Me and Pikachu sprinted through the corridors. All the while I wrote down more notes. Lots of people say it's hard to write while running, but I find it rather easy. I don't know!

'I've got everything down so far,' I panted. 'We need to find out what else Giovanni wants.'

'Pika,' agreed Pikachu.

Soon we came to a dark room that Giovanni was inside of. He was looking at some next-level screens, and had a Beheeyem at his side. We tried to tiptoe past him, but--

'Beheeyem, use Psychic,' he said calmly. We found ourselves dragged into one place, under control of Beheeyem's Psychic.

'Oh, come on!' I groaned. My arms seemed to be pinned to my sides. I looked down at Pikachu to see that it was having the same experience as me.

'What are you doing here?' snarled Giovanni, not looking back. 'I remember you from the incident in Unova.'

'I want to know what you would want with Round Industries's Poké Balls,' I said.

'Oh? Why would you be interested?'

'I've been told to investigate for a news report. I'm on your opposing side.'

'How amusing. Beheeyem?'

Beheeyem made a noise. Its psychic grip tightened, squeezing my arms with great force, such great force that seemed to make my elbows twist. I gasped in pain.

'If I oppose you, then why don't I show it?' explained Giovanni. The pain was somewhat getting to my head... Everything was going blurry... and Pikachu was yelling, Giovanni laughing, and me about to pass out...

Suddenly, Goh and Chloe entered the room. I couldn't believe my luck!

Giovanni and Beheeyem were immediately distracted, freeing us from Beheeyem's Psychic. We fell to the floor, and I was helped up by Chloe.

'We're taking back the Pokémon!' exclaimed Goh, bringing out a Poké Ball. 'Cinderace, go!'

Cinderace came out of the Poké Ball. I brightened upon seeing another old friend.

'Now use Pyro Ball!' exclaimed Goh. Cinderace launched a Pyro Ball at the screens in front of Giovanni, causing a lot of smoke. Amid all the chaos, I managed to find Goh, Chloe, Cinderace and Pikachu. 

'Where are the stolen Pokémon?' asked Chloe.

'Come, I'll show you the way,' I replied, exiting the room with Chloe for support, since my legs felt weak. Everyone else followed behind.

We ran to the empty room from before. All the Pokémon were still there, and the smoke had been cleared.

'Pikachu,' said Pikachu, beckoning for the Pokémon to follow. We all ran out of the doors, performing our great escape.

'Don't worry,' panted Goh, 'I know the way back.'

We sprinted on and on, through fields and streets. People stared, but I didn't care, who did?

Finally we reached Round Industries. I leant against the front doors painfully.

'That was the most complex run I've ever experienced,' I breathed. 

We entered the building, then returned the Pokémon to the room they had been in previously. The hole in the roof had been mended while I was gone.

That's when we decided to catch up.

'So Chloe,' I asked, 'what happened to Pokémon Performer?'

'Well, I got potentially more mature, and realised that performing was a huge waste of my time,' explained Chloe. 'I wanted to actually do something in life, like earn an achievement or something. I realised that girls who spent their whole life performing never got anywhere, and were always persuaded to come on stage. I don't want fame! So now I'm studying to become a Pokémon Professor.'

'Wow,' I said blankly. 'Good point.' I internally cackled.

'Who was that guy who had kidnapped you?' asked Goh.

'He was Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket,' I explained. I found myself glaring down at my feet, as if the floor was a magnet and my eyes were metal, attracted to the magnet. I sighed.

'Are you ok?' questioned Goh uncertainly.

Oh, how I wanted to lie! I so dearly and desperately wanted to lie about my feelings! But lying gets you into trouble...

'Well,' I murmured bitterly, 'Giovanni's the least of my worries.'

'Huh?'

'I've gotta present the news,' I explained. 'The usual news reporter's ill, so I've gotta take her place.'

'What's wrong with that?' said Chloe. 'You seem fit for the job!'

I bit my lip. 'I've been afraid of speaking to a crowd ever since I was twelve,' I said reluctantly and briefly. I then found myself in a flashback.

'When I was in high school, in (is it Year 8 or 7th Grade? I mean I'm not American, but I'm not British either.), I was told to present a speech. I had never been a teenager type, just always quite bubbly. And so when I presented my speech, it was full of happy language and it was quite positive. I was laughed at due to my mood. And I felt somewhat neglected, although that can't have been the word for it. I've been afraid of speaking to a crowd ever since.'

Goh and Chloe stared at me, concerned. I shifted uneasily.

'You can do it!' said Goh suddenly. I looked up in surprise.

'Are you sure--?' I began.

'When you tell me about something, you add loads of detail!' explained Goh. 'The map to the goal is inside yourself, and if you give up on amazing speeches, you'll never overcome your fears!'

I felt like crying happily. Goh had literally just quoted one of the most important people to me, he had changed around the speech, and did all of that without knowing.

My lips creased into a smile.

'Thanks Goh,' I said. 'I'm sure to be able to present it.'

'Uh guys?' suddenly said Chloe. 'Sorry to break the mood, but there's an army of Ariados, and they seem to be coming for us!'

We jerked our heads backwards to see half a dozen Ariados entering the building. They were destroying the conveyors, and had already destroyed the doors!

'Uh-- Pikachu, use Electroweb!' I exclaimed. Pikachu launched an Electroweb at the Ariados, but only 3 of them had been caught!

'Cinderace, use Blaze Kick!' exclaimed Goh. Cinderace used Blaze Kick, but it only hit two of the remaining Ariados.

'Good choice!' I said. 'Fire-type moves are effective on Bug-types!'

There was only one Ariados left. It drew nearer and nearer to us, and we soon found we were cornered...

That's when I saw a shadow in the corner. It was the shadow of a girl with a ponytail...

'L-Lucy?' I whispered.