Trainer: Alice
Posts: 23
Pokemon: Houndour, Honedge

Alice led the way up the stairs. She tried to stay focused and not worry about Max downstairs. She tried to make a plan but there were too many unknowns. Would Rose have the gem? Would it be hidden somewhere? "Honedge... we need to destroy the dark gem," Alice explained to the Pokemon hovering beside her as she ran up the stairs. "If Rose doesn't have the gem, I want you to sneak off and try to find it." Alice turned to the others. "You should get your Pokemon ready, too. If Rose has it, attacking her all at once might be the only way to distract her enough to grab it."

Finally, they reached Rose's floor. Rose herself stood at the doorway. "Rose!" Alice cried out, stopping in her tracks. Alice's eyes immediately went to the stone around Rose's neck. The gem... it had to be. She tore her eyes away and focused on Rose herself, not wanting to give away the group's plan. Honedge bobbed silently by her side. She hoped the sword Pokemon had noticed it too.

Rose stood, watching them. Alice took another step forward. "We want to help you, Rose," Alice said. "Giratina has control of you. He's lying to you about everything. You're stronger than he is. You can break free," Alice pleaded. "All Giratina wants is your power! You saw what he did to Max! When he's done, he will destroy you!" Alice cried out.

Alice could feel the Honedge tense beside her, ready to try to slice the gem from Rose's throat, but she forced herself not to think about it. She knew Rose could probably see into her mind, so she thought only of the old Rose and Amirah and how quiet she had been that first day in Pallet Town, but also how strong, how none of them even suspected she couldn't see. Alice thought of the battle in Cerulean, where Rose had used her power to save them all from Giratina. She hoped Rose was inside there, somewhere... remembering.