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Posted by: Master Houndoom Apr 4 2010, 12:41 AM

"And then, Jaima's mother comes home, and no one's there. Well, she's in a towering fury, she says, but she goes out to the back yard, and there they are, with a blanket draped over the clothesline, roasting marshmallows over Ember's behind!"

Tuesday and Meiko burst into fits of girlish laughter, and Jaima smiled, slightly flushed. Darryn also smiled, almost a smirk. http://forums.gtsplus.net/index.php?showtopic=5199&view=findpost&p=77399

Meiko grinned at him, then back at Jaima, winking and pointing at him. Jaima raised a brow, then gave a smirk of his own.

"Well, this one is new to you. It's Meiko's 8th birthday, and it's supposed to be a surprise party..."

Meiko gasped. "Noooooo," she wailed, reaching for Jaima, who dodged nimbly.

The story never actually got told, but things were learned by the traveling companions. For example, Tuesday and Darryn learned that Jaima was actually ticklish, and that Meiko knew where, and vice versa. Meiko and Jaima learned that one should not get into a tickle war while there was a certain mischievous riolu around.

No one understood exactly how it happened, or where Zorro had gotten the rope, but before it could be stopped, Jaima and Meiko had ended up with their hands tied behind the other's back, facing each other, wide eyed and blinking in surprise.

With a laugh, Tuesday scolded Zorro, Darryn moved to untie the pair, and Meiko took the opportunity to drop a kiss on Jaima's nose.

* * * * *

The camp was set up with now expected efficiency, and supper had been eaten. The four trainers lounged around the fire, sleepy eyed, several pokemon (several being twenty, but no one was counting) lounging in different groups, and smiling. The previous leg of their journey, which had ended with the group taking refuge with Tuesday's uncle, had provided a time of rejuvenation, and the group had fallen into a kind of contentment that was the aim of many people, the kind of contentment one would love to look back in their life and say they could feel for the majority of it. The kind of contentment that, usually, preceded a storm or quake.

There was talking, and laughter, and soon the wishes of good nights. The morning would bring more travel, and perhaps a practice battle, but for now, sleep was called for.

Posted by: Wolf Heart Apr 4 2010, 07:55 PM

“Es a hole in el bucket, el bucket, el bucket. Es a hole in el bucket, el hermano, a hole!”

Tempest groaned loudly as Zorro started singing (badly in her opinion), as he walked across the branch of a tree. She rolled over onto her back from where she had been curled up and glared at him, but when she opened her mouth to yell at him, she hesitated.

Blue had said something about her being too rash and too prone to just looking at him and not taking into account the others’ reactions to his antics. Although she hated the idea of being wrong in that he was so incredibly childish and annoying… she respected Blue Crest.

So she just watched. Zorro actually stopped singing not long after that, his steady paws carrying him across the tree branch without fear of falling. His eyes scanned the area and Tempest watched as his gaze narrowed and he seemed to study the world around them.

Is he… scouting?

“He’s making sure there isn’t any threat, since last time.”

Tempest’s ears twitched at Mercury’s mental analysis. I thought he had simply gotten over it, she admitted. Zorro certainly hadn’t seemed as though he was bothered at all by all that occurred, and it had annoyed Tempest. Tuesday had been so distraught…

“Zorro is, apparently, much better at hiding things than one would originally have thought. Think on that, Tempest.” Tempest curled up again as she felt Mercury’s connection to her mind pull away. As she watched Zorro continue to study the area, she had to admit that, whether or not she wanted to, she would think on it.

It was funny, though. As she closed her eyes and felt sleep begin to take her away, she realized that she felt a lot safer with him near.

Not that she’d ever tell him that.

Fire-type pokemon are weak to ground, rock, and water-type pokemon, Tuesday recited internally, her eyes staring at the ceiling of her tent. Contrarily, grass-type pokemon are weak to flying, poison, bug, fire, and ice-type pokemon. Psychic-type pokemon are weak to bug, ghost, and dark-type pokemon. Tuesday sighed, then groaned softly in annoyance and rolled over. It wasn’t helping; she still couldn’t keep from thinking about Brone, and about Eowyn, who she left with DeBrody only just after hatching. It didn’t seem right. Yes, she had registered a pokeball with the albino eevee so that DeBrody could send her over the poke-transmitter, but it just didn’t seem right…

Lying there, staring at the wall, Tuesday thought for a while, and then tried to “reach out” to Cassandra, as Brone said he often did. She didn’t quite know how, so when her eyes started to cross and her head began to hurt, she just screwed up her face and mentally screamed CASSANDRA!

”My spoon, little one, do hush.”

Cassandra?

I am most certainly not the Boogeyman. You don’t have to yell quite so loudly, little one. I’m always listening for you.

Sorry.

“No need to apologize. Now, why don’t you tell me what’s bothering you?”

You and I both know I don’t need to tell you anything.

There was a gentle chuckle that seemed to echo. “Humor me.”

Tuesday fiddled with her fingers as she looked down, despite the fact that Cassandra was miles away at DeBrody’s ranch. I… did I do the right thing, leaving Br- leaving Eowyn with Uncle DeBrody?

“Which question is it, Tuesday? If you did the right thing leaving Brone, or leaving Eowyn?”

Tuesday whimpered softly, unwilling to answer, and Cassandra sighed gently, a sound and feeling that reached through their link. “Hold to me, little one.”

There was a gentle brush of something against Tuesday’s consciousness, and she closed her eyes as a feeling, like a sudden tingling sensation, tickled her mind at her forehead. She felt a pull, like someone was tugging her through water, and then everything went really quiet.

Tuesday opened her eyes slowly, surprised. She wasn’t in her tent anymore, but floating in a vast expanse of nothing. Colors and shapes drifted by, but they were blurry and out of focus. Tuesday rubbed her eyes.

“You cannot see here as you do in the conscious world, little one. Do not try.”

“Cassandra?” Tuesday turned to see the kadabra, only to find her in the form she took mentally, with short golden hair and a slim form. Her eyes were the same, though – observant, fox-like. “Where… am I?”

“This is the Psychic Plane,” Cassandra explained, gesturing with a hand. “It looks different to you than it does to others, because you are not a psychic and have no such talents. I’ve brought you here on my own will, because it makes it easier, at times, to communicate.” She made a motion with her hand at Tuesday herself. “The Psychic Plane has the additional effect of revealing a person as who they really are, and that doesn’t change whether you have psychic capabilities or not.”

“What are you- oh.” Tuesday had looked down at herself, her golden hair falling into her face. A large tuft of pale hair stuck up in the center of her head, wisped backward sharply. Tuesday looked down at her hands, her fingers ending in white claws. She glanced behind her and gasped as she saw a large pale-colored bush of fur that was probably supposed to be a tail, but looked more like some dead Persian that never had its fur brushed in all its life.

She looked back at Cassandra sharply. “What is this?”

“This is who you truly are, on the inside, revealed on the outside – at least here on the Psychic Plane. However, you are still growing into this form, and so it is not sharp or clear.”

“Or clean,” Tuesday said, studying her “tail” again.

“Or clean,” Cassandra agreed, “but that will change as you come into who you are. Eventually, you may come to realize whose form it is you share. In the meantime, however, allow me to answer your question.

“Your leaving Eowyn with Marcus was a wise idea. The young eevee is an albino and you know how rare and temperamental albinism can be. Marcus will take good care of her, and then he will send her to Professor Oak. Fear not that you will see Eowyn again, when the time is right.” Cassandra smiled. “She has a part to play, after all.

“As for your leaving Brone, yes, that was also a wise idea, though I know you don’t believe me. Just as you have to grow into who you are, Tuesday, so does Brone. Wise beyond his years he my be, he still has much to learn. The only way he will learn is the same way in which you will learn – by experience. That will come in time, if I have anything to say about it, though I’m certain that he will not argue for long.”

She reached out and tapped Tuesday’s chin, making the girl look up at her. “You have a long day ahead of you tomorrow, little one, and you need your rest.” Tuesday opened her mouth, but Cassandra continued on before she could interrupt. “I will not Suggest sleep to you; you find no rest when you are stuck in such a state. I will, however, calm your nerves as much as I would your brother’s in the same instance. I offer this up for all of you, for you will need it.

“Now rest, little one, and remember that even in the moments of your darkest doubt, you can find light.”

The world of blurred shapes and colors faded from around Tuesday and she found herself back in the tent, her eyes drooping. As she let them close, she could feel a gentle wave of calm enveloping her and the rest of the camp, as Cassandra cast a layer of peace over them all to help them sleep.

It would be the last bit of peace they would have for some time to come.

Posted by: Living Arrow Apr 5 2010, 11:10 AM

Darryn flipped the pages of his portfolio slowly, the dimmed light of his torch illuminated his tent with a warm yellow glow. The photos stuck down and annotations that went with them depicted Darryn’s journey so far and brought back so many memories. It made him smile to read how much he had focused on the power attributes of his Pokemon in the beginning and how it had gradually changed to fit in with Contest battling rather than straight forward trainer-types.

Lady shifted in the crook of Darryn’s armpit, turning her nose upwards to nuzzle his bare neck.

“Yeah, I’ll put the light out soon.” He whispered to his partner, kissing her forehead. “Just a few more minutes.”

Lady lowered her head in silence to lay it delicately across her paws. Those chestnut eyes rolled closed but Darryn knew she wouldn’t actually sleep while she was awake. He turned back to the book and flipped another page. A cut-out of a magazine had been stuck there, the image showing a teenager holding up a shiny golden pin with white and crimson ribbons. The boy was smiling broadly, his Butterfree, Cranidos and Jolteon all gathered around closely for the photo.

“Well, that’s one… just three more to go, Daz.” He muttered to himself, clicking out his biro and flipping to the next bare page. He scratched a few notes on the development of Bravo’s skills after battling DeBrody and made a note to stick in a photo of the latest advance in the Pidgeotto’s Featherdance.

He was just finishing up as the clicking buzz of someone opening his tent flap door. Lady’s head lifted automatically, completely in time with Darryn, as he looked over his shoulder to see who was paying him a visit. The door flap, however, was barely open a few inches and whoever was outside was struggling to lift it further.

“Meiko?” Darryn whispered questioningly, turning around and reaching toward the door. Lady pranced onto his lap protectively and watched as her master unzipped the door to halfway.

“Piny?” Eggheart’s round face poked into the tent. Darryn blinked.

“Oh… It’s you… Meiko’s tent is the next one over.” Darryn made a ‘shooing’ motion with his hand. “Go and get some sleep.”

“Pi pi hap hap?” Eggheart ignored Darryn and walked right into the tent, a little paw in her mouth which was being sucked at with a frown on the egg Pokemon’s face.

“Lady?”

Darryn’s Vulpix moved back to her sleeping position and sniffed. <It’s hungry and can smell your Pecha Berries.> There was a short pause… <Get rid of it.>

“Lady!” Darryn gasped in mock offense. “How dare you! Deprive this poor child of a few sweet berries! I really think you should sleep outside because of that!”

Lady’s eyes flared. <Excuse me?>

Darryn inwardly grinned. This was priceless. True, it was funny to see Lady get flustered but it was actually a serious matter when it came to tempering her personality. She was still consistently rude to the others in the adoptive family and he felt it necessary to try and break the walls between her and the others whenever opportunity arose.

“Out.” He nodded to the door, holding the flap open. Lady stared at him.

<But Prince Dar->

“Out, Lady.” Darryn nudged her with his foot. “Go sleep with your teammates.”

With a haughty lift of her nose, Lady stalked past Darryn and into the night. He dropped the flap behind her and suppressed a laugh. Eggheart, however, didn’t. With a shrill giggle, the Happiny collapsed on her back. Darryn lifted her fondly and sat her square in his lap so that he coud reach past her and get at the berry pouch in his backpack.

“Not too many though.” He hushed the baby as he passed her two of the sweet pink fruits. One disappeared immediately into Eggheart’s pouch and the other found itself being sucked on ferocisouly. “And when you’re done, go find Meiko.” He added as he made himself comfortable. “Or she’ll worry about you.”

Eggheart, once more, ignored Darryn and settled down next to his head on the pillow. She grinned and rocked herself to lie into his neck.

“Hap!”

Darryn chuckled. “Or you could just sleep there.” He whispered as he drifted off.

“Oh, look who’s come to join us!” November crooned as Lady stalked toward where she sat next to Tempest. “Not so good you can’t sleep out here with the rest of us, then?”

“No way on Furoh she’d be doing this unless Mr Slick told her to.” Tempest surmised, leaning back against November’s warm flank. She opened one eye to look at the approaching Vulpix. “Did Pwince Dawwyn kick you out?”

November snorted a laugh and nudged Tempest’s head with her nose – the closest they could get to a high-five.

<Peasants.> Lady spat, strutting past them quickly.



Romeo lifted his head instinctively as Lady approached. Unlike the majority of Darryn’s Pokemon, Romeo had no trouble making friends and had found himself snuggled inbetween Ashleigh, Fang, Ember, Cosette and Grondir.

“’Ello, Lay-lay!” He cocked his head to the side. Ashleigh’s head came up, too and cocked itself into the exact same angle. His tongue lolled out wetly. “You comin’ to sleep with us? That’s nice! We’ll make space!”

“Oo! Space here!” Fang edged himself sideways, budging Grondir to the side. The Ivysaur glanced at him with annoyance. “Lying by me is awesome – I’m all soft and warm and-”

<I’m not that desperate.> Lady sniffed. Fang blinked at her.

“No need to be rude, wee missy.” Odysseus said calmly from nearby. His and Tsunami’s eyes watching her impatiently. “We’re all friends here.”

<Speak for yourself.> Lady muttered, stalking on and up to where Mercury rested with Shadow, and Desertdancer. They watched her approach, somewhat surprised that she had decided to join them but none said anything. Sitting a little apart from the others, Lady lowered her head. A few minutes later, a slender blue arm lifted a small blanket onto the firefox’s back and the Vulpix finally relaxed.

Posted by: Master Houndoom Apr 5 2010, 05:01 PM

Fang snorted, disgruntled. His chance to have the Awesome Lady sleep next to him had been ruined by the tubby lump of chlorophyll next to him. Why'd he always have to ruin stuff by being there? Why hadn't he noticed that Grondir was such a twig and vine and bulb in the mud?

<<Stupid flower pot,>> he muttered under his breath. <<Could have had a nice enough cuddle, but noooo.>>

<<Don't talk about him like that,>> came a voice, and Fang turned to look into the glaring eyes of the turtwig. Fang rolled his eyes.

<<Careful, what you say to me, or I'll eat you!>> He bared his fangs in a wide grinned, gratified when she jerked back and away with a tiny shriek. He would have laughed, except just then a vine slapped him in the back of the head, hard enough to make his nose touch the ground.

<<Knock it off!>>

Grondir looked at him sideways. <<You're being a jerk. Quit it.>>

Fang stood and glared. <<Who's going to make me?!>>

Grondir glanced around. Fang was not himself, though it was no secret that he fancied the snooty vulpix, he usually didn't let things like this bother him. Perhaps the evolution could be blamed, but except for a predilection to believe himself better than he might be, Fang had, always, still been Fang. He gave a minute shake of his head to Odysseus and Tsunami, though Tsunami likely could have taken him. Cosette still shuddered next to Grondir, but Romeo and Ashleigh simply watched, which was fine. Fang had hopped out of the main pack, squaring off with Grondir, his hackles raising.

<<Well?!>>

Grondir sighed, turned his back, and said, loud enough to be heard, <<I'm not going to fight you, Fang.>>

<<That's what I th-->> A puff of powder came from the bulb on Grondir's back, enveloping Fang in a cloud of blue. <<You son of aaaaaaaa...>> He toppled over, fast asleep before he could get the rest out.

<<Hopefully you'll wake up as less of a jerk.>>

<<I'm sorry,>> Cosette said, downcast, before Grondir could say anything. He tilted her chin up with his vine.

<<Don't be. He's being a jerk today.>> Without noticing her blush, he gently wrapped a vine around her back and pulled her toward the group. <<I, for one, look forward to a peaceful night's sleep...>>

* * * * *

I don't know, Shadow... it's just a minor disturbance, but it's gone now. Mercury peered into the darkness. She could see the pinpoint of light that showed where Dante was, away from everyone else, sleeping alone. To the left of him, she knew, was the mass consisting of Fang, Grondir, Cosette, Romeo, Ashleigh, Odysseus, and Tsunami. There had been some noise, but now that was over. It had seemed, however, that the noise was a prelude to violence, and that didn't make sense.

I'm sorry, Mercury, I don't see or sense anything. There is a bit of unrest, but considering what happened the last time we camped out, I'm not surprised. Sensei Jaima, too, is tense and not sleeping. Perhaps there is something more to this than Lady joining us tonight.

Mercury let out a guilty smile. When I said there must be trouble tonight, because Lady's out here, I was only joking, Shadow... It was not lost on her that, for the first time since he evolved, he did not call or think of her as "Little Mercury", and she flushed a bit.

Shadow, however, did not smile. Perhaps, but perhaps you were simply being your usual observant self. A disturbance amoung friends where Dante is not, Lady sent out to sleep with the "rabble" he felt the gentle, playful psychic slap, but continued with only a small smile, Sensei Jaima's inability to sleep... separate, they may be nothing, but together...

Mercury put a paw to her chin. So, are we being made paranoid by a psychic attack, or are we being paranoid and there's nothing? She sighed.

It's only paranoia when they aren't actually out to get you. I'll gather Ramhorn.

He's in his pokeball. So is Rockclaw. I don't know why Rockclaw is, but Ramhorn prefers it.

Shadow sighed. Then we'll have to be extra vigilent. His eyes narrowed. We're being followed. And watched.

WHAT?! Why didn't you tell me?!

Shadow looked at her, wide eyed. You hadn't detected him? He was around Sensei DeBrody's place, but had disappeared, and now is back...

Mercury went from angry to distressed in record time. No! I was so busy, I... Cassandra said that she was going to do sweeps, so I didn't bother... I was...

Instead of looking stern, Shadow looked relieved. No, that's good, I mean... if Lady Cassandra didn't call attention to it, then it must not have been dangerous. Mercury didn't look convinced, and Shadow put an arm around her. Pay no mind. I am, to use your wording, paranoid.

* * * * *

Meiko was annoyed. She had awakened to find Eggheart gone, and was now standing outside of the tent Jaima and Darryn shared, listening to the soft breathing of a certain coordinator, and the gentle trilling of a sleeping happiny.

She huffed out a breath. Once again, Eggheart chose Darryn over her, and once again she was getting upset over it. It just... it wasn't fair!

"Why does she go to him over me," she growled gently under her breath.

"'Cause he's a soft touch."

Meiko whirled, wide eyed, one hand clenched, only to see it was Jaima. She stood up quickly, a hand over her heart, and walked to where the fire had been. She heard Jaima coming behind her.

"I'm sorry--"

"No," She interrupted. "It's OK. I just... I got startled." She was, suddenly, all too aware that she was wearing thin shorts and a chemise, and thanked the darkness that she couldn't be seen blushing. He, too, was wearing a pair of thin pants and no shirt. The night, suddenly, seemed warmer.

Schooling her features, she turned, looking up at him in the moonlight. His eyes, regarding her with concern, looked tense. "Couldn't sleep?"

"I keep expecting us to get attacked," he admitted, looking away. Meiko's heart softened, and she stepped up to him, hugging him so that her face was on his chest.

"You know, Jaima, it's..."

"Paranoia," Jaima interrupted in a bitter tone.

"Only when they're not actually out to get you, Jai-chan..."

"Which we are."

The two turned to face the source of the voice, and were blinded by bright lights. Blinking and gasping at the intensity of it, their vision cleared only enough to see a hand, near the source of the light, holding a gun. The only indication that this person wasn't alone was the sound of many feet, but whether they were human or pokemon feet, the pair couldn't say.

"Why don't you wake up your friends," said the voice, overly amused and menacing, "and we'll have a chat."

Posted by: Wolf Heart Apr 7 2010, 04:09 PM

Tuesday woke up abruptly, her head pounding in tune with her heartbeat and just as powerfully, some beast trapped inside punching the inside of her cranium. She let out a soft gasp and grabbed her head, curling up into a ball as tears immediately came to her eyes. When trying to recollect the sensation she’d had just before finding Cosette, she couldn’t accurately bring it to mind, but here it was again, only far more powerfully than it had been before. She was sure that, any moment, her head would split open. If only it would happen sooner and make the headache leave.

The compulsion to run, to escape, was sudden and prominent in her mind. Tuesday’s eyes flashed open, as golden as Eldorado, though she could not tell as much. All she knew was that, for just an instant, the headache vanished and her consciousness seemed to touch on something… else. Something more than what she usually noted when she was thinking. She did not know what it was, other than that it was both foreign and familiar, and then the feeling was gone, the headache was back, and the tent split open on the side opposite the entrance and Zorro stepped through the hole.

He bore a concerned look on his face, worry gleaming in his golden eyes, and Tuesday didn’t even think of admonishing him for ripping the tent. In a moment, she had grabbed his pokeball – she couldn’t even remember where she had put it – and recalled him. Pulling on her sneakers and not bothering to tie them, she grabbed her messenger bag and slung it over her shoulder, before slipping Zorro’s pokeball into a pocket in the side of her shirt.

She let out a cry of surprise and pain when someone gruffly grabbed her by the hair and yanked her head back. She found herself staring into a set of cruel eyes belonging to an older man with a snide grin on his face.

“Now, now, we can’t have that.” He grabbed Zorro’s pokeball out of her hand, his grip never releasing her hair. There were tears running down Tuesday’s cheeks from the combined pain of her hair being pulled and the headache, though the latter was the far worse pain. The man ignored her pain without remorse and tightened his grip, twisting his hand to wrap the strands around his fist. “You’ve been a naughty little bitch, haven’t you.”

Before Tuesday could open her mouth to say… something – let me go, why are you doing this, stop hurting me – she didn’t know what, the man had stepped out of the tent entrance and yanked Tuesday behind.
Tuesday let out a cry of pain as she was gruffly pulled by her long curls, even as she stumbled and lost her footing. She whimpered low, crying, and the man yanked her sharply and shoved her forward.

“Hey! Let her go!”

The grip on Tuesday’s hair released and she collapsed to her hands and knees on the ground, sobbing and clutching her head, as a tall form moved past her. Jaima’s arm pulled back before he had reached his destination and his fist rushed forward, slamming directly into the face of Tuesday’s tormentor.

The man jerked back with a muffled cry and a curse, his hands flashing up to cup his face as blood began to spurt from his nose.

In an instant, the gun in the leader’s hand moved to point directly at Jaima’s face. “My move.”

There was a sharp, barking snarl that mixed with a cry of fright, as Ashleigh broke fear of the man holding him and lunged forward. Leaping, his entire body slammed into the gunman’s as his large fangs sank into the man’s arm.

The man howled in pain as the houndoom snarled, sinking his fangs deeper, and he brought the butt of the pistol down, hitting Ashleigh sharply between the eyes. The large dogreleased his grip with a yelp and collapsed to the ground, jerking in pain.

“Ashleigh!” Tuesday cried.

“Shut up, all of you!” the gunman shouted, waving the pistol around with his bloody arm. He pointed the gun at Tuesday. “Do not speak again,” he ordered. Tuesday whimpered, ducking low, and nodded almost imperceptibly. “I want all of the pokemon in their pokeballs and all of the pokeballs there!” He pointed at a point on the ground between the four other men, where a series of pokeballs were already piled. “Anyone who disobeys gets to watch as I start shooting.”

Tuesday shivered as she sat on the ground, legs folded under her, clutching her head. She kept trying to calm her breathing, but her headache had evolved from simply pounding to sending sharp pains through her skull, as though someone was stabbing her repeatedly with a needle in the head. The light of the distant fire made her eyes ache and colors seemed to dance in front of her. She whimpered involuntarily in pain.

“Shut up!”

“Tuesy, are you okay?”

“I said NO TALKING!”

Tuesday ducked her head, her eyes squeezed shut as she shook her head from side to side. No, no, she wasn’t okay. She wasn’t okay at all.

Posted by: Living Arrow Apr 7 2010, 04:53 PM

<Trainer Darryn!>

<Prince Darryn!>

“Woooah!” Darryn sat bolt upright in the tent, his head brushing hard against the low, angled ceiling. He blinked away his momentary blindness in the dark and coughed, rinsing the stars out from his eyes with a few generous squeezes of his eyelids.

<Lady! Don’t do that!> He berated the Vulpix from within his tent, annoyed since his involuntarily sudden movement had woken Eggheart and the baby’s little face immediately turned grumpy. Darryn licked his dry lips. <And why-> He paused. <Mercury?>

<There are men!>

<Danger, Prince Darryn!>

“Aww crap!” The Co-ordinator hissed to himself, tugging on a baggy hooded sweatshirt and fumbling around for his Pokeballs. Eggheart’s grumpy face turned to a confused face, her arms waving for Darryn to pick her up. He did so, not too gently which supplied him with a curt'PI!', and stuffed her up the sweater just before the tent door was ripped open.

“Out.” Came the cold, hard order.

Darryn obeyed swiftly, his hands completely empty. The shadowed man indicated for Darryn to move to where he could hear the others near the main campfire site and stooped to rummage in the tent. The Pokeball belt was the first thing he found.

“Hey!” Darryn took a step forward. A gun rose to point at his face.

“Back off, pretty boy.” The man sneered, his command instantly taking effect. Darryn’s skin ran cold as ice as he moved away and toward the group. Lady was watching him approach with concerned eyes which hid little, if any, amount of anger that was boiling in her.

Where Darryn found the others, he also found a great deal of fear. They had been through a lot before but armed men?! With guns?! This was off the scale. Dark shapes were also presenet nearby – a clear indication that these men had Pokemon back-up. Darryn knew he would regret it later but he also knew that his other sight would be able to tell him a lot more of what was going on. He surrendered to the emotaglows and read them at speed.

He had never expected the colour of fear to be blue but that was what it was – the sort of blue that made up the shadows on icy landscapes and made you want to shiver even if you were completely warm. The woods were practically brimming with it with so many humans and Pokemon nearby but other colours broke through, too. A lot of angry red, malicious purple and tired green swam around the edges of Darryn vision and then there was Tuesday. Darryn gulped.

“Tuesy, are you okay?” Jaima asked, his presence seeming to surround her completely like a protective shield.

“I said NO TALKING!” One of the men roared, waving a gun menacingly at them.

<Lady?> Darryn avoided his vocal chords. <Tuesday’s in a lot of pain – what’s going on?>

<They dragged her by the fur on her head.> Lady responded immediately, not moving closer to Darryn from her spot next to Mercury. They were positioned very close to one another, Shadow towering over them both. <And her… abilities are causing a lot of trouble for her.>

<How is everyone else? Are they->

“Haha! That kid pissed himself!” There was harsh laughter as the men pointed at Darryn and sniggered. Darryn looked down at himself. A growing patch of dark was spreading out on his crotch, covering him with hot, itchy dampness.

“It’s not piss!” Darryn retorted, trying to cover himself up with his arms. “I just… I just…” He looked around for inspiration. He could hardly tell everyone that Eggheart had been the one to wet herself as that would just give her over to the men… Meiko’s eyes caught him from across the campfire. “I rolled on some eggs on the way out of the tent… yeah… the eggs were in my tent.”

“YOU ROLLED ON THE EGGS?!” Meiko gasped, starting to move towards him. A gun was aimed her way almost instantly.

“Er… yeah? The eggs were in my tent but don’t worry – I managed to save a few…” Darryn looked at her pointedly. Meiko’s frown was still intent. “You don’t need to worry about the eggs, though. You know how much I like them in my belly.” He patted his sweater flat for the briefest of moments, showing off his newly grown pot-belly. Meiko blinked.

“Oh, riiight!” She nodded slowly. “I’m glad we still have some eggs… You know how much I love eggs.” The last bit carried a hint of a threat that may have well said 'hurt my eggs and I'll hurt your face'. Even so, her Emotaglow waved pink momentarily. Relief. Darryn nodded slightly to her.

“Damn, SHUT UP!” The man with the gun had been watching the entire exchange, paralysed by what he was hearing. Now, however, he just looked confused and annoyed. “All Pokemon in their balls!” He used his gun to point at a spot on the ground where all of the Pokeballs were collated near his flunkies. “The red-head first.”

Posted by: Master Houndoom Apr 7 2010, 09:29 PM

They could now see four people beyong the intense bright light that had shone on Jaima and Meiko when this all began. Meiko had started shivering the moment she saw the shiny, metal object in the glare of the bright light. A gun. Someone had brought a gun. Why would anyone bring a gun?

Not for the first time, she wished she'd not put Chompwater in the box. Not for the first time, she vowed to get her feraligatr at the first possible opportunity.

There was a gun, pointed at them, and Meiko was terrified.

Her hands shook as the men dragged Tuesday out by her hair, and as Darryn was forced from his tent. She couldn't get her heart to stop racing, especially when Jaima charged forward and decked the man mishandling Tuesday.

She was both gratified that Jaima had come to the defense of the younger girl, who was obvious in a great deal of distress, and terrified when the gun moved to him, as she knew it would.

When they were children, and playing together, Jaima had always been quick to react, quick to put himself between his friends and any harm. He had been so quick to do so that he would, at time, anticipate trouble and make sure that the focus was on him at the start. She knew that, while he had calmed significantly while taking care of his family, that old instinct would rise when there was real danger.

It scared her, because now there was a gun, and now they were being forced to put away their pokemon, and putting themselves in danger on top of it.

Darryn had started to confuse her. She should have been quicker on the uptake, but she was dealing with so much information, such a huge shock, and so much constant fear that she didn't catch it in time.

And then it hit her. Jaima had Tuesday to take care of, and his instincts were honed by years of having a little sister who needed protecting (well, two). Meiko, who'd been an only child, had been more concerned about Jaima getting himself hurt than about protecting Tuesday, something she felt not a little shame over. But now it clicked into place, with Darryn's frantic code about having saved eggs.

She had Eggheart, who was hers to protect, and had one of these men tried to hurt her, Meiko, too, would have risked a gunshot to protect her.

She scowled as the gun pointed to her, no longer terrified, so long as it wasn't pointing at Jaima, Darryn, or Tuesday. Jaima moved to step forward, but she touched his wrist and he stopped, her fingers curled around it feeling the hammering of his pulse. He was terrified, wasn't fearlessly stepping into danger, and that, somehow, made her terror easier to bear.

"All pokemon in their balls! The redhead first!"

She cleared her throat. "I left my pokeballs in my tent. Let me go get them."

The man with the gun pointed it at her head, and despite her recent realization of bravery, she trembled. Jaima twitched to move in front of her, but she'd tightened her grip on his wrist to stop him. The man sneered.

"No funny business," he growled, looking her up and down and, evidently, deciding that she couldn't be hiding her pokeballs on her person. His gaze lingered a little too long, and Jaima had caught it, because he twitched as if he'd move again.

She went into the tent, slowly, grabbing her belt. With a quick motion, she pulled Eggheart's ball off of it and let it drop onto her sleeping bag, kicking it under the flap. She came out, holding her belt, with two empty slots. Then man with the gun shook it.

"Why are there two slots empty?!"

"I o-only have four pokemon with me," she said, swallowing thickly. The man turned to his companions.

"I only saw three when she first showed up." The voice was familiar, and Meiko bristled, but said nothing.

"I only have three out now..." She worked slowly, recalling her pokemon and dropping the pokeballs on the ground where the man had pointed.

Jaima went next, his jaw working as all six of his pokemon were recalled. He glared at the group in front of him, and made a point to stand toward the front as Darryn recalled his pokemon. Tuesday was pale and didn't move, her eyes hooded and, Meiko noticed with a double take, cloudy blue but ringed in gold, with a glazed, almost feverish quality to them. Her face was incredibly pale and there was sweat mixing with the tears on her cheeks. Her thick curls were messy and tangled from sleep and being manhandled, and she shook with small, almost imperceptible tremors. The man with the gun nearly hit her again, screaming at her to stop being a baby. Jaima stepped between them again, gently taking her pokeball belt and recalling her pokemon (had Danted glared at him then?) Finally, all the pokemon were in their pokeballs, save for Eggheart, who seemed to understand that she needed to be still, and quiet, and had not been recalled or discovered. The man with the gun stepped back.

"Are there any questions..? Comments?" He sneered at them. "Something you'd like to say, brave boy?"

"Yeah," Jaima growled, sending Meiko's stomach into fresh convulsions. "I'm going to make you eat that gun."

"Doubtful," he sneered, while the other man, who'd recognized Meiko as having three pokemon, chuckled. "You're not going to be here long enough to try."

Meiko nearly sobbed, waiting for the gun to come up and flash, sending them all to oblivion. Instead, the man they'd first fought stepped forward. "Yanmega!" he barked, sneering. "Whirlwind!"

The largest dragonfly she'd ever seen came into the light, blocking most of it out. With glowing red eyes, it's wings buzzed, the wind from it buffeting them. The pokeballs flew past them, and she saw Jaima struck in the head with one. Then the wind tore the ground from under her feet, and with a scream, she was airborne, spinning away. She could see Darryn, Jaima, and Tuesday all fly away, in separate directions, and when blackness enveloped her, she was surprised to sink into it without feeling the crunch of her body meeting the ground.

Posted by: Wolf Heart Apr 7 2010, 11:08 PM

She had not foreseen this.

Cassandra stood in the center of the field outside of DeBrody’s house, her eyes focused at some point in the distance, her attention still further away.

She could see the events as they were unfolding – the members of Team Deception attacking the camp, threatening the humans at gunpoint, imprisoning the pokemon in their pokeballs, and then separating them all with a massive whirlwind.

She had not foreseen this. Someone far more powerful than she was working to block her from seeing what was to come, and they had almost succeeded in keeping her from aiding them.

But she had just one more trick that she could pull. Just one more.

It will be enough.

Telekinesis was a gift that not many psychic pokemon retained in great amounts. Telepathy was a more common ability, with premonitions being the second most common. Cassandra, however, was somehow blessed with all three. Whether this was because of her connection with Brone, who relied heavily on his telekinetic abilities, or if it was a power in her own right, she did not know.

Nor, in the long run, did it matter.

Cassandra’s was a mind that was both aged and yet young. This was one of the traits that had earned her the name Mama Cass from more than just Mr. Postman. Others referred to her as Auntie or Grandma, never with an insulting edge, and except for the case of the feather-brained bird, Cassandra bore the titles in stride.

With age came wisdom, but with youth came strength.

Cassandra had both.

Her mind reached out – flashed out – erupted outward, exploding in a 360 degree circle of psychic energy that raced through the trees, dirt, grass, water, air and whole physical plane, righting what was wrong and stopping injury.

Rattata about to be the prey of hungry Persian suddenly found themselves surrounded by a shield of psychic energy that gave them ample time to escape. Buneary cowering before the snarling face of a starving houndour were abruptly teleported underground, into a tunnel dug by one of their kin. Pokemon everywhere bearing a hint of victimization abruptly found themselves safe. A mass of pokeballs raining from the sky in multiple direction suddenly slowed, dropping harmlessly to the ground, a few opening and releasing their breathing burdens, others rolling to a stop.

And four humans, plummeting from the sky at opposing compass points, abruptly felt their descent slow, stop, and then they landed on the ground, relatively unharmed.

Cassandra, in a rare moment, came back to herself exhausted, thoroughly spent, wheezing for breath. She took a step forward, hoping to retain her balance, and lost all strength in her body.

Two strong but seemingly-frail arms caught her protectively and held her close.

“That was foolish.”

”Brone…”

“Hush now,” Brone whispered, his tone filled with emotion, with worry and pride and love. “Let’s get you inside. You need to rest.” He held her tightly but gently to him as he began to lead her inside.

Cassandra tried to reach out, to touch the humans she had just protected, but found herself blocked. Or not blocked… it wasn’t that something kept her mind from reaching them, but that she couldn’t reach out at all. There was no strength behind her telepathy, no force with which to push past the barrier that was never there with psychic pokemon. It was suddenly as though… as though she wasn’t psychic.

”Brone…” she whispered, her tone laced with fear. She felt the connection between their minds, but could sense that it originated with him – a link that flowed into her from his own mind. She hadn’t even the power to form a mental link.

He made a soothing sound, leaning his head against hers and assuring her with quiet gratitude, “It was enough.”

Tuesday blinked open her eyes and saw streaks of green across her vision. A smeargle had painted her face.

“Oh,” she said, pushing herself up and seeing the calf-high grass had broken her fall. She rubbed her face and found no paint. Perhaps she had been dreaming…

There were no tents around, no Zorro drooling or Tempest kicking him in the face for snoring loudly. Ashleigh wasn’t twitching his feet, chasing something in his sleep, with Odysseus nearby, dozing lightly, ready to wake at a moment’s notice. Dante’s light didn’t brighten the darkness.

She was alone.

Tuesday staggered to her feet immediately, the previous events returning to her in swift succession. There had been Team Deception and they had had guns and the pokemon were put in their balls and then there was a whirlwind. It happened in slow motion for Tuesday because her brain hadn’t been capable of processing anything quickly. She remembered the headache, ferocious and agonizing, and realized that it was gone now. How strange…

She looked around. She was surrounded by trees on all sides, with nothing familiar. She didn’t think that they had passed through this part of the forest, yet, which meant she could have been anywhere.

Tuesday bit her lip. Where had the others ended up? And the pokemon…

“Where would they go?”

Tuesday stared up at the sky. It was dark, but the moon was too low to help light her way and the stars gave off such a meager light as to only make the forest seem that much creepier. Still, she could see okay, well enough to travel, but she didn’t know which way to go.

Back to their campsite was foolish with Team Deception having been there, but they could easily be anywhere within the forest and Tuesday didn’t have any pokemon with her. All she had was her messenger bag, and she couldn’t well defeat that yanmega by stabbing it with her charcoal pencils.

Well, if it came down to that, she could probably poke out one of its eyes.

“Gross,” she mumbled.

The obvious solution was to find a pokemon or one of her friends first. Once she had the help of someone with better senses than her, it might be easier to find the others.

“Which way? Which way?”

Tuesday looked around, spinning in a circle. She closed her eyes and let herself continue to twirl for a long time, before stopping. Swallowing thickly, she mumbled to herself, “Okay, Tuesday. You’re supposed to have these great Aura powers.” She opened her eyes and stared at the dense area in front of her. “Let’s hope they work.”

With a compulsive gulp, she stepped between two trees, and began her search.

Posted by: Living Arrow Apr 8 2010, 11:40 AM

Darryn rose up into the air with frightening velocity, his hair whipping about his head like some sort of gyrating mop as he span upwards into the night air. Away from the ground, the only sounds that he could hear were the screams of his companions and the roar of wind in his head. He floundered helplessly, completely at the mercy of the errant wind, unable to control anything to do with his ascent.

“Jaima!” He yelled as he flew past his friend through the whirlwind, their hands mere inches from locking before they disappeared from each others’ view.

Still climbing higher, Darryn clutched the Happiny in his sweater to his stomach with one arm while flailing about with the other in the hope that he would somehow grab onto something or someone to hold on to. A Pokeball zinged by his face, whirling away at a shocking speed, the red and white capsule disappearing into the night within only a fraction of a second. A second, a third. A black one with red fire marking it, shaped in coloured clay. Another blue with white blotches that resembled splashing water.

Darryn’s arm snaked out to grab for the next one to go shooting by, recognising it as pink and white in the near dark, illuminated by the lights below.

“Lady!” He cried, her Heal Bell twirling out of his reach and fading rapidly into the night.

Eggheart clutched frantically to Darryn’s belly as they approached the top of the spout of air. The Co-ordinator turned his head upwards to see Meiko go screaming off into the night. Tuesday was nowhere to be seen and from the shout below him, Jaima was right behind him. Although not visible, the top of the whirlwind was definitely substantial – a lash of air that literally grabbed and threw whatever the spout below fed it. Darryn coughed with surprise as the air snatched at his body and flung him high and far through the air.

“Aaaaaah!” Darryn screamed, the dark sky rushing by in a blur as the dead black fingers of the treetops reached up to claim him for their own. Backwards, he crashed through thin branches, twigs stinging his body every time they whipped at him, before breaking into clear air again and heading right for the ground.

Squeezing Eggheart tightly, Darryn clamped his eyes shut and braced for impact…

...

“Ungh.” Darryn groggily rolled onto his side, Eggheart spilling out of his sweater and tumbling across the ground. He lay there for some time, gasping to regain his breath and dreaming up all sorts of possible reasons as to why he was still alive.

“Piny!” Eggheart tottered toward him, patting Darryn’s face with a soggy paw to get him to move before shoving it back in her mouth, chewing with worry. Darryn slid out of his dumbfounded skin and took her up in his arms, rising to his feet on shaky legs.

“That was… so weird…” He muttered, still unsure as to how he was completely unharmed – especially after falling so far. He looked down at the baby Pokemon in his arms. “Are you ok?”

Eggheart considered this before removing the worry-paw and sticking a metaphorical thumb to her little chest which she puffed out with pride.

“Pi pi pi! Happiny!”

“I’ll take that as a yes?” Darryn shrugged, looking around in the dark for some sort of clue as to where he was.

“HELLO!?” Darryn shouted into the night, straining his ears for a response. “JAIMA!? MEIKO!?” Nothing. “TUESDAY!?”

Silence welcomed Co-ordinator and Playhouse Pokemon, providing both with a shudder. With no reference point to work with, Darryn resigned himself to the powers within and searched for Lady.

<Lady? Are you out there?> Darryn asked, trying to somehow shout with his inner voice. <Mercury?> Again, nothing. He sighed and hoisted Eggheart to slid into the top of the sweater, both of them sharing the same head-hole.

“Looks like it’s just us for now…” Darryn muttered, kissing the back of her sweet-smelling head. “But don’t worry – we’ll find your mum in no time.” As he started his aimless search through the forest, Darryn really tried his hardest to follow his own advice but right there, right then, worrying seemed like the only option.

Posted by: Master Houndoom Apr 8 2010, 03:07 PM

One would think that, with the droning of a yanmega's wings nearby, one would be unable to hear anything else. Woefully, for Kuonji Jaima, that was inaccurate. He heard Meiko's scream first as she rose into the air, and then Darryn's yell of surprise. The clatter of moving pokeballs caught in the funnel, one of which struck him soundly in the head (it felt heavy, and for a shaky, unhinged moment, Jaima thought it was probably the one that held Zulu). He was taken seconds after Darryn, and caught a glimpse of Tuesday flying by, her arms outstretched at her sides as if she had control, her eyelids shut tight.

Jaima tried to rise to help, or be helped, by Darryn, but a gust sent them spiraling away from each other. He spotted Meiko in the distance. Pokeballs were everywhere, scattering farther and farther away from him and each other, distributing , it seemed, along the four points of the compass, and as they hit the top of the funnel, they rocketed away.

As did Jaima when he hit it, spinning, yelling, and, finally, blacking out.

* * * * *

It was a while when he woke up, but even then he stay still. His mind was a fog, uncomprehending, unwilling to think. If he could stay in this state, if he could keep his eyes closed and his mind unaware, then this couldn't have happened.

He couldn't have failed.

It was playing over and over in his head. Meiko's scream as she lifted off. Darryn's calling for him in the air. The rattling of pokeballs clashing together in a wind funnel. Tuesday's closed eyes as she drifted away from him. None of them had had the power to stop it, or even to change their trajectory, try as they might, but Jaima still felt guilty. He had survived, somehow. What were the chances that anyone else had*?

None, that's what. It was his worst nightmare revisited. His friends had died, and he couldn't do anything about it.

He couldn't find his pokemon. Mercury's voice didn't respond to his mental calls. He was more alone than he'd ever been.

"So, what? It's OK to take time if you can afford it, but what if you can't? Sometimes, son, you have to get up and get moving."

It was a familiar voice. He remembered the conversation that had produced the words that had sprung to his mind. He had not wanted to move to Johto. He'd wanted to stay where he was. But there was nothing for it, and finally his father had gotten fed up and firmly, but with understanding, told him he would have to deal with it.

In truth, it had been his mother that had motivated him. His father's words had fallen on sullen, deaf ears. It was almost as if the words had been lying in wait for a better situation, one in which they were perfect.

Jaima sighed. He had survived, so maybe one of the others had, as well. They might be hurt. He had to move.

He took the time to make sure he wasn't hurt, and was surprised to note that there was little more than a scratch or a bruise, from where he had hit the foliage or some of the pokeballs had hit him. Sure, his head hurt a little and his ears were ringing, but, for the most part, he was all right.

Now to find his friends.

He didn't turn to see the pale form behind him, translucent and glowing slightly. If he had turned, she would have disappeared. But Serenity smiled after him, worried but not overly about the way he wobbled as he walked. As she faded, she allowed herself a moment of self pride for having chosen a strong master for her daughter. Motivating him to go find his friends, both human and pokemon, had been the least she could do.

Posted by: Wolf Heart Apr 8 2010, 06:08 PM

Tuesday stumbled for the third time, the sharp thorned weeds snagging her pant legs. She tripped into a tree and leaned against it to kick and pull off the vines encircling her legs, giving a sharp exclamation as a thorn bit deep into the pad of her finger, drawing blood. She stuck the finger in her mouth with a whimper, pouting at the vine and kicking it viciously. She imagined it released her for its own survival, but she turned and jumped over another vine and into a small, clear area, before she could be snagged by another.

She hadn’t been wandering overly long, in comparison to some of their journeys, but an hour still wasn’t a small amount of time when you were hiking by yourself through a dark forest at night, without even an egg to keep you company.

Tuesday’s eyes hurt, both from her previous crying during the attack, and from lack of sleep. She felt somewhat lethargic, her limbs tired and her brain begging to go into power-saver mode. Part of her held every desire to simply lie down on the ground and go to sleep, but she had to find her friends. She had to know that everyone was all right. And what if Eggheart had been separated from everyone and was wandering around the forest alone, with no protection? It would be nothing for some hungry, nocturnal predator to come in and gobble her up.

Tuesday’s stride quickened at the very thought. Her pokemon were fairly capable of seeing well enough in the dark. Ashleigh’s and Tempest’s eyes were luminescent, and Dante had a constant flame burning on his tail. Zorro had been living perfectly well in a cave before Tuesday met him, and Odysseus seemed to her, somehow, well and able to take care of himself, though she wasn’t quite sure how this came to be such a confident sensation, or how a buizel would physiologically be adept at seeing in the dark.

It was some of the other pokemon that she was worried about, however. Beyond hoothoot and noctowl, bird pokemon were not adept at flying at night. Unless he was still confined within his pokeball, Bravo would likely be roosting in a tree, but then how would anyone find him? And what about predators?

Poor Cosette was so incredibly timid, and Grondir wasn’t build for nocturnal action. They were both creatures that thrived in sunlight.

And yes, the pokemon could easily remain in their pokeballs, but that didn’t mean they were safe. A pokeball smashed with a pokemon inside of it destroyed the pokemon as easily as if it were eaten by another.

A sharp howl in the distance seemed to accentuate Tuesday’s point and she swallowed thickly and attempted to quicken her stride. Her short legs didn’t allow for much, but she tried to stay alert as she continued her trek through the forest, looking for a friend.

The wind scattered the pokeballs in a haphazard, uncaring wave, casting them outward and far from each other.

There were twenty-one pokeballs in total, but there were five pokeballs that all held a familiar musky scent. They flashed out from the cyclone in a wave.

The first red and white pokeball, burning with an inner fire, flew through the air and through the canopy of a tree, scattering white apple blossom petals and hitting the ground. It rolled under a pile of dead maple leaves.

The second pokeball, charged and smelling like burnt fur, flew high and into a tree. It landed in a bird’s nest and just nudged a large brown egg before settling.

The third pokeball that raced through the air opened twenty feet off the ground.

The small, lithe jackal pokeball yelped loudly as he saw how high he was above the ground and hit the button on the pokeball. The ball reacted to his smack by flinging away in the opposite direction. It slammed against a rock, ricocheted back, and hit the riolu on the head. In a flash of red light, Zorro disappeared and the pokeball landed with a plop in the stream, and the current stole it away.

The fourth pokeball landed in the stream, as well, but was carried into a small pool on the side and kept from continuing down with the current by a series of rocks that kept the water still.

The fifth pokeball was different than the others. Dark blue, a great ball to be more precise, it rolled across a tree branch, bounced off of a rock, and clattered to the ground, where it flashed open and released a large dark dog.

Ashleigh looked around, growling low in his throat. His muzzle still had a little stain of red and his tongue still tasted blood. The scent of the man with the shiny poke-killer in his hand was firm in his nostrils, but another scent was stronger. The musty-book, inky scent of the runt. Raising his nose, sniffing the air, Ashleigh howled long and loudly, a fierce call into the night, and took off through the forest on long, swift legs.

Behind him, the great ball that always held him so memorably sat in the dirt and waited for someone to find it.

Five minutes later, a shiftry came through that same area. His large foot stepped down sharply and crushed the great ball into splinters and fragments underfoot. The angry tree-like pokemon roared in pain as the shards cut into his foot and he lashed out, striking only air.

Taking in the scent on the pokeball, he snarled low. With a maddened gleam in his eye, he followed the scent that had done him harm, leaving behind a shattered pokeball sprinkled with drops of blood.



The sound of muffled voices was what made Tuesday ignore the fact that she could hear the trickling of water just beyond them. She knew it wasn’t Jaima or Darryn talking, though the voices were distinctly male. They were older, of course, and deeper she could tell, as she moved closer to them. They also held no tenor of concern, and all of the pokeballs had been scattered, and all of them, as well. Jaima and Darryn and Meiko would be as worried about their pokemon as Tuesday was worried about hers. She also, in a small, internal voice, hoped that they might just being a little worried about her, too.

Tuesday kept her stride small, hoping that she didn’t trip over a tree root or crunch down too hard on a branch. If the men were Team Deception, as she assumed, even though she knew that assuming was foolish, she was sure that they had pokemon with them. She didn’t want to give them anymore help finding her; they already had keener senses than she.

As she moved closer, the sound of the stream became louder and worked in an attempt to hide the men’s voices, but she could still hear them, though they were faint and broken.

“… don’t see why… should have ended it then… there!”

“We follow… orders! Don’t… them.”

“… want that brat! Get… herself!”

“Stop… not worth… hold of yourself. It’s pointless to fight like this.”

Tuesday gasped softly, dropping to the ground on her stomach. The men had been talking while they were walking, apparently, and had stepped right up to their side of the stream. One of them stood at the edge, staring right at Tuesday.

“What is it?” The man who spoke stepped out from the shadows. He had a small red moustache and equally rusty hair, though he appeared to be balding in the middle.

“I thought I saw something moving over there,” the man standing at the stream said. He had short black hair and thin-framed glasses. His face was hairless and somewhat boyish, despite the deeper tone of his voice. He didn’t look like a bad guy. He looked kind of like Professor Oak might have, when he was younger. Tuesday began to feel a little hopeful.

“I don’t see anything,” said the balding man, squinting in Tuesday’s direction. He glanced back at his companion, his teeth gleaming in a grin. “You’re just paranoid, Griffin.”

“It’s just Jack, Eric.” Eric raised his hands defensively at Jack Griffin’s tone. The two stood talking for some time longer before walking off, back into the shadows, but Tuesday’s attention had been stolen away already.

Further down, to the left of the two men, there was a pokeball wedged under a rock.

It was easily recognizable by the shape and colors of the clay that formed its signature appearance.

“Mercury…”

Posted by: Living Arrow Apr 9 2010, 04:09 PM

The Repeat Ball crashed open, mysteriously activated by a psychic force as it fell from the heavens. November pranced clear of the falling ball and snorted angrily, tossing her head left and right, ready to fight off the attackers. She stomped and whirled in a dazed frenzy, unable to detect any of the other Pokemon or any of the humans that had been around her before.

*Oh, great. You’re lost in the woods, Novvy.* She stomped a hoof angrily and searched the darkness for anything familiar. *Lost and alone. Fan-freakin’-tastic.*

Despite her vanity, November was not a foolish Pokemon. In fact, she was pretty smart. Smart enough to know that Darryn was somewhere out there in the night, waiting to beautify her once more. Without him, she’d be dull and plain like she had been back on that hateful ranch. She was his utterly and completely now and she wanted for nothing more than to be in her ball, back on his belt.

*My ball!* November bent her head low and cast her flames about her to located the red-yellow-grey orb and found it lying open only a few feet away. Pushing it over to click shut with her nose, November picked up the Repeat Ball in her mouth and raised her head to look about her.

With nothing to guide her back to her trainer, she plodded aimlessly into the dark, silently hoping that Darryn would have a brush and a mirror for when she found him.

“Well, that’s just great.” Darryn muttered, kicking Poképoop off his shoe with mighty
flicks of his ankle. Despite his efforts, a fair-sized smear of the stuff could still be felt underfoot as he trudged in the near dark hopeing for a sign, any sign that his friends and his Pokemon were OK.

“Piny piny hap?” Eggheart peered over the top of Darryn’s sweater, trying to get a clear view of what he was doing down below but her lack of neck prevented such a vantage point. She settled, instead, for twisting around and burying her chest in his neck, fumbling at his chin for a hand-hold.

“Aww, Eggheart.” Darryn restrained the fidgeting baby. “Let’s just try to keep calm, eh? Why don’t you get some sleep in there?”

The Playhouse Pokemon pounded on Darryn’s chest twice with a snippy cry of “hap hap HAP!”.

“Geez! How does Meiko put up with you?!” He laughed, fondling her curly head and ducking under a low branch. He wandered further, completely lost with more than a little worry plaguing his thoughts. That was, until something shining white under the light of the moon caught his eye. A fallen Pokeball – the first sign he had that any of his companions was OK – was sitting in the crook of an exposed root, just waiting for him to pick it up.

*YES! It’s a Pokeball so it’s not mine…*

Eggheart cried for joy when she spotted the ball, too, struggling to be put down so that she could retrieve it. Darryn indulged her by setting her on the ground and waited for her to come tottering back with a grin of satisfaction on her tiny pink face.

“Oooh, what have you found there?” Darryn asked with mock surprise, inwardly laughing as the Happiny hoisted it theatrically.

*Please please please be Ramhorn! Or Dante! Or even DesertDancer!* He begged to himself as he clicked the release…



Flying through the air, two Pokeballs collided, grinding against each other as though battling without being activated. One, pink and white the other blue and white fought for control as they shot through the air on the wind, captured by a psychic energy radiating from miles away.

Together, the two balls clacked and whirred, plummeting toward a certain teenage red-head where they knocked together on impact with the ground, rolling to a stop at the trainer’s feet.

Posted by: Master Houndoom Apr 10 2010, 01:25 AM

Meiko sat up with a gasp. Blinking, she looked around. Something was off. Shouldn't she be in immense pain right now? She briefly checked her extremities, surprised to find that she had no severe injuries. The worst she could say was that her pinky hurt, and she knew for a fact that she'd been struck in the whirlwind.

She stood up, slowly, and stretched. The cold made her shiver, and she looked down. She was still dressed in the chemise and thin shorts she slept in. Despite the fact that no one was around, she could feel like a blush was creeping up her face and down her neck.

Blowing out through her nose, she took a step, careful not to set down too hard, lest there was a rock or a twig on the ground. Slowly, she began to move faster, gingerly. Her feet were not sensitive, per se, but bare feet in a forest was very seldom a pleasant experience.

As she stepped forward, she willed herself not to panic. If she was all right, if some miracle had saved her, maybe the same miracle had saved the rest of them. It was, then, only a matter of finding the others and praying she was right about that. And she could do both of those at the same time.

She took another step forward when a loud clack sounded over her head, and a pair of thuds right after. She crouched, looking around, her senses sharp. There, at her feet, were a pair of pokeballs, one pink with a pair of opposing white arcs around the button, and one blue with stylized waves fading to white from bottom to top.

Tuesday almost exclusively used pokeballs, with the one great exception being the great ball she'd caught Ashleigh with. Meiko was similar, though she had some Kurt Specials as well. Jaima decorated his pokeballs, but she had no idea what they were underneath.

She reached out and hit the button on the pink ball, calling forth Lady, then the blue, calling Victor. Two of Darryn's pokemon were her. The squirtle looked at her, disappointment and a mild look that looked like disgust flickering over his widely set features. Lady looked around, her eyes widening more in anxious terror, and she crouched as if to spring off.

Meiko put her hand on the vulpix' back, and instantly regretted it. The vixen pokemon spun, snarling and snapping at her hands, and it was only Meiko's reflexes, as well as the happy accident of her over balancing and toppling backwards, that saved her.

"Wait!" She got up on her knees and held her hands up. "Wait, wait..." She leaned back, looking at Lady's feet rather than her eyes. "I want to find him too, OK? I do. And you're part psychic, so you can call to him? Right? Darryn said... said you could make Toshiro think he was a four year old girl... so that means you're pretty powerful, right?"

Lady's eyes narrowed, but she said, nor thought, nothing. Meiko swallowed thickly. "It would be better if we were together." Lady arched her back, then sat, looking at Meiko with a look of haughty disdain. Meiko took it as a good sign, and looked at the squirtle. Blinking at his look of nauseated resignation, she held a hand out to him. "What about you? It's Victor, right? Can I count on you?"

He looked at her, shuddered, and pushed the button on his pokeball, recalling himself. Meiko sighed, and picked up both his ball and Lady's, who growled.

"I.. I can't leave it here, Lady..." she said, then offered it. "I'll carry it to Darryn for you, OK?" Lady snorted through her nose, turned, raised her tails, and trotted off, with Meiko following behind her, clenching her jaw as a stone or stick jarred against her foot with the pace Lady was setting.

* * * * *

The pokeball had crashed to the ground and bounced, once, twice, then hit a large rock jutting on the ground. Though there was no damage to the ball, the call out button was depressed, and out popped a turtwig, looking around and swallowing.

<<If this isn't a recipe for being eaten, I don't know what is.>>

She swallowed and stumbled forward, looking around, shaking. Every step brought a fresh vision of a huge steelix with a wide opened maw, or a golbat with a wide opened maw, or a happiny with a wide opened ma-

...

That's silly, even for me...

And then, suddenly, she was confronted by something that looked like nothing more than a wide opened maw. With a scream, she jumped back, panting, as the eyes just above the mouth looked down at her.

<<Wh-who are you?!>>

The huge mouth closed, but that didn't make it any clearer of the identity of the pokemon. When it spoke, it's voice was deep and seemed to echo, but otherwise was quite intelligent.

<<I'm called Swalot. At least, that's what I call myself. I rather like it. I do, after all, swallow a lot.>> He smiled at her, and the effect, of a wide, wide mouth stretching out almost wider than the face it was attached to, was frightening.

<<Y-y-your'e... you're not going to... to eat me, are... are you?>>

The look the swalot gave her was not a hungry one, but a pensive one. <<I hadn't given it much thought. I suppose I could. I do eat a lot of things, and many of them are larger than you. But I've just eaten you see...>>

<<OK!>> Cosette began to back away. <<So I'll... I'll just go... go this way, and you... you go that way... and no one has to be eaten...>> She attempted a smile, but knew it was unsuccessful.

<<But, you see, you've got me thinking... and when I think, I do get hungry... and you're a convenient snack after all.>>

Cosette's breathing began to gt rapid, and she turned, running. Unfortunately, the large... MOUTH... knew how to move, and was keeping pace with her. She screamed as he called out, in a booming, deep voice, <<GET IN MAH BELLAY!>>

She dashed past a large bush, which rustled. Shrieking, she tried to shift away from the bush, and tripped, rolling past it into the tree on her back. A shape came out, snorting, with long, waving vines, and Cosette had just opened her mouth to scream out, <<Don't eat me!>> when recognition stole the words from her mouth.

<<No one is eating anyone!>>

* * * * *

Jaima was not happy. His feet hurt, his head hurt, and he was separated from his friends, and worried about them, and his pokemon, Mercury wasn't able or willing or whatever in answering him, and he just wanted to lie down and DIE.

He lashed out with his foot at a pile of leaves, felt it connect with something solid, and hissed in pain. The object rolled out, a plain pokeball, and Jaime pounced on it. It was well used and slightly worn, and it was warm to the touch, like it had been sitting in the sun all day, not in the cool night air.

He pressed the button and out came a red bipedal lizard. The charmeleon took one look at him and hissed, a long, mean sound that cause Jaima to back up a step.

"Huh," Jaima said, furrowing his brow. "I'm beginning to think you don't like me."

With a snort, Dante turned and began walking off at a brisk pace, keeping watch for his trainer.

Jaima followed, once and a while rebuffed by an ember attack. "Come on, Danted! I want her back, too! But I'm going to need help!" When Dante didn't answer, nor slow down, Jaima's hands came up at his sides, palms up.

"What do you think, another pokemon is going fall out of the sky?!"

Just then, a white ball with a red band around the middle fell from the branch above, where it had landed, into Jaima's hand. He blinked at it, and the appearance of it even made Dante stop and pay attention. Jaima then looked up, holding his arms out as if to catch something larger than a pokeball, and called, wildly, "Do you think that our friends will fall out of the sky?!"

Of course, nothing happened.

* * * * *

Grondir walked with Cosette, who was still glancing at the now unconscious swalot with trepidation. She looked up at Grondir, then smiled, a slow, wide smile, and Grondir looked back at her and matched the smile.

Picking up her pokeball, he set it on top of his bulb. Cosette looked up, and could see, next to her plain pokeball, another that was, by all appearances, covered in vines.

They looked good together.

* * * * *

"You think they made it?"

"Nah! They were hurled into the air, then scattered. No way they're alive"

A gruff voice, the one that had made the little girl wince, snorted. "Guys. Guys. What have I told you?"

The other two looked at each other, then the one who'd been talking about their deaths raised a finger. "Never trust a twerp to die when they need to."

"Right." The boss released a large, glowering typhlosion. "Burn it. Burn it all."

Without a sound, without any indication that he'd heard or cared, the typhlosion snarled and opened his mouth, releasing gouts of flames that started the forest on fire.

Posted by: Wolf Heart Apr 10 2010, 09:25 PM

“This is the stupidest thing you’ve ever done,” Tuesday admonished herself. “Completely irrational… what the crap are you thinking?” Tuesday stared down at the creek rushing below her and swallowed thickly. “I’m gonna die.”

Crossing the creek was out of the question; Tuesday was too terrified. She knew she couldn’t do it, so she had turned to the next best option.

That was to climb the rocks that formed a sort of natural, precarious bridge, under which the creek ran. It might have sounded easy, but the rocks were slippery and didn’t sit firmly against one another. Tuesday had slipped a number of times and, right at this moment, hung down from the bridge rocks, her fingers wedged into a crack, while her legs kicked for a hold. She had fallen when one of the rocks crumbled beneath her feet and went rolling off into the creek, and now she had a precarious grip on the only thing keeping her from falling into the water.

That wasn’t the worst part, in Tuesday’s opinion. The worst part was that Mercury was only ten yards away, her pokeball wedged under a rock, and the members of Team Deception that she had seen had made themselves a campsite right there, of all places.

Tuesday had tried calling for Mercury, to see if the psychic pokemon could break free of her prison. Either the kirlia couldn’t break free, or she couldn’t hear Tuesday, because the girl couldn’t risk calling any louder for free of being detected.

“There,” Tuesday hissed, as she swung her leg up and worked to pull herself back on top of the bridge. She sat, breathing deeply for a moment, and staring out across the rest of the rocks. It was hard to see in the dark, but she thought she saw the one thing that would keep her from crossing on the rocks.

A big gaping hole in the center of her bridge.

“Crap,” she mumbled. I should have thought of this from the beginning, but… Tuesday looked down at the creek and shuddered. There has to be another way across.

She climbed down from the rocks, slipping on occasion and eventually falling at the end and landing on her rear rather harshly. Wincing and rubbing her sore bottom, Tuesday carefully walked near the edge of the creek, wary of the waters that lapped up at her, trying to find a way across that didn’t involve… crossing.

If I had a pokemon with me, they could go and get Mercury’s ball. Tuesday winced. That didn’t even sound right.

I can’t just leave Mercury’s pokeball there. They could find it, and who knows what they would do to it. She thought about the gun that had, for a time, been pointed at her head. Actually… yes, I know exactly what they would do if they found her. Tuesday thought about the pretty kirlia with the beautiful blue crest lying injured or… or worse, on the ground. If Tuesday left her here, that could happen, and it would be all Tuesday’s fault, because she was… frightened.

Tuesday inched to the edge of the creek, staring down. She shuddered despite herself and looked up, over at Mercury’s pokeball. She was standing right across from it, with only the creek and the rock holding it keeping her and the ball separated.

It’s not really so much, Tuesday thought, trying to reassure herself. This might even connect back to the other creek, and I crossed that with Jaima. Everything was okay, then. We made it across perfectly fine. She whimpered slightly, crossing her arms. I wasn’t alone then, though.

“Mercury…” Tuesday slapped her palms to her forehead and took a deep breath. “Okay, Tuesday, you can do this. Stop being a baby.” She lowered her hands, drew a deep breath, and stared defiantly at the creek. “Let’s do this!”

She stood there for about a minute, before letting out a soft wail at her predicament, and jumping into the creek.

When Ashleigh ran, he felt like he could fly. He felt like he was the fastest creature on four legs, that he was unstoppable, untamable, unmatchable. No one could ever be as fast as him.

So it took him completely by surprise when someone was suddenly keeping stride with him.

Golden as a rod of lightning, Romeo kept pace with Ashleigh. The houndoom did everything to avoid making it easy for him. He sped up, dashed from side to side, leapt over fallen trees, dashed up rocky slopes, leaping down the other side, and ran as fast as he could over the ground. Romeo never faltered.

It was like a battle without touching, without attacking, and they agreed to have it end in a stalemate, perfectly content to let the other be their match. Ashleigh finally slowed to a trot, Romeo slowing with him, and they both collapsed to the ground, panting with smiles.

As they regained their breath, however, they also regained their memories of why they weren’t with their trainers.

“You haven’t see Danny?” Romeo asked, looking around as though the boy would pop up at any moment from the grass, ready to train them.

Ashleigh shook his head from side to slide and slopped his tongue up to lick his nose. He huffed loudly, his body settling into a more comfortable position. “No,” he said, crossing his left paw over his right and leaning his head down on them. ”I’ve been following the runt’s scent. I can smell her clearly.” He hesitated, regarding Romeo with a look on contemplation. ”You could come with me to find the runt.”

“I needs to find Danny.”

Ashleigh nodded in understanding. It was hard to imagine the houndoom as calm and thoughtful, or as anything that didn’t involve silliness and some manner of stupidity. Only Tempest so far had been privy to the knowledge of exactly how smart the houndoom was.

During their stay at DeBrody’s, Ashleigh had found that there was a lot of fun to be had in chasing the mareep around the pasture. To the simple observer, it would have looked like nothing more than a dog amusing himself with chasing a rather stupid flock of cottonballs around the field, and his insistence on calling them “fluffy piggies” surely didn’t make him appear all that intelligent. However, his conversation with Tempest had revealed to the pikachu that Ashleigh wasn’t all that he appeared to be. He was, surely, not as foolish as he let people think.

Running in a pack on the streets had taught Ashleigh that those who were stronger we at the top, and those who were weak were at the bottom. If you were too weak, you lost your place in the pack, but if you were a threat, you were dealt with. Ashleigh had learned quickly that knowing something was sometimes incredibly useful, as though as you were careful not to reveal how much you knew until the time was right.

Ashleigh wasn’t sure that even Tempest would have believed him if he had admitted to her that chasing the mareep was a form of personal training. On the streets, they had hunted rattata and the occasional pidgey. With the runt feeding him, Ashleigh didn’t have much need to hunt, and so he would lose a lot of the strength and speed he got from that necessity if he didn’t keep up a firm regiment of training.

Chasing mareep around a field tested his speed, his ability to make split-second turns, dodge around too-slow pokemon and leap over prairie holes. It was this training and his life on the streets which allowed him to be such a great battler. As a houndoom, his defenses weren’t very good, but he knew this, and that knowledge helped him. If he didn’t have a good defense, then he would simply have to counter that with a good speed. That’s why he was a good battler; because he could think ahead, and because he was smart, even if he made sure he didn’t show it.

“I need to find the runt,” Ashleigh said, sitting up and looking at Romeo. ”I have her scent and she’ll be easy to find. If you come with me, we can find her and then lead her to your Danny.” He growled low in his throat at the thought of their enemies. ”We’re stronger in a pack.”

Romeo stared at him for a long time, before nodding, and they two raced off again.



Visions of that attack so long ago flashed like snapshots through her head. In her mind’s eye, she saw the feraligatr’s great maw open to release a water attack that she had actually not seen initiated until the very last moment, but her imagination filling in the gaps. The jet of water, so fast and overwhelming consumed her, and then there was darkness like the night in which she stood, and cold like that which surrounded her legs.

The water came up to her waist. It wasn’t actually moving that quickly, but to Tuesday it rushed toward and around her like an enemy, as though she were a rattata being circled by a Persian, over and over and over again.

Tuesday had her teeth clenched tightly together as she waded through the creek, wincing every time she felt the ground shift beneath her or the water lapped too high. It seemed to take forever to cross the creek, but then she was across, stumbling toward the rock that had Mercury’s pokeball trapped.

She dropped to her knees next to the rock, reaching under it to the cul-de-sac and wrapping her fingers around the pokeball. It was wedged harder under the rock than she had thought, and Tuesday had to wiggle it back and forth and work it roughly out of its trapped position. She could almost hear the rock scraping against the clay that decorated the ball, and Tuesday winced when she had to pull sharply on the ball. She finally did manage to pull it out, but she let out a groan when she looked at it. The clay was scratched and scraped, the decorative ball ruined. Tuesday hoped Jaima wouldn’t be too mad.

You haven’t ever seen Jaima mad,” Tuesday thought sharply, slightly annoyed at herself. Granted, there had been that time on Mt. Carello when he had taken a swing at that… man, but that had been in an attempt to protect them all. Tuesday had never seen Jaima mad at any of them. She wondered if he was even capable of getting truly mad.

Tuesday stood up, Mercury’s pokeball clutched tightly in her hands. She held the scratched and scuffed ball close as she warily regarded the creek. She really didn’t want to have to cross it again.

A twig snapped behind her and Tuesday turned sharply to see a pair of crimson eyes staring at her out of the shadows. Tuesday took a step back, her breath catching. “M-Mercury,” she whispered.

The pokeball burst open, Mercury appeared in a flash. She had herself positioned in front of Tuesday, but her eyes had widened with the realization that she could not sense this enemy.

“Aw, dang…”

Posted by: Living Arrow Apr 11 2010, 12:46 PM

“Trust my flaming luck!” Darryn moaned, folding his arms and pouting down at the Pokemon that had materialised from the unmarked Pokeball. It glared up at him menacingly, clicking its claws back and forth like a petulant child.

Eggheart tottered back to Darryn, equally unimpressed and held her arms up for the Co-ordinator to lift her. Once back up in his embrace, she pulled a face at the Corphish facing them and blew a raspberry. The orange crab clacked its claws angrily and danced from foot to foot in a rage.

“Calm down, claw-thingy.” Darryn rolled his eyes. “You’re going back in the ball anyway…” As he raised the Pokeball, Darryn’s ears picked up the sound of snapping branches and the rustled of leaves. He span to face it, Rockclaw following suit. Somewhere in the darkness nearby emanated a viscious growl.

“Oh, just perfect. We get attacked and all I’ve got with me is a baby and an overgrown shrimp… F.M.L.”

All three tensed up as the hidden presence drew nearer, the sound of parting foliage heralding its arrival…

“Siiiir!” It hissed a warning, lumbering towards Darryn with giant, crushing claws atop its head. Giant claws that would have no problem cracking an egg like the Happiny in Darryn’s arms or even the boy’s skull itself.

“Nargh! A Pinsir!” Darryn edged backwards, his hand covering up Eggheart’s mouth as she began to squeal. “Er, Rocky? Is it Rocky? Rockface? Whatever it is – go tell that bug to bug off… You’re a bug, too… Right? So it’s kinda like a relative… Isn’t it?”

Rockclaw clacked his pincers angrily and turned on Darryn, advancing on the Co-ordinator from the other side. Crushing claws one way and slicing pincers the other… Darryn was ready to give up there and then.

“Haphaphaphaphap… PINY!” Eggheart pounced on Rockclaw with a wail, punching the Corphish full-force in the crusty face. With a cry of ‘Cooooor’ Darryn hled up the Pokeball and recalled its sorry ass.

“Thank’s, Precious!” He grinned, the Playhouse Pokemon turning around and waggling her hand at him. “Oops, sorry Eggheart!” She laughed and saluted comically, running back to run to face off against the real opponent. Darryn stepped around her to put himself between the baby and the monstrous bug. “I guess this one is up to me…” He gulped, stooping to pick up a stout stick. He hefted it in both hands and grit his teeth. The Pinsir advanced slowly but surely, its talon-like hands flexing as it prepared to attack… Something red and spherical flew out of nowhere, hitting the Pinsir firmly in the head. Both the bug Pokemon and Darryn blinked with confusion, not knowing what to make of the sudden interruption.

Flames illuminated the night in a flash, blinding Darryn and his foe in an instant. He heard the sound of the Pinsir cry out angrily and blinked away his daze as quickly as possible, swinging his stick from left to right wildly. He felt Eggheart bump into his leg as she staggered about in her own daze, giggling all the while.

“Keep away!” Darryn yelled at his surroundings, swinging the stick as the smallest of noises. “I mean it! Stay away or I’ll-”

A warm, long nose pressed itself into Darryn’s chest and all tension left him. A smile crept onto his lips as his vision slowly returned and the flickering blaze of November’s mane steadied itself before his eyes. Laughing brown eyes looked up at her trainer’s face and slender hooves pounded the sod under foot with a happy rhythm.

“November!” Darryn hugged the Ponyta’s head and kissed her brow. “You found me!”

November lifted her head and rolled her eyes as if to say “well, durr!” but the reunion was shortlived. The Pinsir had recovered much faster than expected and before they knew it, human and Pokemon were separated by a mighty swish of the stag beetle’s horns. With Revenge packing a powerful punch, Darryn hit the ground hard and instantly felt pain wrack his elbow where he had landed. He looked up quickly to find November already back on her feet, screaming her defiance and rearing up to flail madly at her attacker as he advanced.

“Do it, November!” Darryn cried.

As though the command triggered it, the Ponyta began to glow with an incandescent light, pure white filling her every atom. Slender legs became longer and stronger, flames roared out to a longer length and her body swelled to a much larger size. Towering over the Pinsir, November’s new form sprouted a single needle-sharp horn from the center of her forehead and before they knew it, a new Pokemon was standing in her place. Darryn gasped with awe as the sparkling lights of evolution glimmered around his Pokemon’s body like a myriad of fireflies and grinned when he saw the gleam of battle in the once-timid equine’s eye.

“Use Morning Sun!”

A shaft of gleaming golden energy erupted from November producing a column of light that extended high up into the heavens, reaching the clouds in the late night air. It lasted only a few seconds but when it ended, Darryn knew that the battle was already won. He got to his feet to see the Pinsir backing off from the Rapidash slightly with a wariness about it that hadn’t been there before.

“Let’s go with a Flame Wheel.” Darryn smiled to his fire-type, confident that his November would finally have a win to her name before the night was through.

Lady glared back over her shoulder again to ensure the girl was keeping up. She was stuck with the most pathetic of the humans that chose to accompany her Prince and that made her mad. Real mad. The male, she could have dealt with – he was respectable, a decent trainer and he new how to fight. The girl-child had powers beyond all of the others and also had some skill to defend herself with thanks to the yellow-haired male. But this girl… What did this girl have that was of any use? Nothing. That’s what.

<Prince Darryn!?> Lady blasted the message out again, still receiving absolutely no response from the darkened wilderness.

She trotted onwards, the footsteps behind her signalling that the one named Meiko was still following her. That’s the way it should be – why should she follow the human when she had no skill too speak of that deserved respect? The Squirtle knew it, too – why else would he have been so uncaring about landing with the red-haired human?

<Chrome?!> Lady called Mercury but again, no response was heard.

"It would be better if we were together." The girl had said. Better for who? For the girl, obviously. Not for the Vulpix.

A crunch and thud sounded from behind. Lady reacted instantly, flipping in the air and blasting a wave of psychic energy to gather information from the surrounding dark. All muscles tensed and she darted in the direction of the Meiko-girl, igniting her fire sac to maximum power. She slowed up and relaxed when the returning psychic echoes made clear what had happened. The girl had tripped. Irritated eyes were found upon the female’s face as she got to her feet and brushed herself off. When she saw lady standing there, however, a different look came over her features.

“Oh… There’s no need to worry. I’m fine, see?”

Lady raised her nose and turned away.

<I am not worried.> She declared to the girl, breaking the silence she had instigated. <But Prince Darryn would be upset if you… Try to keep up.> She trotted off once more, slowing her pace so that the girl was no longer so far behind.

Posted by: Master Houndoom Apr 12 2010, 03:43 PM

Jaima pressed the button on the premier ball. He was not surprised when Bravo came out of the ball, rose high in the air, and spread his wings, giving forth a ringing cry, sending feathers in a lattice pattern around him.

He was surprised when the bird looked down, squawked once, and flew in a circle, looking frantically for what Jaima assumed to be his trainer.

"He's not here, Bravo." The bird did not react to his voice, not right away. When he was in Bravo's field of vision, Bravo started, as if he hadn't seen Jaima before, and dove down, landing on Jaima's shoulder. Sharp claws pressed harshly into Jaima's flesh, as a warning, it seemed, and Bravo peered into his eyes.

"Geoh?"

Jaima looked into the bird's eyes, knowing he should make an effort to smile, or be friendly, but unable to do so. He settled for no reaction. "I don't know where he is, but I'm going to find him, all of them. I need your help. I need you to fly out and scout, see if you can find them."

Bravo did not move. He merely narrowed his eyes and jutted his head forward, nearly pecking Jaima in the face. "Pid! Geo tto pidge!"

Jaima blinked. "Bravo, we need to find them!" Jaima gently pulled Bravo off of his shoulder, hissing when the talons didn't loosen, leaving long, white scratches on his skin, and put the pidgeotto on his forearm, in front of him. He was heavier, but Jaima made the effort to hold him up. "Now go scout!"

With a mighty heave, Jaima tried to goad Bravo off his arm by raising his arm rapidly, but the bird merely hung on tighter, refusing to leave his arm. Jaima tried again, but Bravo's grip, if possible, only got tighter. Finally, Jaima's arm fell, in fatigue, and Bravo fluttered off, landed on the ground, looked at the blonde trainer with a look of mingled disdain and frustration, as one would look at the village idiot, and snorted.

Dante chortled nearby, looking at Jaima, even pointing. Jaima huffed. "I know, I know... awesome..." he muttered.

* * * * *

Not awesome!

Fang's pokeball had landed, rolled, and, in a fit of curiosity, a treecko gave chase, catching up to it and trying to grab it, but the speed and the fact that the ball was bouncing on the uneven ground made catching hard. The treecko managed to get a digit to hit the ball, right on the button, which released the pokemon inside into a tumbling sprawled mess.

"Treeck!" cried the plant pokemon, scampering away. The object of his fear, however, was not fearful at all, but instead was in the most undignified position his species could be in without the addition of frilly pink clothing; rump in the air, head on the ground, mouth wide open and drooling.

He woke up, shaking his head. What had hit him? The question was forgotten, instantly, at the appearance of a bare field, and trees, and his ball, but no pokemon, no trainers... no one.

His heart clenched. Memories seeped past his shock, and his ears drooped. Had he really been that big of a glameow, snarling at Grondir and threatening to eat the kid?! Had they left him over it?

He'd been abandoned once, but his ball kept telling him that Jaima was awesome and wouldn't do that! Had his ball lied?

But there it was, over to the side, abandoned, with the special decorations that his master had put on it, letting him watch, not yelling at him, not even the time he'd gotten paint all over his paws...

But it wasn't broken. It hadn't been snapped in two like the other one had... so why was he abandoned?

He went to the pokeball, and was going to put himself back inside it, but he smelled smoke. At first he thought maybe Zorro was playing a trick, but then he realized... that wasn't just a little smoke.

So maybe he'd been forgotten, or dropped, or... not abandoned. Maybe...

He grabbed the ball in his mouth and ran, looking for someone, anyone, because even if he'd been abandoned, and even if that smoke wasn't too close to him, yet, they were out there, somewhere, and probably closer to the smoke.

He ran.

* * * * *

Meiko mumbled under her breath, well aware that the vulpix could hear her, but not caring. For the most part, her brief anger at Lady's uncaring attitude had passed anyway. Now she was grousing about Team Deception ruining yet another night. It didn't help anything, but it kept her mind off of her aching feet.

"Ouch!"

At least, it had.

Meiko bent down and pulled the offending object away from the ball of her foot, not even looking to see if Lady had stopped. Holding it up in the sparse moonlight, she saw that it was arced and blue, broken into a point. Investigating further, she saw bits of machinery and more shattered parts.

It had, once, been a great ball. Now it was a twisted wreck, but, worse, there were some sap-like oozings on it.

Then Meiko remembered. Tuesday had had a pokeball just like this on her nightstand in Arasam after she'd run away. It was the ball she'd caught Ashleigh in.

"Oh, no," she moaned, blinking away tears. "Oh, Ashleigh..."

Lady's ears perked up, as Meiko began to gather the shards and pieces, sniffing. The sap might have been the blood of a plant type, but it still was distressing. She could barely hold the pieces, but she walked a little further and found, resting where it crashed in the middle of a strong smelling fern, a backpack. She pulled out a shirt from it, wrapping the parts in there, hefted it, then set it down, looking for, and finding, shoes; black oriental style slippers with rubber soles. Jaima's shoes.

Sliding them on her feet, where they hung like clown shoes, Meiko started forward, carrying Jaima's backpack and wiping away angry tears.

No one, not human or pokemon, deserved to die like that.

Posted by: Wolf Heart Apr 12 2010, 09:13 PM

The red eyes bounced in the darkness, glowing fiercely, as their owner dashed forward. Tuesday took a fearful step back as Mercury shivered but remained in front of her, and then their attacker leapt out of the darkness and was revealed.

“Oh, no no no no no-” Mercury’s pleas were cut off by a long, slobbering tongue rolling up her face and leaving a trail of drool behind. “Gross! Ashleigh!”

“I missed you, Sparkly Dancer!”

Tuesday let out a squeal and the two turned to see Romeo standing on his hind legs, his forepaws on Tuesday’s chest as he licked her face and neck ruthlessly. Tuesday scratched the jolteon behind the ears, grinning. Romeo panted heavily and dropped to the ground, rolling onto his back as Ashleigh flopped next to him.

”Double belly ruuuuuuub!” they both declared loudly.

Tuesday giggled as she rubbed their stomachs, smoothing down Romeo’s soft fur and enjoying the soft warmth of Ashleigh’s underbelly. “You guys scared us. We thought you were dangerous.”

“They are dangerous,” Mercury said, wiping her face disgustedly.

Tuesday looked up at the kirlia and smiled, but when she opened her mouth to reply, she was interrupted by a roar that sounded behind her. The two dogs stopped wagging their tails and everyone turned in sync to see what creature stood behind them.

A large hairy tree-like pokemon stood, roaring, a nasty gleam in its eye. Tuesday swallowed thickly and staggered back a little. “A sh-shiftry,” she stammered.

She knew a lot about shiftry, having studied up on pokemon who were especially dangerous. This particular breed was in the top five, being a pokemon that enjoyed causing others pain. They were ridiculously fierce, cruel, and strong, and they were a dark-type.

A low growl that started so softly that Tuesday didn’t at first hear it swiftly grew into a barking snarl. Ashleigh was crouched low to the ground, his tail dropped between his legs and crimson eyes glowing through narrowed slits. His lips were pulled back, baring sharp yellow fangs that snapped sharply at the air, spraying saliva.

“Ashleigh!” Tuesday cried, as the shiftry advanced, “Smog!”

“Tai Tai Tai Tai Taillooooooooooo!”

High in a tree, a taillow beat its wings as it fiercely pecked the spherical invader of its nest. The taillow’s beak continued to peck at the offending pokeball, until it pressed the button on the front of the ball and, in a flash of red light, the ball burst open. The taillow pecked ferociously at the creature that came out of it.

Tempest’s eyes narrowed as the small, sharp beak made contact with her head. She turned a glare onto the bird but gained no reaction but an angry squawk, and the bird changed from merely pecking her to also clawing her with its talons.

And then its talons latched onto Tempest’s tail.

A lightning bolt shot down from the sky, piercing the taillow. The bird let out a sharp, surprised squawk, and tumbled from the nest to the forest floor.

With a sharp, angry “chu!”, Tempest kicked her pokeball out of the nest and leapt out after it.

“Ouch!”

Tempest blinked in surprise to hear the exclamation as her pokeball slammed down on top of someone’s head. And then she crashed down on top of a mass of hair that reeked of flowers and fruit.

Tempest glanced down at her downy cushion and then leapt off, sauntering away with a unconcerned, “Oops.”

Posted by: Living Arrow Apr 14 2010, 02:28 PM

“Hey!” Darryn rubbed his hair, making sure to sweep it back into place, and stooped to pick up the Pokeball. “A simple ‘hello’ would have worked just as well, y’know?”

Tuesday’s Pikachu made an “oh shush” motion with a few flippant sweeps of a paw and walked off into the dark, her jagged tail following like the banner of a proud warrior. Darryn rolled his eyes and collected Eggheart and Rockclaw’s Pokeball before nodding to November who trotted after the electric rodent.

“Hey, Temmie!” November’s larger hooves clopped in the dirt, falling into a very slow walk to keep pace with her much smaller ally. The Pikachu had a sort of ballsy kick-assness about her that November loved – it reeked of self confidence and a lack of care for what others thought that the equine secretly wished she could have for herself. “Temmie?”

“Didn’t I tell you to stop calling me that?” Tempest asked with a raised eyebrow, sparks crackling from her cheeks as she continued her march into the depths of the forest.

“Yeah, about that…” November snorted, “It’s not gonna stop…”

“I see.” The reply had a hint of amusement although it carried more than its fair share of annoyance. Tempest looked up again. “Did you get bigger or something?”

“Evolved, didn’t I?” November said proudly, tossing her resplendent flaming mane like one of the females from one of the many human haircare product adverts. She hadn’t has chance to catch her reflection in a puddle, window or even the eyes of someone else but she knew she looked better. She could feel it!

“I take it you actually won a battle then?” Tempest sniffed, skipping over an exposed root. “Big step up.”

“Like, totally.” November grinned, reliving the glorious moment where she crushed that Pinsir’s exoskeleton and sent it crying back into the dark. “Didn’t know what hit ‘im.”

They walked on for a while, Tempest looking back quickly to spy Darryn following, a concerned look on his face. The pink little smile of Eggheart grinned out from his shirt, a Pokeball tucked safely into her pouch.

“So, what’s the glossy-haired one got planned?” Tempest asked, brimming with static energy. It was clear she was impatient – eager to find her own master.

“Ah, the situache? Well, Darryn’s been totally phenom. I found him just waiting in the woods, with the baby egglette, and then *WHAM!* I kicked that stupid bug thing to the curb and stomped his ass back under whatever rock he crawled out from. Then we talked, Darryn did the talking, and we decided, Darryn decided, that we should go looking for the others. That’s when you dropped out of nowhere and now, here we are!”

Tempest’s face scrunched up and her eyes narrowed. With a growl she stopped walking and turned around, glaring at the boy following them.



“WAH!” Darryn narrowly dodged a Thundershock and pushed Eggheart down into his sweater for protection. “Tempest! What gives?!”

“PIKA! Pika pika pikachu! Pikachu!” Came the angry reply, coupled with a hiss and a baring of teeth.

“Look, I can’t understand you so shouting at me doesn’t help!” Darryn responded, still holding his arms defensively over the bulge against his chest. Tiny arms and legs kicked to be let out but they were easily restrained.

“Chuuu.”

November’s hoof stomped down in front of Tempest, blocking her path. She looked up at November angrily but the Rapidash’s intent stare and whinny seemed to prevent the Electric Mouse from going any further. A stunned silence passed within the odd group, interrupted only by Eggheart’s successful escape from Darryn as she slid out of his shirt and dropped to the floor.

“Look, everyone.” Darryn opened his inner eyes, bathing in the Emotaglows that welcomed his Sight. “I know you are scared, angry, worried and impatient but arguing and running off won’t help anyone. Look, we’re all fine so being optimistic and assuming that the others are also doing good is what we’re going to do.” Suspicion and irritation flashed through Tempest’s aura. “But, we need more of a plan – just walking through the forest isn’t going to help.”

“Pi! Pi pikachu!” Tempest declared, holding out her paws in a ‘FINALLY!’ expression.

“So, November’s Morning Sun was huge, huge, meaning someone is bound to have seen it. But, that means our not–so-stylish friends will have seen it too, so we have to keep moving. I also know that putting you in your Pokeball won’t keep you in it as you’re one of the ones that has worked out how to get out on your own, aren’t you?” He asked Tempest. She inspected her fingernails, looking unimpressed.

“So you can ride up with me or walk – November’s going back in her ball.”

The Rapidash stomped and her eyes widened dramatically.

“You’re on fire - it’s too much of a giveaway for the bad guys to find us. But, if anything happens I’ll call you out. I promise.” Darryn nodded, watching his fire-type’s aura mellow out, accompanied by a nod. He recalled her quickly and tucked her Repeat Ball into his pocket alongside Rockclaw. Bending down, he took Tempest’s ball from Eggheart’s pouch and put it with the others.

“You’re our first line of defence.” Darryn told Tempest, returning Eggheart to her rightful place in his sweater. “So we’re counting on you to keep sharp. Don’t worry about the direction we’re going – south west is right towards Petropolis.” A doubtful cloud of grey passed over the Pikachu. “Moss grows on the north side of the trees.” Darryn smiled at her. “There’s always a plan.”

Tempest raised a wry eyebrow before uttering a curt “Chu” and scampering up to his shoulder. Eggheart giggled with glee and together they moved on into the fading dark – the sky was beginning to pale and in only a few short hours the sun would make an appearance.

*Just be safe, everyone.*

Posted by: Master Houndoom Apr 15 2010, 03:50 PM

Having shoes on made travel much, much faster. Meiko didn't have to worry about the jutting rocks and sticks on the forest floor, which was just as well, since her heart and mind were occupied with other worries.

Jaima's backpack was heavier than her own; she stored most of her things in pokeball like item holders, where as Jaima had chosen a more traditional route, but Meiko didn't complain. She was mourning Ashleigh, who, if he had been in his ball at the time, would have been killed when t broke, dissipating as energy when the mechanism storing him inside had broken.

Eggheart was with Darryn, but what of the rest of her pokemon? Desertdancer, Ramhorn, Cosette, even Rockclaw, any one of them could be hurt, or dead, dis-incorporated like Ashleigh or attacked by a strong forest pokemon.

What about Tuesday, and Darryn, and Jaima? What if they hadn't survived like she had? What if they'd--

She shoved that thought out of her head. She already had to deal with the prospect of telling Tuesday she'd lost a pokemon. She didn't want to have to think of losing her friends, not now.

To the left, there was a rustling in the bush. Lady immediately moved between the source of the noise and Meiko, bristling, and she swallowed, thickly, releasing Victor as well. Victor looked up at her, with a face full of hope. The expression crumpled, quickly, into dejection. Meiko understood. She'd have rather have been releasing Chompwater, or even Rockclaw, than a pokemon that wasn't hers.

"I need your help, please, Victor..."

The squirtle looked up at her, huffed a breath, and turned to face the bush where Lady was facing. Two formed crawled out, slowly, to confront the two pokemon with Meiko...

* * * * *

Jaima ignored the pain in his feet, walking, trodding, through the forest. He hadn't yet found any of his friends, nor any other pokemon. To top it off, his stomach was churning, both in hunger and fear, wondering about his friends, wondering where he was, wondering if Bravo was sick or something, and that was why he didn't seem to understand. As he watched, trying in vain to speak to Bravo, he noticed a glazed expression in the pidgeot's eye.

And he was starting to see double, starting to get dizzy, and wondered if that pokeball that had hit him in the whirlwind had hit him a lot harder than it'd felt.

In the meantime, Dante was keeping a steady pace, turning to glare at Jaima once in a while, and Bravo was perched on top of his head, the shoulder not being an ideal spot at all. This did not help Jaima's headache, and once he thought something warm and wet had struck him in the back, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to know what it was.

There was an odd smell in the air, and Jaima wasn't sure how much of it was because he might have a concussion.

A scyther passed him on the left, and Jaima blinked. Scyther were typically reclusive and territorial, but this one was neither hiding nor attacking.

Jaima was distracted by this thought by the tromping sounds of a rhydon thundering past. Even Dante began to look concerned, and Bravo flapped his wings harshly, pulling at Jaima's scalp.

This did nothing for his headache.

Jaima turned around, and could see, through the shadows of the trees, a flicker, which slowly began to grow in his vision.

"Um, guys? It's time to go!" He turned, running, and pulled out both pokeballs, recalling Bravo and a surprised Dante as he sprinted away from the approaching fire.

* * * * *

Tsunami hated the pokeball. Oh, it was a necessity, she understood that, but she also understood that she was usually only put into this thing with an explanation as to why it was happening, and that, she knew, hadn't happened. She didn't used to mind it. It used to be a welcome respite from hearing her old trainer talk about how weak she was, and how she wouldn't get anything done for him. But her new trainer, she completely acknowledged, had spoiled her forever for her pokeball.

Also, being cooped up gave her time to worry, and worrying solved nothing. She couldn't sense where she was, since there were no currents flowing over her fins, and she couldn't see what was going on, since the ball had no window to the outside.All she could do was float in the nothingness and hope for the best.

There was that blue light. It was a nice blue light, and it seemed, at times, to allow things like air, or sounds, or even a brighter light through it. Maybe, if she could reach it, she could find a way out of the ball with that l ight...

She stretched toward it, and felt herself yanked, pulled out, and falling onto solid, wet, wonderful MUD.

She would have dug into it, rolled in it, except that something distracted her. Picking up her pokeball, which she liked on the outside because her new trainer had made it look like she had before she grew, she plunged into the river, catching up to the small red and white pokeball that had floated past her.

Posted by: Wolf Heart Apr 20 2010, 12:50 AM

“Ashleigh!”

The houndoom let out a yelp as he was thrown backward, hitting the ground hard and rolling, kicking up a dust as he came to a stop. His chest rose and fell quickly as he panted, and he staggered to his feet with his tongue lolling out. There was a thin layer of foam that dribbled from his mouth as he panted, the intense battle taking its toll.

Shiftry, Tuesday recalled, were especially weak to fire. The fact that this one was still battling at what appeared to be full power seemed to indicate that he was extremely powerful.

Because she knew Ashleigh was no weakling.

The houndoom’s normally jester-like tomfoolery was absent, and in its place there was a keen sense of strength. Those crimson eyes were sharp as they remained fixed upon the shiftry, and Tuesday could see the muscles rippling beneath the thin layer of black fur that coated the lithe dog’s body.

The shiftry let out a sharp snarl, and Ashleigh moved, leaping to the left.

A series of leaves, spinning like shuriken, cut through the air where he had been standing moment’s ago, and impaled themselves in the trunk of a tree.

“Ember!”

Ashleigh raced in quickly, lips pulled back in a snarl as his eyes locked with the waiting shiftry’s. Ashleigh leapt.

“Romeo!” Tuesday cried.

The jolteon leapt out of the shadows, racing like lightning across the earth from behind the shiftry, who had been, to this moment, completely unaware. As the jolteon’s extended spiky fur glittered with electricity, the shiftry turned to face this new, flashier threat.

Leaves burst out, spinning like shuriken, racing through the air at the jolteon. They struck sharply, throwing the electric dog backward through the air… until his form flickered and vanished from sight.

And the ember attack struck his back.

The shiftry howled and spun to face Ashleigh, whose mouth was full of flames. It was the paws of the jolteon that he came in contact with first, however, as Romeo slammed into his face with a fierce Double Kick.

The shiftry reared back with an angry roar, and the wind began to pick up. A sudden rush of air exploded into a funnel before their eyes, as the shiftry used a whirlwind attack. Tuesday let out a cry as the wind buffeted her, her long hair whipping her sharply in the face and stinging her eyes.

Romeo and Ashleigh were hunkered together, low to the ground. Romeo couldn’t use double team successfully in such a wind, and both were trying to keep from being blown away by the whirlwind.

Mercury only had one attack that could even affect the shiftry, so Tuesday did the only thing she could think of.

She grabbed a pokeball off of her belt and chucked it at the tree-like pokemon.

The shiftry disappeared in a flash of red light, and the winds stopped. Both Romeo and Ashleigh looked at the shaking pokeball in surprise.

“Guys, come on!” Tuesday yelled.

The dogs leapt to their feet when the pokeball exploded open, releasing an even angrier shiftry, who snarled fiercely.

And was immediately sucked into another pokeball.

“With me,” Tuesday called, both dogs racing toward her. She turned and started running away. Behind her, she could hear the pokeball burst open, releasing the shiftry, but she didn’t stop. She knew that the pokemon was too powerful for her. Courage was knowing when to run, and now was the perfect time.

Tuesday couldn’t hear the shiftry behind them and took that as a good sign, as she and the two dogs did their best to put as much distance as possible between them and the walking carpet.

Stepping out from around a large pile of rocks that served as half of bridge across the small creek, a man with rusty red hair watched the young girl race away with two canid pokemon en tow.

The shiftry, growling fiercely, rushed to go after them, but the man maximized a dark orb and threw the heavy ball with an expert hand. It struck the shiftry on the back and sucked him into its depths, collapsing to the ground where it continued to shake until it had done as much as electronically possible to tame the beast within.

Stepping over fronds and twigs, the man picked up the heavy ball and stared at it contemplatively. “You’ll follow to the ends of the earth those you seek revenge against.” He smirked sharply as he gripped the pokeball tight. “And you’re going to help me get that girl.”

Posted by: Living Arrow Apr 27 2010, 12:18 PM

“Piii…”

Static energy crackled and sparked off the lightning mouse making strands of glossy brown hair lift ever so slightly away from the quaffed locks beneath them and upwards… upwards…

“Tempest!” Darryn moaned, reaching up to stroke down her unintentional handy-work. “Don’t mess with the do!”

The Pikachu slapped the back of the Co-Ordinator’s head and barked an angry “chu”, her gaze intently staring off into the forest. Darryn hissed back a complaint but looked up to see what the matter was.

“What is it?” Darryn asked, peering through the trees to no avail. “What’s out there?”

“Pika… pi.”

“I’m going guess it’s not a PokéKing?” Darryn snorted, moving to walk towards where Tempest was frowning so intently.

“PIKA!” Tempest smacked Darryn a lot harder this time and dropped to the ground.

“OW! Dammit, Tempest!” Darryn rubbed his head. “If you can’t just stay calm then I’ll put you back in the ball.” A flicker of something flashed through Tempest’s eyes and in a split second everything was decided.

“Chu chu!” Tempest threw herself at Darryn’s leg, pushing him hard to keep walking.

“Wha? Tempest?” Darryn reluctantly began to move, his hair whipping past his face as the wind changed direction. He coughed almost instantly and shot a look back. “Smoke?”

“PIKA!” Tempest pushed harder, urging the trainer to get moving.

“No! Someone might be back that way – we have to go and make sure everyone is alright!” Darryn protested, stepping over Tuesday’s Pokemon and jogging into the faint breeze. He got no further than a few steps before a dark shape flashed out of the trees and stopped him dead in his tracks. Darryn stumbled, grabbing a tree for support to raise his head in surprise, finding a familiar Pokemon’s face looking down at him. Blue and black fur, spikes at wrists and chest, an intent gaze that could shatter stone with one look and raise the spirits of an entire army with another. Oh, and he was wearing a designer backpack that Darryn thought he’d never see again.

“Shadow!”

“Piny!” Eggheart announced herself by popping up at Darryn’s neck.

“Hmmph.” The Lucario grunted and lifted Darryn back up, turning him away from the unseen fire. Tempest shouted something that sounded angry and somehow supportive but Darryn still made an attempt to fight back – easily quelled by the Aura Pokemon.

“But the others-”

Shadow’s ears lifted – a warning. Darryn frowned and peered at the Pokemon’s Emotaglow. He blinked and looked it over again. There wasn’t another way around it… Confidence. Pride. Minor concern. Everything added up to…

“YES! I knew it! I mean, you’re sure, right?” Darryn asked with a grin. The Lucario nodded. Somehow, Shadow knew the others were alright… But how? “Right. Then we’re going. Tempest?”

The Pikachu launched herself back to Darryn’s shoulders as he pulled on his backpack from Shadow.

“And your Pokeball?” Darryn asked the Lucario. The Aura Pokemon took a step back and revealed the small orb concealed under his chest panel. “Are you gonna give me it?” Darryn asked, already knowing the answer. Shadow chose to ignore him. “Fine, let’s move.”

“That’s it, Viper – more Flamethrower.” A cruel woman spoke, her dark-eyed Seviper pouring flames into the heart of the dry forest floor. Clad in a soft leather jacket, tight black jeans and thick soled shoes, no-one would have thought her a member of Team Deception. In fact, to a casual observer she might have been a simple hiker out in the foothills. That was the deception. She was a master of disguises. Or so she thought, anyway.

A floating crimson band darted across the forest floor and in a flash, her Kecleon revealed himself completely.

“Ah, Brooke! You’re back!” She allowed the Color Swap Pokemon to climb up to her arm where he perched carefully, tapping the back of his left hand fervently while watching her through hooded dark eyes. She watched carefully and raised an eyebrow. “Survivors, eh? How interesting… Shall we go and pay them a little visit? Naja! Musto!”

An Arbok and a Linoone emerged from the nearby foliage, their eyes also glowing with a sickly dark light. She smiled.

Posted by: Master Houndoom May 2 2010, 02:50 AM

Jaima's head throbbed, and images in his vision swam as if he were looking at them from underwater. He was trying to walk straight, he knew, but could feel, with the swaying and pitching of the ground beneath him, that he was wobbling, straying, and feared that he was turning back toward the fire. He felt the pokeballs in his hands, and flexed his his fingers. He wanted a rest, but there was something he was forgetting. Something important...

He finally dropped, despite the ground's roughness, near a tree. He could hear a stream nearby, and thought it must be important to get to that stream, but couldn't, for the life of him, figure out why.

A noise to his left brought quick clarity, and a surge of pain in his head. He turned, releasing the pokemon in a moment of panic. He heard, rather than saw, the pokemon react; a deep, wet and throaty hiss directed at him, and the flapping of wings which receded into the darkness.

But Jaima's eyes were on the croconaw glaring at him, eyes wide and glaring. With a grunt, the water-type opened his mouth and hissed, a lower sound similar to the one that had just come after the activation of the pokeball. The same hiss he heard, and now was beginning to understand. A challenge.

Before he could stop it, The croconaw opened his mouth wide and shot a stream of water. Jaima lurched, moving forward and to the right, where the first hiss had sounded and the water now shot, and was hit in the chest with enough force to jar him, the water cold enough to begin to bring clarity. Dante was being attacked, by a water pokemon which was the pre-evolution of one of the pokemon Tuesday was terrified of. Jaima looked around and found a thick branch, brandishing it between himself and the pokemon, standing, shakily, between the first hisser, who he now remembered to be Dante, and stood his ground.

The croconaw didn't seem to care that this bigger creature had stepped between him and the one issuing challenges. It was, slightly, confused that the bigger creature would protect a charmeleon who was issuing a challenge to the human, but in the end, it didn't matter. They were in his territory, and they must--

MUDSLAP!!

The croconaw rocked to the side with the force of the slap, turning and hissing only to see the glowering form of another pokemon, still glistening and wet from being in the stream. HIS stream. With a growling grunt, he charged, only to be struck down by a ball of mud impacting with his chest. The croconaw grunted; his chest was throbbing now, and the pain shook him; this new pokemon was strong.

He charged, and heard the human command, "Bide!". He did not recognize the word, but saw the new pokemon, a marshtomp, brace itself and smiled. Opening his jaws as wide as he could, he rammed his shoulder into the newcomer, then bit it. The marshtomp didn't cry out as the jaws clamped down, and that enraged the croconaw, but another sound from the human made the rage moot.

"Release!"

Energy poured out from the marshtomp, sending the croconaw crashing back through the forest, into the stream further away from where it started. It gave up battling as a bad job and got out of there.

Jaima smiled, his stomach churning with nausea. "Tsunami... good job," he said as he collapsed.



"Grondir! Cosette!"

Seeing the two new forms clearly, Meiko knelt, opening her arms. Grondir trotted forward, but Cosette had passed them and nudged Meiko, nuzzling her chest as Meiko checked her over. "Oh, I'm so glad you're OK! And you, too, Grondir," she cried, putting out a hand to caress the top of his head. "I was so worried about you! I'm still worried!" She sobbed, once, tears beginning to cascade down her cheeks, but she did not bother to stop them.

Lady sat, primly, not bothering to conceal her annoyance, and Victor crossed his stubby arms and sat, looking away from the girl, as if her tears were somehow shameful.

"I don't know what to do," Meiko said, trying in vain now to get control. "I think Ashleigh's... dead, and I can't find anyone, and..." She sniffed, wiping her eyes with her forearm. "And I need to get a grip! Come on, you guys, W-we have to find Ja- everyone..." She lead the way now, leaving even lady blinking after her, and the four pokemon followed her.

Cosette trotted forward, but the rest stayed back, Grondir the closest. Only Cosette, who looked up in her trainer's face, saw that tears were still flowing, silently, down her cheeks. She nudged the girl's leg, and was rewarded by being picked up and hugged close.

Posted by: Wolf Heart May 5 2010, 07:27 PM

The crackling of a small fire belied a sense of normalcy where there was little, but contrary to what some might have expected, there was no great worry presence in the mind of the youngest member of Team Rogue.

Tuesday sat cross-legged on the ground, Ashleigh's head resting on her knee as his eyes followed her hands, occasionally moving to her face. Every now and then, his tail would spontaneously start to wag, but she paid it no mind as she continued to rifle through her pack, pulling random objects out and laying them on the ground around her.

Romeo, sitting nearby with his spiky fur now resting smoothly, leaned forward and sniffed the frying pan that Tuesday had just removed from her pack. She didn't notice his actions or his look of disappointment as the smell of bacon that lingered on the wrought iron unfortunately did not come with a matching taste. He huffed and sigh and relaxed, laying down on the ground and rolling over until his cream belly was exposed. Grinning, he closed his eyes and began to sleep with his assets bared to the world.

Mercury, despite none of them actually speaking, was the quietest of the lot. She sat on a small log on the other side of the fire, her small hands clasped together tightly. She kept looking up and around her in bursts of anxiety, her blue eyes searching for imminent danger but finding none immediately noticeable. She continued to reach out with her mind, her psychic eye searching and hands reaching for their companions. Each time, however, she found herself stopped by some invisible force that had no end and no apparent weaknesses, and she was forced to retract and come entirely back to herself, staring worriedly into the fire.

Her eyes moved to Tuesday, as the young girl sighed in what sounded like disappointment, as she upturned her pack and nothing more came out. Mercury looked on the ground around her.

The frying pan glistened guiltily with dog slobber that Tuesday had yet to notice, and a small plastic pencil box clattered when lifted, containing a series of eating utensils, including a ladle and spatula. There was a small, clear plastic case, about the width of a deck of cards, that held a few pencils and pens, which sat on top of a leather bound sketchbook that they had all seen Tuesday drawing it before. Two pokeballs clacked lightly against each other as a strange breeze blew through their small campsite, and Mercury looked up, searching futilely for some sign of... something, but her sight was blocked. After a small sigh, she turned her attention back to Tuesday, as the girl began to put things back into her pack, organizing. The way her hands lingered on the pokeballs and her returning look of disappointment, Mercury thought it was safe to deduce that it was the remaining quantity that was causing the young girl mild distress.

Considering the circumstances, Mercury didn't really think that was important enough to worry about.

"How... How are you so calm?"

Tuesday paused in what she was doing, glancing up at the kirlia in a mixture of surprise and confusion. She hesitated, thinking about all that had happened so far and why she wouldn't be calm. It took her a few moments to reorder her thoughts, to connect everything in the past to the present and the possible future, and then she opened her mouth slowly, glancing up into the canopy as she thought about how exactly to answer Mercury. "I'm... just not that worried," she admitted honestly.

"But... you're all alone...", Mercury stammered, looking around the clearing.

Tuesday blinked at Mercury, and then glanced over at Romeo and down at Ashleigh, tilting her head to the side. "Not... really," she said, her eyes moving back to the kirlia. "I mean, you're here, and I have Romeo and Ashleigh." She smiled at the kirlia, but it wasn't hard to spot the sadness that lingered in her eyes and kept her smile from seeming sincere. "As for Jaima and the others..." She hesitated with her mouth open and closed it softly, cocking her head back and thinking. "I guess... I'm used to it," she said quietly, still staring upwards, her eyes more focused on things she had already seen and not what was here now. "Before I met Jaima, I helped Professor Oak, or I played chess with Brone, but there..." She glanced back down at the kirlia and gave a shrug, as though it was any big deal at all. "There wasn't anyone else."

"I don't know what to say to that," Mercury admitted. "I've been alone before... really alone. I didn't like it."

Tuesday gave a nod, a solemn look on her face, but said nothing. She returned to putting stuff back into her pack, though her actions were done more slowly so as to be quieter, in case Mercury chose to speak again. After a time, she did.

"What are you looking for?" The tone was curious, though Tuesday could still detect a nervous edge. The flicker of the kirlia's eyes toward the trees around them belied her anxiety.

Tuesday slipped her sketchbook into the back of her pack and flipped the flap over the full back, before pushing it to the side and sighing. "I was looking for a potion," she said, and glanced down at Ashleigh. The houndoom's eyes were closed as he slept, and Tuesday ran a hand gently over the back of his neck. "He fought so hard..."

"And bravely," Mercury said with a soft smile.

Tuesday nodded, her mouth set into a frown as she rested her hand on the dog's neck, beneath his horns.

"You know he's going to be okay, right?" Mercury asked, eying Tuesday with worry.

Tuesday looked up at Mercury quickly, as though she had been caught doing something wrong. "I... of course," she said, removing her hand and looking away into the forest to her left. "Of course," she whispered.

Whatever Mercury had opened her mouth to say was interrupted by a cracking twig behind Tuesday. Ashleigh was on his feet immediately, snarling, his lips pulled away from his teeth as he hunkered low to the ground. He roughed against Tuesday with his shoulder, shoving her out of the way as he stepped in between her and whatever it was behind them.

"Ashleigh..."

Tuesday scrambled back, less out of fear and more out of necessity to avoid Ashleigh's tail as he whipped it at her, driving her back and out of what he perceived as harm's way.

There was a shuffle, and then a rather familiar pokemon stepped into view. "Fang!" Tuesday said, as she peered over Ashleigh hulking mass, spotting the luxio.

Fang stopped at the edge of the clearing, just inside the light, looking at Mercury as if she were the last thing he'd expect to see, as if she were in the last place he'd expect for her to be. After lowering his head and growling, he looked up. "We have to get out of here. Now. There's a fire."

The sound of an explosion called all of their attention and they glanced up to see a helicopter turn oddly in midair, spinning on the axis of its tail, and then began to plummet. They all stared open-mouthed for a time, before Tuesday reached down and grabbed her pack, slinging it over her shoulder.

"Fang says there's a fire coming this way," Mercury said to Tuesday, glancing down at her.

Tuesday glanced back in the direction Fang had appeared. There was no evidence of a fire, but Tuesday believed them. She nodded down at Fang and then look at Mercury. "It's a good thing we're going that way, then," she said, pointing toward where the copter had gone down.

"Shouldn't we find the others?" Mercury asked. She hadn't grown any less worried with the appearance of Fang.

"Someone might need help," Tuesday said, and without another word, started off. Ashleigh was right on her heels and, after a moment, the others followed, Fang walking with Mercury since, with them both being abandoned, they might as well stick together.

Posted by: Living Arrow May 9 2010, 11:33 AM

Darryn ran on, coughing hard as smoke invaded his lungs. The silhouette of Shadow leaping ahead, clearly outrunning the Co-Ordinator, danced like a fading dream in Darryn’s eyes – blackening smog dusting his vision. Tempest clung tightly to the back of Darryn’s head, her face held low to his shoulder but every now and again she would cough, too. Darryn attempted to put her back in her Pokeball on several occasions but she had refused vehemently every time.

“Dammit!” Darryn threw himself down a small slope and stopped to catch his breath. Tempest slapped him hard in the ear but he did his best to ignore her. Shadow came racing back, grunting the urgency to flee but energy was rapidly being leeched from Darryn’s bones.

“I… can’t… run like… this – cough - forever.” He stammered, sucking in smoke-filled air. “We need… to stop and… think…”

“POLI?” An excited voice piped from nearby. Darryn and the others turned to find a small blue Pokemon watching them curiously, edging backwards toward a tiny rivulet that some may have called a stream but it was barely deep enough to submerge a human foot.

“Who’s that Pokemon?” Darryn fished back in his backpack to grab his Pokedex. Tempest shouted at him for being slow but Darryn recognised a water Pokemon when he saw one. A water Pokemon that may be able to hold off the fire for a little time.

[Poliwag. The Tadpole Pokemon. It has no arms, but its tail makes it a good swimmer. Its skin is so thin, its internal organs are visible. It has trouble walking on its newly grown feet.]

“Yeah, yeah – get to the good stuff.” Darryn muttered, thumbing a few more buttons for analysis.

[Attacks known: Water Gun. Double-Slap. Hypnosis. Rain Dance. Bu-]

Darryn snapped the dex shut before it could finish.

“You’re the perfect Pokemon!” He exclaimed, signalling for Tempest to dismount his shoulder. “With you onboard, we can put out that fire and start looking for our friends again. Tempest?”

The vivacious Pikachu took a step toward the Poliwag and lightning burst through her cheeks with expectation.

“Tempest, please can you battle that Poliwag but try not to weaken it too far – we need that Rain Dance attack to hold off the fire.” Darryn urged. The Pikachu yelled angrily back over her shoulder but squared up against her opponent all the same. Shadow moved back to Darryn, still keeping watch back the way they came with nervous attention.

“Tempest, Thundershock, let’s go!”

The wild Poliwag’s eyes widened at it jumped with surprise, bringing its tail forward under its body and holding it out like a sword. And its shield was… Mud flew from the water-type’s mouth at speed, catching the bolt of lightning racing towards it and dispelling it into harmless sparks.

“That’s a Mud Shot attack!” Darryn gasped. “Use Quick Attack!”

“PIII!” Tempest flew toward the Poliwag at speed, charging right into the little blue swirl and knocking the Pokemon flying onto its back. That flexible tail righted it quickly and the wild Pokemon puffed out its chest as though challenging the Pikachu to attack again. Enraged, Tempest attacked once more but this time the Poliwag was ready. With the sword-tail out in front he let loose with a furious Double-Slap attack that sent the electric mouse flying.

“Tempest!” Darryn ran to where Tuesday’s Pokemon fell and breathed a sigh of relief as the Pikachu got back to her feet.

*This Poliwag is at a higher level than I thought…*

“Tempest. You’ve been watching Romeo and I train for our Contest battles, haven’t you?” Darryn asked, the Pikachu looking up at him suspiciously. “This opponent is stronger than you – don’t hit me! – but we can win if we catch it off with contest attacks. Just remember how Romeo did it and you’ll be fine.”

“Pika…” Tempest grunted, back on all fours and her tail aloft menacingly. The Poliwag beckoned her to attack with a Matrix-style arrogance from his sword tail.

“Double Team!”

Tempest split into six copies, dashing around the water type in a wide circle that set the Poliwag blinking with confusion. Desperately it fired a Water Gun that passed through one copy only to be replaced by another. Darryn grinned.

“Thunderwave!”

Flows of electricity jumped from all six copies as they continued to circle the Poliwag. It tried to fight back by spitting more mud but there was simply too much static surrounding him that paralysis was unavoidable.

“Now, jump and perform a Lightning Grove combo!” Darryn urged.

Tempest and her copies all sprang upwards, filling the air all around the Poliwag. Like six poised missles, each let loose a Thunderbolt attack that stabbed down in unison like the trunks of lightning-filled trees. The Poliwag squealed and fell back, his sword-like tail hanging limp next to his feet.

“This Lure Ball should do just the trick.” Darryn maximised the capture device and tossed it, the tadpole sucking inside automatically and clicking the capsule shut. The ball rocked back and forth once. Twice. Darryn squeezed his fists together. Thrice. DING! “Yes! I caught a Poliwag!” Darryn exclaimed, running to the ball and snagging it up. “Now just to use Rain Dance and – WAH!”

The Lure Ball broke apart into crackling white energy and in a flash was gone.

“What? No!” Darryn gasped. “But I don’t have all six of my Pokemon with me!”

He punched a fist into an open palm. It was so unfair! He knew the league rules said that a trainer could carry only six Pokemon at a time but he only had November with him… Unless the storage system only recognised that six Pokemon were “out in the open” so to speak.

“CRAP!”

“Lu…” Shadow stepped close, patting Darryn’s shoulder fervently. “Lu, lu!”

“What?” Darryn turned to find the Lucario looking up the small ledge they had jumped down and into the eyes of a woman flanked by serpentine Pokemon. She smiled intently, watching the boy and his Pokemon regroup quickly.

“Viper, Flamethrower!”

Posted by: Master Houndoom May 11 2010, 04:44 PM

Two pokemon, a marshtomp and a charmeleon, stood over the prone body of a human, looking at it with, in one case, worry, and in another a kind of satisfaction that was usually out of place. The charmeleon reached forward and prodded the human with a foot, then snorted.

<<I'm leaving.>>

The marshtomp's head rose, and while she did not move aggressively to stop the charmeleon, her gaze seemed to pin him in place. Her mouth, set in a line that was common for her species, did not curl either up or down, but her gaze was intense as she spoke, softly for one her size. <<We can't leave him here.>>

<<Oh, we can leave him here. In fact, we have to,>> responded the charmeleon with something akin to glee. <<There's a fire back there. We were running from it. Not that I had anything to fear,>> he muttered, before going on, cutting off the marshtomp's retort. <<Even you can't last in a fire like that. And he would make you try. Besides, you can't carry him alone, and I won't do it.>> The charmeleon bared his teeth, allowing the fire that was his birthright to curl between his fangs. His eyes widened as the marshtomp reached behind her, pulling a red and white pokeball from behind her head fin and dropping it, rolling it until the button depressed against the ground.

Red light lashed out, and out tumbled a blue and black blur, shaking its head until it could stand up, revealing a riolu. <<Gracias, senora,>> the riolu grinned. Then he scowled, looking at the charmeleon and marshtomp. <<What has happened to el guerrero? Dante, where is nuestras hermana?>> He looked back and forth between Dante, who was glaring daggers, and the marshtomp, who was steadily watching.

<<We got separated, Zorro. We're going to find her now.>>

Zorro clapped his paws together and rubbed them as if preparing for a task. <<Bueno. Who will carry el guerrero?>>

<<Tsunami can drag him herself for all I care,>> Dante snarled. <<There's a fire, and we have to find Tuesday. Now.>>

Zorro had already helped Tsunami roll Jaima onto his back, revealing a pokeball and a premier ball caught underneath him. Tsunami held onto Zorro's pokeball, watching him as he leaned down to pick up the other two. A shriek from above heralded Bravo's return, but rather than tell anyone where he'd gone off to, the pidgeot sat glumly and preened his feathers.

Dante snorted and made to move past Tsunami, but, this time, she intercepted him.

<<Get out of my way, if you know what's good for you,>> he snarled. Tsunami placed her large, flat hand against his chest and pushed, sending the surprised charmeleon back.

<<You're going to help.>> She rose to her full height, prompting Dante to do the same.

<<I'm not afraid of you,>> he growled, flexing his claws.

Tsunami rolled her eyes. <<You couldn't even beat Ember, and she doesn't have a type advantage over you.>> Dante's eyes narrowed, but Tsunami ignored the warning sign. <<You owe him. He blocked a water blast meant for you.>>

A cloud of confusion passed over Dante's eyes, then, with a shake of his head, was gone. <<I don't owe him anything for being too stupid to move! Get out of my way!>>

Dante dropped low, hissing, and Tsunami widened her stance. Before either could initiate an attack, a crackling beam of white light surrounded Dante, pulling him with an enraged growl into his pokeball.

Zorro kicked the pokeball off the ground and held it, an uncharacteristically grim look on his face. <<We will have to manage without him, senora. Dante es no in his right mind.>>

A dark shape emerged from near the stream, sending Bravo into the air, and Tsunami lowered herself to battle. However, Zorro gave a gleeful cry. <<No, no, es OK! No es mala! Es Ramhorn!>>

Without a word the heracross took in the scene, nodded his horn to Tsunami, and bent to pick Jaima up, walking toward the stream, away from the fire.

* * * * *

For Meiko, the simple act of walking had helped. Having a place to go, some action to take, kept her mind off of the fact that her friends, and a majority of her pokemon, were out there, somewhere where she had no way to help them, or to even know how they were faring. She had, in desperation called out to Mercury, but of course, there was no answer. The pokeballs had been scattered more thoroughly than the trainers themselves. The thought of finding the rest of them, though she admittedly had been quite lucky, was daunting to say the least.

Victor trudge along, forelimbs crossed grumpily across the underplate of his shell. <<Why couldn't I have been found by that cute blonde? Nooo, I've got to get the old hag! Ugly old hag...>>

If Lady heard him muttering, as her twitching ears seemed to indicate, she paid Victor no attention other than the odd annoyed look. If she disagreed with his assessment, there was even less indication of it. Grondir rolled his large, red eyes, but otherwise also ignored the squirtle. Only Cosette, carried in Meiko's arms, bothered to even give a dirty look whenever the words wafted up to her lofty position.

<<Don't let him get to you, Cosette,>> Grondir chuckled when he caught sight of the look on the turtwig's face. <<Opinions are like muks: They're all over the place, and a lot of them stink.>>

<<Oh, hardee har har.>>

The procession moved on until a loud noise caught all their attention. A shape, indistinct in the darkness, slammed against a tree and lit briefly, revealing a metal chassis before it dropped out of sight. With a startled look, Meiko hustled, moving in that direction.

None of them saw the orange form pacing them along the treeline.

* * * * *

Antoinette counted herself lucky, and for someone suffering of the pain of a broken wrist, that was saying quite a bit. When she had been thrown from the rescue copter, she had thought she was dead for certain, but, because they were low to the treeline, instead of hitting the ground she hit the trunk of a tree, snapping her wrist but otherwise leaving her relatively unscathed. Thick branches caught her before she could plummet, and though it had been slow going, she had been able to make her way down, jarring the injured arm, but otherwise, again, unharmed.

Her gear, of course, had suffered more injury than her. It would have made life too easy otherwise, she thought with a mental growl. Unfortunately, the chaos of her sudden unaided flight and even more sudden stop hadn't allowed her to follow where the copter may have landed, if it had landed. She felt a brief pang of fear for Jeanne, the pilot; Guilluarm, her brother and fellow fire fighter; and Terrence, the medic. Luckily, the specialized pokeballs, which recalled her pokemon automatically if it sensed the distance between them growing too far, too fast, had automatically recalled Sabre, her empoleon, but that was a small comfort. Sabre was her first, yes, but pokemon survived easier than humans, that was for certain. Also, Sabre was trained to seek out his trainer if they were separated.

She tucked her injured arm against her stomach and tried to get her bearings, but the darkness and vertigo from being off the ground were not helping. She decided to wait, aware of the fire, but also aware that, if she could get her bearings, she could find the trench, and that would protect her once she crossed it. She knew, instinctively, she was inside the trench's circuit.

A crash to the side made her turn, slowly so as not to startle a wild pokemon seeking escape. Instead of one, she came across four. A pidgeot who rode on the horn of a heracross, seemingly asleep; a marshtomp, leading the way; a riolu, carrying three pokeballs in his paws; and the heracross itself, carrying in it's massive arms a human trainer.

"Mon Mew," cried Antoinette, her pain and disorientation forgotten. "What 'as 'appened 'ere?" She crossed to the boy in the fighting bug's arms, and was instantly stopped by the marshtomp, who stood between Antoinette and the heracross with wide arms.

"I do not weesh to 'urt 'im, cherie," Antoinette cooed. "I have some training in ze first aid. S'il vous plait, let me make sûr he is all right, no?" She looked, not at the boy, but instead at the marshtomp, who reluctantly allowed her to pass.

It was not easy, with no light and one arm, but she was able to figure three things out: the boy was alive and not labored in his breathing, the boy had a lump on his head that meant a possible concussion, and the boy was fit, and quite handsome.

"Come," she said, shaking off the fluttery feeling in her stomach. "We must 'urry."

Posted by: Wolf Heart May 13 2010, 12:54 AM

A sense of worry had come over Tuesday. For most people, this would not seem out of place, considering that she was separated from her friends and most of her pokemon, as well as running in the opposite direction of a blazing inferno. Except that she wasn’t running away from the fire – she was running toward what might be someone needing help. In situations such as these, having a plan in mind, or at least a mission, Tuesday generally remained relatively calm.

Except she wasn’t.

She was worried, and she didn’t know why. Ashleigh kept pace at her side, his long legs moving in a stalwart rhythm, not at all taxing for him, as he ran at her speed. Romeo was on her left, though he followed behind, with Mercury and Fang bringing up the rear, sticking together.

Tuesday’s eyes scanned the forest, though there was little to be scene but trees and shadows. She had to slow her pace in order to climb over a fallen tree without stumbling, but then quickly sped up again. There had been no more signs of the crashed helicopter since she had initially watched it fall, and she didn’t honestly expect to see anything else. The craft had gone down with an ominous silence that had chilled her, but she tried not to dwell on that. Rather, she kept running.

If someone had asked her why she was running in this direction, Tuesday wouldn’t have been able to give them an answer. She didn’t know why she was running between these particular two trees, or why she was jumping over that specific root, or why on earth she chose to duck under a dangling pine limb, rather than going around the tree and avoiding the scratchy needles. She had no idea why she was doing such a thing, but she also wasn’t concentrating on the fact that she was. In her mind, it was unimportant – it wasn’t odd or unnatural or out of place. She was going where she might be needed – where she was needed – and that was all that mattered.

Ten years down the road, when Tuesday stands in the middle of a laboratory that is more home to her than any place has ever been, wearing a lab coat and sketching a pokemon that no one has ever seen before, she will still not know why she chose to take that particular path. She will have no idea about how the trees she ran between, their thick roots holding the soil beneath and directly around them packed tightly together, were surrounded on both sides by a sink hole that the forest was still working to overrun. She would have no idea that jumping over that root was the only option other than climbing up a sturdy-looking rock, which would have shifted the moment weight was placed on it, collapsing and pinning her underneath its mass. She would never known that slipping under the pine tree limb, dangling sticky needles, kept her from running into the vigoroth, whose wild eyes had a distant, faded, mad look to them, as he foamed at the mouth, his consciousness giving way to an insanity that would destroy him.

Tuesday had no way of knowing – would never know – and really, it didn’t matter.

Terrance Caballe was a doctor by both trade and passion. He differentiated the two by the distinct knowledge that some people – most people, it seems, nowadays – took careers that they hated, but which offered them good pay. This trade was one that drove them into the ground, destroying their happiness in its entirety, because they had little to no desire for the work that they were doing.

Terrance, however, had a passion for his trade. He loved knowledge, loved helping people and pokemon, and still, even in his late-sixties, loved learning. His trade – once a scientist, then a researcher, a lab tech, a health specialist, and so many more – had brought him little else but joy. Granted, there was heartache, as well, and loss, but he had never lost his love at the jobs, and he prayed that there never came a time when he did.

However, there was one part of the job that Terrance would admit to not having a great fondness for. Being injured in a place he was unfamiliar with, when he knew there was danger about and, due to extenuating circumstances, could do nothing about, had always caused him some manner of discomfort.

That was why he wasn’t particularly overjoyed at his current position.

He had awoken to the blurry and spinning sight of leaves – the canopy of the forest above him. His old body was sprawled across grass, dirt, and dead leaves, and his right arm was twisted at an unnatural and sickening angle. He couldn’t feel the pain from it, but had the distinct feeling that that had something to do with the nauseous feeling in his stomach and the lump on the back of his head.

Broken arm, concussion… Terrance ran down a mental checklist, wiggling fingers and toes, turning his neck, trying to stand up. The standing up failed, though he blamed the concussion for his lack of balance. And you’re old, Terrance. Admit it. He chuckled at himself, doing his best to gain a slightly more comfortable position by leaning against a large rock. There were a series of boulders that littered the area. He was more than lucky that he hadn’t landed on any of them. He could have easily broken his spine or split his head open – an action that most certainly would have been the end of him.

Oh, I do hope the others are all right, he thought, his befuddled mind flashing to his team. He had yet to fully piece together everything that had happened, but clearly the helicopter had gone down. He didn’t know why, and the worry made his stomach churn. The fire was uncharacteristic, out of place; they had spotted a group standing amongst the forest, and their aircraft had been put out of commission. Now, they were all separated and with no way to communicate.

Terrance gave his radio a solemn look, the walkie having shattered upon impact with the ground. He patted the exposed electrical wires reverently, as though it were a pokemon who had done him a good service, been a good friend, that had passed, and not a piece of equipment.

Terrance sighed and looked to his right, where his chansey, Aiuto, stood, looking concerned. The pokemon was a great help when giving medical aid to pokemon and humans alike, but had never been one for great physical strength. There was no way the chansey would be able to help him walk, and with the world spinning every time he stood, Terrance knew it was safer, for the moment, to remain where he was. Hopefully the others hadn’t crashed too far off and would find him soon.

Hopefully they didn’t need him.

The snap of a twig just out of eyesight called the attention of both Aiuto and Terrance, and they turned to the forest with equal feelings of apprehension. If a pokemon attacked them, Terrance had little hope for success, or even survival.

He was swallowing thickly in worry when, to his great surprise, what came dashing from the shadows was not an attacking pokemon, but a young girl.

Her eyes, a cloudy blue, seemed both observant as well as distant, and she had the fingertips of one hand pressed to her right temple, as though fighting off a headache. Her steps were sure, even though she didn’t seem to be paying much attention to where she was going. Initially, her gaze swept over him without, apparently, seeing him at all, and then they flashed back, and recognition seemed to light up within them.

She stopped, her hand falling to her side, and some of the clouds and pain in her eyes seemed to fade. “Oh.”

Terrance stared at her. Maybe it was the concussion, but he couldn’t seem to comprehend why a young girl was running through the forest, and why she didn’t seemed shocked to find someone, but did seem slightly surprised to find him. Not that there was any actual recognition. He had never seen her before, but there was something- it was like she was expecting someone- clearly, the concussion was doing more to addle his brain than he had originally thought. That was not something he enjoyed considering.

“Sir,” the young girl said, giving a nod of greeting. She was oddly polite, considering the circumstances, and Terrance got the strange feeling again that she was not shocked to have stumbled upon someone. How… strange.

“Who…” Did who she was really matter more than what she was doing here? There was a severe problem – a danger – going on. He couldn’t quite recall what it was, but it wasn’t safe her, and she needed to leave so he could take care of it. He hissed as he pulled at his arm. What had he done to it?

The girl’s eyes had gained a little light to them – like a spark, burning brightly. They flashed across him, seeming to take in everything while they took in nothing – so cloudy and clearly not at all paying attention. Another kid with her head in the clouds.

“My name is Tuesday, sir,” Tuesday said, stepping closer to the man and kneeling before him. She had been studying him and had noticed a few things. His arm had been the first, of course. It was clearly broken – it was bent at such an angle that there was nothing else it could be. As she watched him, however, his movements sluggish, off-balance, with his green irises surrounded severely-dilated pupils, it was quite clear that he had a concussion. She didn’t imagine, however, that he would appreciate a stranger searching for a lump on his head. She would have to settle for assumptions.

“I know you’re confused, sir,” she continued, speaking slightly louder than usual so that she could be more clear. If he did have a concussion, he would have enough trouble processing things without her mumbling her words, “but there is a forest fire and we can’t risk spending too much time here. I’m going to splint your arm, sir, and then we’re going to have to go.” She blinked in mild surprise when Ashleigh brought her a good-sized, firm stick. She smiled at him and then turned back to the man, frowning. “Could you walk if I helped you, sir?”

“Terrance,” the man said, and Tuesday didn’t know if he naturally spoke so softly or if it was a product of his injuries. “Doctor Terrance Caballe.” He nodded once, but winced and quickly gave it up. “Yes. I think. If you help me, I can walk.”

“Good,” Tuesday said. She grimaced but trudged on despite having to be so demanding of someone clear far superior to her in age and knowledge, if he was a doctor. “Hold still, doctor. I need to splint your arm, and then we need to leave.”



None of them noticed the red-haired man standing some ways away, hidden behind a tree. He watched as the young girl secured the medic's arm in a tight splint and clutched the pokeball tighter in his fist. Grinning, thinking about how much fun it would be to watch the shiftry unleash its full, vengeful wrath on the girl, he shook the ball roughly, and released the pokemon with a snarl.

There would be no time to react.

Posted by: Living Arrow May 16 2010, 03:30 PM

“Shadow!” Darryn screamed, the silhouette of the Aura Pokemon crackling and flickering before his eyes. It had taken the Seviper less than a second to unleash the jet of flame but even less time for Jaima’s Lucario to throw itself into the path of the attack, protecting the human who had been too slow to get out of the way.

“PIKA!” Tempest flew through the air like a speeding golden bullet, an arc of lightning stretching out beyond Darryn’s view to stab into the trees where the woman and her Pokemon had come from. The fire instantly waned and faded to a shimmer, Shadow panting heavily but still alert and standing with firm paws.

“Piny?” Eggheart clutched Darryn’s chest tightly within his sweater, her little body trembling with fear. He reached up to soothe her with a back rub but was on the move almost immediately.

“November, go!” Darryn threw the Repeat Ball into the air. His resplendent Rapidash stomped the earth with alarm but she found an opponent soon enough and was rushing through the trees. Darryn watched her go and sought out the woman who had been standing atop the bank. She had moved a little, leaning leisurely against a broad beech and smirking to herself. She looked like an average hiker with too many curves – slinky and yet built for the outdoors. A fresh face that gave her youth still held the lines of maturity that denounced her a clear adult – maybe thirty – but unlike any hiker he had ever seen she wore makeup that looked as though a professional had applied it. She was a plethora of contradictions and yet somehow she fit.

A Linoone sat straight-backed at her feet, eyes watching but not really seeing what was going on. Darryn blinked. The Linoone worried him. Something about the look in its eyes…

“November, Fire Spin!” An Arbok hissed and reared back, opening its hood as a warning before letting loose a Mud Bomb attack that consumed the flames and swamped the Rapidash’s hooves with sticky goo. Darryn clenched his fist and opened his mouth to order another attack when Tempest went flying by.

“CHU!” She roared, firing a Thunderbolt at an unseen foe that punched, kicked and scratched at her from its canny hiding place. She landed on the ground, ears twitching. A glare one way, then another. Then the light of realisation caught her but too late.

The Kecleon emerged from her blind spot, Shadow Sneak allowing it to swipe viciously across her striped back. With a wail, she rolled in the dirt and struggled up, dashing back into the trees to move the battlefield in her favour. Darryn clenched his teeth hard and held Eggheart to him protectively, eyes wide and searching for the answer to get out of the situation.

“Who are you!?” Darryn yelled at the woman, the crash of battle raging around them. “And what do you want from me!?”

Her cruel lips tugged upwards in a secretive smile.

“Whoever said we wanted anything from you?” She sneered, her pet Linoone still staring at him with those glazed eyes.

“So you do want something from someone, then.” Darryn accused, fishing for the Pokeball in his bag that held Meiko’s Corphish. It was an unpredictable option but he was running out of choices and that Linoone could join the fight at any time. November screamed as the fangs of the attacking Arbok dug into her flank, urging Darryn to move faster.

“What we want is of no importance to you, boy. You’re just an irritating Weedle that’s in the way – easily crushed under my foot.” She replied, beginning to strut toward him with a hip-swinging swagger that stank of arrogance. Her Linoone followed equally as fluidly, eyes never leaving Darryn. He stared back at the Pokemon intently.

*Where have I seen this before?*

“Squashing you is just a bit of fun – then we can go back to torching this place and finding the bounty we’re after.”

Darryn drank in her words but kept his mouth shut. She’d give it away eventually but how long could he and the Pokemon hold out? Another couple of minutes? These enemy Pokemon were stronger than any that Darryn had with him and didn’t seem to react when they got attacked – merely shook it off and carried on. Almost as though they didn’t feel pain…

Darryn opened his inner eyes when the realisation hit him and gasped as the colours of the world were consumed by the four Pokemon assaulting his Pokemon companions.

“Shadow Pokemon!” he hissed. “I know who you are now!”

“You know about Shadow Pokemon?” The woman’s eyebrows raised behind her glasses. “And you can tell that how, exactly?”

Darryn gulped. There was no way he was letting someone from Team Deception know about his Empath abilities – who knew how someone like that would react? But the longer he stalled her, the more her eyes narrowed. She was focused on him properly now – that languid attitude of lazy assault was being replaced with cold intent that stung the recipient like a bucket of icy water to the face.

*Oh, God… She can’t know about me! No-one can ever know!*

The woman began to move closer to him, advancing with those piercing eyes that sought out the secrets that he had done so well to keep hidden. Her Shadow Linoone followed silently, sharp claws slashing the dirt with every step.

<LADY!? LADY I NEED YOU!>

“Prince Darryn!” Lady yelped with her spoken voice, a clear bark of ‘Vulpix!’ as her master’s voice pierced her brain. Ears pricked up to their full height, eyes startlingly wide and searching the gloom. The red-haired female and the collated group of Pokemon continued to hurry toward the crashing sound that had deafened them not long before, leaving her behind.

<PRINCE DARRYN!> She wailed back desperately, straining all of her senses to hear him again. <PRINCE DARRYN! PRINCE DARRYN!>

He was alive! Relief flooded her every atom almost as quickly as she chided herself for doubting that he would be anything but alive. She didn’t want to think about how he would never hold her to his chest and brush her fur, spray her with sweet-smelling perfumes and kiss the curls on the top of her head ever so softly as she fell asleep. She really really didn’t want to think those things but they were all she could think about for the past couple of hours. And now, with the echoes of his thought-speech drifting from her mind she was primed to save him from whatever fate had befallen him.

<PRINCE DARRYN!>

“Yo, red.” Victor peered at her through the dark. “Something wrong?”

Lady glanced at him but quickly turned her attention back to her surroundings. Whatever had allowed their master’s voice to reach her had gone now and the psychic interference throughout the forest dominated her powers once more.

“Prince Darryn is in danger.” She replied curtly, agitation making her prance nervously. “We need to go.”

“Er, but that girl needs us, too.” Victor thumbed over his shell. “She might be the fugly one around her but we can’t desert her without any warning. Darryn wouldn’t want us to just ditch her like that.”

“You didn’t hear him!” Lady snapped, “he needs me and I can’t find him!”

“If you can’t find him then you can’t help him.” Victor said simply. Lady snapped visciously at him but he avoided her pointed teeth.

“That doesn’t mean I can’t try!”

“How do you even know he’s in danger, anyway? In fact, how do you know he’s out there at all? We’ve not heard from him since he put us back in our balls – he could be injured or worse.”

“Because he can speak to me by thinking.” Lady replied, her chestnut eyes flaring intently. “His mind is open to my thoughts and mine his. We are connected on a deeper level than you can ever imagine or even understand. He called for me and I must go to him!”

Victor blinked. He knew he had been missing something in Darryn’s little team and this had to be it. The Co-ordinator was, admittedly, close to his Pokemon but he was clearly more in tune with the self-important Vulpix. The others hadn’t mentioned that he had any sort of beyond-human abilities but then again, how many of them knew? The Ponyta was too vain to notice anyone but herself, the Jolteon simple to the point of retardation, Rampardos lazy as sin and the bird… well, he wasn’t convinced the Pidgeotto could even speak.

“Look, we can go find him but we need to tell the witch first. You can do that, right?” Victor folded his stout arms.

“We?” Lady lifted her nose.

“Of course.” Victor replied, winking at her. “I care about him, too. You might have been groomed by him for a lot longer than me but I have a connection with him, too. He understands how I feel and that’s all that matters to me.”

Lady regarded him with calculating eyes.

“Don’t get in my way and don’t slow me down.” She resigned herself. Victor nodded and ran after her as she shot after Meiko and the other Pokemon.



“What do those eyes of yours see, I wonder?” The woman’s gaze pierced straight to Darryn’s soul. He froze, unable to release himself for her stony gaze. “And I wonder if they would still work if I had them removed from your head… Musto!”

The Linoone surged for Darryn in an instant, its lithe form leaping for the Co-ordinator’s face with outstretched claws. Darryn gasped as long nails swiped toward his face. They glinted menacingly in the lightening dark, seeming to slow to a standstill before the boy’s eyes. A blue paw rocketed through his field of vision and the Force Palm connected squarely with the Rush Pokemon’s flank. With a barely audible hiss of strangled breath, the attack was sent flying back toward his mysterious trainer.

Darryn looked to Shadow who offered him a nod as a sinuous black figure reared up behind him.

<GET BACK!> Darryn hurled his thoughts at the Seviper, more of a primal howl of defiance than a warning call, and was surprised to see the effects. The snake Pokemon paused and blinked, the dark dull light in its eyes flickering alive for the briefest millisecond before they clouded over once more and the attack continued. Shadow swiped it away with a vicious Metal Claw.

*This has gone too far – we need to get away right now!*

“November! Tempest! Regroup!” Darryn hollered to his surroundings, completely relieved to find both charging back at speed, their opponents swiftly following behind them. Replacing the Corphish’s ball in the bag, Darryn held his arm low for the Pikachu to leap up to his shoulder while November slowed to a trot, wheeling about to square off against the foe Pokemon alongside Shadow.

“Shadow! Beat those things back as hard as you can – we’re making a run for it!” Darryn ordered, holding up his hand to silence Tempest as she immediately began to protest angrily. “November, help him out.”

Shadow glanced back over his shoulder before nodding and leaping atop the Rapidash’s back. There, he clapped both paws together, a blue light flaring between them. Opening those palms revealed a growing bar of swirling azure light that extended into a long lance of bone. November reared and screamed, throwing herself into a furious gallop towards the woman and her four Pokemon, Shadow snapping the bone in his hands in two to wield two glowing bones at once.

The twin snake Pokemon were too slow to avoid the attack, both nailed in the jaw with the whirling Bone Rush, and ended up sprawled out like boot laces, limp and struggling to rise. The Linoone met a similar fate as it attempted to move out of the way, struck to the back and then promptly kicked by November as she thundered past.

The Kecleon flew from invisibility, narrowly avoiding the Pokemon Knight and Steed, an extremely long tongue shooting toward Darryn like a whip. Tempest leapt to meet it, grabbing hold and sending out a mighty Thunderbolt that rendered her foe paralysed and twitching on the ground. Without waiting to congratulate her, Darryn fired the Pokeball recall beam and shoved her into his bag just in time to be lifted atop November’s back by Shadow’s strong arms.

“You won’t get away with this!” The woman screamed after him. “We’ll get what we want eventually and then nothing will stand in our way!”

Darryn pressed his face into Shadow’s back as they galloped away, desperately pleading that the woman was wrong. Whatever she was after, he knew she could never be allowed to have it. She was in Team Deception – he knew that now – and that meant none of the others were safe. Not only that, but his secret had almost been revealed. He could never let it get like that again. Never.

*But you could speak to that Seviper, couldn’t you?* Darryn’s conscience reminded him. *First it was Pokemon with psychic talent and now this? What’s going on?*

With a tangle of unanswered questions, Darryn hugged tighter to Shadow’s body and rode on into the early morning.

Posted by: Master Houndoom May 18 2010, 01:43 AM

A small procession walked in the shadows of the trees on the bank of the river that flowed through the now burning wood. In the lead, holding her arm against her stomach, was a woman in a torn, dirty uniform. Her long silver hair bounced against her spine, and though her eyes were lined with pain, she kept them roving, bouncing from shadow to shadow, alert for any change in light that would signal the fire had caught up to them.

From time to time, she glanced back at the heracross carrying the young man who's pokemon had protected him so loyally. That, alone, was impressive, that they wouldn't have scattered or returned themselves to their pokéballs, though one must have, if the riolu carrying three was any indication.

That, too, was odd. One rarely allowed pokemon to carry pokéballs, let alone their own and others. A few people used pokemon as pack creatures, but they were usually larger varieties: rhyhorn, or tauros, or ponyta. To have a riolu carry any of his gear was odd. Especially when that riolu insisted on juggling the pokéballs in his care.

The lack of equipment was telling as well. He had no belt to carry his pokéballs, no backpack for potions, or other items, no clothing, even, except for the pants he was wearing. His feet showed signs that he had walked barefoot, and there were places that were beginning to bleed.

It was also concerning that he hadn't woken up. He definitely had a concussion, but even a major one should have only rendered him unconscious for a short time. She was beginning to think he was seriously injured, and only Doctor Caballe could tell that accurately.

She had stopped to check over her charge again. The pokemon had either come to trust her or seen that there was nothing they could do for their master, and were forced to trust the woman before them. Either way, they did not tense until she was already checking the young man.

By then, it was too late.

There were four pops behind her, and when she turned, there were four vicious looking pokemon glowering at her. Behind them was a man, smirking, glowering, and holding his hand out. "Recall those pokemon to their pokéballs, and step away from the boy."

* * * * *

Meiko gasped as the mental voice invaded her mind. We are leaving.

Meiko gasped. The voice was not like Mercury's, who, though it was obvious that the voice was from outside her head, still managed to soften it and sound as if the intrusion were a visit. Lady's voice tore through whatever walls were natural to all, and echoed as if she were shouting in a long stone hallway.

However, the message, shocking as it was, got through.

"What do you mean, you're leaving?! I can't just let you leave, Darryn will kill me if you got hurt!" Meiko put her hands to her hips, and the vulpix narrowed her eyes in response.

I will go to Prince Darryn now! He needs me, and you will not stop me! She turned, and Meiko, not foolish enough to grab for her, simply put an edge to her voice.

"And how do you plan to find him, Lady? We don't even know if he's all right!"

I know. He has called for me, and I will go to him!

From Lady and Victor's perspective, Meiko's attitude changed drastically. Instead of demanding, she was surprised, even excited. "You've heard from him? He's called you? And he needs help? Go! Go, and please, Lady, try to lead him back to me so we can find the others!"

Lady looked at her, eyes narrowing suspiciously, and then she and Victor turned and ran off. For an instant, Meiko tried to follow them, but they were long gone, not sticking to the clear path, but instead going through the brush. Biting her lip, Meiko instead turned and headed back the way she had been heading, toward the crash. It had to be a machine of some kind, possibly piloted, and people might be hurt. And there also might be a radio. If there was a vehicle, then there were others.

She trod along the path. The woods were starting to smell smokey, and that wasn't a good sign. If the vehicle was on fire, it might start a fire in the forest, and that would be horrible. Meiko sighed, wishing she had a water type nearby.

A shape came out from her left, and she spun. Grondir moved himself between her and the shape, and Cosette trembled in her arms, but after a short time the trembling became struggles. Meiko let her down, and she stood next to Grondir, head down and posture as threatening as the tiny turtwig could make it.

A man stumbled from the forest, his head bleeding and one leg trembling as he limped. Despite his injuries, which he seemed to have tried to dress himself, he smiled brightly upon seeing Meiko. "Another body. A warm sight to see, c'est vrai. And such a pretty petite. Are you lost, Cherie?"

Meiko frowned, but he looked hurt. "Were you in the crash?"

"Oui," the man said, low, his eyes, briefly, growing haunted. "Ze helicopter, she crashed badly. I do not know how I was separated from eet... ze pilot, I can not find her..."

He seemed disoriented, but if he'd been in a crash, Meiko understood. She walked to him, Grondir and Cosette flanking her, and reached for the bag on his shoulder. It contained several half rolls of bandages and gauze, and some ointments, all opened, some smeared, but for now they would do. Sitting the man down, she began to dress his wounds methodically. He watched her face as she did so, but she would not meet his eyes.

"I have met with the angel, no? Only an ange de la pitié would have such beautiful eyes..."

Meiko's face flushed, and she clenched her teeth, repeating to herself that he was hurt, and didn't know what he was saying...

* * * * *

Antoinette snarled, but the man moved toward her as if she were nothing. Instead of speaking to her, he motioned to the heracross. "Put him down. On the ground." When the giant beetle pokemon made no move, he motioned behind him. A thin, wiry houndoom stepped forward, blowing out puffs of fire. "Now."

The rescue agent stepped forward. "Stay away from heem!"

The man's hand whipped out and grabbed her wrist, the broken one, and she screamed loudly as the broken ends of the bone ground together. He pushed her away, and she fell to the ground, sobbing, unable to stand until she could get the pain under control.

In the mean time, the man went back to Jaima, ignoring the pokemon for the time being. There were four out, but the man knew from a past encounter that he sometimes left some in hiding. His pokemon were weak, but the kid had tactics. He had three members of another team that had attested to it.

He knelt next to the boy and started searching him. He was far from gentle, and not discreet in the least. The boy did not move at all.

He leaned back on his heels. There were no pokéballs on the boy, but that meant nothing. He liked to keep his pokemon out. He was, more than likely, hiding them, which made sense. The shiny kirlia and the lucario were his most valuable pokemon. They should be displayed, or at least kept somewhere for his own pleasure. Female gardevoir had a very specific market, and her being shiny would easily triple the price she could fetch.

He leaned over the boy, looking into his face for a clue. With a smirk, and hearing the girl move behind him, he bent in close. "I'll find them. And I'll take them. And believe me, where I take them, they'll be appreciated. The little kirlia more than anything, once she evolves."

The collector chuckled, which was cut off as Jaima's fist rose from the ground, slamming into his chin, sending him rolling back a good foot and a half.

Posted by: Umbrae Calamitas Jun 3 2010, 12:00 AM

The headache came on so quickly, so abruptly, and was of such immense agony that there was no pain. Instead, there was an abrupt flash of nothingness that shook the breath from her and caused every bit of color to wash from her face like a white board. Already crouched, she went suddenly limp, dropping to her knees and sagging as everything left her at once weak, useless, and empty.

She was aware of nothing in the physical realm. There was no grass at her feet, no rocks beneath her hands, no pokemon around her and no injured man before her. The sky was nowhere above her, the wind nowhere near her, and there was no air. She had been thrust into a vacuum so immensely empty that even the nothing that could usually be found in such places was absent. There was no word for such a place, for the place itself was beyond nothing, and therefore didn’t exist.

Beyond the darkness that didn’t exist but gave no way for light, because light had not been created, there was merely a comprehension. A single speck of knowledge. It was nothing that her books had told her, or experiences had dealt her, or from any lesson that Professor Oak had so kindly offered her. This single fact – all she knew, all she was aware of, everything she was – was that there was danger.

And the shiftry erupted from the trees with a snarl.

Zorro, despite his actions, was not stupid. Oh, he knew he often appeared to be and he certainly did nothing to combat the assumptions others made based on the mask that he wore. It was an effective tactic. Because he acted silly and ridiculous, he was underestimated, whether in strength or intelligence, and so overlooked. The same thing was happening now.

Zorro held three pokeballs in his arms – pokeballs that, if fond, the man searching Jaima would take. He might open them or he might not, but he would take them, and that wasn’t to be allowed.

So Zorro stood back, not moving and not drawing attention to himself, half-hidden behind Tsunami and Ramhorn. Where he was standing, the pokeballs – his burden to bear – remained out of sight of the man before him. He would not allow them to be taken, and it was this, and this alone, that kept him from attacking the man. He was the bearer of the pokeballs and his job was to protect them and keep them safe. That came first.

But if things did get too heated, he considered, as he watched Jaima’s fist slam abruptly into the attacker’s face, Dante was angry enough to take on the Spanish Armada and win.

Zorro felt his body tense, his muscles tighten, moments before the pain struck him. He felt the pokeballs press against his chest as he pulled his arms tighter around them, and his throat rippled with involuntary movement as he released a sound – a whimper or scream, he did not know. The agony, however, came at him from nowhere, and with it came the sense of danger, the feeling of fear, and the need to run.

He wished he knew where it was coming from, and he did know, but there was no way that he could know that Tuesday was in danger, and he… he was too far away to help.



Tuesday, still far beyond consciousness or presence of mind, did not know that the shiftry was there. She remained where she was, on her knees, sagging limply against the doctor, whose own concussion had receded enough to allow him to function. It was with the functioning of his mind, and the firm grip he had around the young girl who had abruptly collapsed against him, that he realized she had stopped breathing.

The shiftry lunged forward with a bloodthirsty snarl and a mind hellbent on revenge.

What he got was a face-full of sand.

The spinning ball had come out of nowhere, bounding from the trees and landing on the ground in continued motion, kicking up a spray of sand that slapped the shiftry in the face and froze him only in surprise. And then the ball was moving around, circling the shiftry, moving too quickly to be hit by the razor leaf attacks that were flung at him, and kicking up sand that swirled and danced into a kind of wall, encircling the shiftry and keeping him at bay, if only by mere shock.

Laying across the doctor’s lap, Tuesday remained unresponsive, her mind still trapped in the nothing beyond nothing that was nothing. As she hovered-floated-didn’t-exist there, however, there was something on the edge of her awareness, just out of reach, knocking on a door she could not open from the inside. A barking, snarling, whimpering, howling, screaming cry that called for her attention out of fear and desperation and despair and necessity and happiness and agony, and the golden sensation, too much – too deep – too profound to be a color, erupted around her, crushed her, and threw her viciously out of the nothing that was there and didn’t exist, and back into fear and danger and pain.

Tuesday jolted into consciousness, bucking upright out of reaction or terror, coughing, choking, wheezing as the world around her spun. There was a hand on her back, a sensation of someone touching her head, but inside, and a dizziness that was natural but she wanted to go away. The wind was dry, her throat was sore, and she couldn’t seem to catch her breath as she coughed.

She wanted Zorro. She wanted him badly, and he was here but he wasn’t, and she wanted him.



The fires were hot within him. They burned and writhed like snakes of flame and he held the fanged gateway closed with sheer force of will, though they begged for him to release their furies. He could smell the burning fur that was Romeo, his spikes casting electricity from one to the other. The sparkly dancer remained behind him, downwind, but he could still smell her fear – sense her terror through the pores of his heated flesh. The little lion was there, too, but there was less emotion from him – apathy, really, and loneliness. Ashleigh did not bother to define it. At his feet, the leaves curled, darkening, the blazing heat of his body, made stronger by his rage, destroyed the earth and sent life shrieking in fear. Before him, the scent of sand, the sense of determination, the nostril-tickling antiseptic smell that made no sense but was still recognizable revealed the spinning ball for what he was. Desertdancer had arrived, just in time to protect the runt.

Ashleigh’s heart burned to do the same, and with a fierce, destructive howl that was both a curse on the shiftry and a warning to his spinning comrade, he opened his mouth and released the beasts of fire that lay within him.

As she came back to herself, turning her regained attention to the battle she had known was there but had still not expected, Tuesday saw the flames as though each were a phoenix, tearing out – immortality enacting penance. In the darkness brought on by the close canopy and the raining wall of sand, the fires burned too brightly, and Tuesday could not help but whisper something of a plea into the wind.

“Rage, rage, against the dying of the light.”

Wherever they were, scattered throughout the forest or beyond, she prayed that her friends were all right, and that none of them were going gently into that good night.

Posted by: Living Arrow Jun 7 2010, 04:40 PM

“Ok, November.” Darryn signalled the Rapidash to slow to a walk and finally a halt where her two riders could dismount with relative ease. Darryn practically fell from her back, completely exhausted and craving not only rest but a few hours of proper sleep. Yes, he had managed a few winks before he had been woken by the people from during the night but the intensity of the subsequent events had finally caught up.

“Lu.” Shadow was off November’s back and at Darryn’s side faster than the Co-Ordinator had time to blink. Strong paws gripped Darryn’s arm and shoulder, slowly easing the boy to the ground rather than letting him collapse entirely.

Darryn sighed heavily, his eyes lolling back in his head.

“Thanks, Shadow.” He said thickly, unable to get the Lacario’s face to stop blurring. “I’m just going to sleep for a little while…”

“Lu, lu!” The Lucario protested, shaking the boy’s shoulders to try and break him from his daze. A large glowing head appeared alongside the deep blue, flames surrounded the long nose that softly stroked his face.

“Only for a little while…”

“Oh great, you got us even more lost than we were before.” Victor muttered, jogging after lady as she flitted from spot to spot, lowering her nose to the ground periodically and checking her surroundings with narrowed eyes.

“It’s not my fault you cannot walk through flames.” Lady replied snidely, slowing to a trot and regarding the surrounding woodland anew. “We were on the correct path until you prevented our chase.”

Victor groaned with exasperation but did not rise to the bait. True, he had called for the Vulpix to stop – there was no way he could run through the fire amid the forest, nor could he put out anything that burned so ferociously with the limited time they were graced with. Instead, he had been forced to insist that they skirt the forest fire until they pick up the scent again. If they didn’t then… Then Darryn was in…

“You’re going the wrong way.” Victor stated as lady began to move further west. “We still have to move south if we are going to pick up Darryn’s trail.”

Lady did not look back.

“Another scent has come this way.” She said, gathering her more natural abilities and trying to decipher what information she was receiving. “The human warrior… his scent… but not him…”

“Oh great, she gets hayfever at a time like this!” Victor facepalmed. “Shoulda stayed with the ugly witch – at least we had some sort of sanity back there.”

“Insolent fool.” Lady rounded on Victor and waved her tails menacingly. “Follow me.”

Victor rolled his eyes and tottered after the scarlet fox as she continued into the woods. A sniff here, another there. A few more steps and…

“One of his Pokeballs.” Lady announced, sitting regally with the black ball in front of her paws. It was decorated with coloured clay that resembled burning flames. Not as beautiful as her own, but deceptively powerful nonetheless.

“Well why didn’t you say that before?!” Victor complained hurrying over and picking up the capture device. “This must belong to that Quilava… what’s her name again? Bernie?”

“Ember.” Lady sighed.

“Bubblebeam?”

“No, Ember is her name.”

“Oh, I thought we were just showing off…”

“Imbecile.”

Victor examined Ember’s Pokeball closely in his hands before hefting it up in the air.

“What do you think you are doing?!” Lady demanded, taking a deliberate step towards him. “You can’t just summon another Pokemon like that!”

“Why not?” Victor replied, rolling the device from hand to hand. “It’s not like Jaima’s here to open it and three pairs of eyes are better for searching than two…”

“No, but it’s not our right.” Lady scorned him. “How would you feel if another Pokemon called you free from your ball? Wouldn’t it be demeaning? To have another creature like yourself show control over you?”

“I still don’t see how it is any different when a human does it…” Victor mumbled. Lady’s eyes narrowed.

<Put. The ball. Down.> Her mind crushed his in an instant, making him flinch and blink with surprise.

“Alright! Sheesh!” Victor minimised the ball and slipped it into his shell. “She can just stay in here until we find someone to let her out. Who’d have thought you’d care, anyway?”

Lady ignored that last comment, turning instead back to their original path, lowering her nose to the ground and dashing on, into the forest.

Posted by: Master Houndoom Jun 11 2010, 11:54 PM

“Come, ma petite, do not be so stubborn. Eet ees what we both want. La lune, les etoiles—“

“The injuries, the fact that someone else might be hurt! You’re right, there’s so much romance in the air!” Meiko’s words ground out through clenched teeth, dripping with sarcasm. The man with her, who introduced himself only as Guillaume, while trying to kiss her hand, did not seem to pick up on it. Meiko felt he wasn’t very bright, anyway; he hadn’t realized her pulling her hand away was a sign that she wasn’t interested. After dressing his wound and finding a way to splint his leg, she stood up and continued walking, Cosette and Grondir at her heels, between the injured man and Meiko.

“Come, chere, we need ze rest, and what better way to rest—“ He reached for her, grabbing her upper arm.

"Zakkenayo!" Meiko screeched, her hand coming across with the force of her spin, slapping Guillaume in the face. “Do. Not. Touch. Me!” She backed away, her eyes filling suspiciously, but the look on her face was fierce and angry. “I’m not interested, I will never be interested, and—“ The man stepped forward, a hand out, and Meiko’s throat closed. He stopped, his face confused, and then pitched forward as a long vine slapped into the back of his head.

He looked down to see the ivysaur and turtwig glowering at him. Turning, he saw Meiko wiping her eyes angrily, and put up his hands.

“I meant no harm, chere,” he said softly. “Please, call off te herbizarre et ta tortipouss…”

Meiko’s eyes narrowed, and she crossed her arms. “Cosette… it’s OK.” When the man cast a nervous glance at Grondir, she huffed a breath. “I can’t guarantee he’ll listen to me,” she said in a low growl. “He’s my boyfriend’s.” She looked at Grondir, who, since Guillaume was looking at her in shock, winked at her.”

“Let’s go,” she said, but indicated that he should walk in front of her. He did so, quickly. Meiko picked up Cosette and held her close, allowing Grondir to stay between the French rescue worker and the young trainer.

* * * * *

Jaima rolled to his hands and knees, hissing a breath through his teeth. His head hurt, due to impacting a rock or pokéball when the yanmega sent them flying in different directions. His hand hurt due to impacting a man’s jaw. He didn’t regret the latter.

The man ended up a few feet away, rising to his feet and rubbing his jaw, a look of fury on his face. His pokémon rallied behind him, arranging themselves in an arc on either side of his feet, the houndoom and persian on the outside, and the loudred and wartortle standing at the immediate right and left of the Collector’s legs.

Jaima managed to get to his feet before the man had recovered. His glasses were off, so he only registered a blur, but it didn’t matter. He was nearsighted; he would need to get close to punch this guy out anyway, so not having his glasses wasn’t a horrible situation at the moment.

“Bane, Sidious! Make sure this kid doesn’t bother me again!”

“You send your pokémon to attack a human?!” the outraged voice of Antoinette came from behind the Collector. He spun, clearly having forgotten about her. “Sabre, allez!” She released a pokéball which had been attached to her belt by a clip, which attached to the pokéball via a cable attached to a ring on it. A large empoleon appeared, spreading his bladed wings menacingly. The Collector, however, only smiled.

“Impressive. I was wondering if I’d have something to use this guy on. Tyranus!” The man released another pokéball, this one all black, and there appeared a green and beige creature, standing upright on two legs. Antoinette gasped. “Les yeux!”

Jaima blinked, and then looked grim. In the split second it took for Antoinette to go from shocked to screaming angrily in French, he took stock of his advantages and disadvantages. Of his team, he had Tsunami, who he could never question the loyalty of. Zorro was a wild card, but he felt the riolu could be relied on. Dante, on the other hand, did not seem to be trusting, and could not be called on. Bravo, too, did not listen to him, literally acting as if he didn’t hear any instructions given to him. Ramhorn was Meiko’s, and was, of the entire group, the one he knew the least about.

When life gave one lemons, one made lemonade. However, the lemonade would suck if life didn’t also give sugar and water.

The Collector seemed preoccupied with Antoinette’s pokémon, so Jaima knelt down. “Zorro, you have to try to take out the houndoom. I’d send Ramhorn after it, but the fire is too risky. Ramhorn, I need you on the persian. Your carapace should keep its claws at bay. Tsunami, do whatever you can to keep the other two at bay.” He stood, looking at Bravo, who was still perched on Ramhorn’s horn. “Can you fight the wartortle? At least keep it distracted?” The pidgeotto tilted his head curiously at Jaima. “Still nothing?” Jaima sighed. He’d been working from memory of what the Collector’s pokémon were. He wasn’t sure he was right. He wished he could see.

Zorro was distracted, and trotted off, but came back a moment later, pressing Jaima's glasses into his hand. Jaima looped the earpieces behind his ears and sighed. “Thanks.”

“OK, guys… if you’re willing… go!”

Ramhorn and Zorro charged ahead, a glowing aura surrounding Zorro’s palm. There was a loud squawk as Bravo realized what was going on, and flapped his wings violently to flee from his perch on Ramhorn’s horn. The Collector turned, seeing the two charging pokémon and called out, “Maul! Uproar!”

The loudred opened its mouth wide, but the noise it was trying to release was caught in its throat as a large purple blob landed into its equally large mouth. It choked and sputtered, attracting the attention of the wartortle, who received an equally large blob on its shell. The purple ooze sunk into the shell, and both bipedal pokémon shuddered.

“Nice one, boy, but—“ He cut off as his houndoom launched a flame attack at Zorro, who flipped over it and brought his hand around, striking the devil dog in the chest. The houndoom yelped. On the other side, Ramhorn lifted the snarling persian above his head and slammed it to the ground, yowling. Tsunami had opted for a distance attack, sending jets of water crashing into the loudred and mud into the chest of the wartortle. A spray of water lashed out from the wartortle, sending Tsunami back, reeling.

“Stupid kid! Marshtomp are part ground! Your pokémon will take more damage from Plageous’ attacks than that thing can do to him!” The Collector sneered. “And your bird is useless!”

“PIDGEEEOOOOOH!” As if he’d heard, and understood, Bravo launched himself, not at the man, nor at his pokémon in front of Jaima, but instead at the brown and green shape fighting Sabre. The breloom rolled as Bravo impacted, shaking its head in surprise.

Jaima actually smirked. "Tough for you. Bravo isn't listening to me, but he is willing to fight."

The Collector sneered, pointing to his wartortle. "Plageous! Ice Beam on that feather duster!"

"Tsunami!" Jaima merely pointed, and Tsunami charged, tackling the wartortle and taking the ice beam herself. This occupied the water type, leaving, unfortunately, the loudred free and clear. It opened its mouth to chomp down on Zorro, who flipped to avoid an attack from the houndoom. As the loudred's mouth enveloped the surprised houndoom's head, Zorro disappeared into a nearby bush.

The houndoom struggled, yipping in fear and confusion as the loudred, caught by surprise, neglected to open his mouth until the Collector shouted at him.

"Tsunami, use Bide! Ramhorn, Horn Attack on the wartortle! Zorro..! Dammit, where is he?!"

Tsunami took the attacks directed at her, both from the loudred and wartortle, who's attack stopped briefly when Ramhorn swung his horn from the side, slamming the wartortle in the back with a loud clonk. As if on cue, Zorro emerged from the bush, impossibly wearing a cowboy hat on top of his head.

He pointed to Antoinette, grinning. <<Don't you worry yer pretty little head, may'am. We'll send these rustlers runnin'!>>

Jaima really wished he had the time to grimace and shake his head, but he had to concentrate.

Zorro dashed forward, landing between the houndoom and the loudred, pointing at them with stubby little digits. "Lu, lu!" he shouted, and sent a force palm from each paw into each pokémon, separating them and making them stagger.

The Collector's eyes narrowed, and he pushed his own glasses up on his head. "I see you've grown since I last saw you... but mark my words... I will have your kirlia and lucario! SITH, TO ME!"

At that command, the four pokémon clustered around the Collector and were recalled. Antoinette was still seething, but her empoleon looked worse for wear. The breloom dashed forward, a black aura growing around it, and struck the empoleon. The aura shot through with red, and even the collector gasped.

"It's... it's in Reverse Mode!" He cursed, stepping backwards once, then twice, before turning and running off.

"WHAT?!" Jaima gaped after the man, then snarled. The breloom, having caused the empoleon to faint, stepped toward Antoinette, who screamed.

"BLITZ!"

Zorro was first, but instead of attacking, he leapt on top of the breloom's head and shoved his hat in its face, blocking its vision for a short time. Ramhorn charged it and hit it with a horn attack, followed by Tsunami. She was launched backwards by a swipe from the creature, and fell to the ground. She tried to push herself up, but had trouble doing so.

"Kuso—" Jaima swore. Zorro, too, was launched away, but flipped in mid air and landed, scampering... away.

Jaima didn't blame him.

He came back, however, handing a pokéball to Jaima. Jaima looked at it, pressed the button, and released Dante from the confines.

Dante hissed once, but was cut off by Zorro. <<That pokémon belongs to el hombre who wants to hurt la hermana!>>

Dante practically roared, sending a gout of flame at the breloom, who writhed and whirled to charge at the charmeleon.

Tsunami staggered in front of the charge, opening her arms wide and catching it, her eyes and fin flashing.

"L'Effort," moaned Antoinette, her eyes suddenly hopeful. The Breloom did, indeed, stagger as if it, too, were hurt, and as Tsunami staggered away, Dante sent another roar of flame at the breloom. It hit, and, surprisingly, the grass fighting type crashed to the ground, twitching.

Jaima approached cautiously. "Are you OK?"

"Oui... yes. Are you?"

Jaima nodded, swallowing. Antoinette shuddered, sobbing. "Ze heart... zat man closed ze poor things heart..."

"Yeah," Jaima said grimly, "They do that." Antoinette looked at him, surprised, but merely sniffed.

Jaima looked around, finding, to his intense anger, two halves of a pokéball, broken. The ball was black, and only the shiny surface reflecting the moon allowed him to find them.

"That..."

There was a zapping noise, and the breloom disappeared. Antoinette looked at the pokéball.

"I will find a way to help heem."

Jaima looked at her and nodded.

She reached into her pouch, pulling out potions. "For ze leetle ones. Sabre is unconscious. Thees weel not help heem, but your Marshtomp can use eet."

Jaima accepted it with a bow, then gestured for them to move on.

* * * * *

Meiko looked in frustration at the flames. She could hear the pilot inside calling for help, frantically, and Guillaume had swore and reached for his pokéball, which had been jammed closed. Oddly, he had begun to weep.

If only there was a way to put out the flames..!

From behind her came a blur of orange, and a stream of water gushed forth, dousing the water closest to the cockpit. Even though the flames began to retake the ground it had lost, the orange pokémon battled to keep it clear of the glassed in cockpit. Guillaume rushed forward, yanking at the door. "Sacre merde!" he said when it wouldn't budge.

A vine came from behind him, and wrapped around the handle. With the human and ivysaur yanking together, the door gave, and the pilot's cries were heard louder, unmuffled.

Meiko pushed between Guillaume and the pilot, reaching in and yanking the crash webbing. It pulled forward, but did not unfasten.

"It's jammed," the pilot cried, tears streaking her face and mingling with the blood there. She peered back at the fire, then said, in a resigned voice, "Leave me, go, when that fire reaches the engines..."

"Like hell! Grondir! Cosette! Razor leaf on this strap!"

Cosette's leaves whirred around Meiko, slamming into the glass, but Grondir's hit the mark, snapping the webbing that Meiko held out. The pilot tumbled out, shrieking and crawling away, until she was hauled into Guillaume's arms.

"Move," he cried, making sure Meiko fled before him. They were joined by Grondir, Cosette, and the orange pokémon, who Meiko suddenly recognized by the splint on his tail.

"Odysseus!"

The flames, no longer held back, hit a puddle near the cockpit, which suddenly roared to life, engulfing the entire machine. There was a pop as the small amount of fuel that hadn't leaked out caught, and the people, and pokémon, watched in silence as the flames roared into the sky.

Posted by: Umbrae Calamitas Jun 13 2010, 01:13 AM

It was hard to tell whether or not Desertdancer was tired, since he rarely seemed to slow his acceleration, spinning in a circle around the shiftry. For his part, the large, angry tree-like pokemon was steadily growing more and more annoyed. Tuesday thought that she could perhaps see a vein throbbing on the creature's forehead. Of course, it might have just been the wind from Desterdancer's movements causing the shiftry's fur to rustle.

A set of leaves cut through the flying sand with harsh metallic sounds, spinning through the air and trying to reach the other pokemon and two humans that lay beyond the shiftry's immediate reach. A burst of fire sliced through the air, turning the leaves into fluttering piles of ash before they could do anyone any harm, and the shiftry roared angrily in reply.

Ashleigh snarled in return, crouched low to the ground, fangs bared. His long, thin tail, so often whipping back and forth in candor, was hung tightly between his legs. If his fur had been longer, it would have been sticking up around his hackles. As it was, his shoulder blades were more pronounced and it was easy to see his every shift and motion, the muscles of his body tense and almost too-clearly visible beneath his skin. His claws dug into the dirt at his feet as a low growl rumbled continuously in his throat.

The challenge did not go unheard by the shiftry, and was promptly accepted. If Tuesday had been entirely aware of what had passed between the two pokemon, she would have berated Ashleigh sharply and stepped between them. As it was, she was still recovering from the effects of her Aura-attack and so was not as observant as usual.

Even she, however, could not miss the sharp yelping that came from Ashleigh, when the sudden rush of an attack sliced through the wall of sand, and the whirlwind, crafted from an expertly aimed Razor Wind attack, slashed along the side of the houndoom's body, sending him crashing to the ground with a howl of pain.

"Ashleigh!" Tuesday cried. She lurched to her feet unsteadily and staggered a few steps before catching her balance tentatively. She tried to rush to Ashleigh's side, but an arm wrapped around her middle, catching her before she could move closer to him. "Let me go!" she squealed in a mixture of fear and anger.

"You can do him no good by getting in the line of fire, my young friend," the doctor replied in a rational tone of voice. "I imagine you would only cause him more harm by needing to be protected."

"I don't need to be protected. Ashleigh needs me! Let me go, Doctor Caballe!"

"I'm afraid I couldn't do that and remain true to my oath as a medical practitioner," Dr. Caballe replied honestly, his arm not loosening from around her.

Both watched as Ashleigh staggered to his feet, his left side covered in bare patches of lightly-bleeding flesh that had been torn. Dirt covered half of the houndoom's body. The wounds would need to be cautiously cleaned and bandaged. He shouldn't be moving, much less fighting.

Tuesday clicked her teeth together sharply. "Fine." Her eyes moved to the other pokemon, taking in their positions, putting their breeds through her mental encyclopedia. She needed to find a way to end this battle quickly. More than that, however - she needed to find a way to get the shiftry off of their scent. She knew he would keep following unless stopped, and the fact that he was battling them again proved how strong he was. She had to think of... something.

It came to her in the oddest fashion. Tuesday was a fan of books to the extreme, her favorite place in the world being Professor Oak's laboratory, followed closely by the library, then the bookstore, and then her room, which looked a bit like a library. Contrary to popular belief, to the point that it would be sharply denied to certain parties - Reilly Coons - Tuesday did watch movies and she did enjoy them. Her favorite genre being horror movies, surprisingly.

One such series which she enjoyed was the Candyman series. She remembered on particular movie ending with something involving sand in a furnace, which turned the sand into glass, as extreme heat was wont to do. Much like Sweet Home Alabama, when the lightning struck the sand. The same basic principle could be applied here, to stop the shiftry.

And she had everything she needed at hand.

Tuesday had forgotten about the arm that restricted her movements, and it no longer mattered. Her eyes were flashing from pokemon to pokemon as she called out commands, no doubt in her mind that these pokemon, her friends and the partners of her friends - and therefore, ultimately family - would obey her.

"Desertdancer, use sand tomb and sink him as deep as you can! Romeo, I want the strongest electric attack you can manage. You too, Fang! Attack the sand and cook it! Ashleigh," she snapped, as she saw the shiftry struggling to pull himself out of the sand pit Desertdancer had crafted with artistic ease, "roar!"

The houndoom's snarling obedience caused the shiftry to flinch on instinct, jerking back and away and sinking himself deeply into the hole at the same moment that arcing streaks of lightning lit up the forest around them, dazzling their eyes. There was a shriek and a roar, as the lightning struck its target, swiftly heating the sand. The lightning was not perfectly controlled - it never could be - and some forks missed their target and sliced through the shiftry's fur, leaving a sooty trail behind, a rising line of smoke, and the scent of burning hair. The shitry let out a hissing squeal, jerking around, when one particular fork slashed him across the face. The pupil of his left eye turned white as the fierce licking of the flames, before the skin around it turned a sickly black and green color where the lightning had struck. When the smoke cleared, it was truly a sight to behold, how the lightning had turned the sand of the sink hole into a glimmering amber-colored mound of glass, pinning the enraged shiftry in place.

"That's..." Doctor Caballe sounded stunned.

"Brilliant, everyone!" Tuesday crowed happily. She easily pulled away from the rather loose hold the doctor had on her this time, and bounded forward to meet a pleased Romeo and a pleased Desertdancer. Tuesday made sure to stop and pat the luxio on the head. "I'm glad I had you with me, Fang," she said sincerely, and thought that perhaps the lion-esque pokemon was pleased.

"Mercury?"

"Yes?"

"We need to get out of here," Tuesday said, turning and eying the shiftry. He was still struggling to free himself, and she had no delusions that he wouldn't eventually manage it. "Do you know in which direction the others are?"

There was a pause as Mercury seemed to think or, more than likely, try to look. "I'm s-sorry, but I cannot see them." There was a hint of disappointment in her mental voice, but it was overshadowed by the fear that Tuesday thought she might even be able to feel. It was disconcerting, but she didn't want to point out that the kirlia was projecting her emotions and make her feel any worse. There were more important things to worry about. She glanced at Ashleigh.

The sound of an explosion called their attention and they turned to look behind them. It was the direction Tuesday thought that might have been originally traveling when they stumbled upon Doctor Caballe.

"That way, then," she said matter-of-factly.

"You want to go toward the explosion?" Doctor Caballe asked with a raised eyebrow.

"We saw your helicopter go down," Tuesday stated matter-of-factly. "I imagine you weren't the only passenger, and that means someone else could be hurt." She tightened the strap of her pack over her shoulder, touched a panting and staggering Ashleigh lightly on the head, and then glared back at the shiftry. "Let's get out of here."

As with her battle commands, Tuesday did not question that they would follow her. Equally, they did not fail to.

Blast! The girl was no weakling, that was for certain. She was intelligent, which they had already known, but also experienced, which they hadn't anticipated. Even when only one of the pokemon she was battling with was hers, she fought like a professional. It was insulting!

"Useless," the redheaded man snarled, as he stepped up to the imprisoned shiftry. The pokemon hissed angrily at him, but the man merely kicked sand in the creature's face, causing him to growl angrily but stop moving. "You should have been able to stop her. She was merely a child with a handful of pokemon. Clearly, you're weaker than you look. Pathetic, even. I wasted a good pokeball catching you and I can't get it back now. Maybe I'll just leave you here to burn, you disgusting, garbage-smelling, useless pile of-"

One of the most prominent things shiftry are known for are their vicious natures. Second to that is their lack of loyalty, even toward their trainers. This shiftry, having just been captured that day, had absolutely no sense of camaraderie with the man before him. So when the man kicked sand in his face and began spouting insults at him, the shitry had no qualms about ending his unfortunate partnership with his "trainer."

The roar of the fire was loud as it came nearer, and the man had trouble hearing himself scream as the glass surrounded the shiftry shattered, and the large pokemon, remaining eye gleaming dangerously, took penance for his rage, and left his own mark.

Posted by: Living Arrow Jun 13 2010, 04:39 PM

<Who are you?>

The voice pervaded the darkness with a stunning clarity that confounded Darryn within the dream.

<Who are you?>

The voice repeated, echoing in the nothingness that was the young man’s mind. He knew he was asleep – all of the telltale signs were indicating his presence within the lucid dream – but he didn’t know who or what was speaking to him. It was bodiless, voiceless, colourless, emotionless. It simply was. And yet it carried a hint of a tone that denounced it as female.

<Why does she care for you?>

“Who’s there?” Darryn asked the dream, trying to seek out the voice outside of sight and reach. “Where are you?”

<Pr-> Another sound cut through the dream. <D-ryn!>

“Lady!” Darryn shouted, whirling through the clouds of his mind, casting aside the shadows and the fog at will. “Lady! I’m here!”

<I come, Prince Darryn!> Her voice came through much more clearly, carrying with it the tones of worry and relief that he knew himself to be displaying.

<I look forward to meeting you,> the first voice announced itself once more, <my Prince.>

Darryn awoke slowly, blinking away the encrusted sleep from his eyelids and raising a hand to shield himself from the rising sun. It was morning. Golden sunlight filtered down through the broken canopy of verdant green that made the forest. He lay there for a moment, entranced by the beauty descending upon him, and only moved when a large soft nose pressed gently into his cheek.

“November…” Darryn whispered, stroking the mare’s nose in response. “Good morning.”

“Lu.” Shadow uttered from nearby, watching the trainer gain his senses. To keep warm, November had acted as Darryn’s large equine pillow and encased him between her neck and flank with Jaima’s trusted Pokemon keeping watch over them until they had finished resting.

“Shadow…” Darryn rose slowly, stretching out the kinks in his back, “Thank you.”

The Lucario raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Instead, he stood tall from his lounging position against a broad beech and passed Darryn his backpack. The human took it with a smile and threw it around his shoulders. A small pink face wiggled up from the inside of his sweater and looked around with squinted eyes. She yawned widely and shuffled back down into the cosy depths of cashmere, allowing her temporary guardian to gather the rest of his belongings and set off once more.


“Shadow, any sign of the others?” Darryn asked, hiking as fast he could after the speedy Lucario. He got a mutter of a response that he interpreted as a ‘No. And stop asking.’ Eggheart grumbled with annoyance from her perch on Darryn’s backpack, holding to his hair for reins. "Lady said she was coming but I see no sign of her..."

*Fine. Then I’ll check, myself.*

<Hello?!> Darryn scattered his thoughts loud and widely. <Lady?! Mercury?! Is anyone out there?!>

Shadow stopped abruptly and whirled about, glaring directly at Darryn. Naturally, faced with the intimidating Pokemon, Darryn stopped immediately and held up his hands.

“What, now?”

Shadow moved slowly towards Darryn, frowning very intently at him. Unnerved by the Lucario’s movements, Darryn reached back and picked up Eggheart, fussing over her as a distraction.

“Rio. Lu lu.” Shadow muttered, touching a spiked paw to his head then pointing at Darryn with the other. Darryn watched him with confusion before realisation struck him.

“Oh, crap! You heard that?!” Darryn cursed, gritting his teeth – angry with himself for not realising that the Pokemon would be sensitive to his abilities. If he had focused purely on Lady then he wouldn’t have heard, but broadcasting his telepathy would have been picked up by anything with any sort of psychic talent.

<Then that means anyone could have.> Darryn finished privately to Shadow, sliding Eggheart back into his sweater after a moment of complaint from the baby. <We should move away from here. Now.>



“Nnnngh, WATER PULSE!” Victor blasted the Beedrill away, panting heavily as he raced to keep up with Lady. His breath was becoming drawn after running for so long and the rate at which his so-called partner disturbed the local Pokemon and put them on the offensive was doing nothing for his stamina.

“Stop for a minute, you curly-haired bi-“

<Do not finish that sentence.> Lady interrupted Victor as she trotted to a halt and dipped her nose to the ground once more. <I beat you once and I’ll do it again. Remember, I told you not to slow me down.>

“Well, I never signed up for a battle every five minutes!” Victor complained, balancing himself on an exposed root to catch his breath. “Oh, and you can stop talking with your mind now – I know you’re just as tired as me so don’t try hiding it. And while we’re on the topic of fatigue, since I’m the only one fighting, I think you can cut me some slack.”

“You think those men will cut Prince Darryn some slack?!” Lady rounded on Victor, tails waving menacingly. “If I could contact him through his dreams then he may have been knocked unconscious – who knows what condition he is in?”

“But surely you can just call him now?” Victor asked, puffing out his last pant. “That psychic disturbance thingy must have stopped if you could.” Lady’s head bowed sadly, her ears drooping.

“No. Dreamscape is just another plane – the men after us all aren’t blocking it. Only active telepathic waves are being scattered and my powers are not... strong... enough to work through them.” She explained, sniffing the ground tentatively once more. “So I am reduced to this to find him.”

“I see…” Victor rubbed his hands together. “Well, at least your nose can’t get broken.”

“Indeed.” Lady muttered, turning her head into the breeze. “November continued in that direction. I’d recognise that Mew-awful perfume anywhere.”

“Then I guess we get moving again,” Victor stretched his legs, “but let’s try to leave the locals in peace this time.”

“I shall make no such promise.” Lady snorted, springing off into the forest. “Just try to keep up.”

Posted by: Master Houndoom Jun 15 2010, 03:44 PM

M-r--ry?! Is a-yo-e out there?!

Trainer Darryn?! Mercury’s eyes widened, and though she sought the connection to Darryn, who’s voice she swore she heard, the emotional interference that had been plaguing Mercury since this ordeal had begun kept her from finding the coordinator. She had, without a doubt, heard his voice; rough, broken, as if in a long, metal tunnel, but his voice nonetheless. There was no mistaking the telepathic scent of him; it smelled a lot like his shampoo.

She did not dare broadcast. To do so would be suicide in a forest full of panicky creatures, who, upon hearing her, would either try to remove her presence or flood her mind with cries for help; there was also the presence of hostiles, any of which might have psychic abilities. She did not want to risk drawing that kind of attention, either.

She got an idea.

Trainer Tuesday! I do not wish to be a burden, but can you carry me for a while? I think I might have a way to get through the emotional static that interferes with me!

Tuesday looked up and blinked, then nodded. Without a word, she held out her arms. Mercury dropped into them and promptly closed her eyes. If she were embarrassed by behind held under the arms with her feet dangling, she did not show it.

She remembered Cassandra, Tuesday’s brother’s kadabra, but could not find her, despite the connection they had forged. That was worrisome enough, except that she understood that the interference that had kept her from finding her trainer was likely what kept her from finding her first psychic-type friend. She began to despair that her plan would not work.

“Hello! Is there anyone there, maybe?”

“Morty!” Mercury hurried to find the psyduck, who was lounging, as usual, in his http://”http://forums.gtsplus.net/index.php?showtopic=29302&view=findpost&p=803156”. He stood and waddled to her, holding out large hands to envelope her tiny ones.

“Oh, thank goodness, I was afraid maybe the headaches were making me forget how to contact you. I haven’t heard from Mama Cass in a while, and now, I can’t find her…” He sighed, shaking his head. “Of course, what is it she would want from me, big important girl like her, but I wanted to thank her, I did, for getting me out of that mess with a yutz of a carnivine.”

Mercury smiled, but her smile was so tremulous that Mortimer tilted his head. “You’re worried, aren’t you? Of course. You’re here, in the forest, and there’s all this with the fire and the burning and the running around…”

Mercury bit her lip. “We’ve been separated, my group and I. All of us. I’m with my trainer’s heart-sister, but I can’t find the others. Have you seen anyone?”

Mortimer looked up, deep in thought. “Well, when there’s fire, it’s always best to be near water, which is easy for me. And there was a boy not too far from where I am, and a girl, and another man, and a fight. Wow, what a fight! The man had short hair and glasses, the girl had long silver hair and a uniform, and the boy had no shirt with long blonde hair and glasses maybe?”

“That’s him! That’s Trainer Jaima!” Tears streamed down her face, and she had to stop, holding her head in her hand and regaining control. “That’s my trainer. You said he was with a girl, though? That doesn’t sound like Trainer Meiko…”

“Who’s to say? She had a funny way of speaking. Also, a great big empoleon. Poor thing gor trashed something fierce!

Mercury pressed her lips together. “Did you see where they went?”

“Well, your boy beat the man’s team well enough, except for the big breloom he had. Funny thing, that. The beast had a weird aura around it. Went a little crazy, too. Took both of ‘em to beat it. Then they started heading back into the forest! Crazy!”

“No, that’s good! That’s where we are!” Mercury smiled again, more firmly. “Thank you, Morty.”

“Oi, if you see Mama Cass, let her know Morty says hello, and not to be a stranger so much! That goes for you, too!”

“Don’t worry, Morty, I’ll visit from time to time!”

With a final wave, she began a journey along the psychic plane. Perhaps she could find Lady, or Shadow, and if so, she could find Darryn and Jaima. It was a matter of time. She hoped that they had it.

* * * * *

Meiko looked around. Now that they had gotten the pilot out, who was shaking and sobbing in Guillaume’s arms, she had to figure out what the next move could be. The fire where the copter was denied them access to any radio, and threatened to start another fire around them. Meiko knelt and pet Odysseus, but did not ask him to act; the fire was too large for the pokémon to handle alone.

The pilot finally moved away from Guillaume and looked at Meiko. “That was a foolish thing to do… you should have left me… but I’m glad you didn’t.” She put out a hand which shook. “Isabella Garcia-Shapiro-Flynn. Don’t ask,” she said with a shaky smile. “What are you doing out here?”

Meiko grit her teeth. “My… my friends and I are on our way to Petropolis. We were ambushed by a group calling themselves Team Deception. They used a pokémon to send us into the forest—“

“A forest that is currently on fire,” Isabella said, looking toward the north. “We’d better move. Where are your friends now?”

“I don’t know,” Meiko ground out, clenching her teeth. “I don’t even know if they’re alive! I think Darryn is, because his vulpix sensed him, but my b-“ her throat closed, and she had to swallow. “Some of the pokémon with me aren’t mine; they’re my boyfriend’s and his little sister. Adopted,” she added as an afterthought, “sort of. I don’t know where any of them are, of if they’re OK, or…”

“All right, honey,” Isabella said kindly. “Let’s get out of here. Hopefully we can find your friends.” She didn’t add that, hopefully, their team was also nearby.

There was a rustling in the bushes, and Grondir and Cosette tensed. A form stepped out, and Odysseus’s ears perked up, eyes narrowing, as the shape… two shapes, stepped around the tree.

Posted by: Umbrae Calamitas Jun 23 2010, 02:13 PM

He was accustomed to the feeling of fire in his chest, the burning on his own internal flame, but Ashleigh was not used to a similar sensation - but one completely different - coursing through his legs. He felt weakened by it, as though the flames fed on his strength instead of oxygen, and he found himself staggering as he tried to walk, though he fought the exhaustion and tried very hard to walk straight.

He could see the runt's eyes, flicking to him at intervals. In a switch, the runt was the one keeping pace with him. It was clear she wanted to move faster, and thoughts of that demon shiftry who had been following them was clearly the reason why, but she wasn't walking faster than he can manage. Her hand reached out now and then and touched his head, fingers resting only lightly. Ashleigh didn't spare the energy it would take to chuff with mock indignation. It would take more than some exhaustion to bring him down. Come what may, he would protect her. She didn't need to worry about that.

Tuesday was worried. This time she was worried and she knew why. Ashleigh was hurt to the point of near-fainting - that was quite clear. They were being stalked by a shiftry who apparently decided to seek vengeance upon them. They were lost, separated from their companions, in a forest that was also on fire. Tuesday did have a companion in Doctor Caballe, but he had a broken arm and a concussion, though the latter seemed to have let up a bit.

Groaning lightly, Tuesday rubbed her head, which had started aching not long ago. It wasn't nearly as bad as the sharp pains that came at times, but the constant aching was starting to get really annoying. She wanted to blame it on stress, or fear, or the constant battling, or even the coming fire, but she wasn't stupid. This had happened before, a couple of times, and every time, there was some pokemon in danger that she ended up stumbling upon. This time, she didn't imagine things would be different.

So when they pushed through a thick brush and came upon a treecko amidst a fire, Tuesday was not surprised. What did surprise her was that the treecko was not the victim of the flames by accident, but more by stubbornness.

The fire was raging here and had consumed a thick-leaved tree entirely. Leaping around the tree wildly, the treecko tried attacking the flames with everything it had, kicking up leaves at it and even physically slapping it in an attempt to fight it off of the tree, but to no avail.

"Hey!" Tuesday yelled, rushing forward, ignoring Doctor Caballe's cry to stay away from it. Whether he meant the feral treecko or the fire, Tuesday neither knew nor truly cared to. She ran up to the treecko and, ignoring the possibly negative outcomes, grabbed the treecko's arm and tugged on it.

The reptile turned to look at her in surprise, and then scowled. Ripping its arm away, it leapt forward and smacked the flames burning to a branch with his tail. Letting out a cry of pain, he leapt to a different branch and did the same again. With a scorch mark running up his reddening tail, the treecko cried out and leapt away, leaping around the tree wildly, trying to will away the flames.

Doctor Caballe stepped up beside a confused and worried Tuesday, who was still rubbing her right temple.

"I'm afraid you won't get him to stop," he said quietly. Tuesday glanced up to see him looking down at her with an expression of studious interest and something akin to surprise. "Treecko will defend the tree that they make their home until their very end. He will remain to battle the fire until it brings the tree to the ground."

"And after that?" Tuesday asked quietly, turning her gaze back to the treecko, battling the flames stubbornly.

"I don't know."

"Right," Tuesday said matter-of-factly. With a flash of her hand, she pulled a vacant pokeball out of her pack and whipped it toward the tree without bothering to aim.

It hit the treecko just as he was about to slap his tail against another brush of flames, sucking him into the device with a flash of red light. The ball clattered to the ground, shaking.

Tuesday picked it up when it had finally stilled and slipped it onto her belt, her eyes faraway and her expression thoughtful.

"We need to stop this fire," Tuesday said quietly.

"This fire is likely far too large. We'll have to find a radio and contact my boss so he can send out some more teams."

Tuesday shook her head. "No. The pokemon are being hurt and losing their homes. This needs to stop now." Her eyes narrowed slightly as the walked. "I need to find my team. We can do-" Tuesday blinked as they stepped through the bushes and came upon a group of people. "Meiko."

Posted by: Living Arrow Jun 26 2010, 01:58 PM

“For one that is meant to levitate, you do a lot of walking.”

Mercury, balked and stopped her flight across the psychic plane, spinning around to find a tall slender woman standing at her shoulder.

“Wha- Who are you?”

The woman, darkly featured in her infinite beauty, suppressed an outright laugh and held a creamy hand to her smooth chin in thought. A clinging black silk dress swirled around her all the way to the floor, curled black hair spilling over both shoulders and eyes deeper and darker than any night sky marked her for a stranger that Mercury was instantly wary of. Was this woman a Dark type on the psychic plane? She hadn’t met one yet out here but that didn’t mean there weren’t any around. She shivered.

“Who am I, you say?” The woman looked Mercury up and down. “A better question would be: Who are you?”

“Riiight…” Mercury took a step back. “I’m in a hurry right now so I really-”

“You are named Mercury. You’re a ShineSoul Kirlia and you are currently in the forests of south west Furoh. You have battled many times and have had a human ‘Gym Badge’ awarded to you for your efforts. You are not with the man that owns you, nor are you with the Lucario that owns you. You are lost.”

Mercury blushed. Shadow didn’t own her… wait!

“OK, I get it – you know who I am! But you still haven’t told me who you are.” Mercury folded her narrow blue-sleeved arms over her white shift. The woman, beautiful and wellspoken had considerable psychic talent – she might even be as good as Cassandra… The thought was more unnerving than Mercury had expected. Again, she shivered. “Or what you are…”

“Why does she care for you?” The woman ignored Mercury’s question.

“Look, I don’t have time for-”

“But I see why she calls you Chrome.”

“Lady!?” Mercury gasped. “You know Lady?! Is she here?! Have you seen her?!”

The woman’s placid cream brow furrowed deeply, those black eyes narrowing.

“That is not her name.” The woman intoned, her voice suddenly seeming to grow thick in the very air. Mercury winced under psychic pressure, wishing that Cassandra were somewhere nearby for support. “And no, I have not seen her here – what makes you think she has the skill to even come here?”

“What makes you think she can’t?” Mercury raised an eyebrow. The woman glared back.

“Because my sister doesn’t have even a fraction of the power needed to get here. She can barely speak!” The black woman spat.

“Uh… Lady can speak just fine… Even though sometimes we wish she wouldn’t.”

“Impossible.”

“Whatever. I need to find her. Do you know where she is, or not?” Mercury sighed, getting ready to travel once more. The woman regarded her with calculating eyes.

“Of course I know where she is.” The woman hissed. “I’ll show you.”

In a flash, the world around them span and changed colour – swirling and swirling until the ground became a rippling field of green and the sky the plainest white. The ground was perfectly flat and, upon closer inspection, resembled a giant map upon which they stood.

“You are here.” The woman indicated Mercury’s location with a blinking blue light on the map. “And here is your man. My sister is over… there. What you do with that information is up to you.”

Mercury absorbed the map into her mind and relaxed. Jaima wasn’t far away. Lady was a good distance but, according to the other lights that were beginning to show, she was with Shadow and Darryn. Relief, joy, ultimate happiness. The weight of worry and fear on Mercury’s heart lifted almost instantly and she couldn’t help but break out into a massive smile.

“You have no idea how… how amazing this is!” Mercury beamed. “Thank you so much!”

“What makes you think I did this for you?” The woman asked simply.

“Because you smiled when you saw my reaction to see Lady alive and well.” Mercury replied. “You’re happy that she has others watching over her – others like me – and her watching over them. You are proud of her.”

The woman’s eyes widened considerably and that stern outlook softened.

“It looks like your strength is growing fast.” The woman nodded approvingly. “Cassandra will be pleased to see her pupil developing this quickly.”

“You know Cassandra?! Who are you?”

“You have been experiencing psychic interference to prevent you all coming together once more…” The woman stooped to press her palm against the map. “Mightyena fangs… A simple block.” She snorted, a ripple passing through the map like those on a mill pond disturbed by a falling leaf. “The barrier is now broken.”

“What? How did you?... Who are you?!” Mercury demanded.

The woman began to fade, leaving the psychic plane for the real world. A smile broke out on her dark features as she shimmered from view, her last words dancing on the wind.

“You may call me Belladonna.”

***

“Oh my God!” Darryn cried, dashing through a scrub of brush much to the surprise of Shadow whose Aura-nodes quivered tensely with shock. “It’s a Teddiursa!”

The Lucario sighed to himself and followed the Co-Ordinator into the nearby clearing to indeed find a Little Bear Pokemon sat against a tree, rolling something small and blue between his paws. On closer inspection it appeared that the brown bundle of fur had found a Rare Candy with his Pickup ability and was trying to decipher how to unwrap the secrets within.

“You have no idea how much I have wanted to catch one of those things!” Darryn beamed at Shadow as he stood alongside him, folding his arms with disinterest. “So, if you wouldn’t mind, go and give it a solid Force Palm and this Pokeball will do its stuff!” He brandished a Friend Ball and pulled back his arm, ready to let loose. Shadow remained motionless. Darryn blinked.

“Er… anytime now…” He nodded toward the Little Bear. Shadow raised an eyebrow and looked away.

“Shadow! Come on! The faster I get it, the faster we can move on!” He complained loudly.

“Ur?” A soft tug at Darryn’s leg announced the normal type’s arrival. Gazing up at the human with wide brown eyes, the Teddiursa held up the Rare Candy with one paw while sucking on the other. Darryn’s heart caught in his throat.

“Awww! You want me to open it for you?” He reached down to free the treat from the blue wrapper and passed it back. “There ya go! And when you’ve eaten it, I’m gonna catch you…”

The Teddiursa gave a giggle of glee and downed the candy with a single bite, patting his belly excitedly. That smiling face, however, was soon contorted into an upset grimace.

“Oh great. What did you do, Shadow?” Darryn sighed, standing up properly and maximising the Friend Ball. Shadow’s mouth dropped open in silent protest. The Teddiursa, however, began a protest of his own that was not in the least bit silent.

Roaring angrily, the bear tottered backwards, clutching his stomach and shouting madly. Clearly, candy didn’t agree with the little beggar. And, naturally, his cries did not go unheard.

“UUUURSAAAA!” The mother Ursaring came crashing through the undergrowth, eyes red and swollen with rage to defend her alarmed child. Darryn backed away slowly, eyes white and skin whiter than a Froslass. In a flash, Shadow was in between human and Hibernator, a glowing staff of bone blocking the path between sharp claws and soft flesh. Darryn, though still ready to pee his pants, stopped his retreat. Shadow could handle this…

<Prince Darryn!>

A flash of scarlet fur darted across the clearing, an aura of psychic power blasting at the towering bear. Caught offguard, the Ursaring was lifted into the air on waves of Extrasensory where it kicked and roared for release. A swirling, freezing wind caught it up and tossed it away as Victor jumped into view.

“Lady! Victor! You found me!” Darryn grinned. Not only was his retreat cut short, but he was now moving forward again.

“Lu.” Shadow said simply, his Bone Rush shattering into dust that faded before it hit the ground.

<And so have I!> Mercury’s voice blossomed smoothly into the forest. Darryn jumped at the sudden sound but punched the air with joy almost immediately. <And, I suggest you all get ready to move fast because it’s time for us all to regroup!>

Posted by: Master Houndoom Jun 28 2010, 11:36 PM

Jaima trudged on, the girl he was with behind him. His mind was still fuzzy, but beginning to clear, which only made the thoughts and worries that had been swimming in the miasma caused by the smack to the head much more clearly.

Behind him, the woman muttered under her breath, obviously worrying about similar things as he was. Her muttering would have been annoying, if he hadn’t had more to worry about, and if he had the fortitude to actually be angry at anyone.

She was muttering in her own language, which Jaima vaguely recognized as French. Working as a lab assistant for who was arguably the best pokémon professor since Professor Oak was the *only* pokémon professor, one learned a lot. He had observed correspondence from many different regions, and even had a friend in research who was quite the linguist, knowing several, including his own. It was a shame that person did not deal well with other people...

Jaima sighed. Having no real psychic power really stunk some times. If he had anything, even a glimmer of psychic ability, maybe he could contact Mercury and at least see if she were safe. His shoulders sagged. She had been called to her pokéball. Of course he wouldn’t be able to contact her, even if he had that kind of power.

He heard a rustle from above, and as he looked up, he felt a hard impact on his forehead. Wincing and swearing in Japanese, he reached for the offending object, ready to crush it like a hollowed apricorn. His eyes still squeezed shut, he ground out, “Why in the hell does everything have to hit me in the head?!”

He was stopped, at first, by a snort, and then a giggle. Looking up, his eyes narrowing, to see Antoinette with both hands over her mouth, trying desperately not to allow anymore of his suffering to translate into laughter from her. With a sigh, he looked up. What he saw up there shocked him.

There was the fabric of Meiko and Tuesday’s tent, flapping in the breeze. Looking down to his hand, he blinked. There in his hand was a love ball, and there was only one pokémon he knew of nearby that had been caught by a love ball. Looking up at the tent, he smiled, grimly. The way things were happening, it was almost as if someone had set a chain of events into motion that would end up in them getting back everything they had come with, no matter what the trial ahead.

Just then, the tent shook loose from the tree and fell. On top of Jaima. Antoinette, having nearly regained her composure, was set into fresh fits of now uncontrollable laughter.

Struggling to get out of the tent, swearing softly under his breath, using words that would have given his mother fits (regardless of the fact that he’d learned half of them from her), he finally got free of the tent, vowing that he would leave it behind to burn.

That was when the inside of his head seemed to explode, and he fell to one knee.

* * * * *

“Tuesday!” Meiko moved forward, holding her arms out to the younger girl and hugging her tightly. She squeezed as hard as she thought the girl could stand, simply holding her. Once again, tears threatened to leak out of her eyes, this time almost unable to be stemmed, and she had to stay still before she could pull back to look the girl over. Even then, her voice sounded as if she had been punched in the nose. “Are you OK? Have you heard from anyone? Lady says Darryn is all right, she went to find him! Oh, you found Mercury,” she sniffled, letting her back a little more, feeling badly for having crushed the kirlia between her and the girl.

Tuesday blinked, and Mercury looked as if she were preoccupied. Meiko studied Tuesday’s face. The girl swallowed, then glanced over Meiko’s shoulder to where the pilot, rescuer, and the man who had accompanied the younger girl were clustered. Meiko glanced over her shoulder, then pushed hair from Tuesday’s face. She did not miss the worried glance from Tuesday to Ashleigh, and it made the younger girl start when Meiko gave a sharp cry of relief at seeing the houndoom.

Meiko briefly abandoned Tuesday, crawling to Ashleigh. She was in control enough to not attack the houndoom, and was able to see the wobble in his stance. The houndoom lowered himself, wary but not attacking. Not yet.

Meiko turned. “Please, do one of you have a potion? This houndoom is hurt!”

Guillaume took one look at Ashleigh and flinched back. “C’est un bête!” Meiko shot him a glare, but her desired action was enacted by Isabella, the pilot. Her hand whipped up and smacked him in the back of the head as she passed him, reaching into the pouch on his belt and pulling out a large potion spray.

“Forgive him,” she said, “he’s never liked houndoom.” The smile on the pilot’s face did not reach her eyes.

“One more reason not to like him,” Meiko muttered. Isabella stepped forward to administer the potion, and Ashleigh growled low in his throat.

“Here, let me,” Meiko said, holding her hand out for the potion. Isabella reluctantly put it in her hand, and Meiko stepped forward. Ashleigh did not growl, but his stance was still defensive. Chewing her lower lip, Meiko once again turned to Tuesday. Kneeling in front of her, Meiko pressed the potion into the younger girl’s hand. “Here,” she said softly to Tuesday. “I think he’ll trust you.”

Isabella and Meiko watched as Tuesday approached Ashleigh, slowly. Rather than growl, Ashleigh stood tall before her, despite the wobble in his legs. She knelt and hugged the dark pokémon, stroking his neck with one hand. She picked up the potion and administered it, burying her face in his neck as the spray began to take effect. Ashleigh slowly sat, his tail whipping side to side in relief.

After a few moments in which the spray was depleted and Tuesday knelt with Ashleigh, stroking his neck and back and whispering softly to him, she stood and walked to Meiko, looking up at her. Mercury, who'd hung off of the arm closest to Ashleigh, was clutched in Tuesday's arms like a stuffed doll. Meiko smiled down at her. Tuesday, without saying a word, opened her arms and hugged Meiko around the waist, again holding Mercury in one arm against Meiko's thigh.

Well, this is new…

"Mercury!" Meiko swallowed as the kirlia floated out of Tuesday's arms.

Thank you, Trainer Tuesday, for holding me while I looked for everyone. And Trainer Meiko! It's good to see you! Mercury surveyed the clearing, noticing the three new humans, and the pokémon around the clearing. I have good news! Everyone is safe. I spoke with Trainer Darryn, and, the kirlia's face grew red, and her mental voice sounded sheepish, Trainer Jaima is well, though a ways away.

"Why do you sound so sheepish?"

I… sort of yelled in his ear.

* * * * *

When the boy had emerged from the remains of the tent, Antoinette had been howling with laughter. As soon as he'd hissed, her laughter had stopped and she was making her way toward him. He hit the ground, holding his head, and the worst came to mind: It wasn't a mere concussion.

But when he looked up, he was smiling. "Sorry about that," he said, standing, with a broad grin and cheer in his voice. "My kirlia managed to contact me. She was a little enthusiastic with her greeting." He stood and began walking. "Come on. I know where to go from here!"

Posted by: Umbrae Calamitas Jun 30 2010, 10:33 PM

Ashleigh sat on the ground much calmer than before, but refused to lie down or fully relax in the presence of so many strangers. He was still tired, still weak, he could tell, but nowhere near as bad as he was before. It was a relief that he had strength enough again that he would be able to better protect the runt. The fire that had burned painfully in his legs had receded and he knew that, should they be attacked by that beast again, he would be able to fight and defeat it.

He regarded the strange humans around them with wary eyes, though he wasn’t overly concerned about them. The fact that they congregated together like a group of flustered mareep did not liken them to ferocious enemies in Ashleigh’s mind, and this, too, was a relief.

The runt was being silent again, and Ashleigh was quickly finding this common, if somewhat disturbing normal behavior for her in the presence of strangers. If she was ever going to be his Alpha, then she would have to overcome that. Ashleigh hoped that she would, but like he would protect her, he would also help to show her the way, until she could find it herself.

Terrance was confounded by this young girl.

When she had found him, she had immediately taken charge, being certain that his injuries were taken care of and that they moved away from danger. When she battled, she did so in a manner that was startlingly strong for someone her age. Her intelligence also seemed quite keen.

Now, however, she appeared to be a different person entirely. Terrance had yet to hear her speak since they met up with Izzy, Guillalume, and the red-headed young woman who apparently knew the child. She acted not just shy, but almost submissive to the mannerisms of others – ready to follow, but not to take charge like she previously had.

When she was hugged by her friend, the child had acted as though the action had stunned her, and it had taken her a moment to react to it, with a hug in return that came slowly and didn’t seem to be of nearly as much force (which was probably a good thing for the entranced kirlia in the young girl’s arms). Terrance could understand the child’s quiet concern for her houndoom, who had tried to stand strong despite obvious injury, but even then, the manner in which she held the pokemon while she applied the potion spoke of a severe internal agony that Terrance had had the fortune of seeing in very few people or pokemon. Even then, it was in creatures much older, and it distressed him to see it in a child, and one so young.

The girl’s mental distance now, her distracted nature, made him wonder if she had perhaps attained some injuries that he either had not seen her gain due to his lax in attention, or if she had gained them before she found him. He worried that she was hurt or, herself, had suffered a concussion, in which case she might need medical attention.

He found his fellow rescuers both distressed by the situation, however, and he was quickly pulled into a conversation of their predicament, and how exactly they intended to escape it. As he so often did, Guillalume crafted a working verbal plan that consisted of their current team – the three of them, now – that left no room for interference from outsiders. In such a way, the two girls were deemed as in need of rescue, classified as liabilities, noted as hindrances, and otherwise forgotten.

Terrance would later kick himself for ever forgetting that he thought that young child needed medical attention, although his worries would prove unfounded.

Izzy would later kick Guillalume for ignoring the aid that the two girls could offer them, as they are their own team would inevitably save all of their lives.



When Mercury, regaining consciousness, floated from Tuesday’s arms, Ashleigh trotted over and sat down before the young girl, so that she could wrap her arms around his neck. She did so slowly, carefully, and Ashleigh sighed at her caution, knowing that she feared harming him. He turned his head and licked her cheek, and she buried her face in his fur with a muffled sigh of contentment.

She was distantly aware of Mercury speaking, but her mind was elsewhere. She feared for her other pokemon, who could be hurt as much as Ashleigh had been, or worse. She didn’t want to think about the possibilities, but she couldn’t help it.

Dante had been her first pokemon and was her strongest because of it, with Tempest as her second-strongest. Both were not only powerful because of their age, but because of the training that they had undergone with Tuesday. She had taught them both a series of combinations that they could use by themselves, utilizing a multitude of attack and defense strategies or their surroundings, as well as ones that they were able to use together. What bothered her were her other pokemon, or rather, Zorro at the moment, since Odysseus was here with Meiko, lounging against a tree with his arms crossed, scanning their surroundings.

Zorro was not without his own strength and a few combination attacks, but he had had nowhere near the amount of training that Dante and Tempest had undergone with Tuesday. He was also remarkably silly, with strength but often a lack in judgment, basing his moves on gaining a reaction from his fellows or his opponents. It could get him hurt, and Tuesday couldn’t forget just had close he had recently come to being hurt…

Tuesday’s mind finally processed what Mercury had said minutes before, that Jaima and Darryn were all right. That Darryn was closest to them at the moment, with Jaima still some distance off. They could go find them, get together again, and find all of the pokemon. She would feel better if they were all together again and she hoped that Meiko felt the same. She wouldn’t say anything but, as she rubbed her face in Ashleigh’s fur, breathing in his unique smell of charcoal and woodsmoke, she hoped Meiko would get them all heading off to find the others soon.

Then, when all of this was over, she’d train all of her pokemon, her recently-caught treecko, as well, to protect themselves, no matter the situation. That way, she wouldn’t have to worry about them, if they were ever lost.

Even though she always would. They were, after all, her family.

Posted by: Living Arrow Jul 6 2010, 12:27 PM

“Faster, November!”

Darryn clung low to the Rapidash’s back, willing her swift legs to move even faster through the brightening morning of south west Furoh. The continuous thrumming of her lofty hooves wnet unheard in Darryn’s ears as he focused his thoughts to talk with the Vulpix in his arms. Well, more specifically, Lady Foxtrot was lying atop November’s back in the nook between Darryn’s knees, pinned down softly by his chest as they travelled.

<How much further?>

<Less than half a league.> Lady replied, the strain in her telepathy quite clear – she had clearly not slept that night.

<And Jaima?>

<Approaching… but slowly.>

Darryn couldn’t help but relive the moments where Mercury had found them and relayed that all of the others were safe. It was more than relief that had found him – an overwhelming gratitude and sense of completeness had come with the news which had effectively paralysed him before he began arranging the path back to his friends. Some part of him felt guilty that he had focused so much on himself and trying to find some sort of safety or refuge first before trying to find the others but he fought it down. Every part of him knew that the others would have searched for each other first and yet he knew they would agree that finding safety was probably the wisest decision.

He sighed, easing November into a canter, and signalling for Shadow to slow down behind them. Yet again, Darryn found himself wishing that he was more like the others. The protective nature of Jaima, the unwavering resolve of Meiko, Tuesday’s innate altruism. Every one of them would have sought the others as soon as they landed but all Darryn had done was run from danger.

With a little direction from Lady, finding Meiko and Tuesday was not hard and also thanks to the fire fox, Darryn knew that they were not alone. He rode at a walk into the clearing, finding exactly what he expected to.

“Meiko! Tuesday!” He slid down from November, Lady prancing clear of his hasty landing, and barely had chance to move before the two were rushing toward him. Their enthusiastic greeting, however, wasn’t what overwhelmed him.

“Darryn!” Meiko shrieked as he choked and stumbled, clutching desperately at his head and hacking out a cough that felt like it had made its home for the winter. Frantic hands ensured as comfortable a landing as possible but the Co-Ordinator could only felt the discomfort within himself.

<Prince Darryn!?>

<They’re smothering me, Lady!> Darryn cried, not only in mind but also tears that streamed down his cheeks. <It hurts!>

<Trainer Darryn!?> Mercury’s mental voice, like wind chimes in an airy summer meadow, rang through the thrumming cacophony that plagued Darryn’s brain. The noise! It was just so much! And not a piece of it made sense – a pure bank of sound had struck him when the humans and Pokemon in the forest clearing had looked his way and it showed no signs of letting up.

<Mercury, help me!> He screamed, rolling back on his side still clutching his head and crying through gritted teeth.

“Darryn! Oh, Doctor Cabelle, help!” Tuesday’s little voice did not seem so little anymore – not to Darryn, anyway. She sounded, in fact, altogether loud.

<Trainer Darryn, you have to shut them out!> Mercury called as she floated nearby, unable to get close as the humans surrounded him. <Just think them all away from you!>

<I can’t!> Darryn roared back through the tumult, not knowing if Mercury could even hear him. <It hurts so much!>

<You have to try!> Mercury fretted.

<Do it for him!> Lady demanded, pacing back and forth nervously, her eyes on her beloved trainer. <Shield him from us all – he can’t take any more!>

“Someone get some water! Darryn?! Darryn?!”

<I can’t do it!> Lady continued, her own tears beginning to form in he chestnut eyes. <Please!>

Darryn rolled onto his back, his elbow somehow connecting with someone’s face – a man’s face – as he thrashed under the pressure crammed into his skull. Even though a part of him understood what was going on, even though he knew what it was he should be doing, Darryn simply didn’t have the strength to blot out the infinite noise and protect himself from the emotions of the others.

*But it was only lights before! Why is it doing this, now?!*

And then, suddenly and with no warning, everything was quiet.

“Darryn!”

“Doctor!”

“I... I…”

“Eet appears zat hees seizure is ending… and zat I am to be having a lump ‘ere.”

“He’ll be fine.” A calming, older gentleman’s voice said softly. “Let’s give him some space. Guillaume, Isabelle?”

Darryn could hear movement as the indicated Guillaume and Isabelle moved at this Doctor Cabelle’s suggestion, leaving the worried looks of Meiko and Tuesday gazing down at him. He blinked like a Hoothoot, surprised to see absolutely no glimmer of an Emotaglow but did not attempt to go searching for them.

“Darryn, are you OK?” Tuesday asked, her hand squeezing his gently.

“Er… yeah?” Darryn could feel the sweat on his face but it was as though nothing had happened in the past few moments – he felt absolutely normal.

“What was that!?” Meiko demanded, patting his chest (not too hard) with exasperation. “You really worried us!”

“Er… a migraine, I guess?”

“That wasn’t like any migraine I ever heard of…” Tuesday muttered.

*Well, maybe because you lot caused it and because I’m a big psychic freak?*

Tuesday blinked. Darryn’s breath caught. There was no way she had heard him – he wasn’t stupid enough to broadcast like that at such a time. And yet, her whole face changed for a brief moment. Something passed through that girl that Darryn became instantly wary of.

*She can’t know. There’s no way…*

“Migraine or not, you’re having something to eat and taking a break.” Meiko ordered, helping Darryn up into a sitting position. “In fact, we all are. Mercury – can you keep tabs on Jaima until we’re ready to find him?”

<Yes, Trainer Meiko.>

***

The makeshift camp began to settle as food was hastily gathered (what little there was of it) and Pokemon were put into balls to have some rest. A certain Kirlia and a certain Vulpix, however, moved away from the group.

<You have my sincere gratitude for what you did.> Lady bowed her head to Mercury, her body quivering with exhaustion.

<For what I did?>

<Shielding my Prince Darryn from all of those emotions so that he was not crushed by them.> Lady explained honestly. <It was more than I – or any of us – could do.>

Mercury’s eyes widened considerably.

<I didn’t do anything.> She admitted hastily. <I thought you did…>

<What? I can't...But if you didn’t stop it, then…>

<Lady… What do you know about someone called Belladonna?>

The Crimson Vulpix, fifth of the Seven Vulpix Sisters, hissed and drew back her upper lip to expose needle-sharp teeth. Her tails instinctively rose to their full height and swayed menacingly overhead.

“Do not speak that name again in my presence.” She growled through her natural voice. Every tension seemed to have sparked in the fire type in mere seconds, confusing Mercury even more than she already felt. The two parted ways soon after, agreeing to watch over the group while an unseen voice giggled to itself and drifted away on the breeze.

Posted by: Master Houndoom Jul 9 2010, 04:16 PM

Jaima's feet hurt. He had been barefoot since the confrontation with the yanmega, and, once again, he cursed and swore to himself that he would keep a pair of slippers close at hand if he ever had the urge to get out of his tent and walk around. Except that there would be no more tents. They were getting bicycles.

Or mopeds.

Or a car. A car would be nice.

Trainer Jaima?

Despite his predicament and earlier ire, Mercury's whispered voice in his head made Jaima smile. He couldn't help it. Hearing it, even when she had exuberantly shouted in his head, had raised his mood 100-fold. Still, however…

If you're going to tell me to be calm, Mercury, he sighed to her patiently along the telepathic path she had opened, I really don't think that's possible…

No, Trainer Jaima. I need you to veer to the left.

Jaima scowled a bit in confusion. Was I heading away from the path you showed me?

No, absolutely not. I just want you to do something for me. We're resting now, and I've looked again and seen something you need to pick up. Mercury's voice was calm, even amused. Jaima veered to the left until she sent him the strong impulse to stop. Antoinette looked up at him in confusion, but did not ask the question he could see in her eyes.

His own question, as to why they were being sent this way, was answered when he say the red of Meiko's backpack setting against a tree. He hurried to it, lifting it, gently, as it had landed upside down. He gathered as much as he could that had fallen out, all of them capsules, and spotted something else almost more important than the backpack.

Gingerly, he lifted Tuesday's lugia plushie from the ground. It was dirty and scuffed, but something about it made Jaima want to cry. He was dirty and scuffed. Likely Meiko and Tuesday and Darryn were dirty and scuffed. But like this plush doll, Jaima began to see a hope that they would be able to get back where they belonged.

Soon, Trainer Jaima, soothed Mercury's soft mental voice. As soon as possible. Her voice, then, went into what Jaima had always thought of as authority mode, which he had used on his sisters as needed, and had learned from his mother using it on him and his sisters, as needed. Now, please reach into the right side pocket of Trainer Meiko's backpack. Jaima did so, blinking when he pulled out several small baggies of trail mix. Now sit down and eat. We are resting, and you must, too.

If it's all the same to you, Mercury, I'd rathe-

Jaima suddenly was on the receiving end of the most ominous, chilling feeling he'd ever felt. He knew, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that if he resisted more, he would see a giant blue crested kirlia head looming over his shoulder, tongue snaking out like a serpent, purple fire blazing around it. Now sit down and eat. We are resting, and you must, too.

As one, both Jaima and Antoinette sat down, Jaima silently passing a baggie of trail mix to her. They ate, in silence, until Mercury's chagrinned voice whispered in Jaima's mind.

I'm sorry, Trainer Jaima… I… I'm a little stressed.

It's OK, Mercury. It… kind of reminded me of Mom.

* * * * *

All right, he's on the move again. Trainer Meiko, he apologizes for wearing your sandals.

Meiko looked down at her own feet, where Jaima's black cloth shoes slid haphazardly around her feet. She smiled, unable to stop her hands from twisting together in anticipation.

Mercury sat in the middle of the group, her eyes closed, her dainty legs tucked underneath her and her tiny arms on her knees. She looked serene, like she was resting, and Meiko once again tried to quell her nervousness, lest she distract the kirlia.

She looked at Darryn, worried still after his convulsions upon finding them. Things had been odd with Darryn. She had caught, at times, glimpses of him in pain, or worse, in a panic, as if his hand had been caught in a cookie jar that wasn't his. He was adept at hiding it, at least from her, but looking back, she could string together times when he seemed to want to run, and others when he looked confused or irritated for no apparent reason. Were they connected to his collapse? Meiko didn't know. Wouldn't know, unless he told her himself. But if it caused this kind of distress…

Tuesday, however, had gone through similar things, and Shadow had said it was because she was growing into some powers, like the Aura Guardians of the movies. She looked over at the younger girl and smiled softly.

Family. She was beginning to see this group as a kind of family. Jaima looked after Tuesday like he'd looked after his own little sisters, sometimes even forgetting that this particular "sister" was a few years older than the ones he was used to. And that was where Meiko had stepped in, guiding him, helping him, she hoped, cope with the young girl, keeping his impatience in check as well as his mothering instincts. Not that she was perfect; far from it. But she was feeling the same way about Tuesday as she might her own little sister.

And Darryn. Did he realize the trust it took for her to confide in him about Toshiro? He had gone from the queenish priss she'd mistaken him for after their first impression to someone she felt comfortable telling her darkest secrets to, not to mention entrust the care of her youngest to. She looked down at Eggheart, dozing in her lap, and smiled.

She had come to Furoh seeking Jaima, trying to figure out if she still wanted what she'd wanted from him as a child, and discovered two new, strong friends willing to stand with her in crisis, and with whom she was willing to stand.

But right this moment, there was something missing.

The bushes rustled just then, and Meiko turned, sensing the others did as well, some pokémon standing and bristling, others watching warily.

Two human sized forms came from the trees. The first, a short, dirty girl with long silver hair made her way to the other group, her eyes weeping tears of relief. The next was significantly taller, and Meiko stood, cradling Eggheart in one arm and walking swiftly to that figure, his large shoes flopping on her tiny feet. Reaching Jaima, not caring who it was that might be watching, she flung her free arm around his neck and pulled him to her, kissing him as much as her sobs would let him.

After a short time, or possibly a long time, but no where near several sunfilled days worth, she pulled back, smiling up at him. His eyes, too, had tears in them, but he, too, smiled, and she put her head on his chest.

Behind them, Isabella watched with her own sad smile. Meiko's face was so much more peaceful now. Hearing anoise, she looked up to see three helicopters pass over head, and felt a light mist touch her skin after they had passed and dumped their cargo some ways away. Her face lit up, and, unbeknownst to her, she smiled in much the same way Meiko smiled, whispering as she watched the skies, "Phineas…"

Posted by: Umbrae Calamitas Jul 20 2010, 12:38 AM

“Something is bothering the runt.”

Odysseus glanced over at the houndoom walking on his left, in between he and the lass. The landlegger was making it his top priority, it seemed, to be sure that the lass was being watched over. This gave Odysseus a lot of hope.

“’tis, indeed, boy. Ye go’ any idea wha’ tha’ migh’ be?”

”Another headache?”

”Don’ ask me, boy. Ask ‘er!”

Ashleigh looked at Odysseus for a moment, and then looked at Tuesday, who was paying no mind to their conversation. She didn’t understand what they were saying, just as Jaima and Meiko and Darryn or the rescue team didn’t know what they were saying. How we he supposed to ask the runt anything?

Tuesday had a headache. Yes, another one. It wasn’t nearly as bad as some of the others she’d had, but it wasn’t all that pleasant, either. She was trying to ignore the urge to rub her head. It wouldn’t do anything for her headache and it would simply draw attention to her and what the problem…could be. Everyone had just gotten back together. She didn’t need anyone, herself included, running off and getting separated. She would just ignore it as best she could, just deal with it. It would go away, eventually.

She hoped.

There had been some arguments between the members of the rescue team – a good portion of them in French – but the eight of them eventually began moving through the forest. According to the pilot, the fires were being dealt with by the helicopters they could hear flying overhead. That meant that they simply had to find their way out of the forest.

And survive any more encounters with their attack-happy friends. That was going to be the hard part.



He burned. The scent of burning fur still filled his nostrils, the sound of sizzling flesh and his own shrieks still filled his ears, and he could still feel sparking electricity as it struck his face like a physical force, and left its mark behind.

The shiftry growled low in his throat as he made his way through the forest. The man had tried to tame him, but he had shown him. He would see through one eye now, as the shiftry saw through one eye, and he would always feel the pain of his claws on scarred cheeks. The man would not forget him, but he would live.

The girl and he pokemon, however, would not.

There was a squeaking at the shiftry’s feet as a small yellow creature darted out from under a pile of leaves, as the large pokemon crashed through them. The shiftry snarled at the tiny pokemon and swatted it with a large claw. The pichu let out a terrified, pained cry as it was snatched up by the shiftry, who continued to crash through the foliage without care.



The pain in her head intensified all at once, in a flashing burst, like a needlepoint. Tuesday twitched in reaction, ducking her head as both hands flew up to clasp her skull. She stumbled a little, whether at the lack of vision from the placement of her hands or the pain, none could tell, but it was clear that she was in pain.

“An’ she answers.”

“But I didn’t even ask her!”

“But ye were listenin’, weren’cha?” the buizel asked, a knowing look on his face. He cocked an eyebrow at Ashleigh. ”Well, boy? Wha’d’ya plan t’ do ‘bout i’?”

Ashleigh stared at Odysseus for a moment longer, before turning to Tuesday. He whimpered – a sound not overly loud, but quite enough to call the attention of Jaima, who returned swiftly at the sight of Tuesday. She had been walking a bit behind the sight of everyone else, which is the only reason they hadn’t seen her falter. But that wouldn’t happen again.

Jaima knelt before Tuesday, gripping her slender arm gently. His voice was soft when he spoke to her, and Ashleigh stood close to him, trying to keep his whimpers low, but make sure they knew he was there – that the runt knew he was there.

“Tuesy, what’s wrong?”

“I’m okay,” Tuesday replied, though her voice was muffled and sounded more like self-reassurance than any steady affirmation. She appeared to try and gather herself, however, and lowered her arms shakily to her sides, standing up straight. Anyone with sight, however, could see her dilated pupils and the pain reflected in her eyes. Ashleigh whimpered again.

“Tuesday, you’re not okay,” Meiko said, clearly trying to impress upon the girl that this was serious. “You have another headache?”

“I’m fine,” Tuesday argued quietly, though this statement was contradicted by a heavy wince.

“Honey, you can’t-“

Whatever Meiko had been about to say was interrupted by an explosion.

Five people broke into the clearing, the explosion not one of fire or lightning, but sound, as a multitude of pokemon were released from their pokeballs at once. They hovered around their trainers, trapping the eight of them within a threatening circle. Three men and two women, they grinned.

“Well now,” one of the men – a tall, dark brunette with sharp eyes – said, stepping forward, “look what the fire chased out.” He patted the head of the mightyena standing next to him. “Daddy always did say the best way to catch a rat was to smoke ‘em out. I guess for a horde of rats, you need a whole fire.”

The woman to his right – thin and wiry, with long mud-colored hair – laughed in a high, shrieking pitch. “You all must be so tired!” She grinned a very toothy grin – an expression that made her appear less in control of her mental state than most psych patients. “Let’s put you to bed!” She snapped her fingers and threw her hand forward dramatically. “My beauties! Attack!”

The five pokemon at her side, all evolutions of eevee, sprang forward with a series of yips and snarls. The pokemon surrounding them all began to rush forward, converging inward on their circle, as a scarred and half-blind shiftry burst out of the trees, and all hell broke loose.

Posted by: Living Arrow Jul 20 2010, 03:45 PM

<But Lady…>

<No, Prince Darryn.> The Vulpix chastised him as the group hiked through the thick forest. After being reunited with his Pokemon, Darryn had put his exhausted Rapidash back in her ball along with Bravo – the bird started screaming and wouldn’t stop even when Darryn asked him to – and Romeo (whose licking was non-stop). The whole group had agreed that moving south west would get them to civilisation first – something for which Darryn was greatly looking forward to. If this particular adventure had taught him anything it was that he loved the city and hated forests. His focus, however, was not to find a bed in a skyscrapingly gorgeous hotel. Instead, a large grey face plagued his thoughts.

<But he’s still out there somewhere!>

<And I am searching. Do not fear for Zulu, Prince Darryn – I shall find him soon.> Lady’s voice was carrying strength in it intended for her trainer to use but all he could do was worry over his lazy great Rampardos.

“Darryn?” Meiko eyed him questioningly from beside him as they clambered over a small rise. “Everything alright?” Victor looked up at his trainer with confusion then directed his gaze on Lady with a frown.

“Mmm? Oh yeah – just a little tired is all.” Darryn lied. Meiko didn’t buy it but she didn’t press the issue either. Her giggling Happiny waved at Darryn and gurgled something merrily. He smiled back and for the first time realised that his shirt felt too empty without the loving baby pressed against his ribs. Although it had been a matter of hours, Darryn had grown accustomed to her minute warmth and found himself missing her presence next to him.

<But we found everyone else… What if Zulu is all lost and sad and alone out there? What if he got hurt and needs me?>

<You really think that big lump of dumb rock would get hurt and need help… Seriously?>

Darryn sighed. Lady was right – Zulu would probably be faring better than the rest of them even if he was on his own. Holding onto that thought, Darryn followed the others over the rise and down into a clearing of the trees where a smattering of grass grew amid the dirt. They were nearly halfway across when the scream of opening Pokeballs came from all around.

Three men and two women had managed to encircle the group, trapping the young trainers and rescue workers in a ring within the clearing. Darryn recognised one of the women as the one who had attacked him earlier that morning – she blew him a kiss with mock affection. He glared back.

“Well now, look what the fire chased out.” A tall man laughed snidely as he patted the head of a ferocious-looking Mightyena. “Daddy always did say the best way to catch a rat was to smoke ‘em out. I guess for a horde of rats, you need a whole fire.”

“You all must be so tired! Let’s put you to bed!” A gaunt woman cackled next to him, unleashing a toothy smile that made Darryn want to clamp braces on with their gap-tooth ugliness. She dramatically threw out an arm and cried: “My beauties! Attack!”

“SHIFTRY!” Something massive and dark burst from the canopy but the young Co-Ordinator already had incoming Pokemon from the side of the group. He felt Meiko tense behind him as they moved back-to-back at the centre of the group.

“I’ve had ENOUGH of this!” Darryn practically threw Lady from one hand while releasing Bravo’s Premier Ball from his belt with the other. How dare these people just show up and attack them without reason!? How bloody dare they?!

With a roar, Darryn unleashed his Pokemon upon the incoming Nidoking, Glalie, Banette and Carnivine on his side of the clearing.

“Bravo, Lady, Victor, Romeo – GO!”

Posted by: Master Houndoom Jul 23 2010, 03:51 PM

Jaima had taken his time, hugging each and every one of his lost pokémon, and then, for good measure, hugging tsunami, who had been with him for much of the time. If he had been embarrassed about such a display of affection, he didn't show it. If Meiko had been embarrassed by his displaying such affection, she, as well, did not show it (but, then, after all, she did just kiss the breath out of him in front of their friends and four perfect strangers.)

Guillaume had held back. The girl who had found him had been pleasant enough to look at: Scantily dressed with just enough scrapes to make her look the damsel in distress. After months of the only women he had contact with being married, in a relationship, psychotic, or his sister, she had been a welcome distraction. Things had gone sour, of course, on the walk, but the stress of the situation had to be the blame for it. It was not the first time that he had been slapped by a woman!

But now, this. The girl was in the arms of another, someone Guillaume had imagined as scrawny and nerdy like many young teenage pokémon trainers were. But this boy had some definition, and though he wore glasses, there was no air of awkward geekiness that he had come to expect.

That, plus the younger girls bête noir, put him in a foul mood. His sister was returned to him, yes, but she could only gush about how brave the boy had been, and how loyal his pokémon were, even pokémon that weren't really his followed his commands!*

Further, Isabella, lovely Isabella, could only praise the girl's bravery and insight in freeing her, though he had also tried his hardest. The doctor also had nothing but good words for the youngest, though his were tempered with great concern.

It didn't matter. The team was together, and they would handle the rough stuff from now on, not these civilians. And he, Guillaume, would impress the girl, and she would see how foolish she had been, and then--

"SHIFTRY!"

Guillaume started. Somehow, not only had a wild shiftry burst into the clearing they were in, but they had been surrounded by no less than five people.

"Bete!" shouted Anoinette. "Deed you not hear us talking zat zere was somesink wrong? Peeg!" She was backing toward the doctor and Isabella.

"Does anyone have a fighting pokémon," Isabella ordered her people. Antoinette snorted.

"Sabre ees unconscious. 'Ee was taken down by a breloom who's trainer closed 'ees 'eart!"

"I'm afraid I've only brought Aiuto, and she is not much for combat," the doctor ground out.

Guillaume sighed. Normally, he'd gloat at having, once again, the only viable pokémon. Isabella had been explaining that she'd left her granbull, Pinky, with the nurse as he'd wounded a paw (which, Guillaume grudgingly admitted, must have taken some doing,) when all eyes turned to him. He shook his head, frustrated. "Cannon's ball is locked closed. I do not know why."

Antoinette blinked at him, a flicker of concern on her face. He knew he could count on his sister to know his misery. When he'd been new to the Brigade, he'd witnessed a pokéball being broken with the pokémon inside it. It had been heartbreaking, had plagued his nights for months, to think that the poor pokémon simply ceased to exist.

"Eet will be all right, frère," Antoinette whispered. "Eet ees only stuck…"

Guillaume nodded. The worst part wasn't the dread of losing Canon, though that was horrible. The worst part was that now they were defenseless.

"Shadow, you're on the mightyena", a voice called from the other group, the children who had been rescued. "Mercury, Grondir, I need a barrage of leaves. Keep them blinded!"

"Desertdancer, Cosette, sand attack and razor leaf! Keep them confused!"

The Brigade members blinked as the children, teenagers, really, began to take command with their tired pokémon, weary and yet still willing to battle. The girl who'd greeted the blonde boy so enthusiastically dashed to the other side of the group from her boyfriend, holding off on that side as the boy in question took their side. The littlest girl made sure that the doctor was protected, and the other boy, angry, managed to take the last section (though Antoinette, who had been watching the handsome young man closely, had realized that this had happened so naturally that either the other three had taken positions based on his, or that he had moved in anticipation of the tactic.)

The shiftry was a wild card, but Guillaume marveled as the devil beast the small girl commanded confronted it as if it, the beast, were the last thing between the shiftry and what the shiftry wanted, snarling and slavering in ways that had always made the Frenchman's blood run cold.

Even the girl's tiny pokémon, the baby version of the doctor's chancy, seemd to be helping out, literally: blue lightning sparked around her body without harming her trainer, and reached out to hit one of the pokémon battling, allowing it to deliver a devastating blow.

The battle, however, was not going well. The children's pokémon were not as powerful as the attackers, though they fought hard, it was clear they were outmatched. Still, if the trainers, or even the pokémon realized it, they said nothing.

* * * * *

Jaima tried not to let his worry show, but Mercury knew it, and Shadow knew it. There was only so much dodging they could do, and while the leaves and sand were having their effect, all too often the shifty would wave an arm and clear the area, causing them to start over again.

Jaima set his feet and surveyed the grounds. "Tsunami," he called softly to the marshtomp. "Mud Slap. On the humans."

Tsunami did not falter, though she looked at him as she prepared the attack. The grim set of his mouth assured her he was using desperate tactics, and she slapped mud at the trainers in front of them, causing them to cry out and curse, clearing their eye. This was enough to briefly stop their commands, and, predictably, the pokémon stopped as well. This group had not taught their pokémon to take initiative. Or worse, had taught them not to.

"I wish I had Ember," Jaima sighed, looking for the next opening.

Then a pokéball struck him in the back.

Jaima turned, but Victor was already turning away. He looked down, and there was Ember's pokéball, on the ground. He snatched it up and called her out of it. "Ember, I want you to run around the circle and put a huge smokescreen up between us and them!"

Ember gave a cheeky salute (which, had this not been such a serious situation, would have given Jaima pause) and began her run. Meiko called out, in Japanese, "Good, Jaima, but that shiftry's blowing it away here!"

"Ember," Jaima called, "Flame Wheel!" He pointed to the shiftry, and flames exploded around her as she slammed into it.

With a roar that was cut off by Ashleigh's renewed attack, the scene sunk once more into chaos.

Posted by: Umbrae Calamitas Jul 26 2010, 01:23 AM

When the attacking pokemon began to move in, multiple things happened at once, as things are wont to do.

First, the four of them split outward, moving in a defensive cubical formation, their pokemon before them and forming a second tier to protect them from their attackers. If Jaima or any of them noticed this, no one commented on it.

The moment that Meiko, Darryn, and Jaima were each reunited with Tuesday, her pokemon left their temporary trainer and returned to her. They may not have come right up to her or even offered her a physical greeting, but each moved toward her, as though pulled toward her by some force that they did not bother to contemplate or explain. They positioned themselves around her in respect to where each of their comrades were standing. Whether this was done consciously or by instinct, none of them could say, nor did they expressly care about it. So long as they were with her and she was safe.

Zorro had been the last to arrive, having been accompanying Jaima during their separation. When the last human member of the group that would later become known as Team Rogue was finally reunited with his friends, Zorro moved immediately toward Tuesday, and took position on the branch of a tree above and just behind her. He crouched low on this branch and, while calm, kept a watchful eye.

And then Team Deception attacked.

The five of Tuesday’s pokemon that were out of their pokeballs moved immediately, without command. They fanned outward around her – even Ashleigh, who lunged toward the shiftry with a beastly, terrifying snarl. They placed themselves between their trainer – their friend – and danger. Ashleigh to the direct right of her, crouched low with hackles raised and whip-like tail dropped low between his legs. His teeth crackled with a mixture of fire and electricity, though no one but he seemed to take notice at the time.

Tempest, swift on her small feet, dashed to the direct left of Tuesday to face the skarmory, who had raced forward with a fierce cry from its beak and fire in its steely eyes. Electricity crackled around her body, making her golden brown fur stand on end, as she dashed from right to left and verily summoned the bird to attack. It did not disappoint.

Odysseus, who had been leaning against a tree with his arms crossed, moved fluidly from his casual stance, across the ground, to place his back to Tuesday’s and face the flareon riding in on flaming paws. The buizel ducked his head down and raised his paws outward in a position of attack, as the fire-dog crouched low and growled.

Zorro leapt from the branch of the tree in a movement of ferocious grace that belied his natural impishness. He somersaulted over Tuesday’s head and came down feet-first on the head of a sneasel racing for attack. He was immediately rewarded with a sharp slash of claws across his face and, as blood ran into his eyes, their fight began.

Dante’s movements were the fiercest of the five. Like the others, he lunged forward to face his opponent – a band of six exeggcute – with a snarl. Where the others moved to defend their trainer, their friends, and the members of the rescue team, however, Dante moved immediately to the offensive, not even giving the exeggcute time to turn and run. Throwing his head back, the charmeleon released a sharp, cutting hiss that tore through the air followed by a flash of flames. At his feet, the six eggs that formed a pokemon quivered uncertainly, but Dante took no notice of their reluctance. He attacked.

There was a moment when chaos alone reigned. The five pokemon attacked and defended by their own wit and will. Standing in the center of their star-formation, defended from being attacked herself, Tuesday bore witness to the five battles going on. For a moment, she remained passive and unresponsive to the instinctive call to command. Her eyes took in each battle with a turn of her head, her mouth remained set, and to any watching, it appeared that she did not bother to consider taking charge.

But her mind worked sharply, suggesting and vetoing forms of attack, defense, combinations, movements, recalls and summons. Battles raged throughout their part of the forest as the four of them had pokemon that rose to their defense, or took the offense. Tuesday’s mind worked, not frantically, but fiercely. Then her eyes narrowed, and she took charge.

“Ashleigh, keep moving and don’t let him touch you. Ember attack!” She blinked when Jaima’s quilava responded to the command for Ashleigh to use his fire attack, but she caught a flash of golden fur out of the corner of her eye and, as Ashleigh ducked a leafy fist, turned to see Tempest rebound from a painful attack against the skarmory.

“Tempest, stop using that move!” she yelled. Tempest landed heavily on her paws and sprang away, avoiding being kicked. “Double team!” Tuesday yelled, and watched the pikachu split off a number of illusions, her multiples racing hither-thither all over, calling the steel bird’s attention. “Thunderbolt!”

Dante’s claws slashed forward, glowing white. The exeggcute rolled out of the way of the metal claw, but the charmeleon, tail flame glowing blue, hissed loudly and lunged forward, teeth snapping, fire rushing through the cracks of his jaws. He hissed out flames that stopped the exeggcute’s backward retreat and stomped forward, reaching a clawed paw forward and snagging one of the eggs that made up the pokemon’s six-formed bundle.

He raised the egg to his face, hissing loudly at it, his fangs bared. The egg pokemon looked singularly terrified for a moment, before its eyes hardened. Opening its mouth, it abruptly released a mouth of seeds, spitting them sharply into the charmeleon’s eyes.

Dante released the egg with a snarl, whipping his head up and roaring angrily in pain. His tail whipped back and forth wildly and he brought his head down sharply, releasing a mouthful of crimson flames as he stomped forward, eyes still squeezed shut. There was a cry of fear and pain from the exeggcute as they were caught in the midst of the flamethrower attack, and a loud crunching sound, as Dante stepped down hard on something brittle, wet, and sharp.

Odysseus landed heavily on his stomach as the flareon’s iron tail took his legs out from underneath him. He lay recovering his breath, dust pluming as he gasped for air that had been knocked out of him. Pushing himself up on his paws, he groaned, muttering to himself. ”I’m too damn ol’ fer this.”

“Quick attack to your right!”

Odysseus didn’t even look. When he heard the lass’s command, he immediately did as she said, picking a point to the right – a very pronounced root on a large tree – and targeting it for his attack. He kicked off the ground, his speed carrying him toward the tree. He caught the ground with his forepaws and spun until he was facing the flareon again. He watched as the force of her attack – a ferocious Giga Impact – slammed her whole body into the ground where he had been standing mere seconds before.

A flash of movement out of the corner of his eye had him glancing at the lass as she seemed to hesitate, bringing a hand to her lips in uncertainty. Then, “W-Water Gun, Odysseus!”

He hesitated a moment, just long enough for her to rescind her command, but she didn’t. Her face, her eyes, held a determination that wouldn’t allow her to take back the order. Nodding sharply, he turned back to the flareon, who had recovered and was lunging for him, and released his water attack.

The force of it caught her in the chest and flung her backward, and he leapt forward and began the fight anew.

Zorro leapt into the air, merging a twist with a flip, and landed behind the sneasel. The weasel-like creature, who had been bringing a claws hand down at his face, recovered far more quickly that most, spinning around with his claws still moving. Zorro yelped as he was slashed sharply across the chest, two long, thin bloody marks to match others that decorated his blue and black fur.

With a hiss, the sneasel lunged forward, pulling a hand back as it did so. His claws formed into a fist, they began to glow an ominous white. With a cry of rage or, perhaps, presumed victory, the sneasel punched his fist forward sharply.

“Counter, Zorro!”

Zorro dropped down into a defensive position, his legs bent, and raised his arm protectively over his face. His body began to glow blue as the sneasel’s Focus Punch connected solidly with his arms. For a moment, they appeared to be frozen, two mismatched puzzle pieces thrust together in an awkward mating ritual.

Then, the blue around Zorro’s body flashed as his own attack took hold. Light erupted where the sneasel’s fist touched Zorro’s arms, and both pokemon were abruptly thrown backward.

Zorro flipped in the air backward, trying to regain his equilibrium, but he wasn’t able to correct himself before his body slammed heavily into a tree and rebounded into the earth. The sneasel was similarly flung back, slamming into his own trainer, who released a pain-filled cry as the out of control sneasel struck him, claws sinking into his flesh. The trainer flew backward, landing solidly on the ground with the unconscious sneasel on top of him.

“Zorro!” Tuesday yelled. She tried to run over to where he had crash landed, but was stopped when an umbreon dashed in front of her to avoid its opponent’s attack. Tuesday backpedaled to get out of the way of the dark pokemon’s faint attack, but sighed with relief when she saw Zorro sit his head up out of a pile of leaves.

”Mi back dolores,” he moaned, as he waded out of the leaves and dashed with a mild limp over to Tuesday. She bent down and hugged him soundly.

“Are you okay?”

”Si, si, no to preocuparse, mi hermana.”

”I’m going to eat stuffed metal turkey tonight, damnit!”

”I think Ratta need help,” Zorro said, glancing over to see Tempest dashing swiftly from side to side but failing to avoid a swift attack from the skarmory. He patted Tuesday’s hand, either in reassurance or to signal that he wanted free from her hug. Either way, she released her hold on him, and he leaped toward the skarmory with his usual giddy grace. “Ratta, I come help!”

”I don’t need your help!”

Zorro paused for a moment, actually freezing in his movements and standing on a precarious balance of one leg, arms frozen to the side, head cocked. He seemed to consider her ire, and then shrugged good-naturedly. ”Too bad.”

The cry of the skarmory came seconds before a fierce swing of his metal wings, but Zorro had leapt upward at the cry, flipping in midair and landing on the skarmory’s back. From out of nowehere he pulled a cowboy hat and replaced his feathered pirate hat. Whipping it around, he let loose a cry that he must have thought was reminiscent of cowboys, but sounded like a strangled yelp for help. “Rio olu lu lu!”

”Move, mutt!” Tempest yelled, electricity crackling around her body. Zorro paused in his hat whipping and cowboy mocking to look at her, but, with a strained face, shoved off of the skarmory’s back and leapt backward away from the metal bird. A second later, Tempest’s thunderbolt hit the skarmory hard, shoving the creature backward with a screech.

“Zorro!” Tuesday yelled, seeing the riolu dashing out of the way of the staggering skarmory. “Copycat!”

”I gets to play Ratta,” Zorro said, grinning. Racing across the ground, he narrowed his golden eyes as he replayed Tempest’s attack in his mind. He felt the power within his rise upward, coursing through him, and a static charge began to build. His fur felt… funny, like something was tugging on it one strand at a time, or loosening it. Anyone looking at him could see the electricity that sparked and coursed like lightning across his fur.

Sliding to a stop, kicking up dirt with his paws, Zorro brought his paws close together, forming them as though he were holding something. His eyes glittering, he concentrated hard on that sensation of a static charge across his body and pushed that sensation toward his paws.

A flickering, crackling ball of golden hot electricity formed between his paws. Zorro grinned suddenly, a bright, wide grin. With a barking laugh of pride, so pleased with his success, he stepped backward at the same moment that he brought his paws forward and thrust them outward, as though he were pushing something.

The ball of electricity raced from his paws as though trying to escape his hold. It slammed into the already-sparkling skarmory, sending the steel bird toppling over with a screech of pain and anger.

Zorro and Tempest let out similar whoops and bounded forward at the same time, until they were running next to each other. Zorro was grinning, proud of himself for having accomplished such a task as copying one of Tempest’s moves and taking down the skarmory. Tempest herself was rather stunned by the fact that Zorro was able to copy one of her moves, but she couldn’t deny his mockery had style.

”Is good, eh, Ratta?”

Tempest, caught off guard, froze next to the unconscious skarmory, looking at Zorro. After a moment, she regained control of herself and sat calmly, twitching her tail in a mild form of disinterest.

”It was all right, I guess.” She huffed lightly, turning her head away from him in a haughty rendition of Lady Foxtrot. ”I could still do better.”

This only seemed to please Zorro, for he grinned widely in response. ”Por supuesto! Is your attack!”

For whatever reason – and Arceus knew she didn’t know what that reason was – Tempest blushed beneath her fur. Her left ear twitched compulsively and she glanced back at Zorro.

The white glowing wing of the skarmory swung like a scythe through the air and slammed into Tempest’s throat, cutting off whatever reply the pikachu might have had for Zorro. Tempest was flung mercilessly through the air and hit the ground with a sick thud, rolling to a stop in the grass with her body curled protectively, but limply, around itself.

Zorro’s cry matched Tuesday’s, his rage for her pain. As she ran for Tempest, however, he turned his attention to the skarmory.

Tuesday moved through a messy, disastrous throng of battling pokemon and fighting humans, at one point getting shoved hard in the shoulder and another having to duck and run under the punched arm of a hitmonlee.

Zorro moved like an electric wraith. He did not leap right upward, but snaked, or perhaps crackled, across the ground, running at full speed. He kicked hard off of a tree trunk, flinging himself in the opposite direction, toward the skarmory, and brought both fisted paws back.

Then he released a series of lightning-fast punches into the skarmory’s beaked face. The last punch didn’t land, but Zorro instead smacked his paw flat against the skarmory’s neck, and then called forth that blue power that seemed to fill him and brim over. The skarmory let out a screech or pain as the Force Palm attack caused his neck to whiplash sharply to the side.

Tuesday slid into a sitting position next to Tempest, reaching out immediately for the pikachu but forcing herself to stop before she picked the pokemon up. Instead, she touched the pikachu gently, running her fingers over the rodent’s spine and checking for injuries that she could severely worsen by moving her. She – thank every deity she ever heard of – didn’t find any, and she reached to her belt and grabbed the pikachu’s recently-returned pokeball, recalling her swiftly.

Tuesday rose to her feet stiffly, Tempest’s pokeball stuffed deep into her pocket. Her arms were at her sides, her fists clenched tightly. Her hair had come out of its ponytail during her race to Tempest’s side and now hung in her face, frazzled and dirty from the battle. The sounds of fighting permeating the air more than anything and in a single moment, Tuesday heard each of battles strike her ears individually, their ferocity and the cruelty of the nature of the battle clear to her.

She had asked Jaima once, a time that seemed so long ago, if it was cruel to pit one pokemon against another in battle. He had answered that if they liked to battle and wanted to, then they were not forcing the pokemon, and it was all right.

But this… this was wrong. This wasn’t a battle for a badge or for fun with friends, or even one for pride. This was life or death and it was sick! And she hated it. And she hated them.

Whatever it was, rage, vengeance, or power, it bubbled up inside of Tuesday like a shaken soda. Too much pressure held closed for too long, it rushed upward, exploding past any and all restraints, and broke loose.

It was not Zorro who felt it, for he felt nothing at that moment but rage as he kicked and punched the skarmory, ignoring bleeding wounds across his own fur. Instead, Ashleigh, whose opponent – the shiftry – had been taken by a man who skated down from the sky on a rope. Leaping and lunging from one attacker to the next, aiding his friends and harassing his enemies, the houndoom froze suddenly when he felt it. The power, which emanated from Tuesday, verily pulsed from her, seemed to call out to him, and he raised his head, looking toward her.

He crouched low then, his right forepaw stretching outward as his left took weight. His hackles raised, the thin fur suddenly seeming to lengthen and grow haggard, sticking upward like some feral wolf’s mane. He pulled his lips back, white fangs bared and gleaming, dripping saliva at the ground as he released a tremendous snarl that would have shamed a greater beast’s roar. His eyes, crimson as a bloody sunset, seemed to glow in an unholy light, bearing a ring of gold around the pupil. He turned, his movements slow, heavy, laden with rage and power.

His bark was fierce. Commanding. There was none of the playfulness that they had so often noted him for, none of the silliness that made his being a dark-type something that was occasionally forgotten or ignored. In a moment, he was everything that dark types were feared for. And more.

The power bubbled outward from her. Frothed. Tuesday shuddered at the force of it, but did not seem to notice. She moved, crouching, legs bending at the knees and touching her left hand to the ground at her fingertips, resting some of her weight there. She shuddered again, leaned forward, and brought her right leg outward, her foot forward, until her knee touched her rib and she fell forward until her right hand touched the ground. She was breathing hard, heavy, her chest heaving. Her hair hung around her face in a wild mass of thick blonde curls, dark with dirt.

For a moment, she crouched there, on four legs rather than two, shuddering… or shivering. The battles raged on around her, and if anyone called to her, she heard none of them. She remained there for a moment – Tuesday, and something else. For a moment, two of the creatures were frozen in their movements, paused in the midst of a battle, but their minds, enraged, vengeful, sickened by this battle and willing for it to end, worked endlessly, worked mercilessly, fed on one another, and flew together.

In but a second, they had transcended all barriers and merged.

Tuesday raised her head, hair falling away from her face, and gazed forward with cloudy blue eyes. For a moment, she appeared to be looking beyond the battle, to something far away, with distant cloudy eyes. And then the eyes filled with something- a heavy, golden liquid that flooded in, consumed everything…

Tuesday’s eyes flashed a brilliant golden color, hardened, and as Ashleigh threw back his head and howled a loud, fierce, challenging cry to the skies, she moved.

She was on two legs again, but she remained crouched over, as though, at any moment, she might leap onto four legs and race across the ground. It seemed like she should be lurching in such a strange position, but she moved naturally – gracefully, even – across the ground. She did not throw herself into battle, but fell into it, and as her mind was connected with Ashleigh’s, she fought with him.

Posted by: Living Arrow Aug 24 2010, 04:42 PM

<Everyone, listen to me.> Darryn’s thought-speak seemed to ease itself to the forefront of his focus into a place where he didn’t have to think about it to control where it went… It just… did? His four Pokemon glanced back in unison and he smiled for them. <Let’s make this a show they won’t forget!>

“PIDGEOOH!” Bravo screamed into the canopy, racing after a flitting dark shape that shimmered from place to place with a zipper-formed grin. Below him, his contemporaries clashed together with their own opponents in a cacophony of flames, lightning and ice.

<Lady. Take down that Carnivine with your Will-o-wisp attack!>

Darryn’s crimson Vulpix ducked under an incoming Vine Whip and dashed to the side of her foe, spitting purple-hued fireballs to encircle the enemy. The massive plant wailed as the burn took hold and cried out again as the slamming force of Extrasensory crushed him to the ground in a deathgrip.

<Romeo – don’t let that Glalie trick you! Use Double Team to confuse it! Victor, use Withdraw to protect yourself from that Horn Attack!>

The fluid motion of Team Kellor, graceful in its co-ordination, did not go unnoticed by Darryn’s opponent. He had battled her earlier that morning but this time her stance was different – it wasn’t the gloating, laid-back swagger of confidence but appeared to be a focused glare of determination and intrigue. Darryn opened his inner eyes for a moment to glimpse her Emotaglow before directing his attention back to his battles. She was excited. Not only that. She was fascinated. The Co-Ordinator gulped.

*She can see me giving orders without speaking! Crap! She knows too much!*

“That’s right! Follow follow follow me!” The Banette shrieked with laughter as she flickered among the branches of the upper canopy, luring the speedy Pidgeotto into a battlefield where he would be hampered by thick branches blocking much-needed space to build up momentum for fast attacks.

“Aaaaah!” Bravo screamed, his Quick Attack passing through the space where the ghost’s body had been a split second before.

“Oop! Got to be faster than that, bird-brain!” She taunted him from amid the foliage.

“Nyaaaah!” Bravo span and threw forth a tremendous Whirlwind that snapped away branches and cleared a space just long enough to see the disappearing smile of the Banette as she evaded him once more. Determined, he climbed higher into the canopy in search of open sky where he could rain down attacks from above. The sneaky ghost, however, had other plans.

“Thunderbolt!” She cackled from above, lightning bursting from her shredded fingertips into the face of the oncoming Bird Pokemon. Feathers flew in a scream of agony, the Pidgeotto shot from the sky like a lead balloon. With a screaming cackle, the Banette dove after the bird with malice in her wide eyes and glee on that zipper-made smile.


“Missed me again!” Romeo snorted, spitting out a lance of electricity into the Glalie’s back. The rear of the Face Pokemon, though scorched, did not even flinch as the bolt of lightning struck. Nor did it shudder when a rain super effective double kick attacks found its mark. The rounded form of the Glalie slowly turned to show a pleasantly content face that showed no hint of pain from the attacks it had endured.

“Ta for the massage, mate!” The Glalie nodded as though in sincere thanks. “But I’m afraid I can’t play with you anymore so don’t get mad when I beat you, m’kay?”

“Get paralysed, FaceBox!” Romeo pounced at his target, springing high and spinning in a golden shower of Thunder Wave that span down and around to encircle the floating ice head before him. The Glalie laughed and glittered green for a moment as the Protect field rose around its body to block the attack. Romeo gasped and, before he could land and dash for safety, became the victim of a terrifying upwards-Headbutt. With a squeal and a yelp, the Jolteon crashed to the earth in a sputtering stream of sparks.


“NARGH!” Victor wailed as his shell span rapidly through the air like a Frisbee. With a hollow ‘thunk’ he slammed a tree and bounced, skittering to a dazed halt on the forest floor. Distantly he heard a voice from nearby, the other human male was talking about the Quilava… the one named Ember… Victor tossed the ball at the sound of the voice and groggily, he emerged from the tough carapace to find an enormous purple stump descending upon him. “BUBBLEBEAM!”

The Nidoking’s hoof was held at bay for mere milliseconds longer by the Squirtle’s desperate attempt but it proved enough for the Tiny Turtle to find his footing and jump away to a relatively safe distance. Well, from the foot anyway.

A think, snaking tail of violet scales thundered into his chest, catapulting him back into the same tree, leaving an even larger dent of impact where he had made the first.


Darryn couldn’t believe his eyes. It was impossible!

“Lady!” Darryn cried, tears of frustration and anger shattering his vision of the horrific scene befalling his squad.

Bravo, completely ground, fluttered and stumbled in retreat of the Banette, lances of lightning bursting through his plumage like a butcher’s knife on Thanksgiving. Each attack tore free more of the feathers that Darryn had worked so hard to build up and flesh out into the glamorous pinions that his Pidgeotto had become so proud of.

Golden shimmering fur of Romeo did not hold out in perfect spikes with the electricity of battle. Instead, they hung flat to his body way he lay, panting heavily and dragging himself desperately to get out of the onslaught of Icy Wind that had rooted him to the spot.

Victor, still on his feet, was in no condition to battle anymore despite his bravery: his shell was cracked across the back and one of his eyes was almost closed with a swelling the size of a tennis ball. His left arm hung limply at his side, broken and useless. Even so, the other arm came up and summoned a swirling sphere of water that blasted wildly through the air, missing the Nidoking by some yards and opening himself up for a terrible Earth Power attack that took away his legs, dumping the tired Tiny Turtle on his face like a sack of Tamato Berries.

And lastly, Darryn’s most precious Pokemon, Lady was immobilised and unable to escape her opponent’s attacks. The vines of the Carnivine had invaded her fur, ensnaring not only her limbs but also clamping her mouth shut and her eyes closed leaving her completely defenceless. Her struggling kicks were becoming weaker and her telepathic cries were the first thing that Darryn had actually heard from her that sounded like pain. It was like a piece of him was dying whenever she called out to him, begging for help in the battle.

*My Pokemon! My friends!* Tears ran down Darryn’s cheeks. *They’re not strong enough to fight back! I’m not strong enough to fight back! I can’t let them get hurt like this. I… I love them too much for that! I’ve got to fight back! I’ve got to fight back!* Darryn’s jaw hurt from the pressure, his teeth about to break at any second… Heat soared in his chest and face, knuckles blazing white as anger steeped his very consciousness.

“That’s it, Carnivine! Rip off that ridiculous dog’s tails!” Darryn’s opponent snorted, watching gleefully as her grass type began to tug on the first of Lady’s tails with a vine.

<PRINCE DARRYN!>

“NOOO!” Darryn screamed, accompanied by a roar that deafened him and set goosebumps prickling up his back and arms like wild fire.

Zulu crashed into the clearing with no introduction, his Hammer Arm decimating the face of the Glalie pursuing Romeo and Ancientpower burying the howling Banette tormenting Bravo under a pile of rocks. It all happened in less than a few seconds. Then the Nidoking attacked… Then the Nidoking fainted as a Zen Headbutt was delivered to his chin with the speed and rage of an angered dino-mon.

“WHAT?! You had another Pokemon hidden away all along?! How deceptive.” The woman sneered, recalling her fallen three speedily. Darryn followed suit hastily, focusing on Lady as Zulu closed in on her position.

“Lady, return now!” Darryn recalled the Vulpix in a flash just as Zulu connected with the Bug Catcher and putting it down for good. It was recalled with a snarl and in a flash, the woman was retreating into the trees at a sprint. The Heal Ball was reactivated almost immediately to reveal an injured, very angry, crimson Vulpix.

<She knows.>

<And she’s getting away.>

As one, Darryn and Lady sprinted into the woods in hot pursuit of the Team Deception operative, leaving behind a rampaging Zulu who was just itching to fight anything that got in his way. Unseen by all in the group a small black creature melded with the shadows and followed the Co-Ordinator into the forest.

Posted by: Master Houndoom Sep 13 2010, 11:09 PM

Jaima's hands were shaking. Since the ambush, there had been so little time to think that he felt a near overwhelming guilt at taking the time to acknowledge the fact. Even that emotion was pushed to the side. For whatever reason, he and his friends still had active pokemon, while the rescue team did not. Nothing could change the fact that they were beset by superior forces: They either had to move on despite this or succumb to defeat without trying. The latter option made Jaima sick to the stomach.

He had a vague sense of what was going on around him. He knew, for example, that Tuesday's battle had become significantly more pitched, and that Darryn's had caused him some distress. But the fact wwas, his own distress was keeping his attention too well for him to even ask Mercury if she could keep track of what was going on.

His opponent seemed to have been warned or told about his tactics, though that thought alone was disturbing, as it meant they were being watched. He currently was watching Mercury, arguably the strongest of his team, get figuratively (acknowledging that it may also have been literally hurt to think about) get torn apart by a blurred pokemon he knew was a ninjask.

Shadow sprung high in the air, panting as the torkoal he was facing off against rocked back. The angle was caused by Shadows' strike, but left Shadow open to a fire attack that he could not fully twist away from.

Fang seemed to have energy to spare, and for that Jaima was grateful. He had no idea how, but there was a mist around his teeth, and flashes of light against crystalline ice, where Jaima had only seen fire and electricity before. It was evening his fight with the other trainer's dugtrio handily, and his energy and enthusiasm made sure he was able to dodge the ground type's attacks.

Grondir and Tsunami had taken to trading opponents. Tsunami had been set upon earlier by a tangela, and Grondir by a magcargo. Tsunami had responded to the tangela's vine whip by ignoring it, despite the pained cry she gave out, and sending a powerful mud shot into the body of the fire snail. Grondir had caught on quickly, and his vines were giving the tangled grass type a match it wasn't used to. Even so, slowly, he was becoming overwhelmed.

Ember had, at first, run around between the combatants, and had only now returned to Jaima's side. He looked down, his mind racing. He pointed to the blur around Mercury's head just as she fell, insensate, and choked back the cry that the sight of her falling limp brought. He opened his mouth, the command sticking in his throat just long enough for a new player to enter the field.

"SHIFFFFFF!"

With a cry, the shiftry waved an arm, sending the ninjask off course, but also rolling the tangela and Fang away from their fights. Grondir immediately used engrain, holding him in place, and Ember was out of the wind attack enough to not be effected. Tsunami and Shadow stood their ground, standing still from benefit o f force of will and sufficient mass.

Shadow's eyes had dilated, and without command he leapt, arcing toward the dark type gracefully, his extended foot flaring with power. His anger, however, caused him to sail over the short statured pokemon to crash behind it. He sat up, blinked, and slumped backwards, fainted.

The shiftry did not seem to notice. He was taking his time stomping on the back of the ninjask who'd felled Mercury, but Jaima could see signs that once the crunching and squealing noises stopped, that the next target would be the first moving creature the pokemon laid eyes on.

And, unfortunately, that proved correct, when the shiftry turned, saw Jaima, and snarled low in it's throat.

* * * * *

Fang could smell the fear on the humans around him. He could sense the charge in the air, especially from the direction of the girl's pikachu. There was so much tension, so much fear, ranging from worry to terror, that he could taste it in the back of his throat.

It did nothing to dampen his mood. Instead, it made him even more aware, more willing to battle.

Nothing could ruin his mood.

He had not, not, been abandoned again.

It hadn't taken Shadow nor Mercury long to explain it, of course, once they'd made contact with each other, but even that reassurance was nothing to the feeling of his trainer, who'd chosen him and been nothing less than Awesome, kneeling down to hug him tightly upon seeing him.

Jaima had not abandoned him, or Mercury, or anyone. He had missed them.

Fang could not fail. If he'd been Awesome before, he was exponentially more so no.

The dugtrio cackled in that creepy triple voice they had, and Fang grinned ice at them before bolting in to attack.

* * * * *

Mercury did not mind fainting. It wouldn't be her first, and indeed would not be her last. And it wasn't as if she was locked in some black void where she couldn't keep track of anything. However, in a way, that was part of the problem.

She could sense the anger in Shadow, the fear that she was hurt irrevocably causing him to launchin himself into a void (and, for once, she prayed that the void was a dark pokemon and not a literal void), the rage and fear causing him to launch too fast, too hard, too far, and crash, causing him to sink into darkness, succumbing to both unconsciousness and the shame of having lost control. She could also sense Trainer Jaima's rising panic, his sense of slowly becoming overwhelmed.

She could sense that Trainer Tuesday had, herself, lost a form of control, but rather than be wreckless, she had lost it to a source close to her, melded it, given way to it, and was surprised at the senses this opened to her, both her the trainer and her the pokemon. She smelled woodfire and dark chocolate, and got the briefest sense of rage at a combatant, mixed even more briefly with a sense of joy at recognizing her, so brief it passed like the swipe of a tongue across her face.

She felt Trainer Darryn's panick, rising to near breaking, Lady's struggling to stay calm, but her own fear raising, especially when an opponent broke away.

She felt Meiko's determination, fear, and anger mixing into a potent fuel, kicking her commands out of her throat like shots and barks rather than the usual smooth strawberry wine they came out as, especially when she and Trainer Jaima were talking.

Something broke. Several things at once, and then she was pulled into a dark, quiet space, and it was, despite her thoughts to the contrary moments before, a large relief.

* * * * *

Jaima took a step back, and that's when he heard the command, nasally, but forceful, the voice behind it so clear and confident that if the same command had been given with his name, he'd have tried to follow it.

"The Beak! Drill Peck!"

A long, eerily warlike cry sounded just above Jaima's head, like a siren calling men to battle, and a dark shape swooped past him, striking beak first into the shiftry. The dark plant pokemon staggered back, roaring.

"Close Combat," the voice cried, and the large flying pokemon's wings, beak, and claws blurred as he tore into the shiftry, causing it to stumble back, bleeding ichor from various scratches. With a glare that would have killed a lesser being, but met with a look of amused contempt, the shiftry turned tail and pounded into the forest, the bird flapping after it until a shrill whistle called it back.

Jaima spun, heart pounding. A man with a large, pointed nose and a short mop of red hair was stepping out of a helicopter, the wind of which he hadn't even felt. His face was grim, and two women, a tall asian and a girl with curly brown hair jumped out behind him. Despite the gravity of the situation, the man nodded to Jaima, then shifted his attention to the group behind him, tossing a pokeball over Jaima's head. Jaima tracked it, and found it again when the dark haired girl opened it, calling out a massively large purple granbull.

"Pinky," the woman cried viciously, pointing at the pokemon menacing Jaima's. "Hyper beam!"

The canid opened it's large mouth to what seemed to be exploud proportions, and a bright beam of light lanced out, catching the tangela and dugtrio both, sending one forcibly back into the ground and the other flying away.

The man was at the other girl's side, the girl who Jaima had travelled with briefly, and in time she released her empoleon, her eyes flashing as the light reflected off of his wings. "Sabre! Flash cannon!"

From a set of trees on the other side, Jaima caught glimpse of a tall man with a bulbous nose and curly green hair, who, silently, tinkered with the pokeball on the hip of the younger man in the group, releasing a large blastoise, who was commanded to use hydro pump against the foes left by Darryn.

The doctor's chancy leapt up, throwing eggs at the worst of the pokemon, giving them energy to fight. But, as Jaima looked around, his heart just beginning to slow, he noticed that their opponents, the trainers of the straggling pokemon.

The red headed man was hugging the dark haired woman, closely, as if he hadn't seen her in ages. They spoke, then he turned, facing Jaima directly. He stepped forward, a slight smile on his face. "I'm Phineas Flynn. I understand I have your friends and you to thank for helping my wife and her team?"

Posted by: Umbrae Calamitas Sep 19 2010, 03:30 AM

Hidden under the fallen foliage of a battle-scarred forest, a tiny pokemon watched.

The greatest patches of his golden fur were covered by the large leaves that had been dropped – or forced – from tall trees. He held the stem of one between two tiny paws, letting the body of it arc backward and shield him from view, as he peered through the tiny bite marks of a caterpie at the battle that waged around him.

The tiny pichu had been a prisoner of the shiftry – no doubt the great beastly tree had planned to eat him – but had been dropped by the monster when a large black dog took an offensive position against the creature. The pichu had watched the dark dog’s battle for a little while, but he got bored and turned his attention elsewhere, and then somewhere else, and then somewhere else again. His eyes, tiny little orbs with wide pupils and the smallest circle of maple brown, eventually latched onto a creature that held his attention – a stalwart fighter that flung sand and dirt, dancing and spinning and battling with a grace that the little pichu dared himself to match. He moved to rise, to push himself from the ground and scatter the leaves from him as he joined the battle and brought them to victory!

A fierce hiss, an angry roar, the stomping and heavy tumble of a myriad of pokemon called hesitancy to the little pichu. He shivered, his wide eyes widening further, and his tiny paw reaching out to grab another leaf – and another, and another – until he had piled them on top of himself and cleverly disguised himself as a pile of leaves raked together. No one would find him now and he would be safe. They could win without him. He wouldn’t even have to watch.

The little pichu blinked in the darkness of his leafy fort, listening to the sounds of battle – the roars, hissing, heavy thuds as the ground shook…

Tiny paws pushed aside the leaves in front of his eyes. They could win without him, sure, but… watching couldn’t hurt, he supposed.

The pichu found the sandshrew again with his eyes and, grinning widely, watched him continue the fight.

The coppery taste of hot blood oozing between his teeth and running down his throat did not loosen Dante’s grip on the jolteon’s neck. The spikes of fur digging into the roof of his mouth mixed his blood with the blood of his opponent and Dante could smell both clearly as he fought to retain his hold. Not that the battle was difficult. The jolteon was weak.

Sinking his teeth in deeply, the charmeleon ignored the flaring pain as the spikes sank deep into his skin, listening as the jolteon let out a braying series of yelps. Clawing wildly at the dirt, the electric dog howled and whined in agony as blood ran through the crevices of fur spikes. Dante twisted his head and released the jolteon at the peak of the movement, throwing the dog to the side.

The jolteon landed in a sparking heap, his head slapping down against the ground and sending mud flying everywhere. Tongue rolled out of his mouth, ignorant of the mud now coating it, he panted heavily.

Another of his team, a vaporeon, flew over his body, having been flung by a very displeased Odysseus. Having already fought the flareon they rode with, the buizel was not very happy about having been placed in combat with another canine.

A bout of flames caused Odysseus to jump back, giving up his sonicboom attack. The swath of fire burst forth from the charmeleon’s mouth and consumed the exhausted jolteon in a mere second.

The jolteon let loose a barrage of yelps so loud and harsh that they must have tore through his throat in their rise from his chest. And then the dog did the only thing it could think to do in retaliation.

Electricity, fierce and feral in the jolteon’s fear, erupted from within the flames Dante had unleashed, sparking outward in an attempt to destroy all threats. The water that had soaked into the ground, however, and the mud that the jolteon lay in, formed the perfect conductor for his electricity.

Odysseus realized what was about to happen a moment before it did. He had enough time to crouch low in preparation from a leap away before the electricity reached him.

Odysseus was an old fighter and had been through a lot, but no matter how much pain he had endured in his life, even he couldn’t hold fast against the agony of a barrage of electricity. Letting out a scream, the buizel lost all focus on the battle around him, as he became the first victim of the jolteon’s electric attack.

The lightning reached the vaporeon a mere second later, hitting her tail first and then racing through her body. She let out a braying shriek of pain as her legs gave out beneath her and she collapsed to the ground. Lightning crackling around and through her body, she could do nothing but release a gargling scream as her body convulsed in the wake of electrocution, before she finally succumbed to unconsciousness.

The electricity continued to race through the water on the ground for a few more seconds, until the flamethrower attack from Dante finally finished the jolteon, and the electricity ceased.

Snorting derisively, annoyed at the very idea that such a weak pokemon would even try to take him on, Dante turned his head away from the fallen dog. He saw, out of the corner of his eye, Odysseus sway from the effects of the electrical attack and its sudden release, before collapsing face-first into the mud. Dante released a loud huff. He had no time for old geezers. Especially those who thought that they were so great, and just proved to be so weak.

Behind him, Odysseus lay on the ground, his open mouth filled with mud and his wide eyes glazed. Dante turned away to find a new opponent and didn’t look back.



The skarmory had fallen. Too many strikes done with too much rage from the paws of the riolu. It had crashed down in a heap of steel – a veritable junkyard pokemon – as Zorro leapt away with that rage still burning fiercely in his heart.

Copycat became his move of choice as he battled his way through, attacking any and everything he considered an enemy. The dark pulse an umbreon used against a pokemon Zorro didn’t recognize, he copied to use against a drowzee. A discharge was copied to take down a mothim, a fire blast used to decimate a meganium. He defeated none solely, but used his ability to attack all of his ally’s opponents, sending them back, giving his ally’s a break, forcing the opponent to retreat, and showing them all that they should never have hurt his ratta!

A brazen roar was all he got as warning, but it was enough to Zorro to leap upward, onto the branch of a tree, as the rampardos came crashing through, scattering friend and foe alike. Missing the leaping riolu, Zulu slammed headfirst into the trunk of the tree, splintering bark and sending the mass crashing to the ground. Zorro leapt away at the last second to land some feet from the beast. Narrowing his eyes into a glare, he reached up and removed the pirate hat, tossing it carelessly to the side. Zulu was an ally, but he was attacking friends.

This was not to be allowed.

With a scream of rage, Zorro leapt at the rampardos. Twisting in midair, he let loose a fierce screech, before slamming his fist down onto the rampardos’ head.

Zulu threw his head back and, Zorro screaming from the pain of the bones in his hand shattering on impact, flung the riolu into a tree.

Zorro struck the tree with enough force to tear bark from its hide, falling to the ground in a heap. Sobbing, sweat and tears running down his face, Zorro staggered to his feet with his hand clutched to his chest, gasping for breath through the pain. His vision blurred and, for a second, there were two rampardos racing each other to reach him. He blinked.

The rampardos fused together into the real Zulu, and then the real Zulu slammed his head into Zorro’s body. There was a heavy CRUNCH as a number of bones in Zorro’s body shattered on impact with the rampardos’ skull, and then the riolu was airborne, catapulted backward until the force of gravity drug him back to earth and he crashed to the ground in a heap of blue and black fur.



There was he, and then there was her, and they were each other, and they were not.

Ashleigh was himself, but in his mind, he could feel the runt. She was there, but then she was not, but running across the battlefield, her mind in his and her mind elsewhere. He could feel her, with him, without him, as he battled the lightning dog, by himself, and with her.

The manectric howled while Ashleigh snarled and then there were two mouths slavering, snapping for throats as the two pokemon lunged at one another, scratching, kicking. Ashleigh slammed his head against the manectric’s throat, but the electric dog’s teeth found skin and clamped down sharply on Ashleigh’s neck. There was a scream and Ashleigh yelped, whining and barking, snapping his teeth at the manectric to try and grab hold of something to return the pain and make him release.

A snarl of rage, the manectric released his grip so he could snap his teeth closer, fangs sinking deeply into hot flesh, bringing forth blood that hit the air with a steamy hiss. Ashleigh snapped, kicked, and whipped his tail around. The manectric released him with a yelp as the houndoom’s tail slashed into his eye, and then Ashleigh opened his mouth and roared.

The manectric yelped loudly in sudden terror, leaving a trail of piss behind him as he ran away. With a snarl that held no humor, Ashleigh lunged after him. His long legs carried him in a greater stride than the manectric and he caught up easily, leaping into a tackle and sinking his teeth into the skin of the manectric’s throat as the two of them rolled.

A roar and a heavy running stomp sent the two dogs scattering in opposite directions. Ashleigh moved quickly, his black coat easily helping him to meld with the shadows, and though that wouldn’t have helped him to hide from the rampardos, the manectric looked flashier. Zulu turned his back on Ashleigh and a staggering Zorro to go after the electric dog.

The rampardos released a heavy, grating roar before headbutting the manectric and sending the electric dog crashing to the ground a few feet away. Electricity sparked around Zulu’s head as the manectric’s Static ability took hold. Rising to his feet, the manectric snarled and released a thunder wave attack that crashed into Zulu like a lightning bolt. The rampardos roared and stretched out to run after the manectric, but the thunder wave had done its damage and made moving next to impossible. With a grunt and a heavy thud that shook the forest, Zulu crashed to the ground and lay paralyzed, like a small, angry rock mountain.

With a snarl, the manectric lunged for Zulu.

Ashleigh beat the manectric to him and launched himself at the lightning dog before he could attack the paralyzed rampardos. Within his mind, Ashleigh could feel the runt’s rage burning like his fire as these people and pokemon attacked their friends. With a snarl that completely overwhelmed one made by the manectric, Ashleigh slammed his whole body into the manectric’s and sank his teeth into glimmering golden neck flesh.



Tuesday was not Tuesday in her mind.

In her mind, she didn’t have a name. Names were unnecessary. Words were unnecessary. Thoughts were obsolete. There were only actions.

She leapt onto the man’s back, arms – legs – wrapping around his neck as she sank teeth – fangs – into the flesh of his shoulder-blade. The man screamed in as much pain as rage, throwing his hands behind him to grab her. He wrapped fingers around her arm – leg – and twisted his other hand into her long hair. With a scream, he pulled her up his back and then threw her over his head, strands of hair clinging to his hand, ripped from her head, even as he released her and she landed heavily on her shoulder.

She rolled with the motion, the pain there but distanced. No thoughts. She rolled, hands – paws – coming out to catch her body, legs bent to hold her. She crouched, her lips pulled back, teeth – fangs – bared as she snarled low in her throat. Dirty blonde hair hung raggedly around her face, and from under muddy bangs, her eyes were narrowed into slits. Once cloudy blue eyes were now crimson, ringed in gold, and they glared at the man in anger and hatred, and no fear. Instinct. No thought. No words. No names. Just action.

With a snarl, she pushed legs against the ground, propelled forward, arms – legs – catching her, aligning her body, aiming her movements, and legs kicked against, thrust against ground, forced her forward, and she leapt.

The man reached out with fast hands, hand catching her hair and pulling tightly, jerking her out of her leap, yanking her down and twisting sharply. She let out a shriek of pain and a scream in rage as she kicked, scratched, and snapped her teeth at him. The man laughed, wrapping his other arm around her torso and pulling her against him. He grinned into her ear. “Hey’o, you little shit. My boss ‘as been lookin’ for you.” He pulled sharply on her hair, jerking her head back so her throat was exposed and grinned where she could see him. “But I might ‘ave to keep you for myself, just for a little while.”

The man laughed at the girl’s attempt when he heard the snarl. He looked down at her face, grinning. Her eyes flicked to him. She stared, eyes gleaming crimson and gold, not moving. He heard another snarl, only… she just continued to stare.

He stared at the girl, his eyes widening.

She smiled.

He didn’t know what part hit him first, the fangs, the claws, or the body of the beast, but the dog was all over him and it didn’t really matter what came first.

He hit the ground. The girl had fallen from his hold at some point, got away, and then he was belly-down on the ground, the dog on top of him, slavering in his ear, drooling down the side of his face, but not biting… not clawing him while he was down… just holding him there.

Eyes flicking around, the man caught sight of a large stick near him and reached out slowly to grab him. He grinned despite the dirt against his face and chuckled dryly in his throat. “Coward.”

He rolled, the houndoom yelping as it lost balance, and rose into a sitting position as he swung the stick. It connected solidly with the houndoom’s skull, sending the dark dog collapsing to the ground with a huff and a whine.

Chuckling, the man pushed himself to his feet, throwing the stick away in favor of the pokeball at his belt. He grinned as he tossed it to the ground. “Go on, girl,” he drawled as the red light faded, “have some fun.”

With a roar, the kangaskhan charged at Ashleigh. Her pouch was empty and her eyes displayed her rage, her roar her fear, her actions her desperation. Ashleigh pushed himself slowly to his feet, staggering to a standing position as the kangaskhan came for him.

He was ready.



Odysseus coughed. He blinked, the glaze fading from his eyes as he regained consciousness. He pushed himself up, arms shaking. He snapped at the air, his chest heaving, and then vomited mud. Retching and coughing, he shoved himself up, took a few steps, and collapsed back to the ground.

He heard a yelp and a scream and shoved himself to his feet. Blinking away water, spitting mud, he staggered forward, stumbling until he regained his equilibrium, and then broke into a run, back into the battle.

He was too damn old for this.



Zorro ran back toward Tuesday. He could see Ashleigh fighting a great dinosaur and a man whipping out commands, and there was the captain, Odysseus, running back, too, and his hermana was pushing herself to her feet. Hair hanging ragged, damp, and filthy in her face, she stood up tall, glaring at the man with fire in her eyes, a snarl on her lips.

Tuesday gasped as the ground beneath her exploded outward in a wave of dirt and ricocheting rocks, and an onix burst upward from the earth, flinging Tuesday into the sky.

Posted by: Living Arrow Sep 20 2010, 04:46 PM

His breath burned like the fires of hell in his throat, scorching his tongue until only a croak could come forth in the ragged breaths that he drew as he ran. Tears stung his eyes, his heartbeat drummed thunder into his ears and his taste buds were overcome by metallic fear. Darryn ran.

Her limbs quivered with untold exhaustion, flitting like a Beautifly’s wings across the hard-packed loam. Sweat matted her otherwise luxurious fur wetly across her body like a soaked rag and ran down into her chestnut eyes that glared unblinking at the back of her fleeing prey. Anger, steeped in fear and adoration, fuelled her soul to bursting – driving her onwards to stop the unthinkable. Lady ran.

He closed the gap between himself and the escaping foe, pale brown hair whipping behind her like a banner. A banner that he snatched from the air.

“Aaah!” The woman screamed as Darryn wrenched back on her hair. Her head appeared to keep still as her feet carried on, kicking out forwards into the air only to be snapped back as she was cast downward to the ground. She gasped, desperately sucking at the air that was snatched without warning from her lungs but all she could draw was the tiniest whispers of oxygen through her lips.
The Co-Ordinator panted heavily, his fingers still ensnaring the woman’s brunette locks like the teeth of a Sharpedo on its prey. His chest rose and fell rapidly, mimicking the flitting movement of his eyes as he searched the woman’s face, seeking clues as to what his next move should be. She stared back at him, wide-eyed and startled like a confused child. Her arrogance and swagger had been completely left behind.

<Don’t fall for it, Prince Darryn.> Lady’s voice skimmed the surface of Darryn’s thoughts. <They name themselves Team Deception for that very reason – you cannot trust what is seen with your eyes.>

“But… But we can’t let her go – not now she knows about us!” Darryn permitted himself a tiny glance to his beloved partner. “But what can we do?”

<Isn’t it obvious?> A familiar, sultry telepathy announced herself even as she padded into view. The black Vulpix appeared as though she were made of Darkness herself. <You take away that which would be used to harm you. A disarming, if you will.>

<Belladonna.> Lady’s thought-speak spat the name.

<Nice of you to realise I was here, Camelia.> The Midnight Vulpix stalked around the Crimson, tails waving menacingly. <Clearly you are still the weakling we always knew you were.>

“Lady?” Darryn did not release the woman’s hair as he glanced between the vulpi.

<Prince Darryn… This is my->

<Do not use that word!> The dark fox’s voice hissed angrily, all six tails rising to attention.

<This is Belladonna.> Lady finished, her stance somewhat submissive around the elegant newcomer. Darryn didn’t like the way Lady’s voice sounded with the presence of this creature – she was subdued like he hadn’t seen before.

<More importantly, I am you’re only hope for maintaining the secrets to which you hold dear.>

“Get offa me!” The Team Deception grunt had finally caught her breath and started to thrash, reaching back to claw at Darryn’s arms while kicking wildly. He struggled to keep her restrained for a moment before a blue aura settled around her body – a perfect match to the hue of Lady’s eyes.

<Come with me.>

The world around Darryn instantly fragmented and shattered, falling away from his vision like a thousand shards of mirror. His own reflection disappeared from sight, somehow falling forever downward and leaving him stood on a plane of darkness, the woman held captive by Lady gone from view. The Co-Ordinator’s Vulpix still had azure eyes – clearly she was still tied to the woman, wherever she was.

“Wha-? Where are we?!” Darryn demanded, finding himself unable to move, his fingers still locked tightly around air that had once held the hair of the woman he had been chasing. His head and eyes, free to move scanned the surrounding blackness. Nothing as far as the eye could see.

<The Plane of Vul.> Lady informed him, her body also immobilised. <This is where the psychically talented of our mind come to speak when our bodies are far apart.>

<And also where we come to train those very skills.> Belladonna’s voice was firm and direct. <Something that little Camelia here has clearly been doing behind our backs.>

*Camelia?*

<That’s her name.> Belladonna’s pitch eyes narrowed fiercely.

<Not anymore!> Darryn fired back, pleased to see the black Vulpix visibly twitch from his thought speak. <And until you explain who you are and why you have brought us here, you will get no cooperation from us!>

<YOU DARE TO CHALLNEGE ME!?>

Breath was pulled from Darryn’s lungs instantly, pressure crushing him from all sides in an overwhelming onslaught of psychic power. His eyes burned with the ferocity that Belladonna exacted upon him.

<Stop! Please!> Lady’s voice pierced through the dark and slowly, the sickening feeling of being strangled by giant hands relaxed from Darryn’s body.

<Open your eyes, children!> Belladonna stalked around the pair in a circle, her diminutive size somehow dominating them both completely. <You have an opportunity here to prevent what you are so afraid of! The woman you have taken is aware of your secret. You know this. You know what it means. Left to her own devices, this woman will return to take or abuse that gift. You must not let that happen.> She continued her cicling, each pace bring her closer in an inexorable spiral of intent. <And the Aura Wielder among you. She knows about her, too. Are you willing to let harm come to such a child when you know you can prevent it?>

*Tuesday! She'll be targeted... just like me... Jaima wouldn't forgive me if I let something happen to her, knowing that I could have prevented it. Meiko wouldn't speak to me again... What do I do?!*

“And what are we supposed to do, exactly?” Darryn demanded angrily. “You can’t expect us to kill her!”

A deathly silence followed.

<Prince Darryn, I->

“Don’t even think it, Lady!” Darryn couldn’t believe the slightest suggestion! He wasn’t a murderer! And neither was Lady!

<You do not need to end a life to erase what must be erased.>

“What do you mean? Like memories?”

<With the right training.> Belladonna stopped her pacing, sitting on her haunches between the two. She gazed back and forth at them. <But I am afraid my sister is far too weak to do it on her own.>

“Then you help us!”

<You think I can help from where I am at this moment? Even the Great Cassandra couldn’t manage that. You see, my Prince, I am not the type of Pokemon to go wandering off into the wilderness. I prefer more… urban surroundings.> Belladonna’s body shifted like smoke and almost instantly was before Darryn, eyes staring intently into his own. An apparition. <But you can help her.>

“Me?” Darryn looked to Lady for guidance, but his Crimson Vulpix remained motionless and silent.

<Indeed. A funny thing the mind. You see, with this notion of will, one may overcome such attempts to forcefully remove pieces of the mind. Quite obviously, will is controlled by emotions and emotions are what your kind are experts at altering. Remove certain emotions and replace them with others, take that will away and->

“No! I can’t! I won’t!” Darryn struggled against his invisible bonds. What Belladonna was saying was unthinkable! Take away the base of this human woman’s very being and rip memories out of her? It was just… just… disgusting!

<You can, Prince Darryn.> Lady’s voice was soft. <And you must. You have wanted for so long to be rid of those abilities that the female forced upon you because you think people will treat you differently. There is no way to get rid of them, so protecting their presence is all that is left to ensure you receive the life the you want – to be ‘normal’.>

“But…” Darryn could feel the pit of his stomach stretching away from him.

<No other way.>

<It must be done.>

"How long will this... this training take?" Darryn croaked, his limbs shaking under their invisible bonds.

<On the Plane of Vul? Only a moment...>

Tears welled in Darryn Kellor’s eyes but as the possibilities and options open to him clarified in his mind, the tears began to run dry.



“Where am I?” A female’s voice echoed in the woods, frightened and meek.

“Lady?”

<She cannot see or hear us, Prince Darryn.> The Vulpix confirmed, standing no more than ten feet from the weeping woman. <Nor will she remember. Nor will anyone be able to hear her.>

<And more importantly, she is no longer a threat.> Belladonna’s voice whispered on the breeze as her ghostly form began to disperse like smoke. <Remember your skills well, Prince Darryn. You’ll be needing them more from now on.>

“I know…” Darryn hung his head.

<The others are waiting.> Lady stole Darryn’s thoughts.

“Right... let’s go.” Finally accepting his Empath abilities, Darryn turned his back on the 6-year old woman and made his way back to his friends with only one thought in mind. He would protect them, himself and his Pokemon with every resource he had available. No matter what.

Posted by: Master Houndoom Sep 25 2010, 09:48 PM

For a moment, Jaima thought it was over. He would curse himself for a fool afterwards, when it actually was, but, for a moment, he allowed himself to believe that it was over, and all there was to do was find Darryn, recall their fainted and hurt pokémon, and get out of those woods.

Phineas, one of the rescue workers, explained that they might have to split up: The helicopters would hold up to four people besides the workers themselves, yes, but they had only brought two extra helicopters, with a couple of technicians, in case the original vehicle had merely malfunctioned.

That was when Jaima heard the scream, spun, and his vision went red.

* * * * *

Meiko was staggered to see the new pokémon, and more than relieved to see that they were, for the time being, helping her team rather than attacking it. As it stood, Desert Dancer was wavering, Cosette was flinging leaves willy-nilly, blinded by sand attacks that she had stumbled in the way of from their opponent, Rockclaw had put himself back in his pokéball, and she had been forced to recall Ramhorn when the person she was battling refused to stop attacking his fainted form.

She squeezed the pokéball in her hand, watching the woman, who had been set upon by an extremely angry empoleon, dash away. If Rockclaw hadn't avoided the battle, she would have stood a chance! Ramhorn could have been killed, may still be dead, and it was because her stupid pokémon wasn't brave enough to fight.

She looked up, looking for Jaima, and saw something else. Something that brought every fear from her past relationship rising to the surface and bubbling over, causing her arms and legs to tremble and her eyes to fill with tears; a man holding Tuesday by the hair, intimating that he would like his own time with her before he gave her to his boss. When Ashleigh tackled the man, it didn't stop: he simply grabbed a stick and beat the canid. Meiko's teeth clenched as she tried to control her reaction, but she couldn't, and suddenly her eyes opened and she let out a feral scream, running to the man after he released a pokémon to attack Tuesday, leaping up, and hanging off of his back.

The resulting impact caused him to stagger forward, but the more troublesome factor was the rabid teenage girl trying desperately to pinch, claw, kick and bite every part of him she could reach. Which, fortunately or not, was his shoulders and his head.

She may not have been dangerous. She was, however, annoying. The man reached back and grabbed a hold of some kind of silky fabric, using it to pull her forward and throw her off of him. As she rose to her feet, he walked to the stick he had discarded and picked it up, walking slowly back to the girl.

Her face was defiant, but she seemed to realize the stick's presence meant that he was not her usual villain, not like one of those guys on the kiddy shows that made sure no children came to harm. She clenched her fists and tensed, ready for an attack.

"You're not bad looking," he said, nonchalantly, and her face paled. "Really. You're not. I could, you know, have fun with you. Clean you up a bit… make sure you're properly broken… sure, you're a little old for my tastes, but I could deal with that."

By now Meiko was backing up, her mouth curling into such a scowl that her cheeks hurt. The man's words were affecting her, getting past the shield of rage to the fear on the other side of it, and kami save her, she couldn't hold the anger much longer.

"But there's a problem. You've got moxie, kid…" He raised the stick, snarling in a feral manner. "And I hate moxie!"

Meiko closed her eyes crossing her arms above her head to try to block the attack.

It never came.

The man's arm moved, bulged, trying to yank the stick forward, but he couldn't. Finally he turned his head. Behind him was a boy, bedraggled, dirty, his face streaming with sweat and tears, looking for all the world like the younger girl's houndoom. His hand was raised and muscles bunched under his skin in the effort to hold the stick back. The man turned to deal with the boy, when the teenage girl's fist slammed into the side of his ribcage, thrusting the wind out of his lungs and making his muscles briefly slacken. It was all the boy needed to jerk the stick from his hands.

He held it in front of him, horizontally, with both hands on either end. With a twist and a jerk, he broke the stick in half and flung one side of it from his left hand.

"I'm so sick and tired of this," he said, eerily calm despite his heavy breathing. "No one's done anything to hurt you. We haven't done anything against you, and you just. Keep. Coming…"

The man sneered and sent a fist at the boy, hitting him in the chest. The girl screamed again and grabbed his arm, but he threw her off of him. He turned again, expecting to see the boy sprawled backwards, but instead was just in time to see a fist coming straight for his jaw. He ducked to the side, but still caught the punch in the shoulder. He was surprised that it had sent him staggering backwards.

"You don't let up! And the things you do," the boy continued, slamming his other fist into the man's now unprotected jaw. "You make shadow pokémon, you send other pokémon to do dangerous things, still others to attack humans!" The man tried to punch back, but the boy somehow managed to wedge the incoming arm between his own arm and his body, grabbing it and turning, sending the man spinning into a tree. "Just when I think you can't get any worse, you do! Now you've taken to ambushing us at night!"

The man pushed off of the tree, only to be shoved back by the boy, who was no longer, in the man's eyes, just some kid, but an opponent, then a beast, someone out to kill him. The second fist, his right, came up again, crashing into his jaw, and the man could see the stick in it, and, for a brief second, was afraid.

"And now you're threatening to kidnap little girls, and beat up people and pokémon with sticks! For what?!" He grabbed the man with his left hand and pulled him forward, getting into his face. "Why are you doing this?!" Pushing as hard as he could, he sent the man reeling backwards, crashing to the ground when he tripped on a root. "It doesn't matter! The next person that tries to hurt my little sister, or my girlfriend, or my best friend, I'm going to tear them apart with my bare hands!"

That was enough for the man. Sure, he liked his job. Sure, they needed the girl. But he wasn't getting paid enough for this. He stood up, hands shaking, when the kid looked down at his right hand.

"AND WOULD SOMEONE GET THIS STICK OUT OF MY HAND BEFORE I BEAT THIS GUY TO DEATH WITH IT?!"

The man ran.

Another man approached, slowly, cautiously, his own hands raised, palms facing Jaima, at chest height. Jaima briefly recognized the shock of green hair, and when the man reached him, he didn't react. He reached down and gently pulled the stick from Jaima's hand, tossed it away from the rest of the people, and tilted his head. His mouth opened, and a rich British baritone came out.

"Do you feel better now?"

Jaima sighed, weariness coming over him. "I… don't know."

Meiko approached, holding onto Jaima's arm. There was a scratch on the side of her face, but otherwise she looked fine. Her eyes were tired, angry, and weary.

And then, from the ground shot the head of an onix. From the nearby trees, a trio of steelix crashed through to the clearing, saw Jaima, Meiko, and Tuesday, and roared.

Meiko looked at them, jaw dropped almost to her chest, and then screamed out, "OH, COME ON!"

Posted by: Umbrae Calamitas Sep 26 2010, 12:33 AM

It was in a moment when there was nothing around her and something faded within her that she realized that she was Tuesday again. She was not fully Tuesday, because she was also Ashleigh, but she could feel herself again – her fingers, her toes, and the place where her spine did not extend into a tail. She felt somehow saddened by that, wronged by it, but there was no time for that thought now. There was no time to scream now, as there was nothing around her but wind, and Tuesday twisted in the air, turned, and came down feet-first on the onix’s head.

Her feet slipped, the soles of her sneakers sliding across stone skin, and then Tuesday did scream as fingers reached for a hold but found none, and she fell again.

The wind was knocked out of her lungs when she hit the onix’s body on her back, gravity dragging her toward the edge. There was a ripping sound as the rocks caught Tuesday’s belt and tore it off. Tuesday’s hands flew out, grasping at rocks and reaching for the belt but she kept sliding. She swung her legs on instinct, her momentum not stopping her fall but pulling her closer toward the onix’s curling form as it continued to rise from the ground.

Her fingers slipped from rocks again, missing the belt. She fell, and something hard slammed into her side and then she was flying.

Ashleigh was tired.

He was tired, and he was angry.

The kangaskhan was brutal in her attacks, but she fought purely with rage. She wanted something out of it – her pup, if Ashleigh’s thought were right about her pouch being empty – whereas Ashleigh only wanted to protect his alpha, and he wanted this all to end.

Protecting his alpha came first, before anything else.

Ashleigh heard Tuesday’s scream and saw from around the kangaskhan’s tail as it swung against his body that she had hit the onix and slipped from it. Ashleigh did not move without thinking – that would have been stupid. Instead, he spared a moment to think that he should dodge left – and he did – to avoid the swinging fist aimed at his face, and then he ran for the onix.

He ignored the kangaskhan’s claws and tail and fists as she attacked him, continuing to run despite her ferocity and the blood she drew, the pain she caused. He leapt onto the rising stone boulders that made up the onix’s body, racing up its body until he reached Tuesday. He fingers slipped again and she fell, but Ashleigh lunged forward and leapt, crashing into her side and throwing her off course.

He felt her hands flash out instinctively, fingers wrapping around his horns, and then he’d leapt again and her body was tossed and she righted herself, legs straddling him, seated firmly on his back, and he ran.

Claws scratching sharply across rocks, Ashleigh raced across the body of the onix. Still rising from the ground, roaring as it coiled and wrapped around itself, the onix turned its head and snapped a stony mouth at Ashleigh. The houndoom dodged the attack, claws scraping, feet sliding, leaping over a coil of its body as it swung upward and then racing down bouldered flesh like he was dashing down stairs.

“Ashleigh,” Tuesday gasped, as the houndoom used a swinging arc of onix as a springboard to launch himself and Tuesday into the air, leaping for the safety of the ground.

The onix’s head swung around and slammed into Ashleigh’s side. Tuesday let out a yell as the stone scraped across her leg, tearing her pants and cutting through flesh, knocking her off of Ashleigh’s back. She twisted in the air, trying to catch her feet, and then yelled when her legs went out from under her and her scraped leg was dragged across the ground.

Ashleigh yelped loudly as the onix slammed into him. His measured leap was broken and he felt Tuesday’s fingers loosen, her body slipping from his back. He hit the ground hard, missing his landed and slamming down heavily on his shoulder. Whimpering, he pushed himself up enough to turn his head and find Tuesday with his eyes. He saw her pushing herself up from the ground and, with a low whine, slipped into blackness.



Trapped in the crevice between two boulders of the onix’s body, Tuesday’s belt held two pokeballs. As the great boulder pokemon’s body grinded against itself, the rocks threatened to crush the pokeballs between them until they wore away the straps that bound them to the belt, and then the pokeballs fell.

The first pokeball, scuffed from contact with the grinding rocks, fell toward an odd formation of leaves on the forest floor. It smacked down on top of the pile and a surprised squeak was the only sound uttered before a small picchu was sucked into the pokeball.

The second pokeball hit a rock, ricocheting off a rock and opening seconds before slamming into a tree. A flash of red and a grass pokemon appeared, grabbing the branch of the tree and swinging up onto it. The treecko’s eyes swept the scene, taking in everything, and then narrowed on the onix in a glare.

”You burned my tree!” he screamed, and leapt at the onix in rage.



Dante saw the idiot dog fail to protect Tuesday and it was only the fact that the houndoom had fainted that Dante didn’t attack him first, but he had fainted, and the onix was there and needed to be dealt with. Tuesday was still in danger.

He ignored all other opponents that needed to be destroyed and all allies that needed to be helped, as he raced toward the onix, fire flaring between his teeth. His claws dug into the ground as he slid around a nidorino, and then he saw the pokemon fighting the onix.

It was a treecko – a stupid grass lizard slapping the onix as though his filthy, slimy feet could do anything. It was a grass lizard, trying to get Tuesday to pay attention to it, instead of letting Dante protect her from the onix. Stupid, stupid, stupid grass lizard trying to take his Tuesday away!

Dante’s tail flame burned blue and with a roar, he released a flamethrower not at the onix, but at the treecko.



Odysseus and Zorro were both running for the onix when they found themselves running side-by-side. Paws slapping the ground, they spared a glance in each other’s direction – Zorro a grin, Oddyseus a nod – and then they both turned ahead, reached the onix, and attacked.

The onix roared as he was hit in the side with an Aqua Jet and a Bullet Punch attack. He was already keeping one wounded eye closed, having been quick attacked in the pupil by the treecko. With a roar, the onix swung its head around and tackled toward the two of them.

Odysseus leapt to the side, out of the way of the onix, but Zorro leapt upward, flipping over the onix’s crown and landing on the boulder just beyond its head. He raised his eyes, however, and so was able to see the flamethrower attack that Dante sent toward the treecko that Tuesday had caught, and watched as the treecko slipped from the back of the onix he had been fighting and collapsed, unconscious, to the ground.

Zorro screamed.

Golden eyes gleaming, he screamed in rage and ignored the fact that he was still battling an onix. He lunged for Dante.

”Traidor!” he screamed, as he leapt in the air, drawing his hands above his head as he twisted, beginning the Vacuum Wave.

With a hiss, Dante wasted no words on Zorro. He simply opened his mouth and released another flamethrower.

Zorro yelped as the buizel slammed into him. Odysseus grabbed Zorro by the scruff of his neck at the same moment that he opened his mouth in a water gun attack that doused the flamethrower coming at them and forced Dante backward with a wailing hiss of anger and steam. Odysseus’ momentum continued to carry Zorro and himself over the side of the onix’s body and out into thin air.

The onix roared as the water gun came down, Odysseus using the force of the attack to slightly slow and control their descent, aiming it so it also worked to do damage. He stopped the attack when the onix’s tail swung toward them and they dropped too quickly for it to hit, swinging roughly over their heads and, instead, crashing into Dante and sending the charmeleon reeling backward with a strangled cry.

Odysseus landed on the ground and roughly tossed Zorro into the grass beside him. The riolu rolled over, sitting up to stare at the older pokemon.

”Don’ go bein’ stupid, lad!”

“He attacked allies!” Zorro cried, jumping to his feet and pointing toward the general direction of Dante.

”Aye, lad, I know tha’, but ye don’ go tryin’ t’ win a battle ye can’! Tough a’ ye ar’, ye couldn’ beat the lizard in a fight where the winds is fair.” Zorro grit his teeth. ”Ye do know tha’, don’cha, lad?”

Glaring at the ground, Zorro nodded.

”Good lad.” Odysseus grabbed Zorro by the scruff of the neck again and yanked him backward just before the onix’s tail came crashing down on top of him. ”Back to work, laddie!” Odysseus crowed, and leapt onto the onix’s tail with a fearless grin.

Flipping upward, Zorro followed.



Tuesday pushed herself up and stumbled over to Ashleigh. The houndoom was passed out on the ground and Tuesday didn’t know where his pokeball was to recall him. His fingers running over his soft fur, she hugged him tightly, and then pushed herself to her feet, eyes scanning the scene.

The treecko she had caught had somehow gotten out of his pokeball, but he had fainted, as well. That didn’t surprise her, as he hadn’t been in the greatest state of health when she’d captured him. Dante, she saw, was also unconscious, lying on the ground behind the onix. Tempest was in her pokeball after having been fainted – Tuesday’s touched her pocket and was relieved to feel the minimized ball still there. Ashleigh was unconscious… that left Zorro and Odysseus.

As she watched, the two pokemon dodged around opposite sides of the onix, leveling attacks at it.

The onix roared at it was hit with an Aqua Jet and then a weaker, copied version of the same attack, before being struck by a Sonic Boom and then his rocks splintered with a Force Palm attack. He dove toward the buizel, but his target dodged out of the way so, with a roar, he swung his tail around and slammed it into the riolu’s back.

Zorro was propelled forward with a sharp sound of surprise, the tail flinging him to the ground. He pushed himself shakily to his feet, narrowing his eyes as he staggered for balance, using the Copycat move again.

He swung his body around, tail whishing outward to take down the onix… one of them…

His attack missed, but his spin continued. He twirled around and, eyes closing, abruptly fainted to the ground.

“Zorro!” Tuesday cried, rushing toward him. Odysseus slammed himself into her heavily, forcing her back, and the onix’s tail came down. A paw on her leg, offering a moment of reassurance and comfort, the buizel glanced at her, and then ran for his opponent.

A water gun against the ground propelled him upward and Odysseus flipped in the air, twisting until he’d reached the peak of his rise. Releasing water from his mouth, he twisted, surrounding himself in it and allowing gravity to propel the Aqua Jet faster toward the onix.

”Open wide,” Odysseus snapped, as the onix roared at him loudly. With a grin, Odysseus slipped right between the onix’s gaping stone teeth and slid down into its gullet. Throwing his arms out, Odysseus let his fins cut into the skin of the onix’s mouth, grasped his footing on a disgusting tongue, and then drew claws as he unleased a fury cutter inside the pokemon’s mouth.

The onix roared, throwing his head forward and successfully expelling Odysseus from his mouth as the buizel unleased a sonic boom down his throat. Flipping through the air, Odysseus landed gracefully, facing the onix with narrowed eyes.

”C’mon, lad. I ca’ do thi’ all day.”

The onix roared, lunging forward, bringing his head swiftly downward in a tackle. Odysseus did not dodge, but slammed his forepaws down on the onix’s nose and cartwheeled over the pokemon’s head, using a water gun to propel himself upward from the onix’s neck and then sending a sonic boom wave down at the creature. Twisting, he surrounded himself in water and shot toward the onix in an Aqua Jet as he slashed with his claws in a Fury Attack, cutting scratches into the stony body of the onix as he struck it sharply.

Groaning, boulders grinding together, the onix twitched and snapped at Odysseus. The buizel’s right arm began to glow purple moments before he swung it, catching the onix across the open mouth and sending the onix rearing backwards, screeching.

A twist and a tunnel of water surrounding him, Odysseus used Aqua Jet and crashed up under the onix’s chin, kicking away as the onix’s tail swung around. Odysseus flipped and landed some yards away from the onix, crouched low for his next attack.

The onix roared deliriously, and collapsed to the ground in a hailstorm of crashing boulders, unconscious.

Slowly, slightly stunned, the buizel pushed himself to his feet, relaxing his posture slightly. He studied the onix, searching for a trap, but found none. The pokemon’s magnetic core apparently shut off when it was unconscious, as the boulders did not seem to be connected at the moment, though he was certain he could still see a few of them rising and falling as it breathed.

With his opponent defeated, Odysseus turned and went to find the lad.



It was over.

The battles were finishing. Pokemon were unconscious all over, allies and enemies. Some battles were finishing up, but Tuesday could feel, in the back of her mind, that her battles were finished.

Ashleigh was unconscious, and with him had gone some part of Tuesday that she missed but could not name.

Tempest was fainted, and Tuesday worried because the pikachu rarely found herself unable to fight and was never amiable after such an occasion.

Dante was fainted and Tuesday knew how bad his self-esteem could be. She could only speculate that it had been the onix that had fainted him.

The treecko had fainted. Tuesday thought, perhaps, she would call him Virgil. She’d always liked the name, and she could imagine he and Dante being friends, like in the book.

Zorro was fainted, and the thought of that still caused her chest to constrict in that strange way it does when you’re about to cry. But he was okay, just unconscious, and she had to remember that.

Odysseus was still conscious. He looked beat up and tired, but his eyes were cloudless and his gaze was firm. She watched him crouch by Zorro, checking on the riolu, and it made her happy to see that she cared.

Everyone of her team was unconscious, except for her and Odysseus. But the onix had been defeated, an empoleon had taken out the kangaskhan, and the other battles were coming to a close.

It was okay that everyone was unconscious except her and Odysseus… that everyone was unconscious except… Odysseus…

Anyone watching her would have seen the last vestiges of gold in Tuesday’s eyes fade back to cloudy blue, just before she closed her eyes and her body collapsed.

The last thing that Tuesday felt was someone’s hands wrapping around her chest and catching her, and then it was night time, and she was gone…

Posted by: Living Arrow Sep 27 2010, 12:43 PM

Darryn had arrived just in time… It seemed. As the trio of Iron Snake Pokemon descended upon Darryn’s friends and the group of would-be rescue workers, he left his body and began his own assault.

Darryn flexed his fingers and swept his hands back and forth, breaking through the thin mist and reshaping it as he had been taught, moulding it to his will. The colours shifted, controlled by his thoughts, and slowly, he dulled their vibrancy to a murmur.

<That’s it… A little more.> Belladonna instructed him, her shadow-form sat at his left ankle. Lady, a stark contrast of Crimson, sat at his right. <Feel the emotion and draw it out. Make sure you get every last drop.>

Darryn chewed his lip. How long had it been now? A day? Two? The last time he had asked Lady she had informed him that the equivalent of eighteen hours had passed since the training had started but that felt like days ago. He spread his fingers a little wider to sift the net of emotions and drew out what he read as anger from the red-orange hue that tinted the cloud. Slowly but surely he prized the colour from the vapour and cast it behind him, leaving a pale cream mist before them.

<Is that it?> He asked the Pokemon beside him. <Is it done?>

<Yes, Prince Darryn.> Lady continued to watch him control the woman’s emotion, handling it with care before her spiritual body. Whenever it tried to rush back to her, he would coax it back with those soft hands, marred with too many cuts and bruises, to float patiently at his own chest.

<Now what?> He asked, panting slightly from the prolonged period of concentration.

<Now you breathe your own Suggestion into the cloud and pass it back to her.> Belladonna responded, probing Darryn’s mind with another deposit of instructions. That was how she had been teaching him – he felt like he was in the Matrix! It would have been cool if it wasn’t so… disgusting. <Focus on the intention – calm, security, contentedness, peace.>

That was easier said than done. Darryn knew exactly the right shade of pink-cream that Belladonna intended for him to inject into the mist but getting it just right proved very difficult. Exhaling each time he focused, a wisp of Emotaglow floated out before his eyes only to be cast behind him as it carried even the smallest touch of uncertainty that he couldn’t help but release.

<That’s it…> Belladonna whispered as the perfect strand passed from Darryn’s lips. <And you need no more – even the slightest hint is enough to stain her entire essence.>

Darryn hated that word. Stain. An unwanted, permanent mark that you always tried to remove but never actually could. A taint.

“It’s done.” Darryn sighed as he moulded the newly coloured mist of emotions between his hands. “After this, Lady will be able to… remove those memories?”

There was a long pause. Belladonna and Lady looked to one another, passing an unreadable look that Darryn didn’t care to question. Finally, the vul confirmed that the woman’s memories of Darryn and Tuesday would be removed and, hesitantly, the human between them cast the Suggestion back into the grunt’s body.



<Fear.>

While Darryn’s talent was still incredibly young, he was a fast learner. Though the strength to capture all three of the Steelix in his own net of emotion was beyond him, stealing away one individual seemed almost too easy as he snagged the enormous wave of seething purple from the air and draw it into the foliage where he was hiding. Shaping and manipulating the Emotaglow as taught took a little over thirty seconds – just enough time for the Steelix to receive attacks from an Empoleon and, therefore, making his fear-induced retreat seem all the more believable.

It didn’t, however, come without consequences.

“Dammit!” Darryn hissed, feeling the trickle of blood run from his nose to his lip rapidly and dripping down his shirt. He had seen the same sort of reaction on Buffy whenever Willow did some uber spell – maybe he now had to pay the same price with his powers?

<Prince Darryn, Zulu is… in trouble…>

Darryn scanned and quickly found his Rampardos in a quivering heap, struggling to rise under the constraints of paralysis. Without thinking, he broke cover and ran through the various battles towards his loved Pokemon.

“Zulu!”

The huge dinosaur’s head came up, eyes rolling madly and with a triumphant roar, his Mold Breaker tore through Static and eliminated his status condition. Towering above Darryn, the mighty fossil drew back an arm and it began to glow.

*Hammer Arm?*

<Prince Darryn!> Lady screamed, a series of Energy Balls slamming into her comrade’s chest, knocking him unsteadily backwards. A determined frown and pained roar was Zulu’s response as he leant into the attacks and moved towards Darryn once more. The defensive Vulpix jumped between them, slamming down an Extrasensory attack to hold the rampaging beast in place but all it did was slow his motions as physical power overcame the psychic wall.

“Zulu…” Darryn whispered to himself, his brown eyes wide with fear and surprise. How could his Pokemon attack him? Was he really that terrible a trainer to deserve such an immediate an unexpected act of defiance? Could Zulu know of the monster that Darryn had become?

<PRINCE DARRYN! STOP HIM!> Lady screamed, unleashing a whip of Flamethrower.

“Stop him?... Right!” Darryn clenched his hands into fists and held his ground, staring deeply into his Pokemon’s eyes and focusing his mind.



To the casual observer, the staring contest between terrifying Pokemon and resilient human could only spell tragedy for the boy in the Rampardos’s sights but any casual observer wouldn’t be able to read the exact exchange going on between them.

“Energy Ball!” Lady screamed, holding back Zulu for a few more seconds as Darryn cleansed his Emotaglow. She could see the effects slowly but surely, the rock-type’s movements slowing and becoming more unsure. When the Rampardos finally stopped pushing against Lady’ efforts and stood still, gazing placidly into the Empath’s eyes, Lady ran.

*Where is she?!*

She scoured the remaining Pokemon across the field, wishing and hoping and praying that a certain pair of eyes would not be watching her or more importantly, her Master. It took some time for her to find her friend’s broken form but only seconds to know that, thankfully, she had been unconscious for some time. Long enough to be sure that Darryn’s new secret was going to be safe for a good while longer. Lady breathed a sigh of relief and descended upon the glittering Kirlia, wrapping herself protectively around her scrawny body.



“Good boy.” Darryn stroked and soothed Zulu’s dome, pressing his forehead against the ancient Pokemon’s nose. “Now you just rest until I find that Pokeball of yours, y’hear?”

He didn’t need the gurgle and purr of delight to know that his Pokemon had calmed down completely. Darryn could now not only see it, but feel it, too. It did, however, take him a moment to feel what else was going on around him.

When he felt it he flinched. When he saw it, he ran. His arms ensnared Tuesday’s little form and supported her from falling down to the soil even as he heard Jaima running toward them from nearby with Meiko not far behind him. Together, the three crowded around her unconscious form like a protective shield and Darryn could only be filled with one thought.

No matter what. He had done the right thing. And, no matter what, he would continue to do it.

Posted by: Master Houndoom Sep 28 2010, 09:55 PM

Jaima's head was pounding by the time the steelix appeared. He mentally agreed with the sentiment spoken by Meiko, but was too tired to voice it. Even as his tired muscles protested, several shouted commands came from behind them. A trio of hitmons launched over their heads, striking with a Hi Jump Kick, a Focus Punch, and a Triple Kick, one to each steelix, followed by all three of them engaging in Close Combat. The steelix in the middle, which Jaima had thought of as the leader, turned tail and ran, but the other two stayed behind, to be felled by a Fire Punch from the hitmonchan and a Blaze Kick from the hitmonlee. The hitmontop, who's opponent had run away, sat down and put his chin on his fist, pouting.

"Awww," came a voice from behind, and a woman with curly hair strode forward, higging the hitmontop's head at its widest point. "Poor Topper! You were so scary your opponent run'd away!"

Two other women came past Jaima and Meiko, one with straight brown hair, and the other with red hair cut in a bob and small, round glasses. "Milly," sighed the brown haired girls, "you have got to stop coddling Topper like that! I mean, Leo doesn't get all upset if one of his opponents runs away!" Smiling, the woman stroked the top of her hitmonlee's head.

"Adyson!" shouted Milly. "He's still young! He has to be encouraged!"

"Calm down, girls," came a calm yet commanding voice. Jaima turned to see Isabella, the woman who had been with Meiko when they'd first reunited. "I need a status report."

"The perimeter is secured, Chief. The fire is under control and two auxiliary teams are on their way to finish it," reported the red haired woman, adjusting her glasses. "However, we do have a slight problem. The helicopters are only rated for a maximum capacity of eight people. However, we brought Ferb and Baljeet along to do any repairs that might be needed, which puts us at nine people per vehicle, which as you know is problematic."

The woman looked thoughtful, then nodded. "Phineas!" she called, and they were soon joined by the man who'd rescued them. "Gretchen says we're over limit on the choppers."

Before she could continue, Phineas nodded. "Say no more. Ferb and I will fly home on The Beak." Isabella looked, slightly, disappointed, but nodded with a small smile.

"I'm so glad you found us. When the chopper crashed, I saw that the beacon wasn't working. I was afraid we…" She swallowed thickly. She had, after all, come very close to death, working beacon or not. Phineas laid a hand on her shoulder, tilting his head.

"What are you talking about, Isabella? Your beacon worked just fine!"

Isabella blinked, looking toward the complete wreck that was her helicopter. Phineas followed her gaze, his eyes narrowing. "Well, that was a serendipitous malfunction, then…"

* * * * *

From behind a tree, a green headed form backed up, nodding his head. They wouldn't suspect. Not yet.

It would have been ashamed to let that oddly strong kirlia die like that, he told himself, as often as he needed to repeat it to believe it. He teleported away. If he was caught out here, there'd be more questions than he wanted.

* * * * *

When Tuesday fainted, Jaima and Meiko rushed to where Darryn had caught her. A cursory check showed nothing more but the scratches and bruises. Jaima's jaw tightened, until another woman, with her blonde hair pulled back into a braid, knelt next to them.

"She looks all right. She's probably just exhausted. All of you look like you could use some rest…"

The tall man who'd been with the group when Jaima had arrived stepped toward them. "Yes, Katie, I believe you're right. I'd like her to ride in the copter with us, however. Just to be sure."

Meiko looked up at Jaima, then Darryn. "Darryn, why don't you go with her. Jaima and I will ride in the other…"

There was a tremor in her voice, which everyone involved thought was also a sign of exhaustion.

They loaded into one of the choppers, flown by the red headed woman with glasses, who was doing a perfunctory check with clipped precision. A large man with a black shirt and buzz cut tapped Jaima on the shoulder.

"That was excellent, kid! Saw the whole thing from here, and Buford likes!"

"Buford," called an Indonesian man, rolling his eyes. "Do not disturb our guest! He is likely very tired and needs to ouch!" The larger man had punched the smaller one in the arm, giving him a warning look. The Indonesian glared.

"Quiet, 'Jeet, 'fore I hafta hurtcha."

"Buford, Baljeet, knock it off," snorted Isabella. She spotted a houndoom laying next to Meiko and Jaima. "You should probably put that houndoom away, honey," she said, not unkindly.

Meiko turned tired eyes to Ashleigh. "He's... his pokeball broke in the fight."

Isabella tilted her head, then nodded, pulling a pokeball out of her own. "This is a special ball, used to contain uncaught pokemon. It doesn't register as a capture. It's a Catch and Release Ball. She handed it to Meiko, who bit her lip. "Once we get to town, you can recapture him-"

"He's Tuesday's," Jaima said softly, watching Meiko.

"Well," Isabella smiled, "Then she can recapture him. The ball breaks automatically once the pokemon is called out."

"OK," Meiko sighed, using it to capture the fainted Ashleigh.

"Everyone in? OK, let's take this bird up!"

Posted by: Umbrae Calamitas Sep 30 2010, 02:11 AM

Odysseus had kept himself as out-of-the-way as possible. Tuesday, still unconscious and unresponsive, was stretched out across a seat, her head resting in Darryn's lap. His hand was slowly smoothing her hair back from her forehead in a comforting manner that appeared, to Odysseus, to surprise even him.

The buizel regarded the crimson fox with pleased surprise. The vulpix was curled in a ball at Tuesday's ribcage, the soft fur of her back and tails pressed tightly against her to keep the young girl warm. It was not something that Odysseus would have expected from the kitsune, and it shocked him in a manner that made him feel slightly guilty. He should not have labeled the vulpix as he had. They all had room to grow.

Odysseus said nothing, however, and he did not think long on it. He was simply glad that the lass had others to watch over her.

Crouched in a corner of the helicopter from where he could see the three of them, and the doctor, who sat at Tuesday's feet, Odysseus had one minimized pokeball clutched in his paws. The other pokemon had all been recalled by the three humans of the group, and returned to the lass's bag, which Darryn now had hanging from his shoulder. Odysseus' own pokeball was in that bag and it would remain there. He had no desire to hide within its depths when the lass might need him.

The pokeball he held was also the lass's, though he wasn't aware of what pokemon inhabited its depths. It was, apparently, a new capture, and Odysseus had only found it because it had been near the young riolu lad, and it smelled like Tuesday. He'd picked it up on a whim, and he would carry it until she woke and decided where it belonged.

But that was all in the future or the past. For now...

For now, he watched.

The lobby of the pokemon center was mercifully sparse of customers. Odysseus stayed behind the humans, out of sight, as he watched the white-haired doctor carry the lass in. The nurses made a fuss over her being unconscious, but it was apparent that they knew who the doctor was and so left him to care for the lass. Although Odysseus believed the man likely was the best person nearby to be looking after the lass, he was still pleased when Meiko followed after him to help, taking a room key with her.

Confident that the lass was safe, Odysseus watched as the other pokemon were healed, the nurses taking good care of them, the humans holding conversations, the chansey being ever-helpful and hospitable, and only when Odysseus' eyes had drooped shut and the pokeball had nearly slipped from his fingers, did someone put a hand on his shoulder and lead him to the nurse's station so that he, for just a moment, could stop watching, and stop guarding, and rest.



Ashleigh lay curled up at the middle of the bed, his head laying across the lump that was Tuesday's legs. His eyes were open and they swept the room for his companions.

Tempest was nearby. Ashleigh could not see her without moving his head, but he could feel the static charge that came from her. She was curled up in the small alcove between Tuesday's neck and shoulder-blade, compressed into the smallest ball that she could make herself. Since she had woken after being healed, the pikachu had been alternating between bursts of anger and lethargy, which was made worse by the fact that her voice was hoarse and her throat was apparently sore still from the skarmory's wing attack. That was explained by the nurses as a residual effect not expected to last more than a day or two, with no anticipated scarring or damage. Ashleigh didn't really bother to analyze that any further than to understand that Tempest would be back to her ornery self soon enough!

Zorro had found himself a perch, crouched upon the decorative shaft of the headrest. He had been watching Tuesday and Tempest alternatively for a while, but now appeared to be sleeping*. Ashleigh didn't know how he could sleep without falling off of the pole, but he didn't bother asking. He didn't want to wake the riolu up.

The treecko, who hadn't been named yet, was sitting on the windowsill, staring outside, with a blank look on his face. He appeared, though, to be concentrating hard on something that he sees, and so Ashleigh does not interrupt.

The young picchu, who was found to have been captured by a pokeball, sat on the floor with his pokeball. He had discovered how to minimize and maximize the ball and was, for the moment, fascinated by that. Every now and then, however, he would accidentally recall himself into the ball, and it would be silent for ten minutes until he found out how to escape and went back to playing. Ashleigh assumed he was merely biding his time until someone opened the door and accidentally unleashed him again. The young rodent had been adamant in trying to escape to Meiko and Jaima's shared room, and no one was quite certain why. With a huff, Ashleigh turned his eyes to the sparkling man.

Ashleigh did not know where Dante and Odysseus were, but he knew that they were together. He had seen the look in the old sailor buizel's eyes - a dark, hooded look, like that of an old houndoom papa preparing to dish out punishments on the omega - that warned Ashleigh that he did not want to know where Odysseus was going, and why he had the charmeleon's occupied pokeball clutched in his paws.

So Ashleigh turned his attention to the shiny male human, who sat cross-legged in the middle of his own bed. Ashleigh did not know why the room occupants had changed. He did not understand why humans, who were so careful about making sure that the males and the females were separated all the time, would suddenly go lax in that and let two different-gendered humans together in the same room. They weren't mating, so it couldn't be that - his alpha had yet to smell like she should if she was going to be mating. But if they were sleeping together because they were family, then all four of the humans should just pile together in the same room. It was warmer and it was more fun if there were more bodies to sniff.

Ashleigh snorted. He didn't understand humans at all.

The sparkling man held the pretty vulpix in his lap and was running a brush through her fur. His movements were carefully gentle and meticulous, but his eyes were not on his work. He appeared to be focusing hard on something else - some inward thought, much like Tuesday did when her mind wandered during a task. Ashleigh did not try hard to think about what the sparkling boy could be thinking. Ashleigh did not care for glittery things.

Instead, the houndoom yawned loudly and shifted his head into a slightly more comfortable position, so that he could glance up at his alpha's face. She had been asleep for almost two days now, with no response to anything and no sign that she was waking. The doctor, who apparently worked at the pokemon center along with the rest of the people who had rescued them (and were, in turn, rescued), had informed them that he was certain her body and mind were merely undergoing a healing process. How he came to that conclusion was anyone's guess, but Ashleigh got the distinct impression that that doctor knew someth-

The click of a door opening was all the warning that any of them got before the picchu was a blur of yellow and black streaking for the exit. Ashleigh barked, jumping to his feet, but the small rodent was already out the door and down the hall on tiny, stammering feet, all the while squealing, "Sand Blaster! Sand Blaster! Sand Blaster!"