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Description
The Journal of Team Nexus: Saving Latias

Darkness had surrounded her as the chilling breeze blew past, sending a shiver down her spine.  As the red and white, flying pokémon tried to move the giant rock piece that had pinned her, trapping her wing under it, she cried out for help.  Her brother had already left to try to get down to her by powering up using TMs.  But it had been days since he left.  She hadn’t seen or heard from him since then, and he would never just leave her to die.  Now, she was alone, and very scared.
“Help me!” Latias cried out, “Please, anyone!”
Her cry echoed up through the tunnels as she laid her head on the cold ground, tears making their way down her cheeks as she began to sob softly.  She felt helpless.  Hunger was beginning to claw at her stomach as she cringed, trying to ignore the pain for the umpteenth time.
Out of pain, despair, and fear, Latias began to cry.
*           *          *
Unknown to the poor latias, her brother had been defeated and was too tired to help.  But help was on the way.  A small, tan and white fox was trotting beside a orange and yellow lizard, the flame on it’s tail lighting up the tunnels as they journeyed deeper into the Pitfall dungeon where Latias was trapped.  They were Eevee and Charmander of the Nexus rescue team.
Before they had gone in, the two had stocked up on supplies as usual, but were given a strange item before they went in.  The Teleport gem.
This was the same gem that sent the two to Sky Pillar to ask Rayquaza for help saving their world.  It wouldn’t take them that far again, but it had enough power to help the wounded Latias escape the dungeon she was now trapped in.
“Any chance we can take a lunch break?” Charmander asked as his stomach grumbled, “I’m starved.”
“I guess so.” Eevee replied, “But only for a minute.  Whoever Latias is, she’s still in danger.”
Charmander nodded and sat down, pulling a large apple out of his pack.  Eevee dug into his and found an apple of the same size.
“I wonder why it’s said that no one can get out of this dungeon.” Charmander wondered aloud after swallowing, “I mean, we’re not having much trouble.  Most of the pokémon around here seem to have run away from us.”
“Not much trouble?” Eevee asked in reply, “Charm, we got surrounded by enemies almost every other floor!  They only ran to set up another ambush for us.”
“But we came out ok, didn’t we?” Charmander asked with a sly grin.
“Yeah, we did.” Eevee replied with a small smile, “I guess Alakazam was right.  Together, we’re an unbeatable team.”
“Well we did kind of save the world.”
“Yeah, maybe just a little.”
“Best pals?”
“Best pals.”
The two smiled happily and finished eating.
After having eaten, the two were off again.  Charmander led since he had the flame on his tail as a light to see down the dark tunnels, Eevee close behind him checking for anything that could be a threat.  After judging that the menacing form behind them was only a large stone, Eevee turned back and ran right into the stopped Charmander.
“Charmander?’ Eevee asked, looking up at his wide eyed friend
“Shush.” Charmander replied softly, “You hear that?”
Eevee listened for a minute, his large ears perked up and swiveling to pick up any sounds.
What caught his ears was something he hadn’t expected.  A very faint and tearful cry for help.  It may have been faint, but this was the only tunnel it had come up.
“Let’s go!” Eevee said taking off down the tunnel in a full run, shouting, “HOLD ON, WE’RE COMING!”
“Hey wait up!” Charmander cried as he chased after his friend, “EEVEE!”
*           *          *
Latias cried out for help once more.  As she listened for a reply, she heard a quiet growling.  Someone heard her!  Then she realized something.  The growl was close, and it didn’t sound friendly.
Glancing around, the female pokémon saw a pair of glowing eyes glaring at her.  Merciless, blood red eyes that studied her carefully, as if looking directly into her soul to cause her growing fear.  Then, the eyes moved closer, revealing a pokémon that looked like a praying mantis.  The expertly sharpened, scything blades looked sinister in the dim light of the cavern.  A scyther!
Latias’s eyes filled with fear as the bug type drew closer.  If she could move, she’d be able to fight it.  But like this, she was helpless.  The worst thing was, the scyther knew this.
It gave a sharp cry that echoed around the room.  Latias gasped as another pair of eyes appeared, this time from an ancient bird like pokémon.  Its dragonish wings were folded to its side as it approached her.  An aerodactyl!
“No please, stay back!” she cried as she squirmed, “HELP!”
A seviper also approached her, its venomous tail held high as the snake pokémon hissed menacingly.
“What do we have here?” the seviper asked as it slithered closer, its fangs glistening as venom slowly dripped from the tips, “A poor birdie who got her wing trapped.”
“That must hurt.” The scyther grinned.
“Should we help her?” the aerodactyl asked.
“Yes, let’s end the pain quickly.” The seviper replied as its tail rose to strike.
Latias quivered as the blade struck her side, delivering enough damage to weaken her further.  As the pokémon tried to keep her eyes open, the snake pulled its bladed tail back for another strike.
Suddenly, a small, tan and white blur knocked the snake into a wall!  As it tried to get back up, the blur shot back to the entry way where a lizard was standing, the flame on its tail growing larger as it prepared for a fight.
Latias blacked out, the fear in her heart and the pain both in her wing and her side overcoming her.
“You keep away from her!” The eevee yelled.
“A rescue team?  This has nothing to do with you.” The scyther replied harshly, “Just turn your little tail around and get out of here before we force you to, you little furball.”
“Charm, please shut him up for a while.” Eevee requested, “I’ll try to see about waking Latias.”
Charmander nodded as he inhaled deeply.  When he let the breath out, it was accompanied by a pillar of flames that raced towards the bug pokémon.  Before the scyther could react, the flames had already encircled it, closing in quickly.
The bug type began to focus, preparing to break out of the flames.  But, it noticed that a figure was racing towards the flames, but the scyther couldn’t tell what it was.  The heat of the fire was distorting the air too much to tell.
Charmander burst through the fires, his claws outlined in a metal color.  The lizard tackled the scyther through the flames and into a wall.  Knocked out cold by a series of quick punches, the bug slumped to the ground.
While Charmander took out Scyther, Eevee ran over to the trapped Latias, gently nosing her neck.  He knew she was knocked out, but he had been hoping that the female pokémon had only been feigning it to fool the three enemies.
As the fox gently nosed her neck, he failed to notice a serpentine form moving behind him.  When the snake hissed menacingly, the fox pokémon turned and found himself looking up into the gaping jaws of the seviper.
“Now you’ll pay for that little assault you furball!” The snake pokémon hissed.
Eevee moved quickly, knowing that he had to lure the snake away from Latias to reduce the risk of her being hurt again.  As the jaws raced towards him, the eevee suddenly changed directions, bolting to the left again just as the jaws were about to close upon him!
The seviper bit into the ground, only tasting dirt and rock.  When it pulled it’s head back up, all it saw was a blur of tan and white fur racing towards it.  Before it could react, the snake was thrown back into the wall again.  It lay still, completely unconscious.
“Charm, think you can move this boulder?” Eevee asked as he walked back over to Latias.
Before Charmander could reply, a clawed foot snatched Eevee off the ground, pulling him into the air!  Aerodactyl had been waiting for the right moment to strike.  Now, he had Eevee in his talons.
The fox bit down on the talon that was holding him prisoner.  With a screech of pain, the flying type dropped the fox pokémon.  For a second, the eevee smiled to himself.  Then he realized he was three stories in the air.
Eevee slammed down onto the stone floor and lay still.  Charmander ran over and put his hand against his friend’s neck.  There was still a pulse.  Eevee was only knocked out, not dead.
Charmander glared up at the aerodactyl.
“FIRE BLAST!” the charmander cried.
The aerodactyl looked down and saw a very large plume of fire racing up at him.  Before he could react, the fires engulfed the aerodactyl, scorching the bird’s body as the fires reduced his health to nothing.  The bird fell, knocked out before he hit the ground.
Charmander sat down suddenly, the attack having taken a major toll on his energy.  The lizard shook his head and stood up.  Quickly, he dragged his friend over to the still unconscious Latias.  Then, Charmander tried to summon as much energy as his body had left.  With his last bit of strength, the fire pokémon was able to slowly push the boulder off Latias’s wing.
“Let’s hope this works.” Charmander said as he took a large, green gem out of his pack, “Activate.”
The stone shone brightly, engulfing the cavern in a green glow.  As it powered up, the gem let loose a swirling vortex of golden energy that consumed the three.  With a sound close to a gunshot, Eevee, Charmander, and Latias vanished from sight.
*           *          *
Darkness.  That’s all Latias saw when she finally began to awaken.  She couldn’t see anything, yet, she felt warm.  As if a blanket had been laid over her body to protect her.
Grunting softly, the pokémon tried to open her eyes.  As she did, a soft, golden light slowly entered her eyes.  Everything was blurry, but it came with a good feeling.  Latias was alive.
As her vision finally began to settle, the pokémon felt pain shoot up her wing.  With a soft moan, she tried to move.
“Easy Latias.” A soft voice said, “Try not to move too much right now.”
Latias looked to the source of the voice and found a large, light blue and tan pokémon standing next to her.  This pokémon was donning an apron with a red cross on it.  A nidoqueen.
“W-where…” Latias tried to ask.
She couldn’t think of the rest of the question.  Pain once again shot up her wing, disrupting her thoughts.  As she cringed, she felt the pokémon gently placing something over the pain.  A feeling of icy cold slowly moved up her wing.
“That should help a bit.” The pokémon said, “Don’t worry; you’re in safe hands now.”
Latias shook her head slowly, “Where am I?”
“I think we’re home.” A new voice answered.
Latias looked to find a fox pokémon lying nearby on a bed of straw.  His eyes were closed and he wasn’t moving much, but his ears were perked up, slowly moving around to catch any sounds.  An eevee.
“Eevee!” A third voice cried happily, “You’re alright!”
A lizard hugged the eevee, his flaming tail wagging happily from side to side.  A charmander.
“You say that a lot Charm.” Eevee said as he opened his eyes, “But I’m not what matters.  How’s Latias doing?”
“Ask her yourself Eevee.” The nidoqueen replied.
Eevee looked at the red and white pokémon with a smile of relief, “How do you feel?”
“I’m not sure.” Latias replied timidly, “Where am I?”
“You’re safe now.” Eevee replied, “Welcome to the home base of the Nexus Rescue Team.”
“But how did you know about me?” Latias asked.
“Simple.  After we defeated Latios, and forced him to return the TMs he’d stolen, he told us why he’d taken them.”  Charmander explained, “He told us that you’d been pinned down in the Pitfall dungeon and asked us to rescue you since he couldn’t get down to you himself.”
Before either of the two could say anything in reply, Charmander put a hand up, “And yes, Latios knows you’re here and knows that you’re safe.  I’ve already told him.”
“Good work Charmander.” Eevee complimented, “But what about the gem?”
“Well...”Charmander put a hand behind his head as he blushed, “It sort of broke after we got back.  I guess I sort of made it put out too much energy.”
Eevee sighed, “Ah well.  We got the job done, Latias is safe, and that’s all that matters.  If we lost the teleport gem, it was for a good cause.”
Charmander nodded as Latias smiled weakly.  She felt tired again.  As sleep began to try to retake her, the pokémon laid her head down on the soft bed of straw and closed her eyes.  She was safe now, Latios knew it, and these two had saved her life.  Life seemed good for now.
*           *          *
It was a few days later when Latias was able to finally see her brother.  Eevee had spent most of him time helping her.  Whether it was brining her food, water, or blankets to keep her warm, the fox had been the one to mostly care for Latias.  Under the watch of Nidoqueen, Eevee and Latias had started to become friends.
When the afternoon came that day, Latios and Latias were reunited.  After a happy hug, the brother and sister looked to Eevee and Charmander, then at the rest of the townsfolk.
“I know some of you may not forgive my actions, but I hope that you now understand I stole the TMs for a good reason.” Latios said.
“Don’t worry about it.” A purple Kecleon said, “Eevee paid them off yesterday for you.  Besides, your sister is safe now and that’s what really matters.”
The others agreed happily as Latias nuzzled her brother’s neck.
“But we do not have a way to repay you for your help.” Latios said sadly, “But I am in your debt for helping to save my sister.  Without her, I do not know how I would go on.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Eevee replied, “Just glad we could help.”
Charmander nodded in agreement.
“I owe you both greatly for saving my life.” Latias said.
“And I would like to repay my debt to you all.” Latios replied, “Eevee and Charmander…would you possibly consider letting us join you?”
Charmander looked to Eevee, “What’d you think?”
Eevee thought for a minute, and then looked to the two, “Consider it done.  Welcome to the Nexus team Latias and Latios.”
The two smiled happily as Charmander gave Eevee a pat on the back.
*           *          *
Months later, Latias was watching as Eevee tried to put on his backpack.  With all the supplies in it, and him not having hands, the eevee looked like he was having a hard time.  Latias lifted the pack over his front shoulders and helped him slip the belt around his middle so the pack would stay on.
“Thanks Latias.” Eevee said as he gave a quick shake, making the sure the pack was secured to his back.
“Not a problem Eevee.” Latias smiled, “But where are you going?”
“For a bit of training in the forests near Sinister Woods.” The eevee replied, “If Charmander gets back before I do, tell him I’m out training.”
Latias nodded, but even the eevee could tell something was bothering her.  The fox pokémon turned to her and asked what it was.
“It’s-it’s nothing Eevee.” Latias said, looking away from him.
“It’s not nothing.” Eevee replied, “Latias, you can tell me.”
“You won’t laugh?”
“I won’t laugh.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
Latias looked out the window, a wanting look in her eyes.  As she did, the flying pokémon sighed and then looked back down to her team leader.
“Is there somewhere I can talk to you alone?” Latias asked.
“Of course.” Eevee replied, “It’s pretty secluded out where I train.  We could talk there if you’d like.”
Latias nodded and followed eevee out to the training field.
*           *          *
A calm breeze blew through the trees around the clearing.  As it did, the calm stream continued to flow through the field without care, the water type pokémon who inhabited it swimming peacefully.  The clearing seemed like a place untouched by time itself.
It was here that Eevee and Latias arrived.  The fox pokémon led Latias to a large, flat rock that oversaw the stream.
“So what’s on your mind Latias?” Eevee asked as he sat down on it.
Latias blushed suddenly and looked away from him, “Eevee…I…I think I love you.”
Eevee quickly shook his head in disbelief, “You think you-?”
Latias nodded slowly, her blush only growing brighter.
“With me?” Eevee asked, his eyes wide with surprise.
A second nod followed by her blush continuing to brighten.  Now Eevee blushed a little.  Truth was he’d fallen in love with Latias when he’d first set eyes on her after she was rescued.  But he’d had no idea she cared for him.
“Are you sure?” Eevee asked.
“I am.” Latias replied as she looked to him, her golden eyes looking into his brown.
“Well I have to admit that’s a surprise.” Eevee said as his ears lowered as he blushed a bit more, “I never thought that you’d fall for an eevee like me.”
“If you don’t feel the same way about me,” Latias replied, looking away, “I’ll understand.
She was surprised to feel a paw against her legs.  Latias looked down at Eevee to find the fox pokémon smiling.
“I do feel the same way, Latias.” Eevee said with a gentle smirk, “Honest.”
Latias smiled happily and nuzzled the eevee.  Eevee nuzzled her back, glad to have finally said what he’d been wanting to for a short while.
As Latias looked up at the skies above them, Eevee asked, “So you’re absolutely sure about this?”
Latias nodded with a soft ‘mm hmm’.  Eevee smiled and laid down.  But he felt curious about something.
“Have you been in love before?” the eevee asked.
Latias looked down at him with a bit of surprise, then she blushed and turned away and admitted, “Yes…With a human named Ash.”
She looked back up at the sky, her golden eyes filled with memory, “To be honest, you remind me a lot about him.  You both saved my life and I cared for him very deeply.  But I’m sure that he has forgotten about me by now…it’s been two years since I last saw him and his friends.”
Eevee looked up at her as she looked down at him, “I shouldn’t have said anything…”
“It’s alright.” Eevee replied, “I mean, you are a very kindhearted pokémon.  I can’t blame you for falling for a human who saved your life.  And I’ll respect you for admitting it.”
Eevee looked out and saw that the sun was starting to set.  He rolled back over and got to his feet.
“Come on, we’d best head home.” The fox pokémon said.
“Eevee?” Latias asked.
“Yeah?”
“Promise we’ll keep this a secret for now?  I’m really not ready to tell Latios that I’ve fallen in love again.”
“Of course.”
The two smiled at each other as Eevee led the way back home.
*           *          *
When the two walked back inside the base, Eevee found Charmander waiting for them.
“Where have you two been?” the lizard asked.
“Just…talking.” Eevee replied, “Latias wants me to train her a bit.”
Latias nodded in agreement.  The two had discussed their cover story on the way home.  That story was that Latias wanted Eevee to train her to be stronger and they had spent time starting that training.
Charmander looked doubtful, but didn’t question it, “Alright.”
The two smiled to each other once more.  They both had a good feeling about where their new relationship would lead them.

Description
The Journal of Team Nexus: Saving Latias

Darkness had surrounded her as the chilling breeze blew past, sending a shiver down her spine.  As the red and white, flying pokémon tried to move the giant rock piece that had pinned her, trapping her wing under it, she cried out for help.  Her brother had already left to try to get down to her by powering up using TMs.  But it had been days since he left.  She hadn’t seen or heard from him since then, and he would never just leave her to die.  Now, she was alone, and very scared.
“Help me!” Latias cried out, “Please, anyone!”
Her cry echoed up through the tunnels as she laid her head on the cold ground, tears making their way down her cheeks as she began to sob softly.  She felt helpless.  Hunger was beginning to claw at her stomach as she cringed, trying to ignore the pain for the umpteenth time.
Out of pain, despair, and fear, Latias began to cry.
*           *          *
Unknown to the poor latias, her brother had been defeated and was too tired to help.  But help was on the way.  A small, tan and white fox was trotting beside a orange and yellow lizard, the flame on it’s tail lighting up the tunnels as they journeyed deeper into the Pitfall dungeon where Latias was trapped.  They were Eevee and Charmander of the Nexus rescue team.
Before they had gone in, the two had stocked up on supplies as usual, but were given a strange item before they went in.  The Teleport gem.
This was the same gem that sent the two to Sky Pillar to ask Rayquaza for help saving their world.  It wouldn’t take them that far again, but it had enough power to help the wounded Latias escape the dungeon she was now trapped in.
“Any chance we can take a lunch break?” Charmander asked as his stomach grumbled, “I’m starved.”
“I guess so.” Eevee replied, “But only for a minute.  Whoever Latias is, she’s still in danger.”
Charmander nodded and sat down, pulling a large apple out of his pack.  Eevee dug into his and found an apple of the same size.
“I wonder why it’s said that no one can get out of this dungeon.” Charmander wondered aloud after swallowing, “I mean, we’re not having much trouble.  Most of the pokémon around here seem to have run away from us.”
“Not much trouble?” Eevee asked in reply, “Charm, we got surrounded by enemies almost every other floor!  They only ran to set up another ambush for us.”
“But we came out ok, didn’t we?” Charmander asked with a sly grin.
“Yeah, we did.” Eevee replied with a small smile, “I guess Alakazam was right.  Together, we’re an unbeatable team.”
“Well we did kind of save the world.”
“Yeah, maybe just a little.”
“Best pals?”
“Best pals.”
The two smiled happily and finished eating.
After having eaten, the two were off again.  Charmander led since he had the flame on his tail as a light to see down the dark tunnels, Eevee close behind him checking for anything that could be a threat.  After judging that the menacing form behind them was only a large stone, Eevee turned back and ran right into the stopped Charmander.
“Charmander?’ Eevee asked, looking up at his wide eyed friend
“Shush.” Charmander replied softly, “You hear that?”
Eevee listened for a minute, his large ears perked up and swiveling to pick up any sounds.
What caught his ears was something he hadn’t expected.  A very faint and tearful cry for help.  It may have been faint, but this was the only tunnel it had come up.
“Let’s go!” Eevee said taking off down the tunnel in a full run, shouting, “HOLD ON, WE’RE COMING!”
“Hey wait up!” Charmander cried as he chased after his friend, “EEVEE!”
*           *          *
Latias cried out for help once more.  As she listened for a reply, she heard a quiet growling.  Someone heard her!  Then she realized something.  The growl was close, and it didn’t sound friendly.
Glancing around, the female pokémon saw a pair of glowing eyes glaring at her.  Merciless, blood red eyes that studied her carefully, as if looking directly into her soul to cause her growing fear.  Then, the eyes moved closer, revealing a pokémon that looked like a praying mantis.  The expertly sharpened, scything blades looked sinister in the dim light of the cavern.  A scyther!
Latias’s eyes filled with fear as the bug type drew closer.  If she could move, she’d be able to fight it.  But like this, she was helpless.  The worst thing was, the scyther knew this.
It gave a sharp cry that echoed around the room.  Latias gasped as another pair of eyes appeared, this time from an ancient bird like pokémon.  Its dragonish wings were folded to its side as it approached her.  An aerodactyl!
“No please, stay back!” she cried as she squirmed, “HELP!”
A seviper also approached her, its venomous tail held high as the snake pokémon hissed menacingly.
“What do we have here?” the seviper asked as it slithered closer, its fangs glistening as venom slowly dripped from the tips, “A poor birdie who got her wing trapped.”
“That must hurt.” The scyther grinned.
“Should we help her?” the aerodactyl asked.
“Yes, let’s end the pain quickly.” The seviper replied as its tail rose to strike.
Latias quivered as the blade struck her side, delivering enough damage to weaken her further.  As the pokémon tried to keep her eyes open, the snake pulled its bladed tail back for another strike.
Suddenly, a small, tan and white blur knocked the snake into a wall!  As it tried to get back up, the blur shot back to the entry way where a lizard was standing, the flame on its tail growing larger as it prepared for a fight.
Latias blacked out, the fear in her heart and the pain both in her wing and her side overcoming her.
“You keep away from her!” The eevee yelled.
“A rescue team?  This has nothing to do with you.” The scyther replied harshly, “Just turn your little tail around and get out of here before we force you to, you little furball.”
“Charm, please shut him up for a while.” Eevee requested, “I’ll try to see about waking Latias.”
Charmander nodded as he inhaled deeply.  When he let the breath out, it was accompanied by a pillar of flames that raced towards the bug pokémon.  Before the scyther could react, the flames had already encircled it, closing in quickly.
The bug type began to focus, preparing to break out of the flames.  But, it noticed that a figure was racing towards the flames, but the scyther couldn’t tell what it was.  The heat of the fire was distorting the air too much to tell.
Charmander burst through the fires, his claws outlined in a metal color.  The lizard tackled the scyther through the flames and into a wall.  Knocked out cold by a series of quick punches, the bug slumped to the ground.
While Charmander took out Scyther, Eevee ran over to the trapped Latias, gently nosing her neck.  He knew she was knocked out, but he had been hoping that the female pokémon had only been feigning it to fool the three enemies.
As the fox gently nosed her neck, he failed to notice a serpentine form moving behind him.  When the snake hissed menacingly, the fox pokémon turned and found himself looking up into the gaping jaws of the seviper.
“Now you’ll pay for that little assault you furball!” The snake pokémon hissed.
Eevee moved quickly, knowing that he had to lure the snake away from Latias to reduce the risk of her being hurt again.  As the jaws raced towards him, the eevee suddenly changed directions, bolting to the left again just as the jaws were about to close upon him!
The seviper bit into the ground, only tasting dirt and rock.  When it pulled it’s head back up, all it saw was a blur of tan and white fur racing towards it.  Before it could react, the snake was thrown back into the wall again.  It lay still, completely unconscious.
“Charm, think you can move this boulder?” Eevee asked as he walked back over to Latias.
Before Charmander could reply, a clawed foot snatched Eevee off the ground, pulling him into the air!  Aerodactyl had been waiting for the right moment to strike.  Now, he had Eevee in his talons.
The fox bit down on the talon that was holding him prisoner.  With a screech of pain, the flying type dropped the fox pokémon.  For a second, the eevee smiled to himself.  Then he realized he was three stories in the air.
Eevee slammed down onto the stone floor and lay still.  Charmander ran over and put his hand against his friend’s neck.  There was still a pulse.  Eevee was only knocked out, not dead.
Charmander glared up at the aerodactyl.
“FIRE BLAST!” the charmander cried.
The aerodactyl looked down and saw a very large plume of fire racing up at him.  Before he could react, the fires engulfed the aerodactyl, scorching the bird’s body as the fires reduced his health to nothing.  The bird fell, knocked out before he hit the ground.
Charmander sat down suddenly, the attack having taken a major toll on his energy.  The lizard shook his head and stood up.  Quickly, he dragged his friend over to the still unconscious Latias.  Then, Charmander tried to summon as much energy as his body had left.  With his last bit of strength, the fire pokémon was able to slowly push the boulder off Latias’s wing.
“Let’s hope this works.” Charmander said as he took a large, green gem out of his pack, “Activate.”
The stone shone brightly, engulfing the cavern in a green glow.  As it powered up, the gem let loose a swirling vortex of golden energy that consumed the three.  With a sound close to a gunshot, Eevee, Charmander, and Latias vanished from sight.
*           *          *
Darkness.  That’s all Latias saw when she finally began to awaken.  She couldn’t see anything, yet, she felt warm.  As if a blanket had been laid over her body to protect her.
Grunting softly, the pokémon tried to open her eyes.  As she did, a soft, golden light slowly entered her eyes.  Everything was blurry, but it came with a good feeling.  Latias was alive.
As her vision finally began to settle, the pokémon felt pain shoot up her wing.  With a soft moan, she tried to move.
“Easy Latias.” A soft voice said, “Try not to move too much right now.”
Latias looked to the source of the voice and found a large, light blue and tan pokémon standing next to her.  This pokémon was donning an apron with a red cross on it.  A nidoqueen.
“W-where…” Latias tried to ask.
She couldn’t think of the rest of the question.  Pain once again shot up her wing, disrupting her thoughts.  As she cringed, she felt the pokémon gently placing something over the pain.  A feeling of icy cold slowly moved up her wing.
“That should help a bit.” The pokémon said, “Don’t worry; you’re in safe hands now.”
Latias shook her head slowly, “Where am I?”
“I think we’re home.” A new voice answered.
Latias looked to find a fox pokémon lying nearby on a bed of straw.  His eyes were closed and he wasn’t moving much, but his ears were perked up, slowly moving around to catch any sounds.  An eevee.
“Eevee!” A third voice cried happily, “You’re alright!”
A lizard hugged the eevee, his flaming tail wagging happily from side to side.  A charmander.
“You say that a lot Charm.” Eevee said as he opened his eyes, “But I’m not what matters.  How’s Latias doing?”
“Ask her yourself Eevee.” The nidoqueen replied.
Eevee looked at the red and white pokémon with a smile of relief, “How do you feel?”
“I’m not sure.” Latias replied timidly, “Where am I?”
“You’re safe now.” Eevee replied, “Welcome to the home base of the Nexus Rescue Team.”
“But how did you know about me?” Latias asked.
“Simple.  After we defeated Latios, and forced him to return the TMs he’d stolen, he told us why he’d taken them.”  Charmander explained, “He told us that you’d been pinned down in the Pitfall dungeon and asked us to rescue you since he couldn’t get down to you himself.”
Before either of the two could say anything in reply, Charmander put a hand up, “And yes, Latios knows you’re here and knows that you’re safe.  I’ve already told him.”
“Good work Charmander.” Eevee complimented, “But what about the gem?”
“Well...”Charmander put a hand behind his head as he blushed, “It sort of broke after we got back.  I guess I sort of made it put out too much energy.”
Eevee sighed, “Ah well.  We got the job done, Latias is safe, and that’s all that matters.  If we lost the teleport gem, it was for a good cause.”
Charmander nodded as Latias smiled weakly.  She felt tired again.  As sleep began to try to retake her, the pokémon laid her head down on the soft bed of straw and closed her eyes.  She was safe now, Latios knew it, and these two had saved her life.  Life seemed good for now.
*           *          *
It was a few days later when Latias was able to finally see her brother.  Eevee had spent most of him time helping her.  Whether it was brining her food, water, or blankets to keep her warm, the fox had been the one to mostly care for Latias.  Under the watch of Nidoqueen, Eevee and Latias had started to become friends.
When the afternoon came that day, Latios and Latias were reunited.  After a happy hug, the brother and sister looked to Eevee and Charmander, then at the rest of the townsfolk.
“I know some of you may not forgive my actions, but I hope that you now understand I stole the TMs for a good reason.” Latios said.
“Don’t worry about it.” A purple Kecleon said, “Eevee paid them off yesterday for you.  Besides, your sister is safe now and that’s what really matters.”
The others agreed happily as Latias nuzzled her brother’s neck.
“But we do not have a way to repay you for your help.” Latios said sadly, “But I am in your debt for helping to save my sister.  Without her, I do not know how I would go on.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Eevee replied, “Just glad we could help.”
Charmander nodded in agreement.
“I owe you both greatly for saving my life.” Latias said.
“And I would like to repay my debt to you all.” Latios replied, “Eevee and Charmander…would you possibly consider letting us join you?”
Charmander looked to Eevee, “What’d you think?”
Eevee thought for a minute, and then looked to the two, “Consider it done.  Welcome to the Nexus team Latias and Latios.”
The two smiled happily as Charmander gave Eevee a pat on the back.
*           *          *
Months later, Latias was watching as Eevee tried to put on his backpack.  With all the supplies in it, and him not having hands, the eevee looked like he was having a hard time.  Latias lifted the pack over his front shoulders and helped him slip the belt around his middle so the pack would stay on.
“Thanks Latias.” Eevee said as he gave a quick shake, making the sure the pack was secured to his back.
“Not a problem Eevee.” Latias smiled, “But where are you going?”
“For a bit of training in the forests near Sinister Woods.” The eevee replied, “If Charmander gets back before I do, tell him I’m out training.”
Latias nodded, but even the eevee could tell something was bothering her.  The fox pokémon turned to her and asked what it was.
“It’s-it’s nothing Eevee.” Latias said, looking away from him.
“It’s not nothing.” Eevee replied, “Latias, you can tell me.”
“You won’t laugh?”
“I won’t laugh.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
Latias looked out the window, a wanting look in her eyes.  As she did, the flying pokémon sighed and then looked back down to her team leader.
“Is there somewhere I can talk to you alone?” Latias asked.
“Of course.” Eevee replied, “It’s pretty secluded out where I train.  We could talk there if you’d like.”
Latias nodded and followed eevee out to the training field.
*           *          *
A calm breeze blew through the trees around the clearing.  As it did, the calm stream continued to flow through the field without care, the water type pokémon who inhabited it swimming peacefully.  The clearing seemed like a place untouched by time itself.
It was here that Eevee and Latias arrived.  The fox pokémon led Latias to a large, flat rock that oversaw the stream.
“So what’s on your mind Latias?” Eevee asked as he sat down on it.
Latias blushed suddenly and looked away from him, “Eevee…I…I think I love you.”
Eevee quickly shook his head in disbelief, “You think you-?”
Latias nodded slowly, her blush only growing brighter.
“With me?” Eevee asked, his eyes wide with surprise.
A second nod followed by her blush continuing to brighten.  Now Eevee blushed a little.  Truth was he’d fallen in love with Latias when he’d first set eyes on her after she was rescued.  But he’d had no idea she cared for him.
“Are you sure?” Eevee asked.
“I am.” Latias replied as she looked to him, her golden eyes looking into his brown.
“Well I have to admit that’s a surprise.” Eevee said as his ears lowered as he blushed a bit more, “I never thought that you’d fall for an eevee like me.”
“If you don’t feel the same way about me,” Latias replied, looking away, “I’ll understand.
She was surprised to feel a paw against her legs.  Latias looked down at Eevee to find the fox pokémon smiling.
“I do feel the same way, Latias.” Eevee said with a gentle smirk, “Honest.”
Latias smiled happily and nuzzled the eevee.  Eevee nuzzled her back, glad to have finally said what he’d been wanting to for a short while.
As Latias looked up at the skies above them, Eevee asked, “So you’re absolutely sure about this?”
Latias nodded with a soft ‘mm hmm’.  Eevee smiled and laid down.  But he felt curious about something.
“Have you been in love before?” the eevee asked.
Latias looked down at him with a bit of surprise, then she blushed and turned away and admitted, “Yes…With a human named Ash.”
She looked back up at the sky, her golden eyes filled with memory, “To be honest, you remind me a lot about him.  You both saved my life and I cared for him very deeply.  But I’m sure that he has forgotten about me by now…it’s been two years since I last saw him and his friends.”
Eevee looked up at her as she looked down at him, “I shouldn’t have said anything…”
“It’s alright.” Eevee replied, “I mean, you are a very kindhearted pokémon.  I can’t blame you for falling for a human who saved your life.  And I’ll respect you for admitting it.”
Eevee looked out and saw that the sun was starting to set.  He rolled back over and got to his feet.
“Come on, we’d best head home.” The fox pokémon said.
“Eevee?” Latias asked.
“Yeah?”
“Promise we’ll keep this a secret for now?  I’m really not ready to tell Latios that I’ve fallen in love again.”
“Of course.”
The two smiled at each other as Eevee led the way back home.
*           *          *
When the two walked back inside the base, Eevee found Charmander waiting for them.
“Where have you two been?” the lizard asked.
“Just…talking.” Eevee replied, “Latias wants me to train her a bit.”
Latias nodded in agreement.  The two had discussed their cover story on the way home.  That story was that Latias wanted Eevee to train her to be stronger and they had spent time starting that training.
Charmander looked doubtful, but didn’t question it, “Alright.”
The two smiled to each other once more.  They both had a good feeling about where their new relationship would lead them.