Trainer: Alice
Posts: 21
Pokemon: Houndour, Honedge

Alice was surprised when Max reached for her. He grabbed her hand as he spoke about what he could remember when he was Dredd. What he said made Alice feel sad. She had known all along that he was inside the monster, but a part of her had hoped that he had become Dredd, as horrible as that was. Being inside the monster would be a hundred times worse. Alice squeezed his hand. When he released her, she thought of Rose. Was the real Rose trapped as well? Was she seeing what she had done, powerless to stop it? Alice could imagine nothing worse. Max seemed to sense her thoughts because after a second he said "We are going to get everyone back safely."

Max placed his hand on Alice's cheek. Alice felt her face redden as he looked at her so intently. She forgot about the city crumbling around them, and the danger they were in. For the first time since she had woken up in the prison, she felt like everything was real, not just some nightmare. And for a second she could maybe come to terms with losing her friends... with losing her Pokemon... because here was Max, okay again. But the feeling soon passed.

" I can sense that Cerulean was tough for you and your friends but I can also sense just how amazing you all are." he said. Alice couldn't help but smile. Pride bloomed in her chest. In that moment, she wanted nothing more than to make Max proud. His gaze was penetrating, as if he could read her easily. She supposed with his strange powers that he probably could. He lowered his hand again.

" I dont normally listen to me either," Max said, smiling briefly. Alice had tried to make the others listen when she'd had the dream of Max, but in the end they had gotten caught up in the battle for Cerulean anyway.

Suddenly, Max moved away. He seemed to have sensed something because he was getting the team organised to move out. Alice forced herself back into fight mode. She thought of Aster.

"Meghan is in danger and is about to meet Giratina. Follow me and do NOT stop moving." Max said. Alice eyes widened, and her gaze flickered to Kyo. Of course, Meg would have gotten herself in the middle of everything. Of course, she would try and save Rose. As they rushed toward Rose's tower, Alice hoped Meg was alright.

As they ran, shadow Pokemon started to appear, seemingly attracted by something. Alice gripped Honedge's Pokeball as she ran, but she hoped she wouldn't have to use it. Unfortunately, they were soon surrounded. As they slowed, Max herded Alice, Kyo and Brandon behind him. Alice yelled out when the shadow Pokemon converged on him, but they did not attack. For a moment, Alice felt a stab of fear, the same sense that the monster Dredd had inspired. Were the shadows calling to Max, even now? Before she could panic, Max had shaken them off and the Pokemon scattered. " We should be clear now..." he said, not looking at them. As long as Giratina and the shadows existed, Max would never be free, Alice knew. One day they would defeat the god of death for good. One day... but not yet.

As the sun rose, they reached the base of the tower. Alice gave Kyo a nervous smile. "Here we go!" she said, clutching a shadow Pokeball in each hand as she ran in after Max. Nothing to lose... Alice said to herself, but she thought of the boy with the eyepatch and knew it wasn't quite true.