I watched in amusement as Samurai threw one of the Team Aqua's grunts against the wall, his eyes showing emotions so harsh, they were ready to kill. ~Where is she!?~ He snarled.

Gardenia was dealing with the red clad men, her expression much calmer then that of her brother but it was obvious she wasn't about the let those with knowledge of Paige go. ~I would leave if I were you.~ She snapped at those who weren't of Team Aqua while Gummie used Psychic to hold a blue grunt in place, Angel using her ribbon to hold another against a wall. The red clad men left while our attention was instead directed to Team Aqua and possible information on our trainer.

~I won't ask politely again!~ Samurai hissed. ~Where is she!?~

"W-who?" The grunt stammered. "What she are you talking about?"

Again Samurai snarled, raising the sheathed blade of his arm against the grunts throat. ~Paige! My trainer, she's a little girl with pink hair and bright blue eyes! Your organisation took her two days ago and we want her back now!~

"The-- the girl would have been taken to the base by now--" The grunt stammered in replied. Don't blame the poor grunt, I doubt it was his fault Paige was missing, he was just dealing with the backlash of one very protective Gallade & co.

Samurai removed his arm, drawing it out behind him. The blade grew long, sharp and deadly as Samurai replaced it, his eyes hard and narrow. Gummie and Angel exchanged unsure eyes and for a moment, I wasn't sure if Samurai was actually bluffing like I'd originally presumed, he looked ready to kill the grunt without a thought. Gardenia however, looked calm enough so either she didn't care if Samurai killed the grunt or not or she was positive he wouldn't.

~Where!?~ Samurai demanded. ~Where is she!?~

"My boss would kill me..."

~If he doesn't, then I will.~ The shiny Gallade replied, his tone sharp and not to be messed with. ~Now where is the base where I can find my trainer?~

"Lillycove City, the base is in Lillycove City, just off the shore in a cave, most of it is underground but if Team Aqua took your trainer then that's where you'll find her."

~Thank you for you cooperation.~ Samurai sighed, dropping the grunt. ~Now get out of here!~ He snapped.

Angel and Gummie followed Samurai's lead and released the grunts they were both holding. The three didn't waste a moment, scrambling away and disappearing down the ally and out of sight.

After a minute passed, Samurai straightened with a smirk. ~Well, that's one way of getting things done.~

He followed the grunts direction from the ally as calm as I'd ever seen the Gallade. Angel jumped on Gummies head as they went after him, Gardenia waited for me before she to, followed her brother. I sped a head, taking the Gallade's side. ~You weren't actually going to kill that guy were you?~ I inquired letting my curiosity get the better of me.

Samurai chuckled. ~No, of course not. I'm not a feral Pokémon. Maybe seriously maim if he refused to tell me where they were keeping Paige to scare his teammates into doing so, but not kill.~

~Riiiiight, I'd guess he would deserve it then.~ I replied with a frown

~I am not sure if Team Aqua works in the same way as Team Plasma, but many of the previous grunts we have delt with in Unova were teenagers who simply didn't know what they were getting themselves into when joining Team Plasma.~ Samurai explained. ~Once they joined, thinking they could just mess around with the law a bit to satisfy their rebellious nature and whatnot, they soon they realise however, that cannot leave so easy. Ghetsis was always paranoid about his plans of word domination would getting out to the public, ruin the goody-goody act he had established with the concept of Pokémon liberation. If he even suspected that a grunts loyalty to him faltered in the slightest, he'd either wipe their mind clean or torture then kill them. If the latter happened, then some horribly things could be in store to satisfy his own, quite often perverted, fantasies.~ Samurai's voice held an edge of pity to it as he sighed. ~And if the individual is important or has somehow earn't Ghetsis's favour, close friends and family are threaten with the same kind of torture.~

I didn't really know how to respond to this. If that was the kind of man who'd ruled over Paige for seven years, then I didn't even want to think about the he would have treated her should he have the opportunity to take advantage of her weakness.

~We should find Jake and Milly now.~ Samurai stated. ~I'm sure they will want to know this new information.~

~Right.~ The rest of Paige's team replied in cohesion.

~~~🌺~~~
~Paige~

The morning sun woke me up, shining directly in my eyes as it peeped up through the bared window of my cell. I groaned lightly, pulling up the covers over my head which just left my bare feet exposed to the cold air of the morning. Curling up in the fetal position to preserve my warmth, I felt Miku shift slightly in my arms. My head was hurting again but the pain had notably been reduced since last night. It was still very painful but more toward the stepping on the sharp side of a piece of lego pain rather then the whole of my head being on fire.

Miku opened her eyes, yawning in drowsiness before looking at me with a small smile. ~Did Miku do good?~ She questioned, most likely referring to her attempt to make my head feel better.

:Yes Miku.: I smiled down at her, lightly rubbing her head. :You did very good.:

~Yes! Miku getting big ice-cream with sprinkles!~ The baby Pokémon cheered causing me to winch. ~Oh sowwy Mama, Miku use Miku inside-Mama-head voice.~

:Thank you.: I replied, closing my eyes with a soft sigh. :My head hurts still, but you helped it a lot.:

My little Manaphy gently pat my arm in small, soft circles. ~Miku look after Mama while Mama has her owie.~

I was just starting to drift back out to sleep when the echo of footsteps broke the glass like silence. A soft, annoyed sigh passed my lips but I didn't move from beneath the covers. Miku however, peaked out, though I didn't let her go. I didn't want her taken away from me.

~It's nice lady.~ Miku told me. ~She has food.~

Carefully, I peaked out of the covers, watching as Shelly unlocked my cells and entered, balancing a tray on one arm as she did. "How's your head doing?" She questioned as she walked over to my bed.

Pulling away slightly, I put my hands out, still cuffed together, and out my thumbs down in effort to show that it hurt.

"I'm sorry about that." Shell sighed. "Matt will not be trusted alone with you again if it makes you feel any better."

It did little.

"I brought you and your Manaphy some breakfast, eat up then get some rest. Archie will want to speak with you again later tonight but until then, you and your Pokémon will remain in here." Shelly explained as I sat up slowly, wincing slightly as I did. "I'll have to change the patch a bit later but if it doesn't hurt too much, it should be fine."

I gave a single nod as Shelly carefully placed the tray on my lap. "If you need anything just get your Pokémon to call out, okay. There are cameras that will pick it up."

Again, I nodded, keeping my head hung low as Shelly stood up to leave without a word, closing my cell door and locking it before walking away. I sighed, she confused me. She was clearly a bad guy but yet, she didn't treat me badly as I was used to with these kinds of people.

Deciding not to dwell on the topic too much, I examined my breakfast. As usual, there was a can of Pokémon food and a bowl for Miku - who didn't seem at all happy with the food as usual but didn't say anything. A second bowel had a bottle of water siting inside, again for Miku. For me there was a bowl of assorted fruit, a small tub of yogurt, a bottle of milk and another of water. I opened the Pokémon food and tipped it into the food bowl before setting it on the ground beside my bed which was easy at the cot only sat an inch or two off the ground. Next came Miku's water before I sat my little Manaphy close to my bed and within arms reach.

I picked out several pieces of my fruit for Miku, sitting them in her food bowl as I knew she didn't like the canned Pokémon food very much. :Try to eat both Miku.: I explained, patting her head lightly. :I don't want you to be hungry later.:

~Okie dokie Mama, Miku do it for you.~ Miku sighed, again, plopping herself into her water bowl as she ate her breakfast. ~But Miku also doing it for big ice-cream with sprinkles.~

With a small smile towards the behaviour of my little Pokémon, I added the yogurt the my fruit salad before eating it. I decided to save the milk for Miku and just drink the water as Miku was a only young  and I felt still needed to be rewarded when she showed good behaviour such as eating foods she didn't like especially in situations such as this where she was also as scared as I was.

The fruit, although slightly bitter, wasn't too bad and I finished my breakfast quickly, eager to get back to bed. Miku had less luck and didn't finish all the canned Pokémon food but since she had eaten most of it, I allowed her to have the bottle of milk reward.

I pulled Miku back up onto the bed before giving her the milk, stroking her head as she slurped up the moo-moo milk happily. Miku's skin as usual was smooth and squishy with an unusual slight sliminess to it. The slimy feeling left only little residue when touched and was only a result of fear, anger, sadness or anxiety - emotion in which I had no doubt the little Manaphy was experiencing.

~~~🌺~~~

I stirred again sometime later, not even realising I'd fallen asleep. Miku was sitting on my pillow, gently humming as she watched over me. Despite only being a baby Pokémon, I was beyond happy with her care of me. She was so brave and I was proud of her for it since I was hurt and I simply couldn't pretend anymore.

Footsteps echoed down the hall, causing me sigh slightly as I'd hoped to be left alone for longer. Miku stop humming, glaring at the door. She looked down at me, finding me awake and smiled softly.

~Good afternoon mama, you had a nap.~ She giggled patting my head before looking back up at the bars to my cell. Shelly was unlocking the door resulting in Miku calming down slightly.

Shelly walked up to the bed, giving me time to sit myself up. I held Miku close, deciding not to take the chance that my little Manaphy could still easily be taken from me, especially while I was so weak and tired. Miku seemed really to bite Shelly should her hand drift to close and her baton like arms clung to me protectively.

"Come with me." Shelly told me firmly, ignoring our attempts to protect each other. "Bring your Manaphy and be quick about it." She snapped, glancing down either side of the hall.

I quickly scooped up Miku, clutching her tightly to my chest, my hands trembling lightly as I did what she ordered with little hesitance. Drawing in a soft but deep breath through my nose, I kicked away the blankets  and attempted to stand up. My legs felt like gummy lollies, wobbly but still somewhat firm.... I'm not quite sure that makes sense...

Once I managed to get across, stumbling only once as I did, I gave Shelly a confused look. She had said that Archie would want to speak to me tonight, the sun was still up and it was hardly three in the afternoon. Regardless, I followed Shelly down the halls of Team Aqua's base without question. I still didn't want to make these people angry with me by being bad, not after Matt threw me and hurt my head and took Miku from me. Having her taken away again was something I couldn't risk, not with her so young and vulnerable.

"Listen to me and listen to me closely kid." Shelly told me sharply. "There is a City just West of where we are, do not stop for help in that City, it is too close to our base of operations for you to stay there safely. Get as far away from here as possible and find your friends and Pokémon. Stay close to them at all times and keep your head down. Got it?."

What she said didn't make much sense, resulting in a squeak of confusion from me.

Shelly gently took my arm, holding onto it firmly as she guided me into a tiny room, smaller then my cell. "This shoot is used to move large objects in and out of the base, it'll take you outside the base, do not waste anytime in getting as far away from here as you can okay?"

I gave a dazed nod, cocking my head aside in confusion. Was she letting me go? Just like that? It seemed to easy to be happening, some sort of test maybe?

There was no time to question it further as the door was slammed shut leaving me and Miku in darkness. For a few minutes, I just stood huddled in the room, not sure what I should do. There didn't seem to be a way out but the room resembled that of an elevator so I assumed it would eventually move by itself. With a deflated sigh, I eventually curled up with Miku in a corner, finding my legs become to sore to stand up any longer.

I nearly jumped out of my skin when the elevator moved, jerking downwards in a way that made my stomach drop until it moved back to a smooth decent downwards. Miku clung to my shirt, I couldn't see her through the darkness but I felt her holding onto me tightly. 

~Miku no like dark mama.~ Miku whimpered. ~The dark is scawy.~

:It's okay Miku, the dark is not scary.: I explained softly. :No one is here but us... it's going to be fine.: Holding her tightly in my arms.

Again the elevator jerked to a stop causing Miku to squeak as the panel behind me opened causing me to tumble to to the sandy ground behind me. I cried out, more from shock then I did pain as I carefully pulled myself up to observe my surrounding. Pretty clear water lapped lightly on the sandy beach as a flock of Wingull swooped overhead, pecking at aquatic Pokémon living below the surface.

I gently touched the patch on my forehead, it was still in place thankfully which kept the wound clean from infections. Making sure I was able to keep steady, I rose to my feet, unable to use my hands for support as I frowned at the fact I was still handcuffed... but... at least I was out.

Miku looked up at me, her deep blue eyes wide in confusion as she silently questioned what we would do now. Like me, the baby Manaphy was still handcuffed which annoyed me more then my own handcuffs. Maybe I could at the very least break the chain between them so I have free movement over my hands again. First I need to get out of here with Miku, I can figure the rest out later.

Looking both left and right, I wandered towards a cliff face towards my right. If a City was nearby, it would be in the more sturdy land right? I needed to go straight through it though. Travel through the route to the next town or city and get help there. If only I knew someone's number so I could call Jake or Milly! I'm such an idiot, I should have memorised them like Samurai told me to.

Thinking of Samurai made me sad. He hated me now and by now, I'm sure it was too late to fix... I sighed softly to myself. This was such a stupid mess and it was all my fault! I shouldn't had been such a pain about going to visit Zyra in the first place... That seemed like such a long time ago now... How long had I been away from my friends? It felt like forever... How long was forever though? Arg, now I'm getting a headache!

Shaking my head sharply I started up the hill, looking towards the outskirts of the city above before turning my attention back to Miku who was still clinging silently to my shirt. I was starting to worry for her, she normally went all goo-goo eyes over the ocean, I did after all find her egg in the ocean, but now she was just silent.

:Things will work out Miku. Promise.: I reassured her. :We'll find somewhere to stay the night in the route on the other side of this city then we'll find the others and then everything will be fine. Promise.:

~Miku miss Gummie and Angel and Dina and Samri and Cake and Miwwy and even Champ a little itty bit...~ Miku whimpered. ~Miku hungy also...~

I hugged her tightly. :I miss them too but we will be fine. Okay? Just be good a little longer.:

~Okie dokie mama!~ Miku smiled, snuggling into me for warmth. ~Miku is a good little Manaphy! Miku a kawaii little Manaphy too! Good Miku kawaii!~ She giggled.

:Yeah, good Miku kawaii.: I smiled as I rubbed her head. By now I'd entered the city but I walked straight through it, scared to stop and scared to rest but things would work out right? It had to work out...

~~~~~~🌺~~~~~~
Word count: 3083

So ummm... I have some unfortunate news... This is actually the last back up chapter I have.... usually I have two or three over each of my works but lately I've just been feeling flat out unmotivated. I wouldn't say I have writers block, I have plenty of ideas ready to write including Paige reuniting with her friends, making up with Samurai, numerous encounters with both Ghetsis and Nichole (oh don't give that look, you all knew it would happen eventually), reuniting with N and so on but for the past few months... things have just been harder for me. Now let me just state that generally, I don't like it when authors cry about their personal lives in authors notes so I won't go too deeply into stuff ( I have a random book for that) but it looks like I may not even be able to keep up with my usual weekly updates any more. I may write a chapter in my random book as to exactly what's going on but honestly, very few people know about this stuff. I've had problems for a long time and I've never been brace enough to get them fixed, just pretending they didn't exist was just easier but now... I'm finding it harder and harder to do that. People don't vote and comment like they used to which impacts my willingness to write heavily because in my eyes, it simply means that people don't enjoy my works like they used too.

Don't get me wrong, I love writing, I really really do but it looks like I may have to step back for a while and rethink things over...

So erm, vote, comment and keep on reading on~!