-done- surprise! [steven]

[ERIKA]

[atrb=style, width: 500px; background-image: url(http://i55.tinypic.com/s3lhtd.png); border:1px dashed;][atrb=border,0,true] so you don't know where you're going and you wanna talk? celadon gym - 315 words - tag: steven

[atrb=style, background-image: url(http://i55.tinypic.com/s3lhtd.png); border:1px dashed;][atrb=border,0,true] Erika tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and returned her Pokemon to their Pokeballs. Her excuse to herself was that they didn't need to hear it, but her subconscious had a different reason. She was afraid of any kind of judgement, even from her loyal Pokemon. Such paranoia wasn't fitting of the woman - the issue easily flipped her from calm to skittish. But it was for the best. Not only for nature, but for Pokemon and humans alike. No, their means were bad, but the ends... the ends were so revolutionary that she could not begin to doubt. Team Ultimatum was, ultimately, doing the right thing. None of these thoughts, of course, could alleviate her fears. But it was worth a shot. Putting on a brave face, she took a last stab at arranging the flowers before her before standing up and looking around the gym. The girls of her gym looked up at her with mild interest. "Leaving already, Erika?" one asked. Erika shook her head with a small smile. "I need to clean the gym," she explained. "Mr. Stone is coming tomorrow, and a few of you have tracked mud in." The young twins shied away as the others laughed softly. With waves and goodbyes, the gym was slowly emptied. The grass gym leader knew that, in secret, the girls appreciated the early release home to their family, friends and lovers. It was win-win, really. The barren gym seemed peaceful and safe; Erika had always liked it more this way. It had more... breathing room, which made it easier to do her arrangements. Unfortunately, she wasn't alone today to practice ancient feminine arts. Turning her back to the expanse, she pulled out her PokeGear and dialed an unfamiliar number. "It's me, Petal." she said, voice like steel. "I'm just checking in with you, I don't have much to say today."

[STEVEN]

[atrb=style,border-top: 8px solid #689ab4; border-bottom: 8px solid #689ab4; border-left: 2px solid #689ab4; border-right: 2px solid #689ab4; -moz-border-radius: 30px;][bg=494949][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,420,true][atrb=width,20%][atrb=vAlign,top][atrb=background, i56.tinypic.com/23mtpnr.jpg] NOT GONNA GET US Starting from here, let's make a promise you and me, let's just be honest we're gonna run, nothing can stop us even the night that falls all around us words: 321 - tagged: erika - notes: nope STEVEN

[/color][/font] was making quite a bit of time. Thanks to recent weather, quite a lot of shortcuts have been opened up for him. There hasn't been much trainers about, or other children for that matter. It was for the best, seeing as he didn't want to get bogged down too much by wasting time. He had already slept in since yesterday, and he hated to be late to meet a good friend like Erika.

Yet, oddly, he was able to get into Celadon City, and with a whole day to spare. Quite an odd occurrence for him, yet a pleasant one, all around. With a refreshing break for him and his Pokemon, he had taken along his Skarmory with him for a quick tour around the quaint city. Along the way, they came to eventually reach the gym. Well, since I'm here...

The first thing he came to notice was the open twin doors, along with the peculiar emptiness of the building as he and Jasper peeked in. A lax mistake on the employees, no doubt, and something to inform their leader of later. Jasper quietly flew onto Steven's shoulder, as they came to look for Erika, high and low. However, nothing has come up of her, and Steven was just about ready to leave until tomorrow...

Yet, Jasper began to hear footsteps, and softly pecked his trainer's cheek. "Hrm? What is it, Jasper?", Stevn said to the Skarmory. "Ska...Amo-Ska.", he responded back, moving his head to signal towards the pathway to a lone room. The two crept over to the edge, and lo and behold, Erika was there. However, something seemed off. Erika had a PokeGear and she began to tap a random number onto it, and spoke into it with no hesitation. "It's me, Petal." she said, with a voice that was every bit disturbing to Steven. "I'm just checking in with you, I don't have much to say today."

"Wait...what in the...?"[/div]

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[ERIKA]

[atrb=style, width: 500px; background-image: url(http://i55.tinypic.com/s3lhtd.png); border:1px dashed;][atrb=border,0,true] so you don't know where you're going and you wanna talk? celadon gym - 351 words - tag: steven

[atrb=style, background-image: url(http://i55.tinypic.com/s3lhtd.png); border:1px dashed;][atrb=border,0,true] "Nothing?" the voice on the other line asked. She winced, realizing this wasn't her normal correspondent. This person's voice was colder and infinitely more cruel. No, this was unusual and she didn't like it. If she had to name only one bad thing about being a mole, it was this. Those moments where she was promptly reminded the people she was working for, while well-intentioned, were often evil and even more often completely crazy. There was nothing worse than that short feeling of falling. "Nothing. It's been a boring few days around here." Erika said, trying to seem unphased by the unexpected voice. "No new gossip, even." It had been almost quiet for a while - she assumed that meant things would hit the fan pretty soon, especially in the area of Giovanni. She wasn't told too terribly much, seeing as she could easily be working for the other side, but from what she understood, he was progressing in his own goals quite nicely. "That's... a disappointment. Is anything of interest going on at all?" The voice sounded disinterested, like they might as well as be filing their fingernails. Erika scrambled in her head for something to say, wishing the call would end. She wanted to be her composed self again. A strange noise - a shuffle, or something - caught her attention suddenly, and she whipped around to look for the source. Steven. Why is he here? It took her a moment to realize her face hadn't even changed - it stayed a businesslike poker face the whole time. Still, she was frozen in panic she had to bite down. With a quick motion, Erika hung up the PokeGear and pocketed it. She had no idea how long he had been standing there, but there was quite a chance there was a hole she'd need to dig herself out of. A normal person, of course, would be dying in this situation - but with the poise and polite distancing she had learned from her grandmother, Erika (almost) knew how to handle this. "Hello Steven. You're early." she said, smiling softly.

[STEVEN]

[atrb=style,border-top: 8px solid #689ab4; border-bottom: 8px solid #689ab4; border-left: 2px solid #689ab4; border-right: 2px solid #689ab4; -moz-border-radius: 30px;][bg=494949][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,420,true][atrb=width,20%][atrb=vAlign,top][atrb=background, i56.tinypic.com/23mtpnr.jpg] NOT GONNA GET US Starting from here, let's make a promise you and me, let's just be honest we're gonna run, nothing can stop us even the night that falls all around us words: 287 - tagged: erika - notes: and so it begins x3 DARKENED

[/color][/font] voices, mysterious conversation, and a completely different Erika. This was all a lot to take in and analyze, but it was what Steven must do. Judging by the situation, it seemed that she was dealing plans and gossip to a higher up of sorts. Considering the recent happenings of Team Ultimatum, and with their spread across the regions, they would have to have sources of info, correct? They would need scapegoats...insiders...spi-What, wait a moment!!, Steven snapped in his head. This is *Erika*, we're talking about. A gym leader, a good friend, a...

Eventually, his own sense of logic prevailed. He looked to Jasper carefully, as the Pokemon looked to her with burning intensity and mistrust. It would seen that he had come to the same conclusion that Steven would make. Erika was doing what could be, quite possibly, the dumbest thing to ever happen in the history of dumbness. Yet, one questions still lingered. Why? How? Was this all the truth? He would have to wait and see.

However, Jasper was not as patient. Already, he was just about to fly after her, and yet, the Skarmory's shuffling, quickly alerted the gym leader, and she quickly turned to the both of them. She still had the poker face of a emotionless robot, which did nothing but make Steven's skin crawl. His own face was just as well, if not, frightened, confused and angered. He slowly stood up without a word, studying Erika's disturbingly sudden change of expression and her own shuffling. She was definitely hiding something ugly, and he'll have to stand his ground. As she finished. Steven simply sighed with frustration and looked dead into her eyes.
"Save it, Erika. What's going on? What was all of that?"[/div]

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[ERIKA]

[atrb=style, width: 500px; background-image: url(http://i55.tinypic.com/s3lhtd.png); border:1px dashed;][atrb=border,0,true] so you don't know where you're going and you wanna talk? celadon gym - 368 words - tag: steven

[atrb=style, background-image: url(http://i55.tinypic.com/s3lhtd.png); border:1px dashed;][atrb=border,0,true] He had heard all of it, it seemed, and he wasn't about to let it go. She tended to forget Steven hadn't become a champion by being polite. There was a side of him hard as rocks, one she rarely saw. Forget holes. No, this was more of a ditch, or a canyon, perhaps. Erika had never been one for strong language, but she was -- how was it said? -- royally screwed. Thoughts raced through her head. What could she pass it off as? Surely there was an excuse that would cover it; telling the truth was not an option. Did she have any people she would talk to like that? Sabrina, maybe? No, with Sabrina she was her normal self, if not mildly teasing. But did he know that? Maybe. It wasn't very convincing in the first place. She had to admit, she was never anything but light with her friends and acquaintance. But surely she had a business face in other situations? She'd have to invent one. "What are you talking about?" The young gym leader started, faking some confusion. "Everything's fine." Impulsively she ran her fingers over the Pokeballs attached to her obi, drawing some comfort from their presence. She wasn't alone in this, no matter what happened. Everything would turn out fine. They were close friends, after all; he'd trust her, right? "I was just talking to an old friend. She's... rather eccentric, you see." Erika said, lying like a rug. It'd been a while since she had to do that; the last time she could remember was childhood. There was no doubt she was bad at it. "Her name is Rose. She insists I use my childhood code name... I'm always nervous talking to her, since she's just so serious..." No, he wouldn't fall for this. Steven was her friend, but he was also a champion, in charge of the fight against Team Ultimatum. The question was whether or not he'd pretend to believe it and continue on with the visit. Erika didn't have many friends in the first place - the idea of losing one frightened her in a way she couldn't explain. She tried to keep it off her face.

[STEVEN]

[atrb=style,border-top: 8px solid #689ab4; border-bottom: 8px solid #689ab4; border-left: 2px solid #689ab4; border-right: 2px solid #689ab4; -moz-border-radius: 30px;][bg=494949][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,420,true][atrb=width,20%][atrb=vAlign,top][atrb=background, i56.tinypic.com/23mtpnr.jpg] NOT GONNA GET US Starting from here, let's make a promise you and me, let's just be honest we're gonna run, nothing can stop us even the night that falls all around us words: 249 - tagged: erika - notes: short post is short >> << THERE

[/color][/font] came to be an odd silence in the air. Steven kept his fiery gaze into Erika's eyes as she stood, without a word. It was hard to show this side of him to a dear friend, if of course, she was ever his friend. For all he knew, she could've been using him of her own benefits this whole time. His fist clenched and his breath wore on, heavier and heavier still. This is all so ridiculous..., he said to himself.

And so, Erika began to speak again. Quite frankly, it was all just a silly little misunderstanding. Apparently, it was nothing at all, just a chat with an old friend with a deep, scary and manly voice, and random codenames from a childhood from where a child wouldn't keep on to such a concept for too long. How silly of Steven to even suspect her in the least! One would guess from here that he could forget the whole disturbing ordeal and go about his business, right?

Erika was many things, but she was never much of a liar.

Steven walked closer to her, keeping up his look with even more frustration. Emotion slowly boiled within him, and just as much, he wanted to punch whoever would dupe her into such a thing. More so, he wanted to punch himself for not investigating the other League members in the first place. "Erika.", Steven softly said with a steel tone. "I'll simply give you one more chance to tell the truth."[/div]

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[ERIKA]

[atrb=style, width: 500px; background-image: url(http://i55.tinypic.com/s3lhtd.png); border:1px dashed;][atrb=border,0,true] so you don't know where you're going and you wanna talk? celadon gym - 328 words - tag: steven

[atrb=style, background-image: url(http://i55.tinypic.com/s3lhtd.png); border:1px dashed;][atrb=border,0,true] Erika's gaze fell to the floor when he stepped forward. Steven was angry. Between the two of them, emotion ran around the room like crazed Zigzagoons. She could no longer meet his eyes. She would have never guessed someone would find out so soon - and for it to be Steven... "I'll simply give you one more chance to tell the truth."' Her mouth opened and then closed again. She couldn't tell him the truth, but no alternatives popped into her head. That had been the best lie she had, in all its shoddy glory. What could she say? Anything that came out of her mouth would condemn her. It was a no-win situation. But it was the right choice, right? She thought about the Pokemon and their habitats. A glorious new world where they were safe from the devastating hands of humans. It was all for the greater good. She was told she may have to suffer for it, but it had never seemed like a real threat until she saw Steven in the doorway. "I don't--" Erika blurted, then stopped. Only now did she notice her fist curled around Daisy's Pokeball. She willed herself to let go, not wanting to start a fight - at this distance, he could easily take her out physically before she could get her Pokemon out. The thought disturbed her further -- he wouldn't hit her, would he? Or were they already enemies now? "I can't tell you." she finally said, voice pale and quiet. Refusal was all she could muster. She couldn't betray her friend. She couldn't ruin the cause. Even more, she couldn't admit it. She knew the means were terrible, and she didn't want to have to say she was involved with them - the whole time, Erika had been imagining the end product. That's all she wanted. Why did it have to come to this? "I'm sorry," she breathed, muscles all clenching. Her fate was sealed.

[STEVEN]

[atrb=style,border-top: 8px solid #689ab4; border-bottom: 8px solid #689ab4; border-left: 2px solid #689ab4; border-right: 2px solid #689ab4; -moz-border-radius: 30px;][bg=494949][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,420,true][atrb=width,20%][atrb=vAlign,top][atrb=background, i56.tinypic.com/23mtpnr.jpg] NOT GONNA GET US Starting from here, let's make a promise you and me, let's just be honest we're gonna run, nothing can stop us even the night that falls all around us words: 333 - tagged: erika - notes: woot! "I

[/color][/font] can't tell you. I'm sorry."

And with that, the awful truth was revealed. Steven's heart sank into the abyss as he shook and lowered his head in disbelief. A gym leader has turned to the dark side, right under his nose. Many thoughts raced through the elite's mind, each more emotional and violent then the last. The air of silence returned for the moment, and became as thick as a Snorlax's stomach. Erika was the enemy, but she was also his friend. What could he even do at this point?

His happiest times with Erika started to rot away in his mind.
Confusion and questions filled the false voids of his bond, and nothing seemed to make much sense when he tried to piece things together. It was like a child's horrid nightmare. Steven wanted to wake up, but he knew the reality. Yet even so, he questioned even that.

Jasper was riled with inner fury. He could right away tell that his trainer was in deep pain, and the perpetrator was right before the winged Pokemon's gaze. Friends slowly questioning themselves of who is predator and prey. A tragic sight to see from the view of another species, but, such is the law of nature. Survival of the fittest and all. The question yet remains for the Skarmory to wonder; what would be his human friend's next move?

Steven slowly began to lift himself, as the corner of his gaze caught Erika's hand in a hidden spot, along with the lower half of her clothing. Erika could do almost anything at this point, offensive or otherwise, and asking for the Pokegear or anything else may be out of his reach. Only one option stood. "Japser, Steel Wing! Aim for her side!"
The Skarmory nodded and flew forward towards Erika. It would seem that his trainer would want the strange object that the girl had hidden earlier. With the precision that the Pokemon had long since practiced, he aimed to gaze Erika enough to get out her items...[/div]

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[ERIKA]

[atrb=style, width: 500px; background-image: url(http://i55.tinypic.com/s3lhtd.png); border:1px dashed;][atrb=border,0,true] so you don't know where you're going and you wanna talk? celadon gym - 320 words - tag: steven

[atrb=style, background-image: url(http://i55.tinypic.com/s3lhtd.png); border:1px dashed;][atrb=border,0,true] Erika dropped with an inelegant squeak, her kimono torn. The mark was good - the Pokegear concealed in her hidden pocket dropped like a stone onto the ground. It wasn't her primary concern at the moment. Though the cut wasn't deep, it had pierced her side, and blood was beginning to dribble down. This was the end. All those days they had laughed together, all those letters and smiles and jokes were gone now, erased as easily as chalk on a blackboard. The small pool of friends she had was already dwindling -- probably even more when he told everything else. She had to steel her resolve to keep from just giving up right there and crying. A tear hadn't fallen from her eye since she was seven. None were going to fall now. If Steven was now an enemy, she would have to treat him like one. Forcing the memories to stop, Erika quickly released her Roserade. The elegant rose Pokemon came out with a smile. Upon seeing it's best friend's face, it faded - on seeing the enemy, it almost wilted. Something was terribly wrong here. Why were they fighting? What had happened while she was sleeping? "Roxanne, Stun Spore!" The young woman commanded, and the Roserade complied bravely, hoping it's trainer's commands were for the best. The orange spores drifted over the Skarmory in a thick wave as Erika held her side, looking for an escape route. Her best plan was to put them both to sleep and run away - but it was Holly who knew Sleep Powder, and Roxanne's Stun Spore was far from strong enough. She didn't have any flyers, either. Hurting Steven wasn't an option. They were... no, they weren't friends anymore. She tried her best to remember that. He was a champion, and she was a villian. In true form, she couldn't hurt him because she didn't want the consequences. Nothing more.

[STEVEN]

[atrb=style,border-top: 8px solid #689ab4; border-bottom: 8px solid #689ab4; border-left: 2px solid #689ab4; border-right: 2px solid #689ab4; -moz-border-radius: 30px;][bg=494949][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,420,true][atrb=width,20%][atrb=vAlign,top][atrb=background, i56.tinypic.com/23mtpnr.jpg] NOT GONNA GET US Starting from here, let's make a promise you and me, let's just be honest we're gonna run, nothing can stop us even the night that falls all around us words: 262 - tagged: erika - notes: meep! SEEING

[/color][/font] Erika drop down so suddenly only made Steven feel horrified. Visible streaks of first blood dripped down to the floor of the gym, showing the tell-tale sign of a dead friendship. It tormented the trainer, having to harm someone so delicate, yet ultimately, his own duties to the League had to come first. However, it wouldn't at least stop him from trying to reason with her.

Steven came closer to Erika, ever so slowly. The trainer offered a hand to the gym leader as he did, wanting to still see the friend that was still buried inside. He cleared his throat and said to her, "I'm so sorry, Erika. Please...you're my friend, let's just sit down somewhere and talk about--" And just so suddenly, Erika called out her Rosarade and commanded a Stun Spore that surrounded Jasper. Grinding his teeth, he turned to the Skarmory and commanded to it, "Jasper, counter it with Toxic!"

Jasper quickly aimed to the ground and spewed out a dark and purple gas that began to surround him and started to lurk over to Rosarade and Erika. Steven cursed himself for putting Erika in such a position, but he had to act fast. His eyes darted around the gym until he spotted Erika's PokeGear. It would prove more than enough evidence, as well as potential info about Team Ultimatum's dealings. He took one last breath, and clenched a sleeve close to his face. Just one shot..., he thought to himself as he darted towards the device and reached his hand to grab it. He had to try.[/div]

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[ERIKA]

[atrb=style, width: 500px; background-image: url(http://i55.tinypic.com/s3lhtd.png); border:1px dashed;][atrb=border,0,true] so you don't know where you're going and you wanna talk? celadon gym - 288 words - tag: steven

[atrb=style, background-image: url(http://i55.tinypic.com/s3lhtd.png); border:1px dashed;][atrb=border,0,true] The unheeded words crawled under Erika's skin. Her self-preservation instinct had caused her to ignore them, but they haunted her now. He's just trying to trap me now, she told herself, trying to reason herself out of the words. He won't forgive me. Even if he doesn't take me into custody, he'll never trust me again... It was taking lots of platitudes to force the instinct of friendship down. "You--" she called out, trying to articulate these thoughts (maybe in hopes of him denying them,) when she heard the Toxic command. Before she could process it mentally, the smog hit her lungs like an anvil and she began to cough. Roxanne hid her face behind her arms, running to be closer to her trainer. She wasn't weak, but she wasn't quite strong either -- frailty had always been a plus in her grandmother's eyes, a proper way of the lady. She hated the childish presumption now, as with each breath oxygen became scarcer. Erika was struggling to keep her watering eyes open into the cloud, but she could swear she saw Steven dive into it with her. For me? she thought, her clouded mind looking for light - but no, it couldn't be. He had already done this much. He must have been looking for something -- The Pokegear. She saw it on the floor, a few feet away. Reaching desperately, she fell on her stomach in weakness, doubled over in coughing. Eyes squeezed shut, she stretched her arm, grabbing and trying to smash it with little effect. The smog was beginning to make her dizzy and lose all focus - it was a prelude to fainting, she knew, but in the circumstances it felt like death.

[STEVEN]

[atrb=style,border-top: 8px solid #689ab4; border-bottom: 8px solid #689ab4; border-left: 2px solid #689ab4; border-right: 2px solid #689ab4; -moz-border-radius: 30px;][bg=494949][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,420,true][atrb=width,20%][atrb=vAlign,top][atrb=background, i56.tinypic.com/23mtpnr.jpg] NOT GONNA GET US Starting from here, let's make a promise you and me, let's just be honest we're gonna run, nothing can stop us even the night that falls all around us words: 345 - tagged: erika - notes: hope this is good for you c: EACH

[/color][/font] second was crucial to Steven, as his held pocket of breath was slowly diminishing. The air of Jasper's attack stung his eyes, and so he had to rely on his hands and his instincts. With every split-second of sight, he could see Erika and her Rosarade, desperate to survive and inching ever closer towards death. Steven's head held low at the thought of witnessing his friend perish under the ensuing conflict. Why did it all come to this?, Steven initially. Why did it had to be you, of all people?...

Steven came to lift up Erika, eyeing her ever carefully as his vision would let him. Thankfully she was still breathing, but just barely. Steven then looked to the side to see her Pokegear, still intact, yet her hand still clenched it. He took to pry it away from Erika's arm, her strength slowly fading. He took to the nearest opening of the smog and inched towards it, with Jasper waiting at the very end of the makeshift tunnel.

Jasper didn't exactly know what to make of it. Everything happened seemingly in a blur, and with total instinct. An interesting sight to see, fighting emotions. First, his trainer seemed to want to neutralize the villain, and yet now he wished to save her? An odd decision, considering his vows to defeat Team Ultimatum, yet even his own morals would have to come first. As his trainer finally came out of the smog, Erika and Rosarade in tow, Jasper began to flap into the air and lead them away.

Moments later, the four came to reach the side of the gym, the
noon sun still beaming faintly. Steven laid Erika and her Pokemon on the ground, and quickly pocketed her PokeGear before anyone else could see. The trainer kneeled down and caught his breath, wanting to forget this day. The question still remained, of where to go from here, but for now, he'd had to wait for Erika to wake up, if she ever does. She had a lot to answer, to him and to the Pokemon League.[/div]

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[ERIKA]

[atrb=style, width: 500px; background-image: url(http://i55.tinypic.com/s3lhtd.png); border:1px dashed;][atrb=border,0,true] so you don't know where you're going and you wanna talk? celadon gym - 332 words - tag: steven

[atrb=style, background-image: url(http://i55.tinypic.com/s3lhtd.png); border:1px dashed;][atrb=border,0,true] Her eyes were blurry when they finally opened. There was a sunset. There was Roxanne, pressed against her chest. Her side burned. She looked to her right. Steven was there. Memories came back in bits. She had been found out, by Steven. He had attacked her - there was a poison cloud - things faded to black. She groped at her pockets, movements sloppy and slow. The PokeGear was gone. Panic flashed in her brain, and she tried to rise, to little success. No, she wasn't going anywhere soon. For one, that cut felt infected. She let out a heavy sigh, leaning her head back against the gym wall. Roxanne looked up at her trainer and began to jump and clutch at her in relief. Erika was suddenly glad she had chosen Roxanne, one of the more carefree of her Pokemon. The others would be worrying themselves to death at this point, she was sure of it. Roxanne merely took her recovery as good and fawned over her. I'm outside, she consciously registered. She had been inside, in that room. She remembered that much. How had she ended up out here? Roxanne wasn't big enough to carry her. That left one option. Did he actually save me? For evidence, she presumed, for testimony and because she was more valuable alive than dead. The friendship was gone. But still, the act squeezed at her heart. It was almost like he still cared if she lived or died. Like they were still buddies, like he still wanted to be around her. Holding onto the fleeting happiness, a smile came to her lips - not one of politeness or manners, but one of a child holding on to her last bits of joy. "Thank you," she said softly, not even sure he could hear her, and almost not even caring. The weakness would probably cost her anyway, and soon everything would resume to madeness. In the moment, the words felt more important than anything else.

[STEVEN]

[atrb=style,border-top: 8px solid #689ab4; border-bottom: 8px solid #689ab4; border-left: 2px solid #689ab4; border-right: 2px solid #689ab4; -moz-border-radius: 30px;][bg=494949][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,420,true][atrb=width,20%][atrb=vAlign,top][atrb=background, i56.tinypic.com/23mtpnr.jpg] NOT GONNA GET US Starting from here, let's make a promise you and me, let's just be honest we're gonna run, nothing can stop us even the night that falls all around us words: 259 - tagged: erika - notes: meemeep STEVEN

[/color][/font] scratched his head and sighed as he began to hear the faint chirps of wild Pidgey. He slowly regained himself and started to check up on Erika. Her would were stating to get bad, and he'd have to get her to a hospital soon. Yet, before he even had the chance to lift her again, the girl had managed to wake up on her own.

Steven and Jasper stepped back for the moment, readying themselves for a sucker punch, but, Erika had managed to calm herself. Her Roserade came to as well, hugging her trainer out of relief and happiness. The small moment made him smile for a short time, and he twiddled his thumbs as he waited. She looked to him, and he kept his smiled as he stroked her head, hearing her thanking him as he did.

"It's alright. You'll be safe now, but, the League will end up finding out about you, sooner or later." he said with an unfortunate tone. "I'll have to take you in under custody until we get the chance to investigate, but I assure you, I see to it that you'll recover, and I won't allow you to be harmed again." he finished, as he looked into his own PokeGear to locate the nearest location he'll be able to go. It was the very least he could do to help Erika and himself after the past ordeal. After all, she was still a friend. There had to be some good still left in her. "If the League does, they'll answer to me."[/div]

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[ERIKA]

[atrb=style, width: 500px; background-image: url(http://i55.tinypic.com/s3lhtd.png); border:1px dashed;][atrb=border,0,true] so you don't know where you're going and you wanna talk? celadon gym - 350 words - tag: steven

[atrb=style, background-image: url(http://i55.tinypic.com/s3lhtd.png); border:1px dashed;][atrb=border,0,true] Erika smiled at Steven. Maybe he did care - the thought shone through her groggy mind like a little ray of sunlight. If he was on her side, she'd be able to deal a little better. Even if he didn't approve. And that could be changed. Steven loved nature as well - if she just explained to him that they'd change things, maybe he'd understand? For the rocks? She wasn't sure of the words she'd use yet, but the idea that he'd come to her side was firm in her shaky mind. Maybe a fever was setting in. After his words, she spent a few moments sitting there, digesting. Her mind was beginning to clear a little now, and understand the circumstances. He wasn't going to tell the League just yet... but she was going to be locked up. That made sense, yes. She'd just have to find a way around it, she supposed. Team Ultimatum would search for her if she went missing, right? Maybe they'd send someone to find her. Maybe they were tracking her PokeGear, which she assumed Steven had now. I hope they don't hurt him... she thought, beginning to worry. Unfortunately, there was nothing she could do to alert them not to... the best she could do was try to talk him into her reasons, which wasn't very likely in this frame of mind. But soon, soon. If he was going to take her into custody, she'd be seeing a lot of him. "Alright," she mumbled, laying her head on Roxanne. "Can I--" a cough, "-- keep my Pokemon?" It wasn't an escape plan in progress; Erika just didn't know what she'd do without them. Realizing how it could be interpreted, she tried to find a compromise that wouldn't leave her all alone. "Or at least can I keep Daisy?" Though she loved all of her team dearly, Daisy was the one she'd had the longest, ever since she was a child. The serious Bellossom was the closest friend she had, even when humans were counted. Erika didn't know how to deal without her.