisy among others that Franklin has never met. Daisy and Tyler worked silently together, making chow of bliss. The aroma lifted the room and the Pokemon huddled close to Daisy and Tyler hoping for an early taste, never waking Vanessa.

Fresh air blew the twigs from the recently shattered tree around like leaves in autumn. Raichu sat near Vanessa, quietly watching over her. Pokemon chirped overhead in passing, Raichu’s focus never wavered, she turned to the logs and lifted it towards a stacking pile, never waking Vanessa.

“Wow, Franklin! Your last battle was amazing! When your Slowpoke took that Growlithe by surprise,” Greg said reminiscing on the day.

“Greg, leave Franklin alone. We still couldn’t find his dad or Vanessa,” Daisy intervened. 

Greg halted in mid speech and looked at the pale moon. 

Crowds exited the busy stadium and dispersed into the streets. Daisy and Greg led the way through the forest, the same path Vanessa led them on only a day before.

The hoot’s were non existent. The moon illuminated the earth below the trainers feet. 

“Daisy, look,” Greg said pointed to the sparks shooting into the sky.

Greg and Daisy shared a look and continued on as the sparks burst through the sky like an electric knife through the moon above. 

Vanessa stood with her face covered with a hood and her Raichu shocking a straw filled dummy. The dummy showed small burn makes being replaced by new ones with each bolt from the mouse.

Daisy and Greg didn’t approach her and walked into the cabin leaving Franklin behind. Suddle whimpers came from the hood and Raichu placed his small yellow hand in hers.

The older man sat among henchman waiting around for orders, than it rings,

“Boss?”

“Across the way, is the tournament going the way I want it.”

“Yes, boss, we are going to aquire the location.”

“Don’t mess this one up, Taylor. There is no room for error.”

The pause and quick breathes from Taylor air over the line was disturbed again,

“Taylor, I need that location under Rocket control. I’ll be in touch.”

The click and the dial tone echoed through the pitch black room.

“What did the boss say,” a henchman muttered.

Taylor, rose from the chair, 

“Master Giovanni wants the tower. We will give him the tower. Make sure we win that tournament.”

“That it! Franklin takes the round 2-0!”

The lights turned the crowd into joyful shadows clapping and cheering from above.

The corridor under the stadium was shelled in silence. Only distinguishable sound is the clack of heels of the nurses as they rushed to aid the downed Pokemon.

Tyler and Daisy were the only ones paused with joy, waiting in the lobby without Vanessa,

“Where is your sister?”

Daisy couldn’t meet Franklin’s eyes, “I’m not sure. She went down to the Pokecenter but we haven’t seen her since. She told us to watch your matches and to stay here.”

Tyler’s eyes wandered around the emptying lobby with hope drained trainers, mourning eyes, and dragged hearts.

Franklin’s win was drowned by the absence of Vanessa, “We should really go after her,” remembering the other missing member of the party, “Have you guys seen my dad?”

Tyler and Daisy neither jumped with knowledge, “Franklin, you can’t go anywhere yet. You still have another match today,” Daisy reminded.

Franklin remembered the loosened tails of his first catch and headed towards their seats to prepare for the next match.